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NFC West: Biggest question for each team in 2021

By Russell S. Baxter

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JANUARY 09: Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks looks to pass against the Los Angeles Rams during the first quarter in an NFC Wild Card game at Lumen Field on January 09, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JANUARY 09: Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks looks to pass against the Los Angeles Rams during the first quarter in an NFC Wild Card game at Lumen Field on January 09, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) /
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San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Arizona Cardinals: Will the team improve on its divisional record?

It’s been a slow but steady climb for the team from the desert, which in 2018 finished with the worst record in the league at 3-13. A year later, the club hired head coach Kliff Kingsbury and drafted quarterback Kyle Murray with the first overall pick. A 5-10-1 record in ’19 was followed by an 8-8 mark this past season.

But a closer look shows that the team dropped five of its final seven contests after a 6-3 start. And the Cardinals were 2-4 vs. their NFC West rivals in 2020. In fact, the team owns a combined 8-16 record within the division since 2017 and eight of those losses are to the Rams. Hence, the Cards haven’t won the NFC West or reached the playoffs since 2015.

San Francisco 49ers: Is QB Jimmy Garoppolo primed to a complete season?

Kyle Shanahan has been the head coach of the San Francisco for 49ers for four seasons. He owns a combined 29-35 regular-season record and did lead the team to Super Bowl LIV. But 13 of his victories came during the 2019 season when quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo remained upright all year and started all 16 contests for the only time during his somewhat brief career.

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General manager John Lynch did wheel and deal during the draft and grabbed quarterback Trey Lance with the third overall pick. He is certainly unproven but Garoppolo’s inability to stay on the field has certainly added his issues when it comes to taking care of the football. Can he stay on the field all year and help the Niners recapture the NFC West. Having a healthy Nick Bosa would help as well.

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