NFC West
The National Football Conference β Western Division or NFC West is one of the four divisions of the National Football Conference (NFC) in the National Football League (NFL). It currently has four members: the Arizona Cardinals, the Los Angeles Rams, the San Francisco 49ers, and the Seattle Seahawks.
Conference | National Football Conference |
---|---|
League | National Football League |
Sport | American football |
Founded | 1967 (as the NFL Western Conference Coastal Division) |
No. of teams | 4 |
Country | United States |
Most recent champion(s) | San Francisco 49ers (22nd title) |
Most titles | San Francisco 49ers (22 titles) |
History
The division was formed in 1967 as the National Football League Coastal Division, keeping with the theme of having all of the league's divisions starting with the letter "C." The division was so named because its teams were fairly close to the coasts of the United States, although they were on opposite coasts, making for long travel between division rivals. The NFL Coastal Division had four members: Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Colts, Los Angeles Rams, and San Francisco 49ers. Los Angeles and San Francisco occupied the West Coast, while Baltimore maintained its dominance over the lesser teams that remained in the division. Atlanta was placed in the division instead of the expansion New Orleans Saints despite being farther east than five Eastern Conference teams (Cowboys, Cardinals, Saints, Browns and Steelers).
After the AFLβNFL merger in 1970, the division was renamed the NFC West. The Baltimore Colts moved to the AFC East and were replaced by the Saints, who came from the Eastern Conference (the Saints played in the Capitol Division in 1967 and '69, and the Century Division in 1968). In 1976, the newly formed Seattle Seahawks spent one season in this division (Seattle did not play the other four members of the division home-and-home in 1976, playing each of the other 13 NFC teams and the other expansion team of 1976, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers) before moving to the AFC West. Except for that one year, the division remained the same until 1995 with the addition of the new Carolina Panthers team. The Rams moved to St. Louis before that same season, making the division geographically inaccurate. Ten of the fifteen NFC teams were based west of Atlanta, and twelve of them were based west of Charlotte (all except the Redskins, Eagles and Giants).
The 2002 re-alignment changed the entire look of the NFC West. The Falcons, Panthers, and Saints moved into the NFC South; while the Cardinals moved in from the NFC East and the Seahawks returned from the AFC West. The Rams remained in the West, preserving the historical rivalry with the 49ers that has existed since 1950, and thus had been the only team in the division that was located east of the Rocky Mountains until 2015; despite this, the re-alignment made the NFC West have all of its teams based west of the Mississippi River. With the Rams' return to Los Angeles in 2016, the entire NFC West is now located west of the Rockies for the first time in its history; all teams except for the Cardinals are based in the Pacific Time Zone (since most of Arizona does not observe daylight saving time, the clocks are the same as Pacific Daylight Time from the second Sunday in March until the first Sunday of November, through at least 2027). The 2016 season marked the first time neither the 49ers nor Seahawks played a division game east of the Rocky Mountains.
The NFC West became the second division since the 2002 realignment (the NFC South was the first) to have each of its teams make a conference championship game appearance: Los Angeles (2018 and 2021), Arizona (2008 and 2015), San Francisco (2011, 2012, 2013, 2019 and 2021), and Seattle (2005, 2013, and 2014). Also since 2002, each team has won at least three division titles, one of only two divisions in the league to do so. All of its teams have appeared in a Super Bowl at least once since the 2002 realignment (the only other division accomplishing this being the NFC South): Arizona (2008), Los Angeles Rams (2018, 2021), San Francisco (2012, 2019), and Seattle (2005, 2013, 2014). As of 2021, the NFC West is the only division in the NFC that has not seen at least one of its teams win a Super Bowl when entering that year's playoffs as a wild-card entry (the same historical fact holds true for both the AFC East and AFC South).
In 2010, the NFC West became the first division in NFL history to have a champion with a losing record, after the Seattle Seahawks won the division title with a record of 7β9. They were joined in this distinction in 2014 by the Carolina Panthers, who won the NFC South with a record of 7β8β1, 2020 by the Washington Football Team, who won the NFC East also with a record of 7β9, and 2022 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who won the NFC South with a record of 8β9.
