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.
Can Rams charge from the bottom to become NFC West leader?
Veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford is still the starter in LA despite some pretty wild rumors suggesting he could be on the trade block. Head coach Sean McVay hasn't left either and probably won't for a long, long time.
This gives Los Angeles a fighting shot. Especially since the 49ers blew a 10-point fourth-quarter lead to the Rams in Week 3.
Los Angeles will travel to Seattle in Week 9, a game that could fully tilt the balance within the NFC West, depending on the outcome. The Rams have already had their bye, so it's onward through the remaining 10 games of the regular season.
Rams wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua are back and healthy. Their starting running back, Kyrien Williams, ranks in the top 10 for carries, yards and touchdowns.
Like it or not, LA is a threat to San Francisco. Los Angeles' defense no longer boasts the household names of Jalen Ramsey or Aaron Donald, but the offensive weaponry more than makes up for those two recent departures.
We may have a better idea of how serious the Rams are as a threat to the 49ers' repeat chances when the two teams play in Northern California in Week 15.
Cardinals may be the scariest birds in NFC West
Look no further than the Cardinals when you see a potential contender to seize the NFC West crown from San Francisco. In fact, the Cardinals beat the 49ers once already in Week 5.
A one-point victory gives quarterback Kyler Murray and Co. their current tie break over the Niners as both teams are at .500 after eight games played.
Brock Purdy struggled at home against Arizona in that game when he only completed 19 of his 35 attempts. Twice, he was picked off, further hurting his team's chances to win.
The 49ers could not score in the second half of this contest as the Cardinals went on a tear with 14 unanswered points. Arizona connected on a pair of field goals along with a touchdown and a two-point conversion.
These two rivals face off in the regular season finale in Phoenix, Arizona.
With the Niners on the road in Week 18, the last game of the season could determine the NFC West winner.