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The NFC West is the advertised best division in the NFL heading into the 2026 season, as the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks are expected to battle with both the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams for first place.
Some see the Rams as the clear favorites to do more than just end the regular season atop the division standings. However, San Francisco legend and current NFL analyst Steve Young suggested during a recent appearance on the "49ers Talk" program that outsiders should think twice about betting against the Niners this summer.
Steve Young: 49ers can be "right in the mix with everyone" if...
"We’re chasing a little bit, but that’s okay," Young said about the 49ers, per Vince Lontz of NBC Sports Bay Area. "We never minded that. We’ll stand for it. ...If everybody’s healthy, we’re right in the mix with everyone. Last year we were a tough out, and we were wounded."
Outside of letting running back and Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III leave via free agency, the Seahawks managed to hold onto a majority of key contributors this offseason. The Rams acquired two-time Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett from the Cleveland Browns in June, and Los Angeles may soon convince defensive superstar Aaron Donald to end his retirement and return to the team's active roster.
As for the 49ers, part of the injury crisis they dealt with last season involved quarterback Brock Purdy, pass-rusher Nick Bosa and linebacker Fred Warner missing significant time before tight end George Kittle suffered a torn Achilles during San Francisco's wild-card win at the Philadelphia Eagles in January.
Can 49ers stay "at full strength" through 2026 season?
"I think the theme has to be health," Young said about the 2026 49ers. "We know everyone’s a little bit older and everyone talks about it, and it’s real. If we can stay healthy, we have plenty of people to go do it. To be at full strength is key, especially in the NFC West this year."
The 49ers are hoping that offseason acquisition Mike Evans will reclaim his best form later this year. His streak of recording at least 1,000 receiving yards in a season ended at 11 campaigns after he suffered a hamstring injury and then a broken collarbone last fall.
As of Tuesday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Rams as the overall betting favorites at +550 odds to win Super Bowl LXI. The Seahawks were fourth on the list at +1100 odds, while the 49ers were at +1900 odds.
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