After just one brutal week of NFL action, the San Francisco 49ers have already jumped from third to first in the NFC West odds, vaulting past our Super Bowl-winning Seattle Seahawks who were previously considered the frontrunners for the division. Yeah, you read that right. The NFC West went 3-1 overall, with the only loss being the Los Angeles Rams to the 49ers in Australia, a shocker that’s shaking up the early season picture big time.
NFC West Odds Just Got Flipped Upside Down
Let’s be real, going into Week 1, many didn’t have faith in the 49ers, especially after the Rams loaded up on star talent in the offseason and were pegged as Super Bowl favorites. Our own Seahawks were also considered above the 49ers for both the NFC West crown and the Super Bowl. But then San Francisco went out and hammered the Rams 27-7, flexing their potential when their core guys are healthy. ESPN’s numbers prove it: the 49ers shot up from third to first in NFC West odds, climbing to +160. Our Seahawks are now right behind them at +175, and those “Super Bowl favorite” Rams? They’ve plummeted to third in the division at +205 after starting the season hovering around +100. Talk about a wild, early-season swing, huh?
Super Bowl Hopes and Early Injury Hits
But hey, don’t hit the panic button on our Super Bowl aspirations just yet, 12s! The big picture still looks incredibly good for the Emerald City. Oddsmakers don’t see the Rams winning the NFC West, but they DO still have them as the odds-on favorite to win the Super Bowl at +650. The 49ers, meanwhile, are tied for the fifth-best odds with the Kansas City Chiefs at +1400. But who’s ahead of them? The Baltimore Ravens (+900), Buffalo Bills (+950), and, you guessed it, *our Seattle Seahawks* at a strong +1100! That’s right, we’re still looking better than the 49ers for the ultimate prize, sitting third best overall in the league. When it comes to making the Super Bowl out of the NFC, LA is favored at +455, with the 49ers jumping to second at +550, and our Seahawks right there, still a formidable third, at +580. Early injuries are already playing a huge part. The Rams are without star pass rusher Myles Garrett for at least a month, and Aaron Donald has yet to even play. And then there’s the big one for us: our own QB, Sam Darnold, is dealing with a hip injury and will be out, meaning Drew Lock is stepping in as the starter for the upcoming weeks. The 49ers have dealt with their own mass of injuries, with guys like Ricky Pearsall and Alfred Collins out for the season, but their core group of stars was all healthy for Week 1.
Emerald City Showdown on the Horizon
So, what’s next for our Super Bowl-winning squad? San Francisco will play three straight home games before they roll into our house, Lumen Field, for a massive Week 5 clash against our Seahawks. That game is going to be HUGE, a true turning point that could completely shift the division odds one way or another. And here’s the kicker: that Week 5 showdown could also be right around when Sam Darnold makes his return to the field. You KNOW the 12s will be ready to roar for that one, loud enough to shake the entire Emerald City. Let’s get it, Seattle! We’ve got a long season ahead, and these early challenges are just fuel for the fire!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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