With the benefit of hindsight, it's hard to imagine how the San Francisco 49ers flew so far under the radar before the season started. While the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks dominated preseason Super Bowl conversations, the 49ers waited in the background, ready to strike.
Nobody's ignoring them now. After four weeks, the Niners are one of only three undefeated teams in the NFL. The Seahawks and Rams are still formidable opponents, but San Francisco looks like the clear top team in the NFC West, if not the league.
As we turn our attention to Week 5, here's how things stand in the NFC West.
NFC West power rankings entering Week 5
Week 4 results:
- Cardinals lose to Giants 36-24
- Rams beat Eagles 24-20
- 49ers beat Broncos 24-14
- Seahawks beat Chargers 30-23
1. San Francisco 49ers
Another test passed with flying colors. The Denver Broncos, fresh off statement wins against the Rams and the Jacksonville Jaguars, were shut down by a dominant 49ers second half. San Francisco has shown that it can control games against some of the best teams in the league while putting away the games that they should.
Kyle Shanahan's offense, even in its depleted state, is the best in football. Brock Purdy is on his way to an MVP season, leading qualifying quarterbacks in almost every statistical category. Heading into a crucial matchup with the Seahawks in Week 5, the 49ers should feel as confident as ever.
Next game: Sunday, Oct. 11 @ Seahawks
2. Seattle Seahawks
As dominant as the 49ers have been, the Seahawks are still right on their heels. Mike Macdonald's defense is suffocating. It ranks second in the league in both EPA per play and success rate, both behind Brian Flores' Minnesota Vikings.
While the offense has taken a slight step back, it's still above average. In reality, Sam Darnold doesn't need to do much to win games with how well the Seahawks' defense is playing. This Week 5 matchup might be the biggest game of the young NFL season so far.
Next game: Sunday, Oct. 11 vs. 49ers
3. Los Angeles Rams
Even as the Rams have bounced back from their rocky start, they haven't looked like the unstoppable force that they were expected to be coming into the season. Their offense hasn't been nearly as efficient as it was last year, ranking 16th in EPA per play. That would be their lowest ranking since 2022.
As the Rams get healthy and Aaron Donald ramps up into a bigger role, they'll likely still be a contender in the NFC. But their slow start to the season might have put too much distance between them and the 49ers.
Next game: Monday, Oct. 12 vs. Bills
4. Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals were competitive again in their Week 4 game against the New York Giants, but again, it wasn't enough. Jacoby Brissett is playing at a passable level, and the combination of Jeremiyah Love and Trey McBride gives the offense enough juice to threaten solid defenses. Still, the defense is too shaky to win games.
In a lesser division, the Cardinals might still be a team to keep an eye on. In the NFC West, their season is all but over after its first month.
Next game: Sunday, Oct. 11 vs. Lions
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