It’s another tight week when it comes to the NFC West standings.
Through nine games, the Arizona Cardinals (5-4) remain atop the division but hold just a one game lead over the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams tied at 4-4.
The Seattle Seahawks are closely bringing up the rear at 4-5.
An Arizona win over the New York Jets on Sunday ensures it keeps pace in the division.
But what else is happening around the division and what could potentially help the Cardinals in their placing out west?
Let’s dive in:
Look out for those Rams
If there’s any other team in the division currently as hot or as threatening as Arizona, it’s got to be L.A.
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This isn’t the same Los Angeles team that got laughed out of State Farm Stadium in Week 2 behind a 41-10 beatdown.
Winners of three straight — two being of the one-score variety — Los Angeles has found its groove with wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua now healthy.
Now, they get a Miami Dolphins squad that still can’t seem to figure things out even with franchise quarterback Tua Tagovailoa back in the mix.
Losers of three straight and headed squarely toward a top 10 draft pick currently sitting at 2-7, Miami is putting points on the board but hasn’t been able to stop opposing offenses.
In all reality, we could be looking at a five-game win streak from L.A. with New England (2-7) next up after Miami before getting a tougher test in Philadelphia (6-2) in Week 12.
And with the 26th toughest remaining strength of schedule entering play Thursday night, the victories could keep on coming before L.A. and Arizona meet in Week 17.
Still, FanDuel Sportsbook has Los Angeles favored by just 1.5 points at home.
49ers getting healthier
Like Thanos adding another infinity stone, San Francisco is likely getting back one of their most powerful weapons in running back Christian McCaffrey.
The return of CMC, who is back practicing and reportedly could have played last week against Dallas, gives the offense an automatic boost as it tries to find consistency and string together consecutive wins for the first time all year.
And with FanDuel Sportsbook giving San Francisco a 6.5-point advantage as of Thursday, those chances look good.
But even with McCaffrey back in the mix, it’s looking like an uphill climb the rest of the way, beginning with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5) in Week 10 coming off a pair of losses to Atlanta (6-3) and Kansas City (8-0).
And with the sixth toughest strength of schedule (.558) — that includes games against Buffalo, Green Bay, Detroit and Arizona — every win matters just a little bit more.
See you next week, Seattle
The only divisional team not in action this week is Seattle.
Even if every other divisional team lost this week, Seattle still would remain at the bottom due to head-to-head tiebreakers after falling to both L.A. and San Francisco already in 2024.
Once Seattle is back in action, the road map isn’t as easy as it once looked just a few weeks ago.
After sitting around 15th, the Seahawks’ remaining strength of schedule now sits 10th in the league.
What’s Cardinals’ best-case scenario in Week 10?
An Arizona win paired with losses by both San Francisco and Los Angeles would put it up a full two games with seven weeks left in the season.
Not a ton of wiggle room, but more than what there has been in 2024.
How far could Arizona fall in the NFC West in Week 10?
The furthest Arizona could drop in the division in Week 10 is third.
That would require a Cardinals loss and wins by San Francisco and L.A. In this scenario, Los Angeles would be atop the division due to its win over San Francisco in Week 3.
Current divisional standings
1. Arizona Cardinals: 5-4 (2-0)
2. Los Angeles Rams: 4-4 (2-1)
3. San Francisco 49ers: 4-4 (1-2)
4. Seattle Seahawks: 4-5 (0-2)