The NFC West could have been the hardest division in soccer final 12 months.
Now, one week into the 2022 season, the Seahawks are on prime of the division as the one Week 1 winners. Sure, those self same Seahawks who completed in final place in 2021 after which traded away their celebrity quarterback.
The division’s three different groups — together with the 2 NFC Championship Sport contributors within the Rams and 49ers — all misplaced their opening video games.
The reigning Tremendous Bowl champion Rams had been blown out, however had an excuse within the type of Josh Allen and the visiting Payments, this 12 months’s Tremendous Bowl favorites. Arizona, the final undefeated group standing in 2021, misplaced to Patrick Mahomes and a Chiefs group that reached the AFC title sport final season.
The 49ers, then again, misplaced 19-10 as 6.5-point favorites to a Bears group anticipated by many to complete final in its division, and maybe the convention.
San Francisco staked itself to a 10-0 lead in sloppy situations, then completely got here aside on protection, permitting three straight landing drives — the final aided by a Trey Lance interception. After driving 68 yards for a subject purpose to open the second half and make it a two-score sport, the 49ers mixed for simply 74 yards on their subsequent 4 drives in deteriorating situations.
It was a deflating loss for a group with Tremendous Bowl aspirations, even setting apart any kind of hair-trigger response to Lance’s robust day within the rain.
The subsequent evening in Seattle, the Seahawks had a feel-great win, beating their former quarterback and seeing their new starter carry out surprisingly nicely, particularly within the sport’s first half. Seattle, a six-point underdog, led Denver each step of the way in which after scoring on its opening drive. Geno Smith outplayed former Seahawks star Russell Wilson for giant parts of the sport, finishing his first 13 passes and ending 23-of-28 for 195 yards and two touchdowns. A wierd remaining minute-plus of Broncos clock administration and a missed 64-yard subject purpose try sealed the sport.
So, what does all this imply for the 49ers’ sport on Sunday towards the Seahawks?
Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers are absolutely hoping it doesn’t imply a lot. By advantage of the 17-game schedule, NFL video games imply extra to the season than video games in every other professional sport, however we’re nonetheless a single sport into the season. There’s so much left to study.
Shanahan, like many coaches, holds his playing cards near the vest within the preseason, operating a watered-down model of his offense. With one tough, moist sport below his belt, maybe Lance will really feel a bit extra comfy operating the 49ers’ offense in Week 2, taking part in at house in anticipated sunny situations towards a group on brief relaxation.
The Seahawks would like for Week 1 to be a harbinger of a shock season. In any case, Smith was fairly efficient in reduction of Wilson final season, with a career-high passer ranking of 103.0. Seattle most likely can’t depend on repeating its two fumbles pressured on the purpose line along with 100-plus yards (and 7 first downs) in opponent penalties, although the 49ers had been only one penalty yard shy of the century mark themselves within the Chicago opener.
For what it’s price, Vegas doesn’t appear to imagine in Seattle’s means to remain alone atop the division or proceed a four-game profitable streak towards San Francisco, because the 49ers have opened as 8.5-point favorites to bounce again.