Four reasons the Rams are best in the NFC West and may be for awhile

The Seattle Seahawks were hard to figure for a good part of the season. While many saw them as something of a dark horse in 2018, they were never a serious threat in the NFC West or to the Los Angeles Rams.

The once standard bearer for the division and perennial Super Bowl contender saw the baton shift to the Rams in 2017. While some, me included, saw this season as something closer to a rebuild, the Seahawks saw a run of six wins interrupted by a lone overtime loss to division rival San Francisco in Week 15.

Seattle saw 2018 begin to turn to better times in mid November with a 27-24 win over the Green Bay Packers. At that time, they were upside down at 5-4 and on track for anything but a playoff appearance. Instead head coach Pete Carroll, a legitimate candidate for Coach Of The Year honors, got it turned around. They’d go on to win five of their last six games and secure a spot against the Dallas Cowboys in the playoffs.

As for what happens beyond this season is anyone’s guess. With a still very good quarterback in Russell Wilson, the opportunity to be a fixture in the postseason remains very good. But top to bottom their talent level remains second best, at best, to the Rams. While Los Angeles has their own issues on defense, they still were good enough to only lose three games.

Seattle was a nice story in the division, but it’s hard to imagine a scenario short of the Rams completely breaking down, where they take over the top spot again in the NFC West.