NFC West betting preview: It's boom-or-bust for new-look Rams

There is zero argument about the NFC West being the toughest division in the NFL this season. Not only are three teams in discussion to win the division, there are many who feel that four of the seven playoff spots for the NFC could be filled by the Rams, 49ers, Seahawks, and Cardinals.

Let’s break down each of the four teams, review the changes to their rosters, and help you decide who to wager on for your NFL West future bets this season!

Los Angeles Rams

2020 Record: 10-6
Key Additions: QB Matthew Stafford, WR DeSean Jackson, WR Tutu Atwell, LB Ernest Jones
Key Departures: QB Jared Goff, CB Troy Hill, C Austin Blythe, DE Michael Brockers

The Los Angeles Rams are all-in for a Super Bowl run this season, and announced that intent with their trade for QB Matthew Stafford. The veteran quarterback was brought in for a hefty ransom that included not only QB Jared Goff, but two first-round picks and a third-round pick as well.

With no first-round picks available until 2024 and defensive stars Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey locked into large financial contracts, it is boom-or-bust for the Rams. The pressure is squarely on the shoulders of head coach Sean McVay to make a run in this year’s playoffs, but even more pressure may lie on Stafford. Despite Goff’s poor offensive play last year, the Rams finished second in the division. Now, their outstanding defense has a hungry veteran with the best collection of weapons he has ever had surrounding him.

Joining Cooper Kupp and Tyler Higbee will be wideouts DeSean Jackson and rookie Tutu Atwell, which will help alleviate the loss of RB Cam Akers, who suffered a season-ending Achilles tear during training camp. It will also take pressure off the defense, and could allow their dominant pass-rush to cause even more problems if they are playing with a lead.

There are questions surrounding the offensive line, so it will be imperative to keep Stafford healthy. If he is able to stay upright, look for the Rams to take a huge step forward and not only win this difficult division, but make a deep run through the NFC playoffs.  

San Francisco 49ers

2020 Record: 6-10
Key Additions: QB Trey Lance, G Aaron Banks, RB Trey Sermon, CB Ambry Thomas, C Alex Mack
Key Departures: CB Richard Sherman, WR Kendrick Bourne, DE Kerry Hyder, CB Ahkello Witherspoon, DL Solomon Thomas

The 49ers should finish second in the division this season, if they can stay healthy. That is a massive "if", given the crushing number of injuries they endured last season. San Francisco fielded QB Jimmy Garoppolo, TE George Kittle, WR Deebo Samuel, and WR Brandon Aiyuk in the same game just twice last season, and DE Nick Bosa was also lost to a knee injury.

Now, they are all back and healthy, but Garoppolo is facing a fight for his job. The 49ers used the third overall pick in the draft to bring in Trey Lance from North Dakota State, and so far he is not showing that he is ready for primetime. Meanwhile, Garoppolo is performing well in camp and in the preseason, and might yet hold onto his gig at least for a few more months.

The offensive line will be a strength for whoever takes snaps, with Trent Williams, Mike McGlinchey, and Mack all being among the best in the division. However, they have new coordinators on both sides of the ball, and will be hoping rookie Sermon can partner with Raheem Mostert for a dominant one-two punch on the ground. If everyone can stay healthy, the 49ers should navigate the easiest schedule in the NFL and comfortably make the playoffs.

Seattle Seahawks

2020 Record: 12-4
Key Additions: DE Aldon Smith, DE Kerry Hyder, TE Gerald Everett, CB Pierre Desir, CB Ahkello Witherspoon, WR D’Wayne Eskridge, G Gabe Jackson
Key Departures: CB Shaq Griffin, CB Quinton Dunbar, G Mike Iupati, WR David Moore,

This could be the most important season of the Pete Carroll era in Seattle. QB Russell Wilson has carried this team, but he has leaked a list of teams he would be okay with moving to in the offseason. Carroll brought in new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, who will look to get the ball out of Wilson’s hands faster and get him outside the pocket more.

However, Carroll has stated that he wants to run the ball more this season, which may upset Wilson. Making matters worse, the Seahawks will face top 10 defenses from last season in nine games this season. Additionally, an already suspect offensive line got weaker with the retirement of Iupati.

Many felt like the Seattle defense improved in the latter part of last season, but that was a myth. In reality, they simply faced a stretch of poor quarterbacks, before which they were on pace to allow the most yardage in NFL history. With the Packers, Colts, and Titans all on the non-division schedule this year, and the massive losses in the secondary, this could be the final run for Carroll or Wilson—if not both.

Arizona Cardinals

2020 Record: 8-8
Key Additions: DE J.J. Watt, WR A.J. Green, CB Malcolm Butler, C Rodney Hudson, G Brian Winters
Key Departures: CB Patrick Peterson, RB Kenyan Drake, LB Haason Reddick

Head coach Kliff Kingsbury may have more pressure on his shoulders than anybody. After a strong opening to the season last year, the Cardinals faded down the stretch and missed the playoffs. That might not be acceptable this season, given that QB Kyler Murray is entering his third year and the team made several pricey new additions in the offseason.

Murray now has A.J. Green lining up across from DeAndre Hopkins, and the addition of Winters and Hudson will greatly help keep him protected. On the other side of the ball, offensive lines and quarterbacks around the league will have nightmares about facing Chandler Jones and J.J. Watt, who signed with the team after being released by the Texans.

The loss of Peterson will hurt, but Butler should be a solid replacement for a defense that will need to improve greatly against division foes. Since Kingsbury took over, the Cardinals have won just three of their 12 games against the NFC West, and just once in eight tries have they beaten the Rams or 49ers.

If the Cardinals take the step forward that many expect, they should make the playoffs and could squeeze past the Seahawks for third place. If they fail, Kingsbury may not have a job by the end of the season.