Rams face uphill battle while 49ers get cakewalk path to NFC West crown

The Los Angeles Rams came oh so close to making it to yet another NFC Championship Game a season ago, but ultimately, it wasn't meant to be. Meanwhile, the San Francisco 49ers struggled to keep up and finished last in the NFC West for the first time since 2020.

While it was comical to watch the Niners flounder following their Super Bowl appearance the season prior, the unfortunate reality is that now they'll be rewarded with an easy schedule. It honestly might be too easy, or at least that's how 49ers reporter Tim Kawakami views it.

While appearing on the Willard and Dibs Show on 95.7 The Game in the Bay Area, Kawakami discussed what the 2025 season could look like for the Niners. He seemed optimistic that the Rams' most hated rival could win at least 11 games thanks to how easy their schedule is.

"They've got such an easy schedule that, even getting rid of all these solid players and possibly risking some very thin position groups," Kawakami said. "They still might win 11 games... this is the easiest schedule I've ever seen the 49ers have."

Rams fans won't be happy to hear what 49ers reporter thinks about upcoming season

The good news here is that the NFC West plays a lot of the same teams. Every team plays each other twice (once at home and once on the road) and the division also faces the AFC South and NFC South this year, arguably the two worst divisions in the NFL. That works out in the Rams' favor as well.

As we know though, with the Rams winning the division a season ago, that means they'll be tasked with playing a first-place schedule while the 49ers will get a last-place schedule. While the Rams are going to have to face the likes of the Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions, and Philadelphia Eagles, the 49ers will get the Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, and New York Giants. That's a huge swing in competition.

Considering the 49ers (as much as this will pain Rams fans to acknowledge) have been a Super Bowl contender more often than not under Kyle Shanahan, giving them that easy of a schedule makes it feel imminent that they'll be the frontrunners to steal back the division in 2025. The Rams aren't necessarily a stranger to playing a tougher schedule, however, and they'll definitely be more prepared for tougher competition come playoff time.

With that said, don't be shocked if the 49ers are on cruise control this year, thanks in part to their cakewalk of a schedule.