Week 4 NFC West predictions: 49ers will stay unbeaten, Rams bounce back

NFC West teams had a pretty strong performance in Week 3, going 3-1 including a stunning upset victory by the Arizona Cardinals over the Dallas Cowboys. Arizona gets a chance to knock off another top team this week when it plays divisional rival San Francisco 49ers. Here are the predictions for their Week 4 slate of games.

Los Angeles Rams vs. Indianapolis Colts: The Rams let a great opportunity slip away on Monday night in a tough loss to the Cincinnati Bengals where quarterback Matthew Stafford was seemingly left alone on an island all night. He had poor pass protection, took a physical beating and had trouble finding a rhythm with the offense. It should be a different story on Sunday against an Indianapolis Colts team that doesn't really have the same type of pass-rushing talent the Bengals brought. 

The Colts defense has been one of the worst in the NFL through three weeks, allowing more than 365 yards per game and 23.3 points. There should be opportunities for the Rams. The Rams will also be going up against either Gardner Minshew at quarterback for the Colts, or a rookie Anthony Richardson that might not be at 100 percent health given the injuries he has already suffered in the NFL. The Colts offensive line is also a major weak link which should give Aaron Donald an opportunity to cause some havoc in their backfield. It will not be the prettiest game, but the Rams will bounce back and get back to ,500. 

PREDICTION: Rams, 20-17
San Francisco 49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals: We stay entirely within the NFC West for this matchup, and the 49ers need to be ready for a tougher than expected game. The Cardinals were supposed to be the worst team in the NFL this season (and they still very well might be), but they have given all three opponents major headaches so far this season and are coming off of a stunning upset of the Dallas Cowboys a week ago. 

While the Cardinals have overachieved and gave their fans a nice a story a week ago, it is not going to continue this week. The 49ers are one of the most complete teams in the NFL from top-to-bottom and have way too much talent on both sides of the ball to let Arizona sneak up on them the way Dallas did. San Francisco is top-five in the NFL in points scored and for fewest points against, and has looked like a top Super Bowl contender. They have scored 30 points every week and have still yet to lose a game where quarterback Brock Purdy has started and finished. 

The biggest problem for the Cardinals is going to be slowing down the 49er's run game. Arizona enters Sunday giving up an average of 134 yards per game (bottom-10 in the NFL), while the 49ers boast one of the league's top rushing attacks (162 yards per game) with Christian McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell. If the 49ers can control the clock by keeping the ball on the ground and force three-and-outs on defense they are going to wear down an undermanned Cardinals defense.

PREDICTION: 49ers, 24-10
Seattle Seahawks vs. New York Giants: After opening the season with a blowout loss at home to the Rams the Seahawks are finally starting to look like the team we expected them to be at the start. They have scored 37 points in back-to-back wins while quarterback Geno Smith is starting to get rolling again with his talented supporting cast on offense.

The Seahawks are loaded at the skill positions with a two-headed monster at running back that features Kenneth Walker and rookie Zach Charbonnet, as well as one of the deepest wide receiver rooms led by D.K. Metcalf. They take that offense on the road on Monday night to face a Giants team that has looked awful to start the season. The Giants' defense is allowing more than 30 points and 361 yards per game (both in the bottom-10) and is going to have to try and slow down a Seahawks offense that is really hitting its stride.

While Seattle's defense is its clear weakness, the Giants offense has taken several steps backwards this season as quarterback Daniel Jones has badly struggled and running back Saquon Barkley deals with a sprained ankle. This just seems like a bad matchup for the Giants across the board and one that Seattle should be able to take advantage of for its third win of the season. 

PREDICTION: Seahawks, 34-17