Could Seahawks win NFC West? How defense, grit allow Seattle to keep pace with 49ers, Rams

Few knew what to make of the Seattle Seahawks entering the season, with a new offensive coordinator and quarterback plus shakeups in the wide receiver and tight end rooms.

In a regrettable Week 1 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, Seattle predictably looked like an unfinished product. There is no such thing as a finished product in September, but the Seahawks' three-game win streak since their season opener is a window into what coach Mike Macdonald envisioned when he first got a look at his team in training camp.

The Seahawks survived a scare against the Arizona Cardinals on "Thursday Night Football," winning 23-20 on a last-second field goal after blowing a 20-6 lead, but the victory featured much of what Seattle flashed in its first two wins: a high-effort defense, grit and a version of Sam Darnold that looks more like the player he was in Minnesota than anywhere else.

Is that enough for the Seahawks to win the NFC West? Here's what's next for Darnold and Seattle.

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NFC West standings

To say it's early would be an understatement — the NFC West playoff picture might not come into focus until Thanksgiving — but the division is looking like one of the best in the NFL. 

The 49ers have the benefit of one of the NFL's weakest schedules, and it has helped them skate through two games without Brock Purdy or other key weapons. Their first win, however, might be the one that carries the most weight down the stretch. San Francisco narrowly defeated the Seahawks at Lumen Field, so that result could loom large if the 49ers continue to beat up on their last-place schedule. 

The Los Angeles Rams, meanwhile, nearly entered Week 4 unbeaten but blew a 17-point lead to the Eagles in Week 3. That means the Seahawks have the advantage in the win percentage column, at least until L.A. faces the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.

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Can the Seahawks win the NFC West?

The NFC West is loaded. The Seahawks have a good team — a sound, high-effort defense, the ability to win on the road and a quarterback who is starting to prove his breakout season was no fluke. That sounds like a playoff team, and it could be enough to make a run at an NFC West title.

The standings are ultimately a numbers game, and the 49ers have the early advantage with an unbeaten start and a road win over the Seahawks, but San Francisco has its vulnerabilities. Injuries continue to plague Kyle Shanahan's team, and Nick Bosa won't be returning after the second ACL tear of his career. Purdy, George Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk are all set to return at some point, but can the 49ers trust that all of their key weapons will hold up physically into December and January?

The Seahawks' defense dragged the 49ers into a dogfight in Week 1. Seattle didn't win, but its offense looks more cohesive now than it did then with all of its new pieces settling in. The defense looks like it can get at an older Matthew Stafford, particularly late in the season, and the version of Darnold that is rarely turning over the ball completely transforms the offense if it can stick around.

The Seahawks' schedule around its divisional games is favorable: the Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans, Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers are on the slate, while the Seahawks are set to welcome the Minnesota Vikings, Indianapolis Colts and Tampa Bay Buccaneers to Seattle rather than going on the road.

Taking care of business at home and against weaker teams can easily leave the Seahawks with double-digit wins, and a team built on a well-rounded defense and strong quarterback play is equipped to do just that.

If the Seahawks fall behind in the NFC West, the running game could be the reason. Seattle's backfield was inefficient through the first three weeks before putting up 155 yards on 4.4 yards per carry against the Cardinals. Unless Darnold is going to move from "good" to "elite," the Seahawks need Kenneth Walker III to prove his solid night in Arizona is only the start of what's to come. 

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Seahawks remaining schedule 2025