1. Los Angeles Rams: Loading up their roster worked. So many don’t believe in team stacking but they took advantage and capitalized. All Matthew Stafford needed was to get out of Detroit and look what happened. He was never the problem with the Lions. The Rams hit a bump in the road during the season last year but turned it on when it was necessary. They became the second team ever to play in a Super Bowl in their home stadium and win the big game at home. I remember saying on Super Bowl Sunday that if they didn’t win it within the next two years, the window would close. We don’t have to worry about that now!
2. Arizona Cardinals: At one point, they looked to be running away with the division. A 7-0 start had people talking. Then came the second half of the season and the Cardinals looked like a completely different team. Kyler Murray isn’t the problem in Arizona. I just want to get that out of the way now. The team always appears to fall apart without DeAndre Hopkins and the play-calling can be stale. Unfortunately, DeAndre will be out for the first six games of the season after testing positive for PED’s. He makes this entire Cardinals offense go. I expect some struggles early on without him.
3. San Francisco 49ers: I feel they don’t get the respect they deserve at times. In 2019, they won the NFC and got to the Super Bowl and just last season, they were a game away from the Super Bowl again. This is a good football team when they’re healthy. When key guys are on the field, you see the difference it can make. They traded up to the third pick to select Trey Lance for this season. If he’s consistent, watch out. That’s all I’ll say. We still don’t know what will happen with Deebo Samuel either. I like the 49ers’ front seven, but their secondary is a bit shaky and that will hurt them at times.
4. Seattle Seahawks: Last season was the first time they recorded a losing record under Russell Wilson. His injury set them back and they could never get it going. Let’s fast forward to now. Russell would end up getting traded to the Denver Broncos for Drew Lock and Noah Fant. Don’t expect much from the Seahawks this year. With Drew at quarterback and an inexperienced offensive line, it’s truly the start of a rebuild in Seattle. It’s all about draft positioning for them in 2022. We will revisit them in 2023. It’s a new chapter for this franchise.
2022 Predictions
1. Rams (13-4)
2. 49ers (10-7)
3. Cardinals (8-9)
4. Seahawks (3-14)
The Rams will win the NFC West once again for the fourth time under Sean McVay. They’ve had quite the off-season. They lost Von Miller and traded Robert Woods but replaced them with Allen Robinson and Bobby Wagner. Just a few weeks ago, the Rams re-signed Aaron Donald and Cooper Kupp to contract extensions. With a consistent offense and that stingy defense along with excellent coaching, this should be one of the best teams in the league in 2022.
