The NFC West standings aren’t quite what the NFL world expected…
…but how long will that last?
Here Come The 49ers?
What Happened: The cloudy picture that is the NFC West standings may about to become clearer…or it might fog up even more.
Why It Matters: The big divisional news is the return of Christian McCaffery to San Francisco’s lineup for its Week 10 matchup against Tampa Bay. All signs point to C-Mac being fully healthy; otherwise, why would Kyle Shanahan risk running him out there?
Of course, the Niners only sit third in the division, and the team currently at the top isn’t in bad shape either. The Arizona Cardinals are a clean 2-0 in divisional play and get to face a middling NY Jets team at home this week.
So, which team will end the season on top?
Despite the .500 record, oddsmakers still like San Francisco. The 49ers are currently +120 at BetMGM to win the West, with the Cards trailing at +200. The Rams fall below both, as their point differential (-24) points to a lesser team, despite having the same record as the Niners.
If McCaffrey is indeed his normal self, the season begins on Sunday for a team that is going to be considered a failure if the Lombardi Trophy doesn’t make its way into Brock Purdy’s hands. But Arizona has proven stubborn, and may not be exiting contention as quietly as expected.
What We’re Watching Today
Suns at Mavericks (7:30 PM ET) – Swapping out Frank Vogel for Mike Budenholzer looks like a smart move, as the Suns have started the season 7-1. They enter on a 6-game winning streak and face last season’s Western Conference champs.
76ers at Lakers (10:00 PM ET) – The 76ers are officially the worst team in the East, and on top of that, Tyrese Maxey is set to miss weeks with a hamstring injury. Philly as a title contender simply isn’t passing the eye test so far this season.
The Look Ahead
Jaren Jackson Jr. POINTS – With Memphis star Ja Morant (hamstring) out for tonight’s game, his offensive looks need to go to someone, and we like Jackson to fill that role. The seventh-year forward is averaging 19.6 points, and since he’s in line for more shot opportunities with Morant sidelined, we like Jackson to surpass his line of 22.5 points in tonight’s matchup against a dreadful Wizards defense.
