NFC West standings: Rams trail 49ers after Week 3
The NFC West standings have the Rams looking up at an unbeaten San Francisco team after three weeks. Los Angeles is 1-2, two games behind the 49ers, and has already lost twice in a season that began with a demanding run of opponents. The theramswire.usatoday.com lays out the early division picture and the schedule ahead.
Seattle’s loss to Washington offered Los Angeles a small assist: the Seahawks are 2-1 rather than keeping pace with San Francisco at the top. That result did not improve the Rams’ own record, but it kept Seattle one game ahead instead of level with the 3-0 49ers.
The early table is not a verdict on the season. It is a clear measure of the ground the Rams need to recover, with division matchups against Arizona, San Francisco and Seattle still ahead.
Key Takeaways
- San Francisco leads the NFC West at 3-0, while Seattle is 2-1 after losing to Washington.
- The Rams and Cardinals are both 1-2, but Los Angeles is ahead of Arizona on the supplied division records.
- Los Angeles is 0-1 in division play, compared with Arizona’s 0-2 mark.
- The Rams have upcoming chances to affect the standings directly, including two games against Arizona and later meetings with San Francisco and Seattle.
Why the Rams Trail San Francisco in the NFC West Standings
Los Angeles has lost two of its first three games, leaving it with ground to make up even at this early stage. San Francisco, by contrast, has opened 3-0 and holds a two-game lead over the Rams.
The Rams’ first three scheduled opponents were the Giants, Broncos and an opponent in Australia. Describing that opening stretch as difficult but winnable is an assessment of the schedule, not a confirmed measure of what lies ahead or a change to the 1-2 record Los Angeles has posted.
That distinction matters when considering what the record says. A challenging sequence can provide context, but the standings reflect wins and losses; the Rams need results to narrow the gap.
San Francisco’s perfect start raises the stakes without settling anything about the rest of the season. The 49ers are first after three weeks because they have not lost, while Los Angeles needs to put together a stronger run to close the distance.
The next test is a road game against Philadelphia in Week 4. It gives the Rams an opportunity to respond after the opening three games, although the division race will also be shaped by what happens when Los Angeles faces NFC West opponents.
Washington’s Win Gives Los Angeles a Small Opening
Washington’s win over Seattle helped the Rams by preventing the Seahawks from keeping pace with San Francisco. Seattle remains 2-1, one game ahead of Los Angeles, rather than joining the 49ers at 3-0.
That is a standings benefit, not a Rams victory. Los Angeles remains 1-2, and the distance to San Francisco remains two games; the Commanders’ result changed Seattle’s record, not the Rams’.
A favorable result elsewhere can make a division race feel less steep without fixing a team’s own position. Washington’s win limited Seattle’s early separation, but Los Angeles still has to turn its games into wins.
Seattle’s 2-1 record also means the Rams remain behind another division rival. The current table gives Los Angeles a clear task: improve its record while waiting for chances to affect the standings directly in head-to-head games.
Those direct opportunities will arrive later. The Rams do not face Seattle until Week 16, so the near-term focus is on the games in front of them and the two Arizona meetings that can influence the division standings sooner.
The NFC West Records Show Where Los Angeles Stands
| Team | Overall record | Division record |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers | 3-0 | Not specified |
| Seattle Seahawks | 2-1 | Not specified |
| Los Angeles Rams | 1-2 | 0-1 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 1-2 | 0-2 |
The table puts the Rams level with Arizona by overall record, while the supplied division records show Los Angeles ahead in the current order. The Rams are 0-1 in division play, compared with the Cardinals’ 0-2 mark.
That edge is narrow and should not be mistaken for separation. Both teams have the same overall record, and the Rams’ current advantage in the order is tied to their division records rather than a better overall win-loss mark.
San Francisco’s 3-0 start sets the pace for Los Angeles. Seattle’s 2-1 record places the Seahawks between the 49ers and Rams, leaving Los Angeles with ground to make up on both teams.
This is a snapshot after Week 3, not a projection. Upcoming results can change the order, especially when division opponents meet, so the standings should be read alongside the schedule rather than treated as a final picture.
The Rams Schedule Puts Division Tests Ahead
Los Angeles’ next listed challenge is a road game against the Eagles in Week 4. That comes before the two scheduled meetings with Arizona in Weeks 6 and 10, giving the Rams a chance to respond before those division matchups arrive.
The Cardinals games carry added relevance because both teams are currently 1-2. Results in those meetings can affect the Rams’ record directly and change the comparison between the teams, which are presently separated in the table by their division records.
San Francisco is next on the Rams’ division schedule in Week 14. The 49ers’ current 3-0 start may or may not still define the race by then, but the meeting gives Los Angeles a direct opportunity to affect the result between the teams.
The Seattle matchup is scheduled for Week 16 on Christmas night. That leaves a long wait before the Rams can challenge the Seahawks directly, making the intervening stretch important for staying close in the standings.
The schedule identifies the matchups and weeks, but it does not establish future results or guarantee that any one game will decide the division. The value of each date will depend on the records both teams carry into it.
Los Angeles Needs Division Wins to Close the NFC West Gap
The current position is straightforward: the Rams are 1-2, San Francisco leads at 3-0, and Seattle sits at 2-1. Washington’s win kept Seattle from moving level with the 49ers, but Los Angeles still needs to improve its own record to reduce the distance.
Division games offer a direct route to changing the table. The Rams have two scheduled games against Arizona, followed by a meeting with San Francisco and a late-season matchup with Seattle; each can affect Los Angeles and the opponent it faces.
A favorable result in another team’s game is not a substitute for winning. The Seahawks’ loss helped at the margins, while the Rams’ 1-2 start remains the central fact shaping their position.
The next checkpoints are the Week 4 road game, the two Cardinals meetings and the later divisional tests. Rechecking the standings and schedule as the season progresses will show whether Los Angeles has closed the gap or whether San Francisco’s early lead has grown.
