The Seattle Seahawks are flying high and continue their hot streak as they improved to 5-0 for the first time in franchise history with a 27-26 win over the Minnesota Vikings.
The Seahawks are firmly in the driver’s seat for the NFC West as they look to secure their first division title since 2016. However, despite the five-game win streak to start the season, there is still little margin for error.
The NFC West is referred to as the best division in the league for a reason, as there is still plenty of stiff competition. Here is how the rest of the West fared in Week 5.
Los Angeles Rams – Won @ Washington Football Team, 30-10
Many pegged the Rams to be in the midst of a rebuilding year as they had parted ways with several high profile players due to salary cap woes. People figured the 49ers, not Los Angeles, would prove to be Seattle’s toughest roadblock.
Instead, it is the Rams who are in hot pursuit of the Seahawks, sitting at 4-1. Los Angeles has looked good, but admittedly it might be a tad hard to gauge just how formidable the team is. The Rams’ four wins come against the dreadful NFC East, and their one loss is to the only team they have faced with a winning record – the undefeated Bills.
Then again, the Rams would have likely won the game against the Bills were it not for a controversial pass interference call late.
Arizona Cardinals – Won @ New York Jets, 30-10
The Cardinals stumbled a bit in recent weeks, losing back-to-back games to the Lions and Panthers, two of the worst teams in the league.
Arizona found the best remedy for a losing streak there is by playing the abysmal Jets and got back on track with a 20-point win.
The Cardinals faced little resistance from Gang Green, just like every opponent who plays New York this year. Arizona sits firmly in third place with a 3-2 record.
San Francisco 49ers – Lost vs Miami Dolphins, 43-17
The upset of the week firmly belongs to the Dolphins who pulverized the reigning NFC Champions in their own building. The Dolphins came out white-hot and completely punked the Niners.
It was the most points allowed by an opponent in the history of Levi Stadium. San Francisco looked completely lost, and even quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was benched at halftime after completing only 7 of 17 passes for 77 yards, no touchdowns and two picks as the Niners fell behind 30-7 at the break.
The Niners have had a string of injuries, but their early-season collapse is more than just being short-handed at the defensive line. This is a full-blown Super Bowl hangover.
Last year, San Francisco only lost three regular-season games. Through five weeks, the 49ers have matched last season’s loss total and at 2-3 reside all by themselves in the NFC West basement.
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