Not all stretches throughout an NFL season are created equal. A positive month can launch a playoff push. A brutal one can bury a crew earlier than Thanksgiving leftovers hit the fridge.
Let’s look at essentially the most tough four-game stretches for every NFC West crew — the gauntlets that would outline division races, form playoff hopes and, in some instances, decide whether or not coaches and QBs enter the offseason underneath strain.
Weeks 8-11: at Dallas Cowboys (Nov. 1), at Seattle Seahawks (Nov. 8), vs. Los Angeles Rams (Nov. 15), at Kansas City Chiefs (Nov. 22) | The Cardinals are tied for the league’s third-toughest schedule, per CBS Sports activities’ John Breech, and also you do not need to take a tough have a look at their opponents to see why. Three street video games in a four-week span towards the Cowboys, Seahawks and Chiefs are certain to check them, whereas the one dwelling sport throughout that stretch is an NFC West tilt towards the Rams.
As tough as Arizona’s schedule is, it’s truthful to query if it would also have a win by the point it will get to that gauntlet in Weeks 8-11, perhaps other than a Week 4 assembly with the New York Giants. Even when the Cardinals break into the win column by then, an explosive Cowboys offense from final season, two divisional foes and a more healthy Patrick Mahomes will likely be laborious to beat.
Los Angeles Rams
Weeks 12-15: vs. Green Bay Packers (Nov. 25), vs. Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (Dec. 3), at San Francisco 49ers (Dec. 13), vs. Dallas Cowboys (Dec. 20) | The Rams have gone all in on the 2026 season with the addition of All-Professional defensive finish Myles Garrett, however that doesn’t imply a troublesome street awaits them. That’s particularly evident in Weeks 12-15 with back-to-back prime-time video games towards the Packers within the inaugural Thanksgiving Eve sport and the Chiefs on “Thursday Night time Soccer.”
Earlier than a house tilt with the Cowboys two weeks later, the Rams must face the 49ers on the street in what could possibly be a pivotal sport within the NFC West race at that time within the season. FanDuel lists the Rams (+550) as Tremendous Bowl favorites as of Friday, June 5, however it’s not going to be a simple path to get there.
San Francisco 49ers
Weeks 14-17: vs. Los Angeles Rams (Dec. 13), at Los Angeles Chargers (Dec. 17), at Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (Dec. 27), vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Jan. 3) | The 49ers have a good schedule if you look think about every of their opponents’ mixed successful proportion (.497) from final season. With that mentioned, they may face a major problem in Weeks 14-17, starting with a house tilt towards the Rams, a “TNF” street sport on the Chargers, a street journey to Kansas Metropolis and a gathering with the Eagles on “Sunday Night time Soccer.” These 4 video games may have an enormous say of their postseason outlook and NFC West possibilities.
Seattle Seahawks
Weeks 5-8: vs. San Francisco 49ers (Oct. 11), at Denver Broncos (Oct. 15), vs. Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (Oct. 25), vs. Chicago Bears (Nov. 2) | If the defending champions are going to contend for a second straight Lombardi Trophy, there will likely be some powerful stretches alongside the best way. Probably the most difficult one will are available Weeks 5-8 when the Seahawks host the 49ers and play three prime-time video games in a row towards the Broncos, Chiefs and Bears. How the Seahawks fare throughout that brutal stretch will likely be a great indicator of what they’re able to of their title protection.
