Category: NFC West news

NFC West news: 49ers fire defensive coordinator after 1 year again

The 49ers, an NFC west rival of the Cardinals, is looking for a new defensive coordinator for the third offseason in a row.

While there have been no reports of any changes on the Arizona Cardinals’ coaching staff, there is movement around the NFC West. Two teams in the division have dismissed at least one of their coordinators. The San Francisco 49ers, for the second offseason in a row, have let their defensive coordinator go after only one season. This year, it is Nick Sorensen, who was hired to replace former Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks, who was canned after only one season in 2023.

The 49ers finished a disappointing 6-11 after making the Super Bowl last season.

Defensively, they fell apart late in the year, culminating in a 47-24 loss to the Cardinals.

Overall in 2024, the 49ers had a top-10 defense, ranking eighth in yards allowed, but they allowed the fourth-most points in the league, giving up 25.6 points per game, and allowing 29 or more in five of their final seven games.

They were No. 5 against the pass and 18th against the run, but opponents rushed for 152.8 yards per game over the final four games of the season and 152.6 over the final seven.

The 49ers reportedly would like to retain Sorensen on the staff, just not as the leader of the defense.

While Arizona’s defense is expected to maintain its defensive staff, the 49ers have added yet another question to answer in their offseason.

In addition to firing Sorensen, the Niners also fired special teams coordinator Brain Schneider, giving them two coordinators their must replace in the offseason.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

NFC West news: Seahawks need new OC after firing Ryan Grubb

The Seahawks are one of two teams in the NFC West who must hire a new coordinator.

The NFC West has two teams looking for new coordinators. One is the Seattle Seahawks, who beat the Arizona Cardinals twice in 2024.

After one season as offensive coordinator, Ryan Grubb was fired by head coach Mike Macdonald.

The Seahawks finished 14th in the league in total offense and 18th in points scored. They were eighth in passing offense but 28th in rushing offense.

Quarterback Geno Smith finished the season with 4,320 passing yards, No. 4 in the NFL. He had 21 touchdown passes but 15 interceptions, the most he has thrown in a season since his rookie season in 2013 when he threw 21 with the New York Jets.

For the Cardinals’ division rival, it means searching for someone new to lead he offense and perhaps a new offensive philosophy to install in the offseason.

Seattle has many questions to answer in the offseason, including whether they will continue with Smith as their quarterback, as he enters the final year of his contract.

But the dismissal of Grubb adds yet another question to answer.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Commanders’ OT win over Falcons gives Rams NFC West title

The 10-6 Rams don’t even need a win in Week 18 as they clinched a strength of victory tiebreaker over the Seahawks.

The NFC West has been decided. It will not come down to a Week 18 showdown between the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks.

Thanks to an overtime touchdown pass from Jayden Daniels to former Cardinals tight end Zach Ertz, the Washington Commanders beat the Atlanta Falcons 30-24, clinching a playoff spot for themselves and gave the Rams the NFC West division title.

The Rams win the division having clinched the strength of victory tiebreaker.

Entering the week, if they beat the Cardinals (they did 13-9 on Saturday night), they needed a total of 3.5 wins between the Vikings, Bills, 49ers, Commanders, Bengals and Browns to clinch strength of victory.

The Vikings, Bills, Commanders and Bengals all won, so even if the Rams lose to Seattle in Week 18, they would own that tiebreaker, as they would be tied head-to-head, in division and conference records.

It is the Rams’ first division title since 2021 but their fourth in the last eight seasons and gives them a playoff trip for the second straight year, the fourth time in five years and sixth in the last eight.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Rams close to clinching NFC West after Week 16 win

The Rams were the only team in the NFC West to win in Week 16 and have a one-game lead over Seattle.

The NFC West did not have a good Sunday in Week 16. Only the Los Angeles Rams won their game, and they are close to locking up the division.

The Rams are 9-6 and have a one-game lead over the Seattle Seahawks, the only team left with a shot at winning the division.

The Arizona Cardinals were eliminated from contention and the San Francisco 49ers lost again.

NFC West standings, Week 17

  1. Los Angeles Rams, 9-6
  2. Seattle Seahawks, 8-7
  3. Arizona Cardinals, 7-8
  4. San Francisco 49ers, 6-9

The Rams beat the New York Jets 19-9 behind running back Kyren Williams’ 122 yards and a touchdown.

The Seahawks got three touchdown passes from Geno Smith, but he was also picked off twice. Sam Darnold threw three touchdown passes for the Minnesota Vikings in a 27-24 win.

The Niners lost 29-17 to the Miami Dolphins Sunday night. Brock Purdy had two touchdown passes but was picked off once, while the Dolphins rushed for 166 yards.

The Rams and Cardinals play in California Saturday night. The Seahawks are on the road Thursday night against the 4-11 Chicago Bears.

The 49ers are at home against the Detroit Lions playing Monday night.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

What help could the Cardinals use in the NFC West race?

Cardinals fans should root for the Jets over the Rams and the Vikings over the Seahawks in Week 16.

The Arizona Cardinals are 7-7 and in third place in the NFC West, behind both the 8-6 Los Angeles Rams and 8-6 Seattle Seahawks. The Cardinals hope to improve to 8-7 with a win on the road over the Carolina Panthers.

They could use some help this week in Week 16.

The Rams are on the road against the New York Jets. A Cardinals win and Rams loss move the Cardinals ahead of them before they play each other on Saturday in Week 17.

The Seahawks are at home against the 12-2 Minnesota Vikings.

If the Rams and Seahawks lose, and the Cardinals bet the Panthers, all three will be 8-7. Seattle will hold the tiebreaker over the other two for the moment.

