The gap between the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams and their rival San Francisco 49ers couldn’t have been tighter last season.
An intercepted pass that was dropped, a failed attempt for a minimum advance and the perfect execution of an offense that sealed the victory made the difference for the Rams to go to the title game and send the 49ers on vacation after letting their chance.
The 49ers want to reverse that outcome this season, and the first thing will be to topple the Rams in the NFC West.
The division that has provided the conference champion in three of the last four seasons repeats with the same contenders in 2022. The Rams are eager to retain their crown. The Niners are confident the quarterback trade from Jimmy Garoppolo to Trey Lance will catapult one of the league’s most complete rosters to the top.
“When you get so close to being in the big game, it’s hard to put a chill on your expectations for the next year, especially when you consider the team to be superior,” All-Star left tackle Trent Williams said.
The Rams also look just as strong, although they emphasize that their consecration last year will not affect the results they seek this year.
But with head coach Sean McVay tied down with an extension and a roster with the likes of Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp on offense and Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey on defense, Los Angeles is back with everything to keep up the NFC fight.
“Last year doesn’t mean anything will be automatic this year,” Stafford said. “You have to earn it.”
Although they retained almost all of their figures, the Rams lost linebacker Von Viller by signing as a free agent with Buffalo. Also, wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. remained out of contract while recovering from a knee injury he suffered in the Super Bowl and left tackle Andrew Whitworth retired.
The Niners also return almost intact, with Williams, Deebo Samuel and George Kittle as offensive references and Nick Bosa and Fred Warner leading one of the best defenses in the league. That should make Lance’s job easier, with just three games in college and pro competition the past two seasons.
The chances of the other two teams are not so promising.
Arizona led the division for much of last season until they fell apart down the stretch, following up with a disastrous playoff performance against the Rams that left doubts lingering. Kyler Murray got the contract extension he wanted so badly, but now it’s up to him and the Cardinals to stop the trend of collapsing in the second half of the season.
Seattle, on the other hand, is a team in transition after a decade at the top of the conference after trading quarterback Russell Wilson.
POSITION FORECAST:
Rams, 49ers, Cardinals, Seahawks.