Since the end of the 2020 NFL regular season, the 49ers lead the division with a record of 589β499β16 (137β166β1 since re-alignment) with five Super Bowl titles and an overall playoff record of 33β22. The Rams hold a record of 586β575β21 (130β173β1 since re-alignment) with five Super Bowl appearances and two wins to go with a 25β26 overall playoff record. The Cardinals hold a 135β167β2 record since joining the NFC West (566β770β41 overall) and a loss in Super Bowl XLIII, currently with a 7β9 playoff record, 5β4 as a member of the NFC West. The Seahawks hold a record of 179β124β1 since joining the NFC West (367β340β1 overall), with three Super Bowl appearances, winning Super Bowl XLVIII to go with a playoff record of 17β18; they are currently 14β13 in the playoffs as a member of the NFC West, having gone 3β5 while in the AFC West. Since re-alignment, the Seahawks have led the division in wins, division titles, and playoff appearances.
Division lineups
Place cursor over year for division champ or Super Bowl team.
NFL Western Conference Coastal Division |
NFC West Division[B] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1900s | 2000s | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
67[A] | 68 | 69 | 70[B] | 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | 76[C] | 77 | 78 | 79 | 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89 | 90 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95[D] | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | ||||||||||||||||||
Atlanta Falcons | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Los Angeles Rams | St. Louis Rams | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Baltimore Colts | New Orleans Saints | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
San Francisco 49ers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Seattle Seahawks |
Carolina Panthers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NFC West Division[E] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2000s | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16[F] | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Arizona Cardinals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
St. Louis Rams | Los Angeles Rams | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
San Francisco 49ers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Seattle Seahawks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Team not in division Division Won Super Bowl Division Won NFC Championship Division Won NFL Championship, Lost Super Bowl III |
- A The Western Conference was divided into the Coastal and Central divisions. Atlanta moved in from the Eastern Conference. Also joining the Coastal Division were Baltimore, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
- B The Coastal Division adopts current name after the AFLβNFL merger. Baltimore moved to the AFC East. New Orleans moved in from Capitol Division.
- C Seattle was enfranchised in 1976. Moved to the AFC West in 1977.
- D In 1995, Carolina is enfranchised and the Rams move to St. Louis, Missouri.
- E For the 2002 season, the league realigned to have eight four-team divisions. Seattle returns. Arizona joins from the East. Atlanta, Carolina, and New Orleans moved to the new NFC South.
- F Prior to the 2016 season, the Rams moved back to Los Angeles.
Division champions
Season | Team | Record | Playoff Results |
---|---|---|---|
NFL Coastal | |||
1967 | Los Angeles Rams (1) | 11β1β2 | Lost Conference playoffs (at Packers) 7β28 |
1968 | Baltimore Colts (1) | 13β1 | Won Conference playoffs (Vikings) 24β14 Won NFL Championship (Browns) 34β0 Lost Super Bowl III (Jets) 7β16 |
1969 | Los Angeles Rams (2) | 11β3 | Lost Conference playoffs (at Vikings) 20β23 |
NFC West | |||
1970 | San Francisco 49ers (1)[1] | 10β3β1 | Won Divisional playoffs (at Vikings) 17β14 Lost NFC Championship (Cowboys) 10β17 |
1971 | San Francisco 49ers (2)[2] | 9β5 | Won Divisional playoffs (Redskins) 24β20 Lost NFC Championship (at Cowboys) 3β14 |
