[Elvis]

NFC West looking tough:

https://theathletic.com/2374670/2021/02 ... uper-bowl/

NFL Power Rankings: Which teams are best positioned to win the next Super Bowl?

By Sheil Kapadia Feb 10, 2021

Welcome to the first version of The Athletic’s offseason power rankings. Here we rank the teams based on their chances of competing for next year’s Super Bowl. We’ll revisit these in May after the major offseason moves are complete.

...

6. San Francisco 49ers
As of this writing, it’s unclear whether they’ll stick with Jimmy Garoppolo or look elsewhere at quarterback. What they can’t do is lean on Garoppolo as the starter without a better backup plan. Garoppolo has started 25 of a possible 48 games in the last three seasons. San Francisco may have to pay big money to keep left tackle Trent Williams, and the 49ers are likely to experience significant turnover on defense, given that Richard Sherman, Jason Verrett, K’Wuan Williams and Jaquiski Tartt are all pending free agents. To make matters more challenging, defensive coordinator Robert Saleh left to coach the Jets. The defense might not be as good, but if they can get consistent quarterback play in Kyle Shanahan’s scheme, this team has a high ceiling.

7. Los Angeles Rams
They swung for the fences with their trade for Matthew Stafford. We can debate whether that was a wise move, but count me among those who believe it raised the Rams’ ceiling to Super Bowl contender. Given their cap situation, they are unlikely to be major players in free agency. And they’ve traded away picks in the first, third, fourth and fifth rounds of the draft. Los Angeles lost defensive coordinator Brandon Staley and could lose key free agents like edge rusher Leonard Floyd and safety John Johnson. But they still have Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey — two Hall of Fame-caliber players who are in their primes. If Sean McVay was right about the quarterback situation, this team could produce a top-five offense and get to the Super Bowl. The Rams just don’t have much margin for error, given their limited resources.

8. Seattle Seahawks
Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll give them a high floor, but there aren’t a lot of obvious avenues by which the Seahawks can dramatically improve their roster. They’re without a first-round pick, given the Jamal Adams trade. And they have to make decisions on key free agents like linebacker K.J. Wright, cornerback Shaquill Griffin and running back Chris Carson. It’s also unclear what Carroll’s decision to fire Brian Schottenheimer and hire Shane Waldron means for the direction of the offense. The Seahawks will be in the playoff mix, but they have not advanced past the divisional round since 2014 and have just one playoff win in the last four years.

[HopHead Ram]

I just cannot see how I can take someone's opinion seriously when they put the Niners ahead of both the Rams and the Seahawks. There is this weird love affair with Shanny. Bottom line is the guy has not produced as a HC in the NFL other than the SuperBowl run and I place that more on the success of the Defense. Lets just look at the records of the 3 in the last 4 years

Pete Carroll: 41-22-1
Kyle Shanahan : 29-35
Sean McVay: 43-21

Hmmmm. There seems to be an outlier here. Shanahan is all sizzle will very little steak.

[Hacksaw]

Shanny has beaten McV's team 4 straight.

[actionjack]

Shanny has beaten McV's team 4 straight.

True but what have they done with the rest of the league (and that was with Goff).

I think that curse gets broken in 2021.

[safer]

meh--the difference between 6 and 7 is no biggie--and I agree with Hack, IF the two teams are viewed as even, and they have had our number lately.....it's hard to quible with.

[AvengerRam]

Not going to worry too much about February power rankings. I do agree that the 49ers will be a bigger threat than the Seahawks, but a lot will depend on how they address the QB position.

[snackdaddy]

Shanny has beaten McV's team 4 straight.

McVay is 6-3 against Carroll. Coulda been 8-1 if not for a dropped pass in the endzone and missed 44 yard field goal. Carroll has done well against Shanahan. Shanahana has done well against McVay. In the end it becomes all about the rest of the league. Rams and Seahawks have fared well there. 49ers have not.

[Hacksaw]

Tough division ..

[HopHead Ram]

Shanny has beaten McV's team 4 straight.

I honestly put that more on Saleh than Shanny. Regardless if the Niners have the Rams number, we play 14 (possibly 15) other games to determine overall record. If Rams go 14-2 and the Niners go 2-14, Who is the better team?

[Hacksaw]

I honestly put that more on Saleh than Shanny. Regardless if the Niners have the Rams number, we play 14 (possibly 15) other games to determine overall record. If Rams go 14-2 and the Niners go 2-14, Who is the better team?

Can't argue that. And agree Saleh had his guys a step ahead of us. Knew how and where to attack us. Glad that dude is out of the division.