NFL playoff picture: Who has the edge in crowded NFC West with five games left in 2024 season?

There is no division in the NFL through the 2024 season’s first 13 weeks more tightly contested than the NFC West. 

Just two games separate the first place Seattle Seahawks (7-5) from the last place San Francisco 49ers (5-7) with the Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams tied in the middle with 6-6 records. With that in mind, let’s check in on all four teams and determine which of the four is most likely to come away with the NFC West crown four weeks from now. 

* Future division odds via Caesars Sportsbook

San Francisco 49ers (+1200 to win NFC West)

Record: 5-7

Remaining strength of schedule: 14th-toughest in NFL (.533 opponent win percentage) 

Scoring offense: 22.5 PPG (16th in NFL)

Scoring defense: 24.6 PPG allowed (24th in NFL)

The San Francisco 49ers are experiencing their darkest possible timeline in 2024. They’re in last place and in the midst of a season-worst three-game losing streak. San Francisco has been outscored by a brutal 43 points in their last two games combined (73-20) across a 38-10 loss at the Green Bay Packers and a 35-10 loss at the Buffalo Bills. That marked consecutive losses by 25 or more points for only the fourth time in franchise history (2005, 2006, 2015). It also made the 49ers the only defending conference champion since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger to lose back-to-back games by 25 or more points. 

The primary reason for San Francisco’s struggles this season are injuries. Running back Christian McCaffrey, the 2023 NFL Offensive Player of the Year, recently joined wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk in the club of 49ers difference makers out for the year after suffering a PCL tear in Buffalo on Sunday night. All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams (ankle) and 2022 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa (hip, oblique) also haven’t played in the last two 49ers losses.

How big a deal are these injuries to CMC, Williams and Bosa? Well, just take a look at how different…

Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-playoff-picture-who-has-the-edge-in-crowded-nfc-west-with-five-games-left-in-2024-season/

Author : Garrett Podell

Publish date : 2024-12-05 16:00:00

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