Nothing good lasts forever. The San Francisco 49ers' undefeated run finally came to an end in Week 7, chipped away by injuries and turnovers in a loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
The Seattle Seahawks and the Los Angeles Rams took advantage of the Niners' misstep, inching closer to the top of the NFC West standings. There's no need to panic after one loss, but the margin for error isn't nearly as wide as it was a week ago for San Francisco.
As we turn our attention to the Week 8 bye, here's how things stand in one of the most competitive divisions in football.
NFC West power rankings entering Week 8
- 49ers lose to Falcons 29-20
- Cardinals lose to Broncos 30-16
- Rams beat Raiders 35-21
- Seahawks lose to Chiefs 20-3
1. 49ers finally feel the pain of their injuries
When Jordan Watkins, Brandin Cooks, and Jacob Cowing are the top three receivers in your offense, you're going to be limited, even with Kyle Shanahan calling plays. For the first time this season, the Niners felt the full effect of their injuries, especially at wide receiver. Their offense struggled to hit its stride, leading to the first loss of the year.
When everyone's healthy, the 49ers are the best team in the NFL. A complete lineup could go on a Super Bowl run. But it's getting harder and harder to trust that San Francisco will have a complete lineup by the time the playoffs come around.
Now that the Seahawks have pulled within two games, the Niners don't have much breathing room.
Sunday, Nov. 8 vs. Raiders (Week 8 bye)
2. Seahawks make a statement the 49ers can't help but listen to
The Seahawks' Sunday Night Football showdown was billed as the Kenneth Walker III revenge game. Instead, Seattle held the star running back to 36 rushing yards on 14 carries. Mike Macdonald's team reminded the rest of the NFL that their defense just won them a Super Bowl in February.
There are still some bumps to iron out in the offense, but the Seahawks are much better than their 4-3 record would indicate, especially after adding Quenton Nelson. When their schedule starts to lighten up, they could absolutely challenge the 49ers for the top spot in the NFC West.
If the Seahawks can pull off another primetime win against the Chicago Bears in Week 8, they'll draw dangerously close to the idle Niners.
Monday, Nov. 2 vs. Bears
3. Rams finally look like they were supposed to
Maybe the Rams aren't the powerhouse that analysts expected them to be before the season, but they aren't a complete mess, either. Even without Davante Adams, they put on a show against a solid Las Vegas Raiders team. While the final score seems relatively competitive, the Rams put the game away by halftime.
Like San Francisco, Los Angeles is dealing with multiple injuries to important veterans. If L.A. can survive the rest of the season with a limited roster, it'll be positioned to be dangerous in the playoffs.
Once Myles Garrett finally returns, the Rams will be a force to be reckoned with in the NFC West.
Next game: Sunday, Nov. 1 vs. Chargers
4. Cardinals show their true colors again
It's hard not to feel sorry for Arizona Cardinals fans. They're stuck at the bottom of one of the best divisions in the NFL with no obvious way out. The Cardinals have been feisty this season and can steal a win here and there, but they don't have the talent to challenge the other teams in the NFC West.
They were severely outmatched against a Denver Broncos team that has struggled this season.
Next game: Sunday, Nov. 1 @ Cowboys
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