As the Los Angeles Rams continue to bask in the glow of their honeymoon phase with star pass rusher Myles Garrett, the reigning champion Seattle Seahawks have somehow slipped into the shadows of the ultra-competitive NFC West. They collected their extravagant Super Bowl rings last week, the latest reminder of a dominant February title run, but know a plateau in 2026 will crater their chances of repeating.After acquiring Garrett and two-time All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie in high-profile offseason trades, the Rams have emerged as the betting favorites to win Super Bowl LXI. Rams general manager Les Snead moved seven draft picks, including two first-rounders, along with 2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year Jared Verse to inject a turbo boost into a group that’s already displayed marked improvement in its first two seasons under coordinator Chris Shula.It’s apparent the Rams sensed two key elements from 2025 — that they believed they were just a handful of plays short of their own Super Bowl run, and that they didn’t just want to catch the Seahawks, but blow past them.“They’re competing their a— off,” said an NFL executive, granted anonymity so he could speak openly, of the Rams’ offseason. “In their minds, they were a 2-point conversion away from winning the Super Bowl. It’s a smart way to build their team. They’re trying to maximize their roster with an aging QB. They should think that way.”The Seahawks wrestled the division from the Rams in Week 16 when quarterback Sam Darnold completed a do-or-die 2-pointer to tight end Eric Saubert for a 38-37 overtime victory. From there, the Seahawks claimed the No. 1 seed and held off the Rams, 31-27, in the NFC Championship Game.Whether the Rams were truly a couple of plays away, they were close enough to be viewed around the league as a viable threat. Now, they’ve all but maxed out their resources with the visions of a better fate, and they don’t intend to waste time with reigning MVP Matthew Stafford turning 38 in February.“I think the Garrett trade can put them over the top,” a second executive said. “It gives them the closer on defense that they needed.”While the Rams’ pass defense wasn’t bad in 2025, it was their greatest vulnerability, so they acquired McDuffie from the Kansas City Chiefs and signed ex-Chiefs cornerback Jaylen Watson to a three-year, $51 million contract.“The (Garrett) trade isn’t as big as the McDuffie trade and the signing of Watson,” a coach said. “Those additions will impact their defensive unit more than Myles.”To that point, the Rams’ pass rush was already relatively strong. It tied for seventh last season with 47 sacks, and Verse is an ascending talent with a seemingly high ceiling. But Garrett might be peerless in his ability to impact the game — as well as the way teams prepare exclusively for him during the week.Garrett, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year who turned 30 in December, has raced up the all-time sack list. He’s tied for 20th now with 125.5 and has a chance to crack the top 10 by the end of the season. If he maintains his career-long, 14-sack pace through 2031, Garrett will seize the sack crown from Bruce Smith (200).Plus, coach Sean McVay got a firsthand look at future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald for six years, so he can appreciate the impact of a generational juggernaut on the defensive front. And if Garrett’s arrival does actually woo Donald from retirement, this could go down as one of the most memorable trades in NFL history.Then again, 32 teams think they’re winning the Super Bowl right now.“I don’t get too hyped on this stuff,” a second coach said, “because it all gets sorted in the fall.”A third coach added, “I’m really not much into favorites at this time of year. A lot can happen before you actually get to Week 1. (But) I get the hype with L.A. It sure looks like they’re going all in.”That’s the admirable approach when the Super Bowl champs reside in the division. While the Seahawks had a much quieter offseason than their neighbors to the south, they’re understandably banking on coach Mike Macdonald’s program truly blossoming in his third year on the job.Make no mistake, the Seahawks outpaced even their own timeline, so there’s expectation for improvement. Darnold should be more comfortable now that he’s found a home, and his offensive line has built continuity, too.Safety Nick Emmanwori and defensive tackle Byron Murphy, among others, will make a greater impact on defense. Macdonald’s defense, which surrendered the fewest points in the NFL last season, has realistic potential for improvement. They should again be strong on special teams.The Seahawks’ disciplined roster reconstruction has been jolted by an incredible run of draft success. General manager John Schneider was the PFWA Executive of the Year in 2025, and assistant general manager Nolan Teasley was just hired as the Minnesota Vikings GM.“Schneider deserves a ton of credit for their roster,” the second coach said.The third coach added, “Seattle doesn’t get enough credit for their trajectory under Macdonald. I’m guessing they like that, because all the talk is on L.A., as opposed to them repeating.”Both teams have concerns, no doubt. The Rams are facing a tenuous situation at offensive tackle, while new Seahawks offensive coordinator Brian Fleury is a first-time play caller, though he shares some roots with ex-OC Klint Kubiak. The Seahawks have uncertainty at running back, as Kenneth Walker signed with the Chiefs, and Zach Charbonnet is recovering from a torn ACL. To that end, Seattle drafted Notre Dame’s Jadarian Price in the first round.It’s hardly a two-team race in the West, either. The San Francisco 49ers, winners of 12 games last season, have been to four NFC championships and two Super Bowls since 2019, and they’re consistently dangerous when healthy.There’s minimal letup in the strongest division in the league.“You have to be at your best to compete and make the playoffs in (the NFC West),” the first executive said. “You’ve got really good front offices in terms of aggressiveness and acquiring players, three of the best coaches in the NFL. If you’re not on it, you’re going to get left behind.”