The competition for the 2025 NFC West title has emerged as one of the fiercest in NFL history, with the stakes rising as the playoffs advance into the second week. ESPN Insights indicates that this year’s NFC West is among an elite group of divisions that have seen three teams reach the Divisional Round of the playoffs, a feat achieved only by the 2022 NFC East, 1997 NFL Central, and 1992 NFC East since the league’s merger in 1970.
This season stands out as the only instance where all three playoff teams in the NFC West, namely the Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams, and San Francisco 49ers, finished the regular season with ten or more wins. As the playoff picture unfolds, here’s how the teams from this historic season are faring:
– Seattle Seahawks: 14-3 (will face San Francisco in the Divisional Round)
– Los Angeles Rams: 12-5 (set to battle Chicago in the Divisional Round)
– San Francisco 49ers: 12-5 (scheduled to clash with Seattle in the Divisional Round)
When compared to teams from previous competitive divisions, this NFC West cohort is making its mark. In 2022, the Philadelphia Eagles, 14-3, reached Super Bowl LVII but fell short against the Kansas City Chiefs. Additionally, the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants also made playoff appearances, although they were unable to progress beyond the Divisional Round.
Reflecting on earlier years, the 1998 season saw a strong showing from the Green Bay Packers, who made it to Super Bowl XXXII, alongside notable teams from that year’s 1992 and 1993 divisions. However, the current NFC West is on track to break a longstanding trend: no intra-division rivals have faced off in an NFC Championship since the NFL’s merger.
With the Seahawks having clinched the NFC West title, they now navigate the critical challenge of defeating the 49ers once more in the playoffs, while also having an eye on potential matchups in the NFC Championship. This year’s playoff journey inside the NFC West has proven to be a relentless contest, with every team vying for an easier path to the conference title.
Seattle, having earned the bye week and the coveted No. 1 seed, will look to cement its status at the pinnacle of the conference amidst one of the most competitive seasons in memory. The anticipation and drama surrounding this division only adds to the excitement of the playoffs, and fans can expect a captivating matchup moving forward.