1972 | San Francisco 49ers (3)[3] | 8β5β1 | Lost Divisional playoffs (Cowboys) 28β30 |
1973 | Los Angeles Rams (3) | 12β2 | Lost Divisional playoffs (at Cowboys) 16β27 |
1974 | Los Angeles Rams (4) | 10β4 | Won Divisional playoffs (Redskins) 19β10 Lost NFC Championship (at Vikings) 10β14 |
1975 | Los Angeles Rams (5) | 12β2 | Won Divisional playoffs (Cardinals) 35β23 Lost NFC Championship (Cowboys) 7β37 |
1976 | Los Angeles Rams (6) | 10β3β1 | Won Divisional playoffs (at Cowboys) 14β12 Lost NFC Championship (at Vikings) 13β24 |
1977 | Los Angeles Rams (7) | 10β4 | Lost Divisional playoffs (Vikings) 7β14 |
1978 | Los Angeles Rams (8) | 12β4 | Won Divisional playoffs (Vikings) 34β10 Lost NFC Championship (Cowboys) 0β28 |
1979 | Los Angeles Rams (9) | 9β7 | Won Divisional playoffs (at Cowboys) 21β19 Won NFC Championship (at Buccaneers) 9β0 Lost Super Bowl XIV (vs. Steelers) 19β31 |
1980 | Atlanta Falcons (1) | 12β4 | Lost Divisional playoffs (Cowboys) 27β30 |
1981 | San Francisco 49ers (4)[4] | 13β3 | Won Divisional playoffs (Giants) 38β24 Won NFC Championship (Cowboys) 28β27 Won Super Bowl XVI (vs. Bengals) 26β21 |
1982* | Atlanta Falcons* | 5β4 | Lost First Round playoffs (at Vikings) 24β30 |
1983 | San Francisco 49ers (5)[5] | 10β6 | Won Divisional playoffs (Lions) 24β23 Lost NFC Championship (at Redskins) 21β24 |
1984 | San Francisco 49ers (6)[6] | 15β1 | Won Divisional playoffs (Giants) 21β10 Won NFC Championship (Bears) 23β0 Won Super Bowl XIX (vs. Dolphins) 38β16 |
1985 | Los Angeles Rams (10) | 11β5 | Won Divisional playoffs (Cowboys) 20β0 Lost NFC Championship (at Bears) 0β24 |
1986 | San Francisco 49ers (7)[7] | 10β5β1 | Lost Divisional playoffs (at Giants) 3β49 |
1987 | San Francisco 49ers (8)[8] | 13β2 | Lost Divisional playoffs (Vikings) 24β36 |
1988 | San Francisco 49ers (9)[9] | 10β6 | Won Divisional playoffs (Vikings) 34β9 Won NFC Championship (at Bears) 28β3 Won Super Bowl XXIII (vs. Bengals) 20β16 |
1989 | San Francisco 49ers (10)[10] | 14β2 | Won Divisional playoffs (Vikings) 41β13 Won NFC Championship (Rams) 30β3 Won Super Bowl XXIV (vs. Broncos) 55β10 |
1990 | San Francisco 49ers (11)[11] | 14β2 | Won Divisional playoffs (Redskins) 28β10 Lost NFC Championship (Giants) 13β15 |
1991 | New Orleans Saints (1) | 11β5 | Lost Wild Card playoffs (Falcons) 20β27 |
1992 | San Francisco 49ers (12)[12] | 14β2 | Won Divisional playoffs (Redskins) 20β13 Lost NFC Championship (Cowboys) 20β30 |
1993 | San Francisco 49ers (13)[13] | 10β6 | Won Divisional playoffs (Giants) 44β3 Lost NFC Championship (at Cowboys) 21β38 |
1994 | San Francisco 49ers (14)[14] | 13β3 | Won Divisional playoffs (Bears) 44β15 Won NFC Championship (Cowboys) 38β28 Won Super Bowl XXIX (vs. Chargers) 49β26 |
1995 | San Francisco 49ers (15)[15] | 11β5 | Lost Divisional playoffs (Packers) 17β27 |
1996 | Carolina Panthers (1) | 12β4 | Won Divisional playoffs (Cowboys) 26β17 Lost NFC Championship (at Packers) 13β30 |
1997 | San Francisco 49ers (16)[16] | 13β3 | Won Divisional playoffs (Vikings) 38β22 Lost NFC Championship (Packers) 10β23 |
1998 | Atlanta Falcons (2) | 14β2 | Won Divisional playoffs (49ers) 20β18 Won NFC Championship (at Vikings) 30β27 (OT) Lost Super Bowl XXXIII (vs. Broncos) 19β34 |
1999 | St. Louis Rams (11) | 13β3 | Won Divisional playoffs (Vikings) 49-37 Won NFC Championship (Buccaneers) 11β6 Won Super Bowl XXXIV (vs. Titans) 23β16 |
2000 | New Orleans Saints (2) | 10β6 | Won Wild Card playoffs (Rams) 31β28 Lost Divisional playoffs (at Vikings) 16β34 |
2001 | St. Louis Rams (12) | 14β2 | Won Divisional playoffs (Packers) 45β17 Won NFC Championship (Eagles) 29β24 Lost Super Bowl XXXVI (vs. Patriots) 17β20 |
Following 2001, the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, and New Orleans Saints left the NFC West to join the newly formed NFC South. The San Francisco 49ers and the St. Louis Rams were joined by the Arizona Cardinals (from the NFC East) and the Seattle Seahawks (from the AFC West) to create the new NFC West. The Rams returned to Los Angeles prior to the 2016 season.
