Going into the 2024 season, many expected the San Francisco 49ers to be the NFC West's leader.
After all, they made the Super Bowl last year for the second time in four years and have been constants in the NFC Championship game.
Injuries have decimated the Niners roster affecting their depth chart. Three of their four losses they've suffered this season have been by six points or less.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan has had his team win the division in back-to-back years and made the playoffs the past three seasons in a row, too. Yet, entering the halfway point of the year, the 49ers are just 4-4 after beating the Dallas Cowboys in Week 8 just before hitting their bye.
Currently, the Arizona Cardinals are atop the NFC West, thanks to tiebreakers. They have the same record as San Francisco. So do the Seattle Seahawks.
The Los Angeles Rams are just a half game behind all three at 3-4.
Thus, we pose the question: Who is the biggest in-division threat to the 49ers?
Do Seahawks soar toward 1st in the NFC West?
Seattle dropped the Week 6 battle against the Niners on its own turf. The Seahawks lost by 12 points as 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy threw for three touchdowns in prime time on Thursday Night Football.
Hawks quarterback Geno Smith coughed up the ball with a pair of interceptions despite throwing for over 300 yards. Even with five different players recording 35 or more receiving yards, Seattle still lost to the defending NFC champions.
Furthermore, the Niners defense held Seattle to just 52 yards rushing.
These two teams will see each other again in Week 11 in the middle of November. This time, the game will be at Levi's Stadium wheres San Francisco is 3-2 at home.
The Seahawks' next three opponents are all against division foes. They end the regular season playing three NFC North opponents before traveling to SoFi Stadium against the Rams.
Their schedule looks tough. Perhaps too tough to move ahead of the pack in the NFC West and claim the division crown.