NFC West 2022 Season Preview
The Rams are my pick to win the NFC West again. They’re simply too talented, literally at every position group. People are concerned about Matthew Stafford’s elbow. I’m not. The guy has played with a broken back before. He’s an absolute warrior. Cam Akers is explosive. Cooper Kupp can’t be guarded. Allen Robinson is going to DOMINATE with Stafford throwing to him. And they have elite defenders at every level (Donald, Wager, Ramsey). If I have to pick a concern, it’s their o-line, but it’s a minimal concern at best. They’ll win this division and go far once again. My play here is over their win total.
The 49ers are an incredibly talented roster with the biggest question mark in the league at the QB position. Who is Trey Lance? Is he deserving of what was traded for him as the #3 pick in last season’s draft? Is he going to light it up both through the air and on the ground in this Kyle Shanahan offense? Or is his lack of experience, really at any level, going to cause struggles? I have no clue. It’s because of this that I can’t 100% guarantee this team a playoff spot, even though the rest of their roster screams deep playoff run. I have them making the playoffs, but the play I’d make is them under their win total. Expect a push or a win there.
This Cardinals team looked like a powerhouse for half of the season last year, and similarly competitive the first half of the previous season. Is that who they are? A team that starts off hot and then either gets figured out or whose QB can’t physically sustain a high level of play for the duration of a full season? I’m not sure. It helps them that they’ll be getting Deandre Hopkins back after 6 weeks, which should provide a spark. I expect them to be in the hunt, but ultimately fall shy of a playoff berth. My play is under on Kyler’s passing yard total. He’s yet to cross that number in his career, and I like the odds of him being banged up for a game or two at some point.
The Seahawks have gone from Russell Wilson to Geno Smith. Does anything else need to be said here? The talent of Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf will be wasted this season as they struggle to remain competitive in games. I don’t know how to look at this team and their schedule and see a way they win more than 5 games. Take the under for their wins.
