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Early division breakdown: NFC West
The NFC West was dominant in 2019. Will that trend continue in 2020? J.B. Long answers that question and more in an early look at next season’s NFC West division.
www.therams.com
Early division breakdown: NFC West
With San Francisco set to face Kansas City in Super Bowl LIV, here's a brief retrospective and 2020 prospectus on the NFC West.
Of the last eight NFC Champions, five have been from the West, and three of the franchises in the division have reached the Super Bowl in that time:
2019 – 49ers
2018 – Rams
2017 – Eagles
2016 – Falcons
2015 – Panthers
2014 – Seahawks
2013 – Seahawks
2012 – 49ers
The Legion of Boom doesn't have much bearing on the Jadeveon Clowney Seahawks. And the Cardinals and 49ers drafted atop every round less than 12 months ago. So aside from being an interesting trend, rosters churn too frequently in the NFL for broad stroke assessments along the lines of, "The best division in football over the past decade."
But looking ahead to 2020, expect the NFC West to be regarded as the toughest.
With virtual certainty, all four teams will return their head coach and quarterback, and I would put those foundations up against any other tandems in the league.
The NFC West combined for 38 wins a year ago, easily more than any other division in the NFL. The AFC East and NFC North were next with 34.
The 49ers may win the Super Bowl, the Seahawks won a road playoff game (and nearly a second), and the Rams were the only team in professional football with a winning record left out of the postseason.
Until free agency, trades, and the draft run their course, the sudden ascension of another division is certainly possible.
But for the time being, the Rams should assume that their task remains as difficult – if not more difficult – than any team in the NFL going into 2020.
