Inside: Previewing the NFC West, where the defending champions are chased by the favored Rams and always-dangerous 49ers. The Cardinals could also threaten as soon as 2031.This article is from The Athletic’s NFL newsletter. Sign up here to receive it directly in your inbox. It’s free to subscribe. NFC West PreviewThis is a tough group to project.The Seahawks return a mostly intact Super Bowl-winning roster, and yet the Rams are the heavy betting favorites. The 49ers have a win-now roster that could beat both. But someone has to lose.Seattle Seahawks(14-3, won Super Bowl)Headline change: Offensive exits. Gone are offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and running back Kenneth Walker III. Both were key to last season’s offense finishing in the top 10 in most metrics, as Kubiak’s scheme proved a perfect match for his players. Walker was particularly important in the playoffs, leading all players in touches, total yards and touchdowns en route to the Super Bowl MVP award.Subtle change: Continuity. Defending champions rarely retain 20 of 22 starters, and Seattle’s offseason depth departures were mostly patched in free agency and the draft. First-round running back Jadarian Price is, by all reports, a terrific scheme fit, and edge Dante Fowler is part of a group of players expected to provide additional depth for a Mike Macdonald-led defense that allowed the fewest points. This should remain the league’s most complete team thanks to a quietly strong special teams unit.Lingering question: Does the offense regress? Hard to expect it to improve after last year. The 2025 Seahawks scored the most points in franchise history, jumping from 18th in the league in scoring in 2024 to third in Kubiak’s first season. He has since taken Seattle’s quarterbacks coach and run game coordinator with him to Las Vegas. Kubiak’s replacement, Brian Fleury, is a first-time play caller who spent the past six seasons working for Kyle Shanahan.Projection: 11-6. It’s tough to repeat as Super Bowl champions without a Tier 1 quarterback. Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady, John Elway, Troy Aikman and Joe Montana are the only quarterbacks to win back-to-back titles since 1980. Sam Darnold was good enough in the playoffs last season. It’s fair to wonder whether he can do it again.Los Angeles Rams(12-5, lost in NFC Championship Game)Headline: Big-time defense. The pass rush and secondary were addressed in the best way possible, with Myles Garrett joining corners Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson in an already strong defense. Early returns are positive, with this group impressing in joint practices against the Cowboys. There’s still time for an Aaron Donald decision, too.Subtle: Special teams adjustments. Special teams gaffes cost this team repeatedly last season, including in the NFC Championship Game loss to Seattle. It was bad enough in the regular season that coordinator Chase Blackburn was fired just before the playoffs. His replacement is Bubba Ventrone, who coached a Browns special teams group that … finished 32nd in DVOA last season (the Rams were 26th). At least the kicker problem was solved with Harrison Mevis hitting 18 of 19 attempts after taking over in Week 10.