So in Week 16, Cardinals fans should be big fans of Aaron Rodgers and the Jets, as well as Sam Darnold and the Vikings.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Cardinals get help they need in NFC West race in Week 15

They pulled within a game of the Rams and Seahawks in Week 15.

The Arizona Cardinals, following three consecutive losses after their bye week, did what they needed to stay alive in the race for the NFC West division title. They also needed help.

They got the help they needed.

They beat the New England Patriots 30-17 to even their record to 7-7.

The Seattle Seahawks lost at home to the Green Bay Packers 30-13 on Sunday night, dropping them to 8-6.

With the L.A. Rams’ 12-6 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday, improving to 8-6, they actually took over the NFC West lead, as they hold a head-to-head tiebreaker over the Seahawks.

So the Rams and Seahawks are 8-6, while the Cardinals are 7-7 and a game behind with three games remaining in the season.

The 49ers are in last place at 6-8.

The Cardinals will face the Rams in Week 17 on the road and the Niners at home in Week 18. They have the 3-11 Carolina Panthers this coming Sunday.

The Seahawks host the 11-2 Minnesota Vikings this weekend and wrap up the season on the road against the Chicago Bears and Rams.

The Rams face the New York Jets on the road this weekend and then host the Cardinals and Seahawks to close out the season.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Cardinals need win, Seahawks loss in Week 15

For the Cardinals to keep pace in the NFC West race, they need a win over the Pats and Seattle to lose to Green Bay.

The NFC West division race is red-hot. The Arizona Cardinals, though, are ice cold entering Week 15, having lost three straight games and dropping to third place after being in the division lead just three weeks ago.

The Seattle Seahawks sit in the lead now at 8-5. The Los Angeles Rams improved to 8-6 with a 12-6 road win over the San Francisco 49ers.

The Cardinals face the 3-10 New England Patriots at home and Seattle hosts the 9-4 Green Bay Packers Sunday night.

The Cardinals need a win and a Seattle loss to keep things tight.

In that scenario, the Rams would lead the division, holding a tiebreaker over an 8-6 Seahawks, and the Cardinals would trail by a game.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Cardinals keep losing tiebreakers for playoff scenarios

The Commanders, Packers, Vikings and Seahawks all hold head-to-head tiebreakers over the Cardinals.

The Arizona Cardinals have lost three straight games and have fallen to 6-7 on the season entering Week 15 after their most recent 30-18 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. They are in third place in the NFC West and only “in the mix” in the NFC playoff picture.

With four games to go, they have a tough road and it is made more difficult by the fact that they keep losing tiebreakers.

Four teams in the NFC playoff race hold head-to-head tiebreakers over the Cardinals:

  • Washington Commanders
  • Green Bay Packers
  • Minnesota Vikings
  • Seattle Seahawks

The Vikings no longer matter because, with 11 wins, the Cardinals cannot catch them in the wild card race. They now have a max of 10 wins possible.

The Cardinals now must finish with an outright better record than Seattle to win the division.

They must finish with a better record than Washington or Green Bay to be a wild card team over them.

Green Bay already has nine wins, so they can’t win again if the Cardinals are to pass them, and Washington has eight, so they can only win one more with the Cardinals winning their final four.

With upcoming games against the L.A. Rams and San Francisco 49ers, both of whom the Cardinals beat earlier this season, they have the chance to own head-to-head tiebreakers over them, should that come into play.

But unfortunately, the five losses to those four teams will complicate their postseason hopes tremendously.

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Cardinals lose ground in NFC West with loss to Vikings

The Cardinals now trail the Seahawks by a full game after losing on Sunday and the Seahawks beating the Jets.

The Arizona Cardinals entered Week 13 tied with the Seattle Seahawks at 6-5 atop the NFC West, although Seattle held a head-to-head tiebreaker to be the leader.

After games in Week 13, the Cardinals lost ground.

They blew a 13-point second-half lead on Sunday, falling 23-22 to the Minnesota Vikings, falling to 6-6.

What made things worse was seeing the Seattle Seahawks rally back from 14-0 and 21-7 deficits to beat the New York Jets 26-21, improving them to 7-5.

The Cardinals are now a full game behind Seattle in the division and have a critical game home against them next week. Win and they eliminate the tiebreaker. Lose and they will be essentially three games behind because of the two-game lead and head-to-head tiebreaker.

The Cardinals can’t afford to lose three in a row after winning four straight.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Cardinals kept themselves from perfect NFC West weekend

The Cardinals had the help they needed from the Eagles and Packers. They didn’t take care of their own business with the Seahawks.

The Arizona Cardinals could have had a perfect Week 12 in the NFC West. Depending on the outcomes of their game with the Seattle Seahawks and the games the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams had, they could have extended their lead in the division over all them.

A win over the Seahawks and a loss by the 49ers and Rams would have given Arizona a two-game lead over everyone, sitting at 7-4 with the rest of the division at 5-6.

The 49ers, playing without QB Brock Purdy, LT Trent Williams, DE Nick Bosa and CB Charvarius Ward, were blown out by the Green Bay Packers 38-10. The Rams gave up 255 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns to RB Saquon Barkley in a 37-20 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

However, Arizona couldn’t do their job. They lost to Seattle 16-6, failing to score a touchdown and mustering only 298 total yards.

Now the Seahawks and Cardinals are both 6-5 but Seattle holds a head-to-head tiebreaker over Arizona, putting them in first place.

Arizona and Seattle are both on the road in Week 13. The Cardinals face the 9-2 Minnesota Vikings, while the Seahawks take on the 3-8 New York Jets.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.