Season | Team | Record | Playoff Results |
---|---|---|---|
NFC West | |||
2002 | San Francisco 49ers (17)[17] | 10β6 | Won Wild Card playoffs (Giants) 39β38 Lost Divisional playoffs (at Buccaneers) 6β31 |
2003 | St. Louis Rams (13) | 12β4 | Lost Divisional playoffs (Panthers) 23β29 (2OT) |
2004 | Seattle Seahawks (1) | 9β7 | Lost Wild Card playoffs (Rams) 20β27 |
2005 | Seattle Seahawks (2) | 13β3 | Won Divisional playoffs (Redskins) 20β10 Won NFC Championship (Panthers) 34β14 Lost Super Bowl XL (vs. Steelers) 10β21 |
2006 | Seattle Seahawks (3) | 9β7 | Won Wild Card playoffs (Cowboys) 21β20 Lost Divisional playoffs (at Bears) 24β27 (OT) |
2007 | Seattle Seahawks (4) | 10β6 | Won Wild Card playoffs (Redskins) 35β14 Lost Divisional playoffs (at Packers) 20β42 |
2008 | Arizona Cardinals (1) | 9β7 | Won Wild Card playoffs (Falcons) 30β24 Won Divisional playoffs (at Panthers) 33β13 Won NFC Championship (Eagles) 32β25 Lost Super Bowl XLIII (vs. Steelers) 23β27 |
2009 | Arizona Cardinals (2) | 10β6 | Won Wild Card playoffs (Packers) 51β45 (OT) Lost Divisional playoffs (at Saints) 14β45 |
2010 | Seattle Seahawks (5) | 7β9 | Won Wild Card playoffs (Saints) 41β36 Lost Divisional playoffs (at Bears) 35β24 |
2011 | San Francisco 49ers (18)[18] | 13β3 | Won Divisional playoffs (Saints) 36β32 Lost NFC Championship (Giants) 17β20 (OT) |
2012 | San Francisco 49ers (19)[19] | 11β4β1 | Won Divisional playoffs (Packers) 45β31 Won NFC Championship (at Falcons) 28β24 Lost Super Bowl XLVII (vs. Ravens) 31β34 |
2013 | Seattle Seahawks (6) | 13β3 | Won Divisional playoffs (Saints) 23β15 Won NFC Championship (49ers) 23β17 Won Super Bowl XLVIII (vs. Broncos) 43β8 |
2014 | Seattle Seahawks (7) | 12β4 | Won Divisional playoffs (Panthers) 31β17 Won NFC Championship (Packers) 28β22 (OT) Lost Super Bowl XLIX (vs. Patriots) 24β28 |
2015 | Arizona Cardinals (3) | 13β3 | Won Divisional playoffs (Packers) 26β20 (OT) Lost NFC Championship (at Panthers) 15β49 |
2016 | Seattle Seahawks (8) | 10β5β1 | Won Wild Card playoffs (Lions) 26β6 Lost Divisional playoffs (at Falcons) 20β36 |
2017 | Los Angeles Rams (14) | 11β5 | Lost Wild Card playoffs (Falcons) 13β26 |
2018 | Los Angeles Rams (15) | 13β3[20] | Won Divisional playoffs (Cowboys) 30β22 Won NFC Championship (at Saints) 26β23 (OT) Lost Super Bowl LIII (vs. Patriots) 3β13 |
2019 | San Francisco 49ers (20)[21] | 13β3 | Won Divisional playoffs (Vikings) 27β10 Won NFC Championship (Packers) 37β20 Lost Super Bowl LIV (vs. Chiefs) 20β31 |
2020 | Seattle Seahawks (9) | 12β4 | Lost Wild Card playoffs (Rams) 20β30 |
2021 | Los Angeles Rams (16) | 12β5 | Won Wild Card playoffs (Cardinals) 34β11 Won Divisional playoffs (at Buccaneers) 30β27 Won NFC Championship (49ers) 20β17 Won Super Bowl LVI (vs. Bengals) 23β20 |
2022 | San Francisco 49ers (21) | 13β4 | Won Wild Card playoffs (Seahawks) 41β23 Won Divisional playoffs (Cowboys) 19β12 Lost NFC Championship (at Eagles) 7β31 |
2023 | San Francisco 49ers (22) | 12β5 | Won Divisional playoffs (Packers) 24β21 Won NFC Championship (Lions) 34β31 Lost Super Bowl LVIII (vs. Chiefs) 22β25 (OT) |
*A players' strike in 1982 reduced the regular season to nine games. Thus, the league used a special sixteen-team playoff tournament for that year only. Division standings were ignored, and Atlanta had the best record of the division teams.
