We’re just days away from the start of the NFL season, and the spirit of rivalry is in the air.
With new “rivalry” uniforms in tow and just days from the first game — and first NFC West matchup — of the season, it had me thinking: How do the 49ers stack up with their division rivals?
This might be the best division in football this season in 2025 — you can easily convince me of any order, one through four, at the end of the season.
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And while the 49ers have the best odds to win the West, they’re not far ahead of their peers. In fact, with some of the year-over-year improvements their rivals have made, this could prove to be the Niners’ toughest six-game division slate in the Kyle Shanahan era.
So how can the Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks, and Los Angeles Rams beat the 49ers?
And how can the 49ers beat them?
Let’s put it all on paper before the chaos commences:
Arizona Cardinals
Why the Cardinals can beat the 49ers
Early season Kyler Murray » The diminutive Cardinals quarterback is great at the beginning of seasons, but as soon as he takes a few hits, he fades, as he stops running and becomes a (diminutive) pocket passer. Will he turn in before Week 11?
Built to kill » Head coach Jonathan Gannon’s defense was built to destroy outsize zone runs. The Cardinals will show a five-man front, mixing linebackers, ends, tackles, and even safeties to close off the edge, with safety Budda Baker playing, in essence, a free-roaming Mike linebacker behind it. This is the Vikings’ chaos defense (remember how the Niners struggled with that?) with more structure. And this year, they have the dudes to execute at a top-10 level.
The talent is there » Let me know if you can tackle James Conner. The Niners are looking for someone who can. He now has a capable backup in Trey Benson. Add in tight end Trey McBride (and his solid backup Tip Reiman) and the theoretical breakout for wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr, plus an offensive line that boasts solid tackles in Paris Johnson and Jonah Williams and you have the deepest Cardinals team in a long, long time.
Why the 49ers can beat the Cardinals
Harrison might not break out » The Ohio State product decided to get ripped this offseason. I don’t think that was the problem, Marv. Will Arizona start throwing to him over the middle of the field or will the Cardinals offense still be stuck at mediocre at best? And if they make the necessary changes to the offense, will Harrison take advantage?
No explosive plays » The Cardinals were last in drives per game last year, and if they did not create explosive plays in the pass game — as in not getting any YAC whatsoever. This Arizona offense needs a schematic overhaul.
Baker’s men » If Baker is out, there’s no reasonable replacement for him and the Cardinals defense looks rather pedestrian. Arizona has excellent players on that side of the ball, but he is their everything.
Los Angeles Rams
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Why the Rams can beat the 49ers
A better coach » There are two teams in the league who can say, for certain, they have a head coaching and offensive coordinator advantage over the 49ers. One is the Chiefs, led by Andy Reid. The other is the Rams. Sean McVay’s aggressive pragmatism is the model for success in the NFL, which is why when the Rams do something one year, the 49ers seem to copy it the next. There will never be a game where the Rams are unprepared or predictable — it’s merely a question of the quality of roster between these teams. That can be a toss-up either way this season.
Chris Shula is outstanding » Don’t sleep on the defensive coordinator, either. He has ushered a young defense to the point of competency, and he’s been feeding them a steady diet of Cover 6 and Cover 8 looks that absolutely flummox offenses. These kids are now experts on those schemes.
It’s still a Big Four » Quarterback Matt Stafford has a new weapon in Davonte Adams, who still has it, folks. Add in Puka Nakua and Kyren Williams and it’s as good a four-man skill-position grouping as anyone has in the league. Yes, including a healthy 49ers.
Why the 49ers can beat the Rams
Is Stafford alive? » | Jimmy Garoppolo isn’t beating anyone these days. Meanwhile, Stafford spent August in an oxygenated Airstream, sitting on a vibrating table with red lights above him, all in the effort to have his back “heal” enough to be able to play. No, I’m not kidding.
I’m sure the Texans’ hard-hitting defense will respect Stafford’s wishes in Week 1 and keep his lumbar discs in place. Luckily the Rams have a great offensive line… wait, what’s that now?
An embarrassing secondary » There’s a lot to like about the Rams’ defensive front four. (The Rams don’t care about linebackers, so we won’t say front seven.) Behind them? Whooo buddy. That might be the worst secondary in the NFL. The scheme can only cover up so much. If that pass rush isn’t elite, quarterbacks will have a field day against them.
George Kittle » Who is going to guard him on the Rams? I eagerly await your answer. //Dies of old age
Seattle Seahawks
Why the Seahawks can beat the 49ers
Merry Christmas » Do you remember Christmas 2023? I certainly do. What a colossal waste of time it was, as the Baltimore Ravens defense came to Levi’s Stadium and put Brock Purdy in a blender. The defensive coordinator of that Ravens team was Mike McDonald and he, even more so than Gannon, has a defensive scheme built to kill a Kyle Shanahan offense. In his second year in Seattle, he has the dudes to execute that scheme now.
The Seahawks’ defensive line is outstanding, particularly in the middle, and their secondary is versatile and dangerous. They’re going to throw the kitchen sink at the 49ers’ offense and with this kind of talent, and that could make games could look like Christmas 2023.
Darnold Time » And the Seahawks’ new quarterback might just have time, as the Seattle offensive line looks like it could be competent for the first time in a decade. Rookie Grey Zabel looked great at left guard in preseason and Jalen Sundell (a fellow NDSU Buffalo) is a plus center — something this team has lacked for a long time. In the preseason, this five-man unit was creating massive holes in the run game and nice protection inside a Klint Kubiak passing attack.
Darnold has some death-or-glory to his game, but he should be behind a better offensive line in Seattle than he was in Minnesota. What does that look like? The Niners probably don’t want to find out.
JSN » Jaxon Smith Njigba put up serious stats despite being used in uncreative, unremarkable ways last season. Now he’s in an offensive that will move him around the formation, seeking mismatches. Think Amon Ra St. Brown, folks. Paired with a running back room that goes three deep and a sneaky good tight end roster, and the Seahawks should be able to move the ball by air or ground.
Why the 49ers can beat the Seahawks
Hype hurts » If you can’t tell, I’m buying the Hawks in 2025. I might also be a year early. Or maybe that year never comes. Hope is for fools. But while I think this team is poised to break out, it has the same issue as the Niners — a lack of usable depth. Injuries could ravage Seattle the same way it could take down San Francisco (or the Rams, or the Cardinals — my goodness, might everyone in this division go 9-8?)
WR 2 » Tory Horton is the hipster rookie of the preseason, but he might not be ready to be the teams’ No. 2 wide receiver. Jake Bobo might not stand up to the scrutiny, either. And what is Cooper Kupp in 2025 besides kind of depressing to watch? JSN is awesome, but at a certain point he’ll need help.
LBs in Space » The Seahawks’ linebackers are outstanding in the run game, but they are not particularly good moving backwards — the thing a classic Shanahan attack wants to make them do. Can San Francisco (or anyone else) tap into the vintage under-center, play-action game enough to exploit this against what might be the best defense in football? We’ll find out Week 1.