RENTON, Wash. (AP) — It was a feel-good story for a while surrounding the Seattle Seahawks.
But then came expectations as that story got better and a team most believed would struggle to win five games suddenly surged to the top of the NFC West.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jalen Hurts ran for 157 yards to set an Eagles record for a quarterback, and Packers QB Aaron Rodgers suffered an oblique injury in Philadelphia’s 40-33 victory over Green Bay on Sunday night.
SEATTLE (AP) — During a four-game win streak that vaulted them to the top of the NFC West, the Seattle Seahawks appeared to have fixed their problems stopping the run.
Perhaps those games were just a mirage and nothing was truly repaired.
SEATTLE (AP) — There was an underrated aspect to what the Seattle Seahawks accomplished through their first 10 games and their surprising surge to the top of the NFC West.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers defense got humbled a bit by Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs last month.
Since then, it has been back to the unit's usual dominance — especially in the second half.
MEXICO CITY (AP) — The NFL's showcase game in Mexico City featured two teams going in opposite directions in a hurry.
The Arizona Cardinals were on the wrong end of that exchange.
The San Francisco 49ers steamrolled the Cardinals 38-10 in Monday night's game at Estadio Azteca.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The defending champion Los Angeles Rams and the New Orleans Saints have been on parallel paths this season.
Both have been disappointments, are multiple games below .500 and urgently need a victory as they meet in the Superdome on Sunday.
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — In the mediocre NFC West, the San Francisco 49ers look like a team ready to make a charge up the standings.
As for the Arizona Cardinals? Well, at least there's still hope.
SAN FRANCISCO (5-4) vs. ARIZONA (4-6)
Monday, 8:15 p.m. EST in Mexico City, ESPN
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NFL LINE: 49ers by 8 1/2.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nine games and exactly nine months after winning the Super Bowl at SoFi Stadium, the Los Angeles Rams found themselves in a new position in their home arena Sunday.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Aaron Donald and the Los Angeles Rams are only eight games removed from their Super Bowl victory. The Arizona Cardinals are just nine games removed from an 11-win season and a playoff appearance.
MUNICH (AP) — Pete Carroll arrived in Germany with a reminder that the Seattle Seahawks are teaching people lessons about having low expectations.
The surprising Seahawks lead the NFC West and take a four-game winning streak into Sunday's matchup with Tom Brady and the struggling Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
RENTON, Wash. (AP) — Before the season, oddsmakers set the over-under on the number of wins for the Seattle Seahawks at 5 1/2. And many observers thought taking the under would be the smart move.
Halfway through the season, those who were bullish on the Seahawks have already cashed in, and Seattle is pushing toward the playoffs.
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The Arizona Cardinals flipped their usual slow-starting script on Sunday, beginning with a crisp drive that resulted in the only first-quarter touchdown they've scored all season.
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Geno Smith has spent the first half of the season making game-winning plays that have moved the surprising Seahawks to the top of the NFC West.
His impressive response to a potential game-losing play is evidence Seattle's rise isn't a fluke.
SEATTLE (5-3) at ARIZONA (3-5)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. EST, FOX
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NFL LINE: Cardinals by 2.
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Kliff Kingsbury still believes his Arizona Cardinals can be one of the NFL's best offensive teams. He likes his players, likes their demeanor and likes the game plan he and his assistants put together each week.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — A matchup with the NFC West rival Los Angeles Rams was once again just what the San Francisco 49ers needed to get their season back on track.
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — DeAndre Hopkins has provided the boost the offense needed, J.J. Watt is having productive games on defense, and quarterback Kyler Murray continues to put up big numbers.
Yet the Arizona Cardinals are still a mediocre football team.
RENTON, Wash. (AP) — At what point does the conversation start to get serious about what’s happening with the Seattle Seahawks?
At first, it seemed a novelty that the team many considered before the season to be among the worst in the NFC was finding some success in the post-Russell Wilson era.
Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa shouldn’t hear about their teams pursuing other quarterbacks anymore.
The former Alabama teammates continued their MVP-caliber seasons with spectacular performances Sunday.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Christian McCaffrey became the 11th player in NFL history with a rushing touchdown, a passing touchdown and a receiving touchdown in one game, and the San Francisco 49ers extended their regular-season mastery over the Rams to four full years with a 31-14 victory over Los Angeles on Sunday.
SEATTLE (AP) — Tyler Lockett had a steady stream of visitors on the Seahawks bench — coach Pete Carroll, DK Metcalf, Quandre Diggs — all reminding the standout wide receiver he'd get another chance after two uncharacteristic mistakes.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco 49ers playmaker Deebo Samuel will miss Sunday's key NFC West showdown against the rival Los Angeles Rams with an injured hamstring.