Wild Card qualifiers
Season | Team | Record | Playoff Results |
---|---|---|---|
1978 | Atlanta Falcons | 9β7 | Won Wild Card playoffs (Eagles) 14β13 Lost Divisional playoffs (at Cowboys) 20β27 |
1980 | Los Angeles Rams | 11β5 | Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Cowboys) 13β34 |
1983 | Los Angeles Rams | 9β7 | Won Wild Card playoffs (at Cowboys) 24β17 Lost Divisional playoffs (at Redskins) 7β51 |
1984 | Los Angeles Rams | 10β6 | Lost Wild Card playoffs (Giants) 13β16 |
1985 | San Francisco 49ers | 10β6 | Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Giants) 3β17 |
1986 | Los Angeles Rams | 10β6 | Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Redskins) 7β19 |
1987 | New Orleans Saints | 12β3 | Lost Wild Card playoffs (Vikings) 10β44 |
1988 | Los Angeles Rams | 10β6 | Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Vikings) 17β28 |
1989 | Los Angeles Rams | 11β5 | Won Wild Card playoffs (at Eagles) 21β7 Won Divisional playoffs (at Giants) 19β13 Lost NFC Championship (at 49ers) 3β30 |
1990 | New Orleans Saints | 8β8 | Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Bears) 6β16 |
1991 | Atlanta Falcons | 10β6 | Won Wild Card playoffs (at Saints) 27β20 Lost Divisional playoffs (at Redskins) 7β24 |
1992 | New Orleans Saints | 12β4 | Lost Wild Card playoffs (Eagles) 20β36 |
1995 | Atlanta Falcons | 9β7 | Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Packers) 20β37 |
1996 | San Francisco 49ers | 12β4 | Won Wild Card playoffs (Eagles) 14β0 Lost Divisional playoffs (at Packers) 14β35 |
1998 | San Francisco 49ers | 12β4 | Won Wild Card playoffs (Packers) 30β27 Lost Divisional playoffs (at Falcons) 18β20 |
2000 | St. Louis Rams | 10β6 | Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Saints) 28β31 |
2001 | San Francisco 49ers | 12β4 | Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Packers) 15β25 |
2003 | Seattle Seahawks | 10β6 | Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Packers) 27β33 (OT) |
2004 | St. Louis Rams | 8β8 | Won Wild Card playoffs (at Seahawks) 27β20 Lost Divisional playoffs (at Falcons) 17β47 |
2012 | Seattle Seahawks | 11β5 | Won Wild Card playoffs (at Redskins) 24β14 Lost Divisional playoffs (at Falcons) 28β30 |
2013 | San Francisco 49ers | 12β4 | Won Wild Card playoffs (at Packers) 23β20 Won Divisional playoffs (at Panthers) 23β10 Lost NFC Championship (at Seahawks) 17β23 |
2014 | Arizona Cardinals | 11β5 | Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Panthers) 16β27 |
2015 | Seattle Seahawks | 10β6 | Won Wild Card playoffs (at Vikings) 10β9 Lost Divisional playoffs (at Panthers) 24β31 |
2018 | Seattle Seahawks | 10β6 | Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Cowboys) 22β24 |
2019 | Seattle Seahawks | 11β5 | Won Wild Card playoffs (at Eagles) 17β9 Lost Divisional playoffs (at Packers) 23β28 |
2020 | Los Angeles Rams | 10β6 | Won Wild Card playoffs (at Seahawks) 30β20 Lost Divisional playoffs (at Packers) 18β32 |
2021 | Arizona Cardinals | 11β6 | Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Rams) 11β34 |
San Francisco 49ers | 10β7 | Won Wild Card playoffs (at Cowboys) 23β17 Won Divisional playoffs (at Packers) 13β10 Lost NFC Championship (at Rams) 17β20 | |
2022 | Seattle Seahawks | 9β8 | Lost Wild Card playoffs (at 49ers) 23β41 |
2023 | Los Angeles Rams | 10β7 | Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Lions) 23β24 |
*A players' strike in 1982 reduced the regular season to nine games. Thus, the league used a special sixteen-team playoff tournament for that year only. Division standings were ignored.
