Week 9 NFC West predictions: Rams get back on track, Seahawks keep rolling

The San Francisco 49ers are on a much-needed bye while the Seattle Seahawks look to increase their lead in the division — and earn a statement win. Meanwhile, the Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams look to rebound after big losses. Here are our Week 9 NFC West predictions. 

Arizona Cardinals (1-7) at Cleveland Browns (4-3): With Joshua Dobbs out of the picture following his trade to the Minnesota Vikings, the Cardinals apparently will start at QB either rookie Clayton Tune or veteran Kyler Murray, who's returning following an ACL injury late last season.

Neither option sounds good against a Browns defense that is tops in the NFL in yards against (260 PPG) and boasts one of the most terrifying edge-rushers in the league in Myles Garrett (8.5 sacks). Tune, a fifth-round pick, has thrown one pass in the NFL. Murray is coming back from a major knee injury and may not be 100 percent. 

That could make for an ugly, low-scoring game, especially because the Browns have their own quarterback uncertainty. Deshaun Watson is working through an injury to his throwing shoulder, and his status is unclear. If he doesn't start, the Browns will turn to P.J. Walker, who has struggled (49.5% completion percentage, one TD pass, five interceptions).

PREDICTION: Browns, 17-6

Los Angeles Rams (3-5) at Green Bay Packers (2-5): The Rams were gashed for 67 points in back-to-back losses to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys. The good news? The Packers have one of the NFL's worst offenses, scoring 78 points over the past five games (15.6 PPG). 

This is the start of a big stretch of games for the Rams, who remain in a wide-open wild-card race in the NFC. Per Tankathon, they also have one of the easiest remaining schedules in the league. 

Packers QB Jordan Love has significantly regressed after a promising start to the season. If Aaron Donald and company can't shut this offense down, the Rams may have no hope for the rest of the season. 

PREDICTION: Rams, 30-14

Seattle Seahawks (5-2) at Baltimore Ravens (6-2): The Seahawks have a big opportunity to increase their lead in the NFC West and deliver an emphatic statement to the rest of the league that they are for real. It won't be easy against Baltimore, which has won three straight.

The big story for Seattle is the one-year turnaround of its defense, which has gone from 25th in the league in scoring defense (24.6 PPG) to 11th (19.7). That defense is going to get a big challenge against a Ravens offense that is starting to hit its stride, scoring 93 points during its three-game winning streak (31 points per game). 

Seattle's running game has picked things up in recent weeks, and combined with the defensive performance, it should be enough to keep Baltimore's offense off the field.  

PREDICTION: Seahawks, 24-20