Week 10 NFC West Roundup

The most lopsided division in football can finally be put to bed this week. Regardless of when the Los Angeles Rams clinch the NFC West, I’ll continue to write up these recaps. Every game for the rest of the season will matter to the Seattle Seahawks, who are currently on the outside looking in. And the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers have to play games as well, so keep reading these if schadenfreude is your thing.

Los Angeles Rams 36, Seattle Seahawks 31

Seahawks Leaders

Passing: Russell Wilson 17-26, 178 yards, 3 TDs
Rushing: Rashaad Penny 12 carries, 108 yards, 1 TD
Receiving: Tyler Lockett 5 catches, 67 yards, 1 TD

The Seahawks (4-5) have dropped two games in a row after winning 4 of their prior 5. Their 31 points matches their season high set against the Rams in Week 5, but their defense was their undoing. The Rams had no issue moving the ball against a depleted Seahawks defense, amassing 456 yards and scoring on 7 of their 9 drives. The lone turnover on the day was a backbreaking Russell Wilson fumble forced and recovered by recently acquired Dante Fowler and set up a quick Rams touchdown to go up 36-24.

Next for Seattle: vs. Green Bay Packers on Thursday Night Football

Kansas City Chiefs 26, Arizona Cardinals 14

Cardinals Leaders

Passing: Josh Rosen 22-39, 208 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
Rushing: David Johnson 21 carries, 98 yards, 1 TD
Receiving: David Johnson 7 catches, 85 yards, 1 TD

The Cardinals (2-7) tried their best to slow down the high-octane Chiefs offense. They held the ball for nearly two-thirds of the second half, including a 12-play drive that took more than half of the 3rd quarter. To the Cardinals’ credit, they held the Chiefs to a season-low 26 points. The Cardinals’ offense, however, couldn’t take advantage of the Chiefs’ 25th ranked defense according to Football Outsiders’ DVOA, scoring only 14 points and committing two turnovers.

Next for Arizona: vs. Oakland Raiders

New York Giants 27, San Francisco 49ers 23

49ers Leaders

Passing: Nick Mullens 27-39, 250 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
Rushing: Matt Breida 17 carries, 101 yards, 1 TD
Receiving: George Kittle 9 catches, 83 yards

Somebody had to win the game and it wasn’t the 49ers (2-8). In what may be the season-long winner of “how did this get to be Monday Night Football,” the 49ers allowed Eli Manning to turn back the clock and drive down the field for the go-ahead touchdown with less than a minute remaining. But because the Giants aren’t used to winning, the 49ers were able to drive down to the Giants’ 21-yard line for a final play that would eventually fall incomplete. The game was played as scheduled in Santa Clara under less-than-ideal air quality conditions, but never ventured into the range in which the game would need to be moved.

Next for San Francisco: Week 11 bye, followed by at Tampa Bay Buccaneers