It’s hard to decide which is the worse thumping. The Arizona Cardinals against the Denver Broncos or the San Francisco 49ers against the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams win has all but cemented them as winners in the division unless they were to go on a massive losing skid (that has happened). They sit 3.5 games ahead of the Seattle Seahawks, and at their current pace, it’s hard to see LA slipping.
The 49ers just want a win, and they weren’t getting it. The Cardinals would like a second win, and they weren’t getting it against the Denver Broncos who managed to save Vance Joseph’s job for another week or two. The Seahawks are on bye, so they weren’t participants at all in this mess.
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals suffered a pummeling of their own, but not near as deflating to their emotions when they got thumped by the Denver Broncos 45-10. The Cardinals looked atrocious on the field, unable to do anything against the Broncos defense. So bad, the organization canned offensive coordinator Mike McCoy the very next day. It’s amazing how McCoy has fallen, considering he was one of the hot coaches in the league at one point.
One has to wonder how the 49ers managed to lose to this Cardinals team, but all you have to do is look at the way they played against the Rams (*cough* more turnovers) to see how. They have a chance to right the ship, because the 49ers head to Arizona to take on the Cardinals in yet another divisional matchup.
Los Angeles Rams
At 7-0, the Rams hold a 3.5-game lead in the NFC West. They could very well find a way to collapse, but that seems highly unlikely. The bigger question is if they can win out and get into the playoffs with an unblemished record. BetDSI Sportsbook is offering 25/1 odds on an undefeated record. You can then bet on them losing their first game in each of the remaining weeks.
Week 8 (vs. Packers) +325
Week 9 (at Saints) +150
Week 10 (vs. Seahawks) +650
Week 11 (vs. Chiefs) +350
Week 13 (at Lions) +750
Week 14 (at Bears) +400
Week 15 (vs. Eagles) +700
Week 16 (at Cardinals) +2000
Week 17 (vs. 49ers) +1500
No loss (16-0) +2500
The Chiefs game in Mexico City is a big pick, but that Saints game is a fascinating one. The best sleeper might be Week 14 at the Bears. If they have locked up home-field heading into their final two games, do they rest starters, or play out for the undefeated record?
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks had a bye this past week, and currently sit at 3-3. They have a lot of question marks, but with after the Rams and New Orleans Saints, the NFC is fairly wide open. They are a half game back of the second wild card berth, and while a division title seems out of reach, a wild card berth at least gets them into the tournament.
Home teams have the edge, but all you need is a chance. The Seahawks would be among the longer shots in the playoffs, but right now, you can get some intriguing Super Bowl odds on them. Bovada has them listed at 50/1, while the Westgate SuperBook has them at 100/1. The only other Westgate odds I might consider for long-term value would be the Bears at 60/1.
Into Week 8
The Rams’ dominance tour takes them to a home game against the Green Bay Packers, where I’m sure it will come down to the final minutes but they will hang on, because the football gods hate 49ers fans. The Seahawks return from their bye to take on the Detroit Lions, who are picking up some momentum.
And the 49ers will have a battle for the bottom of the barrel with the Arizona Cardinals. That’s a game that will be terribly amazing.
1st: Los Angeles Rams; Next: vs. Green Bay Packers
2nd: Seattle Seahawks; Next: at Detroit Lions
3rd: Arizona Cardinals; Next: vs. San Francisco 49ers
4th: San Francisco 49ers; Next: at Arizona Cardinals