Week 10 NFC West predictions: Seahawks bounce back, 49ers do not

The NFC West had an absolutely brutal performance in Week 9, scoring only six points total in losing three games. The Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams each scored three points in their blowout losses, while the Cardinals got shut out. Here's how Week 10 will shake out.

San Francisco 49ers (5-3) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-2). The bye week came at a perfect time for the 49ers, who are on a three-game losing streak and trying to get quarterback Brock Purdy back on track. Things do not look promising for them, however.

San Francisco must travel across the country for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff (always a challenge for a West Coast team) against the NFL's hottest team. The matchup problem for the 49ers will be a Jaguars defense that is allowing only 19.5 points per game and is tied for the NFL lead in takeaways (18).

Purdy's big problem during San Francisco's losing streak has been protecting the football. He has five interceptions overall.

PREDICTION: Jaguars, 28-20

Atlanta Falcons (4-5) vs. Arizona Cardinals (1-8). After throwing a completely unprepared Clayton Tune to the wolves last week and embarrassing themselves, the Cardinals have activated quarterback Kyler Murray and are expecting him to make his 2023 debut. That will be a welcome change for an offense that desperately needs playmakers and somebody who can consistently get the ball to Marquise Brown (42 catches, 440 yards). 

Cardinals fans, however, should lower their expectations for Murray, who is coming back from a brutal knee injury and has not played a live NFL game in almost 11 months. There is going to be an adjustment period, and for all of the flaws the Falcons might have, they do boast one of the league's better pass defenses (197.1 YPG). Atlanta's offense might not do much, but it will do just enough to win an ugly, low-scoring game against what almost certainly will be a rusty Murray.

PREDICTION: Falcons, 17-14

Washington Commanders (4-5) vs. Seattle Seahawks (5-3). After scoring just three points and registering only six first downs against the Ravens, Seattle faces a team that is 30th in points against per game (27.2) and 28th in yards against (368.9 YPG). The Seahawks' offense has struggled with consistency issues over the past month — that is especially true for quarterback Geno Smith, who seems to have regressed after a stellar 2022. (His passing completion percentage was 69.8 last season; it's 65.2 this season.) 

A home game against one of the league's worst defensive units — one that recently traded two key starters (Chase Young and Montez Sweat) on the defensive line -- should be a great opportunity for a "get right" kind of game. The Seahawks' two-headed monster at running back (Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet) should be able to run through the Commanders and control the game. 

PREDICTION: Seahawks, 34-14