The NFC West has had a rather peculiar history. Over the years, this division has gone from being one of the worst in NFL history – producing the first sub-.500 division champion – to being arguably the best for several seasons now.
The NFC West has also produced a large number of championship-caliber teams that have gone on to compete in the Super Bowl, despite featuring some of the most geographically isolated franchises in the league. Since the 2001 season, the division has seen all four teams reach the biggest stage in the game.
In fact, the NFC West has had representation an astonishing eight times in the Super Bowl during this span, which is second only to the AFC East – with all its representation coming from the Patriots.
Unfortunately, hardly any those trips to the Super Bowl have been fruitful for those teams. While the NFC West has produced eight conference champions, only one team – the 2013 Seattle Seahawks – managed to take home the Lombardi Trophy. With seven losses, the West also claims the title of most Super Bowl defeats out of any division since 2001.
The Seahawks, Rams and 49ers have all lost the big game twice, with San Francisco being the latest casualty in its 31-20 defeat to the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV. Meanwhile, the Cardinals lost during their only trip back in 2008 during Super Bowl XLII.
While 12s are still likely disappointed in the Super Bowl XLIX loss to the aforementioned Patriots, there is still plenty of rightfully placed gratitude in seizing their opportunity with a Super Bowl XLVIII title. Getting to a Super Bowl is challenging enough, winning is even harder, and returning is a nearly herculean effort.
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