Samuel hurt his hamstring during last weekend's loss to Kansas City.
SEATTLE (AP) — Forgive Brian Daboll if he’s essentially walking around with ear plugs and blinders on, doing his best during the week to try to avoid the avalanche of attention being placed on the New York Giants.
RENTON, Wash. (AP) — Pete Carroll was in the middle of extoling one of the many rookies that have made an immediate impact on the Seattle Seahawks when he made perhaps the overstatement of the season in regard to his team.
RENTON, Wash. (AP) — After scuffling for the first month, the past two weeks showed the Seattle Seahawks what they are capable of accomplishing.
Seattle’s 37-23 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday was the victory that validated the Seahawks are on the right path.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Expected by many to end up in the NFC West basement, the Seattle Seahawks instead are leading the division after seven weeks.
Seattle vaulted into the division lead with its most impressive victory over the season.
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — The return of DeAndre Hopkins was obviously a boost for the Arizona Cardinals.
The two interceptions returned for touchdowns were even more important.
The result was a 42-34 win over the New Orleans Saints on Thursday night that the Cardinals needed to keep pace in the NFC West.
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The Arizona Cardinals and New Orleans Saints are two teams stuck in the early season doldrums, struggling with injuries and inconsistent play.
It's too early to throw out the ‘must-win’ label for Thursday night's matchup.
RENTON, Wash. (AP) — When the management of the Seattle Seahawks left the draft room in April, there was belief the class of players selected had the potential to be a special group with the opportunity to be influential from the start.
SEATTLE (AP) — Kenneth Walker III wanted to honor mentor Rashaad Penny in his first start.
The Seattle rookie did just that, rushing for 97 yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown to lead the Seahawks to a 19-9 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
SEATTLE (AP) — Considering where the rest of the teams stand in the NFC West five games into the season, Seattle coach Pete Carroll sounded almost appreciative that no one has run away with the division.
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The Arizona Cardinals are playing the first half of football games as if they just rolled out of bed.
The good news is they do eventually wake up. The problem is it's usually too late.
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) — Sean McVay has seen plenty of Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray over the previous three seasons.
But Murray’s improbable escape act as part of the comeback win at Las Vegas, darting back and forth across the field for 20 seconds before scampering into the end zone, reminded the Los Angeles Rams coach just how special he can be.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Jim Harbaugh has been here before.
For most coaches, benching the quarterback who just led him to a fantastic season would be a once-in-a-lifetime decision. With J.J. McCarthy starting Saturday for No.
SEATTLE (AP) — For at least one week this season, the Seattle Seahawks find themselves all alone in first place in the NFC West.
In no other week might it be a sweeter feeling for the Seahawks then after Week 1 and their 17-16 upset of the Denver Broncos on Monday night.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The margin between the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams and rival San Francisco 49ers couldn't have been much smaller last season.
A dropped interception, a failed short-yardage attempt and a well-executed game-winning drive was the difference in sending the Rams to the title game and the Niners home to wallow all offseason at their missed opportunity.
LOS ANGELES RAMS (16-5)
CAMP SITE: Irvine, California
LAST YEAR: The Rams won the Super Bowl for the second time in franchise history, raising the Lombardi Trophy for the first time since returning home to Los Angeles in 2016.
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — The Arizona Cardinals are ready to move on from last year's late collapse and contend for an NFC West title, using the upcoming NFL draft to continue building around young star quarterback Kyler Murray.
104. LOS ANGELES RAMS (16-5)
LAST SEASON: The Rams won it all for the second time in team history, raising the Vince Lombardi Trophy for the first time during the franchise's two Los Angeles eras.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Linebacker Bobby Wagner agreed to a five-year deal Thursday to join his hometown Los Angeles Rams.
The Super Bowl champions outmaneuvered several suitors for Wagner, one of the NFL's top inside linebackers after his decade with the Seattle Seahawks.
A month after Andrew Whitworth reached the pinnacle of his long football career, he decided to go out on top.
The 40-year-old left tackle announced his retirement Tuesday after a 16-season NFL career capped by his first Super Bowl championship last month with the Los Angeles Rams.
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) — Cooper Kupp led the league in every major receiving category this season, a triple crown feat accomplished only three times previously in NFL history.
Deebo Samuel also racked up huge numbers, but he wasn't content to just catch the ball.
SCOREBOARD
Sunday, Jan. 30
Cincinnati at Kansas City, 3 p.m. EST. The Bengals advanced to the AFC championship game for the first time since the 1988 season by beating Tennessee 19-16 on Saturday.
A six-point victory seemed like a rout this wild weekend.
Even if it was in overtime.
Kansas City's hold-your-breath 42-36 win over Buffalo capped a divisional round in which the other three games were decided on final-play field goals giving the visitors wins.