The NFC West has been a tough division to call over the last several seasons, with three different teams being crowned champions in the previous five years. The Los Angeles Rams won in 2024, stopping the two-year streak of the San Francisco 49ers.
It looks set to be another challenging year to predict a winner, with the Arizona Cardinals, who haven't won the division since 2015, looking to be building something good under head coach Jonathan Gannon. The odds in Vegas have it very close in 2025, but the 49ers are favored slightly over the Rams. However, Hall of Fame running back Jerome Bettis believes the oddsmakers have it wrong.
NFL Hall of Fame running back Jerome Bettis
NFL Hall of Fame running back Jerome Bettis
Rich Barnes-Imagn Images
Speaking to DJ Siddiqi of RB.org, Bettis, who played for the St. Louis Rams (now Los Angeles Rams) and the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1993 to 2005, revealed Sean McVay's team is the best in the NFC West in 2025. Bettis also spoke about which team is the one to beat in the NFC.
“In their division, they are the favorites,” says Bettis of the Rams. “I think the Niners are going to be good but not great. The Rams definitely have an advantage on that side. I think the team they’re going to have to beat is going to be the Eagles. They’re going to be right back at it again. They’re built to beat the Eagles, and if they can slow down the running game, they’ve got a chance.”
The Rams were not far from making another Super Bowl appearance, but they lost in the playoffs to the eventual champions, the Philadelphia Eagles. However, Bettis believes this coming season, McVay's team can be the best in the NFC by taking down the NFC East team. It's a target that the team will be aiming for, looking to get back to another Super Bowl.