It’s only five weeks into the season, and already the NFC West is looking like a beast, especially with those San Francisco 49ers absolutely *rolling* right now. They’re sitting at a perfect 5-0, and yeah, we saw it firsthand when they took down our Seahawks. It’s tough to swallow, but conventional wisdom says they might just be the best team in the whole dang league through this early stretch, and honestly, after that game, it’s hard to argue.
The 49ers Are Just Built Different (Again), and Purdy Is Balling Out
Look, it kills me to say it, but the Niners are legit. They haven’t just stacked wins, they’ve beaten some serious contenders, with victories over the Rams, Broncos, and, yep, us. What’s even wilder is how Brock Purdy is playing. Remember all the talk? Well, he’s shutting everyone up, slinging 13 touchdowns against just two interceptions. That’s MVP-level stuff right there, people. Not only are they putting up points, ranking third in the league with 30.8 points per game, but their defense is also stifling, giving up just 18.6 points per game, also good for third overall. It’s a two-way street of dominance, and it’s making the rest of the division’s job a whole lot harder.
Early Coach of the Year Odds: Who’s Stealing the Show?
Away from our immediate division headaches, the Coach of the Year race is always a fun one because it’s not just about the best record. It’s about exceeding expectations, turning things around, or elevating a franchise. John Harbaugh, for instance, opened the season as the +600 favorite to win the award and he’s right back at that number after five weeks. Meanwhile, the Giants are making some noise with a 3-1-1 record, sitting atop the NFC East, even after losing starting quarterback Jaxson Dart for the season way back in Week 2. Granted, two of those wins came at home against Tennessee and Arizona, but you gotta hand it to them.
Then you’ve got the Minnesota Vikings, who are the real surprise of the season so far, also perfect at 5-0. Their defense is just lights out, arguably the best in the NFL. They’re allowing a stingy 12.8 points per game, which is first in the league, and giving up only 259.8 total yards per game, good for second. That kind of defensive performance definitely puts a coach in the conversation.
Johnson of the Bears was actually at the top of the board last week, but things have gotten a bit rough for Chicago without Caleb Williams under center. They managed to beat both the Eagles and Jets without him, which is impressive, but then got blown out by the Packers in Week 5. Still, they’re the number one rushing team in the league, churning out 173.2 yards per game, so there’s clearly something working there.
The Raiders had a wild start, kicking things off 3-0 with wins over the Dolphins, Chargers, and Saints. But reality seems to be setting in a bit, as they’ve dropped their last two games to the Chiefs and Patriots. They’re staring down the barrel of two more tough matchups against the Bills and Rams over the next couple of weeks, so we’ll see if they can turn it around.
What’s Next?
As the regular season keeps chugging along, every week is a chance for coaches to prove they’re taking their teams to the next level. For us, every game in the NFC West is a battle, especially when you’re looking at teams like the 49ers playing at such a high level. It’s early, but the trends are set, and it’s going to be a grind in the Emerald City as our Hawks fight to prove themselves in a tough division. We’ll be watching every snap, hoping for that turnaround!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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