If you had told a Seahawks fan last summer that Sam Darnold would be the guy to lead them to a 14-3 record and a first-round bye, they probably would have laughed you out of the room. Yet, here we are in January 2026, and the nfc west division standings look nothing like the "experts" predicted. The West wasn't just competitive this year; it was a meat grinder that spit out three playoff teams and left the rest of the conference wondering what hit them.
Honestly, it’s been a weird year. We saw a resurgence in Seattle that nobody saw coming, a Rams team that refused to age, and a 49ers squad that spent most of the season fighting its own injury report. Basically, if you weren't watching this division every Sunday, you missed the best drama in football.
The Final Hierarchy: Breaking Down the Standings
The regular season wrapped up with the Seahawks sitting pretty at the top. They didn't just win the division; they grabbed the No. 1 seed in the NFC. That means the road to the Super Bowl goes through Lumen Field, which is a terrifying prospect for any visiting team.
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- Seattle Seahawks (14-3): Division Champs. Seven-game winning streak to end the year.
- Los Angeles Rams (12-5): Wild Card. Matthew Stafford still has the magic.
- San Francisco 49ers (12-5): Wild Card. Lost a tiebreaker to LA but still dangerous.
- Arizona Cardinals (3-14): Better luck next year. A nine-game losing streak to close things out.
The gap between the top three and the bottom is massive. It's kinda wild to see two teams with 12 wins not even sniffing the division title because Seattle just wouldn't stop winning.
Seattle’s Surprise Dominance
Let's talk about the Seahawks. Mike Macdonald's defense is legit. They finished the season allowing only 292 points—that’s about 17 points a game. In their Week 18 clincher against the 49ers, they held Brock Purdy and company to a single field goal. 13-3 was the final score. It wasn't pretty, but it was dominant.
Sam Darnold found a connection with Jaxon Smith-Njigba that felt almost telepathic. JSN put up 1,793 receiving yards. Read that again. That’s nearly 2,000 yards in a single season. When you pair that with a ground game where Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet both look like starters, you get a 14-win team.
The turning point was December. Seattle went through the gauntlet without a scratch. They beat the Rams, then turned around and stifled the 49ers twice in three weeks. People kept waiting for the "Darnold mistake" to happen, but Macdonald's system kept him clean.
The Rams and 49ers: A 12-Win Deadlock
It’s gotta suck to win 12 games and realize you’re playing on the road in the Wild Card round. The Rams and Niners finished with identical records, but the Rams took the higher seed.
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Los Angeles actually had the most explosive offense in the division, scoring 518 points. Matthew Stafford is playing like he’s 25 again, and Puka Nacua is still doing Puka Nacua things. They beat the Panthers 34-31 in a nail-biter last week to move on to the Divisional Round. They’re heading to Chicago next to face the Bears.
Then you have San Francisco. They’re the "boogeyman" of the playoffs. Nobody wants to see them. Even though they finished third in the nfc west division standings, they just went into Philadelphia and knocked off the Eagles 23-19. Christian McCaffrey is finally back to full health, and when he’s on the field, the Niners are a different beast.
Why the Tiebreakers Mattered
The Rams got the nod over the Niners largely due to their performance within the conference. While both teams went 4-2 in the division, the Rams found ways to win those ugly non-divisional games that the Niners let slip away during McCaffrey's mid-season absence.
What Happened to Arizona?
It’s hard to find a silver lining for the Cardinals. Ending the season on a nine-game losing streak is brutal. Kyler Murray had flashes, but the defense was a sieve, giving up 488 points. That’s nearly 29 points a game. You can’t win in this division if you can’t stop the run, and the Cardinals couldn't stop a nosebleed this year.
They finished 0-6 in divisional play. That’s the story right there. If you can't win a single game against your neighbors, you're going to be looking at the top of the draft board. The bright side? They’ll have a very high pick to hopefully find a pass rusher who can actually scare Sam Darnold or Matthew Stafford.
Misconceptions About the 2025 Season
A lot of people thought the 49ers would run away with this. The media narrative in August was all about San Francisco's "revenge tour." But the NFL is a league of attrition.
- The "One-Man Team" Myth: People thought Seattle was just a lucky defense. They ignored an offensive line that developed into a top-five unit by November.
- Stafford's Retirement: Every year we hear it’s Matthew’s last ride. The guy just threw for over 4,000 yards again. He’s not going anywhere.
- The Purdy Regression: Fans love to say Brock Purdy is a "system QB." He still threw for 20 touchdowns despite missing his best weapons for a third of the season. The 12-5 record isn't a failure; it’s a testament to his floor.
Looking Ahead: The Divisional Round
The nfc west division standings were just the appetizer. The main course is happening right now.
Seattle is sitting at home, resting, waiting for the winner of the lower seeds. Because the 49ers beat the Eagles, we are officially getting a Seahawks vs. 49ers rematch in the Divisional Round this Saturday at 8 p.m. ET.
This is the third time they’ll meet this season. Seattle won the last one 13-3. The one before that? A shootout. It’s the ultimate "strength vs. strength" matchup. Seattle’s secondary against San Francisco’s playmakers.
Key Factors for the Playoffs:
- Lumen Field Advantage: Seattle hasn't lost a playoff game at home when they were the No. 1 seed (2005, 2013, 2014).
- Health: The Rams are dealing with some lingering issues with Stafford’s ribs, but he’s expected to start in Chicago.
- The Run Game: As the weather gets colder, Kenneth Walker III becomes Seattle's biggest weapon. He just crossed the 1,000-yard mark for the second time.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you’re following the rest of this postseason based on how the West finished, keep these things in mind:
- Don't bet against the Seahawks at home. The "12th Man" is a real thing, and this Macdonald defense feeds off the noise.
- Watch the Rams' spread in Chicago. The Bears' defense is tough, but the Rams have the veteran experience that often wins out in January.
- Value the 49ers as an "underdog." They are the No. 6 seed, but they have No. 1 seed talent. Getting them with points is usually a gift.
- Monitor the injury reports for the Divisional Round. Specifically, look at the Seahawks' offensive line health; if they can't protect Darnold against the Niners' front four, that No. 1 seed might be in trouble.
The NFC West proved it’s the deepest division in football this year. Having three teams win 12+ games is a statistical anomaly that shows just how high the bar is out West. Whether you’re a 12, a member of the Red Sea, or part of the Ramily, this has been a season for the ages.
Next step? Keep an eye on the Saturday night injury report before the Seahawks and 49ers kick off. That will tell you everything you need to know about who’s actually moving on to the NFC Championship.