After their Super Bowl LIV appearance, the San Francisco 49ers entered into the season as faves in the NFC West. However injuries and COVID problems have actually led them to a 5-8 document until now, good enough for last location in the division.
They can conceivably climb up out of the cellar and also even make the playoffs, but a department title is off the table. The Arizona Cardinals, at 7-6, have battled. But their playoff hopes are a little more vibrant. Both groups can likewise play spoiler to the department leaders.
Now, the NFC West actually comes down to the division-leading Los Angeles Rams and also Seattle Seahawks, both at 9-4. The Rams hold the sudden death by virtue of their gain the Seahawks a month back. The 2 teams will meet once again in the second-to-last week of the season. That game could determine the division.
There’s still a lot of football to be played in the NFC West. As well as Week 15 pits three of the division’s groups against teams from the NFC East. CBS San Francisco sporting activities support Dennis O’Donnell takes a look at the division’s competitions.
San Francisco 49ers @ Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, December 20 @ 1:00 p.m. (CBS)
The 49ers and also Cowboys both enter this game without their starting quarterbacks. Jimmy Garoppolo is recouping from an ankle strain that might maintain him out the remainder of the period. Dak Prescott damaged his ankle in Week 5, which sidelined him for the season too. The quarterback bet both groups has actually been spotty sometimes in their corresponding lacks.
Nick Mullens is getting great deals of yards via the air, averaging 268.8 lawns per game in his last four begins. He’s likewise transforming the ball over. “Nick Mullens, 7 turnovers in his last four video games,” O’Donnell explains. “The 49ers, as you recognize, annihilated by injuries, like the Cowboys are. The 49ers, I feel, are going in the incorrect direction. The end of the season can not obtain below quickly enough. The Niners are actually two-point faves in this video game. But no Deebo Samuel, so Mullens, that struggled recently versus Washington, is mosting likely to have a hard time again, I assume.”
The Cowboys boast a substandard protection, even if they’re decent versus the pass. And also they surrender a league-worst 30.8 points per video game. “The key for me, look out for a little vengeance aspect,” claims O’Donnell. “Aldon Smith (former 49er), 78-yard goal return recently for the Cowboys. Three first-half turn overs.”
Their offense is much better, though they clearly miss out on Prescott. The advantage is that back-up Andy Dalton is a seasoned quarterback with a record of success. “The Cowboys looked truly great, 30-7 over Cincinnati,” O’Donnell notes. “Andy Dalton looked like the old Bengals quarterback because game.”
The Cowboys success in Week 15 need to be taken with a grain of salt, naturally. The Bengals are the worst group in the NFL not called Jets or Jaguars. And also they were without rookie quarterback Joe Burrow.
Philadelphia Eagles @ Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, December 20 @ 4:05 p.m. (FOX)
The Eagles benched the struggling Carson Wentz last week, in favor of Jalen Hurts. And also the action appeared to pay returns. Philly knocked off the NFC South-leading Saints, 24-21, to get their 4th win. Harms just masqueraded 167 yards. But he had not been sacked at all, which is saying something provided the Eagles lead the NFL in sacks allowed. Injures likewise ran for 106 yards, with Miles Sanders including an additional 115 yards, though the majority of that came on one play. The infraction seemed invigorated.
This week Hurts will certainly face Kyler Murray, another dual-threat quarterback that’s succeeded running the football sometimes. “Both of those quarterbacks are from Oklahoma,” O’Donnell mentions. “Both enjoy to run the football. Kyler Murray over 700 yards hurrying, behind Lamar Jackson. Jalen Hurts, in his very first begin at quarterback, ran for over 100 yards. The only various other quarterback to do that in his first start in NFL background, certainly, Lamar Jackson.”
The Cardinals may resort to a more pass-heavy method however. The Eagles starting cornerbacks both could be out for Week 15. Darius Slay has a trauma as well as is still undergoing the procedure. Avonte Maddox has a knee injury. Neither exercised yesterday.
” I think the Cardinals, go to the air,” claims O’Donnell. They need to win this game.”
The Cardinals have lost three of their last 4 games and locate themselves on the playoff bubble. “I think, Murray, despite a shoulder injury, annihilates the Eagles by the air, not the ground,” says O’Donnell.
Seattle Seahawks @ Washington Football Team, Sunday, December 20 @ 1:00 p.m. (FOX)
The Seahawks and Washington offer an intriguing matchup. Both teams require one more win as they push towards the playoffs. The 9-4 Seahawks did it on infraction last week, taking down the unlucky New York Jets, 40-3. Washington depended more on defense in their 23-15 sway the 49ers.
” I believe Washington really looked great versus the 49ers last weekend,” claims O’Donnell. “They distress San Francisco. It was done largely on the defensive side of the sphere. Chase Young is outstanding. His first half statistics … four deals with, a quarterback hit, one sack, one compelled fumble and a touchdown. That person was a one-man wrecking crew. Washington had 2 defensive goals against San Francisco.”
Russell Wilson is a much different quarterback from 49ers backup Mullens. Wilson is the NFL’s third-leading passer to day, with 3,685 lawns and also 36 goal passes so far this season. He’s likewise been sacked 40 times, which is the 2nd most behind only Wentz. On the other hand, Washington’s pass defense permits only 206.3 yards per game as well as has actually sacked the quarterback 40 times, both among the best total amounts in the organization.
Wilson is definitely trustworthy in taking out close video games. As well as this matchup assures to be tight. It all might pivot on the availability of Washington QB Alex Smith, that is a little banged up. “One word of care, Alex Smith did not exercise on Wednesday,” O’Donnell notes. “We do not understand about a condition for Sunday’s game.”
New York Jets @ Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, December 20 @ 4:05 p.m. (FOX)
The winless Jets are creeping to the goal as well as the leading pick in next year’s NFL Draft. Getting a win in their last three games seems not likely, though theoretically feasible. Could it be available in Week 15, versus the top group in the NFC West?
According to O’Donnell, “there is no chance. The Jets are primarily last in every possible offending category you can think about.”
Amongst the top-line group statistics, that includes complete lawns per game (269.8) and also points per video game (14.1 ). Those numbers aren’t most likely to improve a lot against one of the NFL’s much better defenses. The Rams allow the fewest total yards per video game (285.8) and also the third-fewest factors (18.9 ).
” The Rams are preferred by 17 points in this football game,” O’Donnell mentions. “The Rams aren’t going to shed. They’re atop the NFC West with the sudden death. So the Rams win this conveniently. The Jets had their ideal chance a number of weeks ago against the Raiders, that won it on the final play of the video game.”