3 reasons the Rams definitely return to the playoffs in 2019

2. State of the NFC West

For the past few seasons, the Seattle Seahawks have more or less owned the NFC West. The Arizona Cardinals have had their moments of glory while the San Francisco 49ers and Rams have been more of an afterthought. Heading into next season, it’s like the West had been thrown into the UpSide Down from Strangers Things because on paper, the Rams are the best team right now.

The Seahawks suddenly look like a team that has quite a few cracks in their armor. Past quarterback Russell Wilson, the offense lacks much of a calling card. Doug Baldwin is a very good wide receiver but is the only reliable threat. Tight end Jimmy Graham might be gone and they have no running back or offensive line. The defense faces a lot of hard calls on some high-priced veteran players. Seattle could look dramatically different in 2018, and not for the better.

Arizona is on the hunt for a new coach and quarterback. While running back David Johnson could help ease the transition, this offense still isn’t in a great spot. The defense has several great players led by cornerback Patrick Peterson and fairly average players after that. There’s an argument to be made they will need at least one or two seasons of rebuilding before they can compete again.

Lastly, the San Francisco 49ers have seen their rebuild timeline accelerated by the arrival of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. He played fantastic down the stretch and the future is extremely bright. Still, they might have too many holes to plug up and make a playoff run next year. This franchise was in ruin last season. The Rams and their startling return to prominence is the exception, not the rule. As things stand before the offseason, they have the most talent and will be the defending NFC West champions. A core group of Jared Goff, Aaron Donald, Todd Gurley, and Sean Mcvay is a great foundation. It should be their division to win again next season.