Fansided

San Francisco 49ers will win the NFC West in 2020, and here’s 5 reasons why

By Nicholas McGee

SEATTLE, WA - DECEMBER 29: Dre Greenlaw #57 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after stopping Jacob Hollister #48 of the Seattle Seahawks short of the goal line during the game at CenturyLink Field on December 29, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. The 49ers defeated the Seahawks 26-21. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - DECEMBER 29: Dre Greenlaw #57 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after stopping Jacob Hollister #48 of the Seattle Seahawks short of the goal line during the game at CenturyLink Field on December 29, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. The 49ers defeated the Seahawks 26-21. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 08: Head coach Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams looks on from the sidelines during the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 08: Head coach Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams looks on from the sidelines during the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

2. A lack of improvement from division foes

While much is expected of the Cardinals and dark-horse MVP candidate Kyler Murray in 2020, the only area in which any of the Niners’ NFC West rivals made a tangible improvement was in Arizona’s acquisition of All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

Hopkins’ arrival should make an already extremely promising offense that much more potent. Yet, despite the selection of unicorn Isaiah Simmons in the draft, the Cardinals still look extremely vulnerable on defense.

Their shortcomings on that side of the ball are likely to be what hold the Cardinals back from challenging for the division crown, and it is tough to see where the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams got better.

Seattle is still short at edge rusher, with Jadeveon Clowney somehow remaining unsigned despite the impact he had in inspiring the Seahawks’ Week 10 overtime win over the Niners last year.

Opinion is split on the draft of the Rams and it is debatable whether running back Cam Akers and wide receiver Van Jefferson can spark an offense that went stale in 2019 after being the toast of the league in 2018. Much will depend on an offensive line undone by injuries and poor play last season, but the smart money is on the Niners having the edge in the trenches against that group and the rest of the division.