Fresh off a breakout year for Sean McVay and the Rams, the hype is real in Los Angeles. People are excited about this team, and they should be. They have a lot of the pieces of a Super Bowl team.

First Team All-Pro and Offensive Player of the Year Todd Gurley will be key to their success, the third year running back piled up 2,093 scrimmage yards and lead the league with 19 touchdowns. Elsewhere on the offense, Jared Goff has a new toy in Brandin Cooks, who was New England’s top wide receiver last season. When you add that to Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp. Goff will have many options when looking to offload the football.

In 2017, LA also had the Defensive Player of the Year in Aaron Donald. The interior defensive lineman is a factor in every game and his speed off the line of scrimmage and ability to change direction is second to none for a man of his size. He helped the Rams to finish fourth in the NFL in sacks with 48.

Clearly not a team to rest on their laurels, they wasted no time adding in more talent on defence by picking up three-time First Team All-Pro defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh to partner up with Donald on the interior. They also traded for veteran cornerback Aqib Talib, who has lead the league in interceptions since he entered the NFL, and young Marcus Peters, who has had the most interceptions since he entered the league too, so expect the pair to be in competition for who can take the ball away more.

San Francisco 49ers

Last season: 6-10

Coach: Kyle Shanahan

Super Bowl odds: 28/1 | Division odds 3/1

Speaking of hype, the 49ers must be the most hyped 6-10 team in NFL history since trading for Patriots back-up Jimmy Garoppolo, the team managed to get the W in every game he started, and previous to that they had lost five games by three points or less. Kyle Shanahan’s explosive offensive scheme made an impact and could transform the offence into the powerhouse he possessed at Atlanta.

The 49ers brought in former Vikings running back Jerrick McKinnon but they suffered a huge blow when he was ruled out for the season with a torn ACL. Matt Breida is the next man up but they have also signed Alfred Morris, so keep an eye on Morris, as Shanahan worked with him previously in Washington.

On defence, Richard Sherman adds a much needed veteran presence to the defensive backfield, and will welcome a very similar scheme to that of the one he played in at Seattle, mainly due to the fact that 49ers defensive co-ordinator, Robert Salah, was “Defensive Quality Control Coach” at Seattle when they won the Super Bowl. San Francisco will be without second year star linebacker Reuben Foster for the first two games due to suspension but Foster was a bright spark on a poor defence last year so expect big plays from him again.

Three former first round picks on the defensive line would normally be a force on any team, but with constant coaching changes come scheme changes and this has led to the 49ers lacking a pure pass rusher. They are hoping to turn Arik Armstead into this player but he struggled with it last year, with a drop in weight however he may be able to adapt his game better this season.

Seattle Seahawks

Last season: 9-7

Coach: Pete Carroll

Super Bowl odds: 33/1 | Division odds 9/2

Last season was a one-man show for the Seahawks with Russell Wilson accounting for 37 of the team's 43 total touchdowns. Wilson will need some help around him if the Seahawks wish to get back to where they were just a few years ago.

However, unfortunately it seems the opposite is in the mix. They lost TD machine Jimmy Graham, who led the league in red zone targets with 26, 10 of which were caught for touchdowns. The offensive line has struggled for years but luckily they benefit from the most elusive QB in the league.

On the defensive side of the ball, Richard Sherman, Cliff Avril, Kam Chancellor & Michael Bennett were all top level starters that are no longer on the team. Losing four of your best starting players is a tough transition for any team, but they will see some silver lining that arguably the top two players on their defense, Earl Thomas and Bobby Wagner, are still (for now) in Seattle.

They will need young players to step up, but on the offense they still have Doug Baldwin, and anytime you have Russell Wilson you have a chance, given how many touchdowns he can contribute.

Arizona Cardinals

Last season: 8-8

Coach: Steven Wilks

Super Bowl odds: 150/1 | Division odds 10/1

A change in coach and quarterback is a test for any organization. Arizona may look on the downturn but don’t be so quick to assume it’s all doom and gloom. They have the return of David Johnson to look forward to, who was an MVP candidate the season before his horrific injury. They went after QB Sam Bradford who had an encouraging season in 2016, before missing most of 2017 to injury.

Not just looking at this season, they took first round QB Josh Rosen in the draft as well, it always helps to have a quality back-up when you have a QB as injury prone as Bradford. Arizona added another WR for whichever QB is at the helm with Texas A&M second round pick Christian Kirk.

On defence they have NFL sack leader from last year Chandler Jones, top-five cornerback Patrick Peterson and hybrid safety/linebacker Deon Bucannon, but they struggle for the depth on defence that a team like the Rams have.

It won’t be an easy season for the Cardinals but if it all falls into place they could find themselves in a respectable position, and it will likely come down to which defence plays better between them and the Seahawks.

Verdict

Jared Goff should be celebrating another NFC West title this season

The Rams were such a good team to watch last season and they're going all-out to try and get to the Super Bowl by adding even more quality that makes them too much for the rest of the NFC West to handle as they're tipped to top the division again.

The much-hyped San Francisco 49ers have the unbeaten Jimmy Garoppolo but that record obviously won't last and while they've got issues elsewhere they have fewer than the Seahawks and Cardinals so can win the race for second and a possible wild card berth.

Seattle's Legion of Boom defence has disbanded but Russell Wilson always gives them a chance to win games, but only enough to finish third here with Arizona propping up the table.

NFC West preview: Prediction & best bets for Rams, 49ers, Seahawks & Cardinals in the NFL

Predicted Finish:

LA Rams

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Arizona Cardinals

Verdict

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