NFC West Week 15 predictions: Brock Purdy pads MVP resume

The San Francisco 49ers are the only team in the NFC West with a winning record, but the Los Angeles Rams and fading Seattle Seahawks remain in the postseason hunt. All three teams have important Week 15 games. Here are NFC West predictions.

Washington Commanders (4-9) at Los Angeles Rams (6-7): The Rams are coming off a heartbreaking overtime loss in Baltimore in which they blew a late lead, rebounded to tie the score and lost on a walk-off punt return. They should have no problem bouncing back back Sunday against Washington, which has lost four straight.

With quarterback Matthew Stafford healthy again, Los Angeles' offense has found its rhythm and scored at least 30 points in each of the past three games. Stafford has thrown for 11 touchdowns to only two interceptions in his four games since returning to the lineup. He should have another huge game against the Commanders, who are last in the NFL in points against (30.4 PPG).

PREDICTION: Rams, 34-10

San Francisco 49ers (10-3) at Arizona Cardinals (3-10): As of Wednesday, the 49ers were a 13.5-point road favorite (via oddschecker) going into Sunday's game. If you have watched them play over the past month, that massive line should not be surprising.

Quarterback Brock Purdy seems to be on a mission to show he is worthy of the league MVP, throwing for 1,520 yards, 12 touchdowns and only two interceptions over his past five games. The 49ers are 5-0 during that run, winning each game by a minimum of two scores. 

San Francisco should run the score up against the Cardinals, who rank 26th in points scored (17.7) and 30th in points against (25.5). Purdy threw one incompletion (20-for-21) in the first meeting between the teams this season, a 35-16 49ers win.  

PREDICTION: 49ers, 35-7

Philadelphia Eagles (10-3) at. Seattle Seahawks (6-7): Not long ago, Seattle was 5-2 and in a position to win the NFC West. Since then it has gone 1-5, dropping to the fringes of the NFC wild-card race. Blame a wobbly defense. Over Seattle's past six games, it has allowed 30 points and 408.3 yards per game. 

On Monday, the Seahawks wrap up a brutal five-game stretch against a collection of playoff contenders — including the Eagles, who are fighting for the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Philadelphia's offense has slumped recently, but Seattle's defense is in no position to take anybody lightly — especially not an offense that has Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. 

The biggest concern for the Seahawks is the status of quarterback Geno Smith (groin), who missed a Week 14 loss to the 49ers and remains questionable. Backup Drew Lock got the start against San Francisco and threw two interceptions. Lock hasn't won a game as a starter since Dec. 13, 2020, going  0-7 since. 

PREDICTION: Eagles, 28-17