What to look for in week 10

by Junna Base November 12, 2024

It’s another close week when it comes to the NFC West standings.

After nine games, the Arizona Cardinals (5-4) remain at the top of the division, but only have a one-game lead over the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams, who are tied at 4-4.

The Seattle Seahawks are at the bottom at 4:5.

A win for Arizona over the New York Jets on Sunday ensures the team can compete in the division.

But what else is happening around the division and what could potentially help the Cardinals with their position in the West?

Let’s dive in:

Watch out for these Rams

If there’s any other team in the division as hot or as threatening as Arizona right now, it’s LA

This is not the same Los Angeles team that was laughed at in a 41-10 loss at State Farm Stadium in Week 2.

Los Angeles, which has won three times in a row – two of which were one-score games – has found its rhythm with wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua now healthy.

Now they have a Miami Dolphins roster that still isn’t getting its act together despite the return of franchise quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

Miami, which has lost three straight and is headed straight for a top-10 draft pick that is currently 2-7, is putting points on the board but has been unable to stop opposing offenses.

In fact, we could be on a five-game winning streak from Los Angeles, with New England (2-7) heading to Miami before a tougher one in Week 12 at Philadelphia (6-2). Test is coming.

And with the 26th-strongest remaining team entering Thursday night’s game, the wins could continue before LA and Arizona meet in Week 17.

Still, FanDuel Sportsbook has Los Angeles ahead by just 1.5 points at home.

49ers are getting healthier

Just as Thanos adds another infinity stone, San Francisco likely gets one of its most potent weapons back in running back Christian McCaffrey.

The return of CMC, who is back at practice and reportedly could have played against Dallas last week, automatically gives the offense a boost as it looks to find consistency and post back-to-back wins for the first time this year.

And with FanDuel Sportsbook giving San Francisco a 6.5-point lead on Thursday, those odds are looking good.

But even with McCaffrey back, it looks like an uphill climb the rest of the way, starting with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5) in Week 10, who suffered back-to-back losses to Atlanta (6-3) and Kansas City (8-0).

And with the sixth-highest strength of the schedule (.558) – including games against Buffalo, Green Bay, Detroit and Arizona – every win counts a little more.

See you next week, Seattle

The only division team not in action this week is Seattle.

Even if every other division team lost this week, Seattle would still finish at the bottom based on head-to-head tiebreakers, having already lost to both LA and San Francisco in 2024.

Once Seattle is back in action, the roadmap won’t be as straightforward as it seemed just a few weeks ago.

After finishing in 15th place, the Seahawks’ remaining strength is now 10th in the league.

What is the Cardinals’ best-case scenario in Week 10?

An Arizona win, coupled with losses from both San Francisco and Los Angeles, would limit the season to a full two games with seven weeks to go.

Not much leeway, but more than in 2024.

How far behind could Arizona fall in the NFC West in Week 10?

The furthest Arizona could get in the division heading into Week 10 is third place.

That would require a loss by the Cardinals and wins by San Francisco and LA. In this scenario, Los Angeles would be at the top of the division based on its win over San Francisco in Week 3.