Season results
(#) | Denotes team that won the Super Bowl |
(#) | Denotes team that won the NFC/NFL Championship, but lost Super Bowl |
(#) | Denotes team that qualified for the NFL Playoffs |
Season | Team (record) | ||||||||||||||
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1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
1967 | Los Angeles[a] (11β1β2) | Baltimore (11β1β2) | San Francisco (7β7) | Atlanta (1β12β1) | |||||||||||
1968 | Baltimore[b] (13β1) | Los Angeles (10β3β1) | San Francisco (7β6β1) | Atlanta (2β12) | |||||||||||
1969 | Los Angeles (11β3) | Baltimore (8β5β1) | Atlanta (6β8) | San Francisco (4β8β2) | |||||||||||
The Coastal Division became the NFC West. | |||||||||||||||
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1970 | San Francisco (10β3β1) | Los Angeles (9β4β1) | Atlanta (4β8β2) | New Orleans (2β11β1) | |||||||||||
1971 | San Francisco (9β5) | Los Angeles (8β5β1) | Atlanta (7β6β1) | New Orleans (4β8β2) | |||||||||||
1972 | San Francisco (8β5β1) | Atlanta (7β7) | Los Angeles (6β7β1) | New Orleans (2β11β1) | |||||||||||
1973 | Los Angeles (12β2) | Atlanta (9β5) | San Francisco (5β9) | New Orleans (5β9) | |||||||||||
1974 | Los Angeles (10β4) | San Francisco (6β8) | New Orleans (5β9) | Atlanta (3β11) | |||||||||||
1975 | (2) Los Angeles (12β2) | San Francisco (5β9) | Atlanta (4β10) | New Orleans (2β12) | |||||||||||
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1976 | (3) Los Angeles (10β3β1) | San Francisco (8β6) | Atlanta (4β10) | New Orleans (4β10) | Seattle (2β12) | ||||||||||
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1977 | (2) Los Angeles (10β4) | Atlanta (7β7) | San Francisco (5β9) | New Orleans (3β11) | |||||||||||
1978 | (1) Los Angeles (12β4) | (4) Atlanta (9β7) | New Orleans (7β9) | San Francisco (2β14) | |||||||||||
1979 | (3) Los Angeles (9β7) | New Orleans (8β8) | Atlanta (6β10) | San Francisco (2β14) | |||||||||||
1980 | (1) Atlanta (12β4) | (5) Los Angeles (11β5) | San Francisco (6β10) | New Orleans (1β15) | |||||||||||
1981 | (1) San Francisco (13β3) | Atlanta (7β9) | Los Angeles (6β10) | New Orleans (4β12) | |||||||||||
1982^[c] | (5) Atlanta (5β4) | New Orleans (4β5) | San Francisco (3β6) | L.A. Rams (2β7) | |||||||||||
1983 | (2) San Francisco (10β6) | (5) L.A. Rams (9β7) | New Orleans (8β8) | Atlanta (7β9) | |||||||||||
1984 | (1) San Francisco (15β1) | (4) L.A. Rams (10β6) | New Orleans (7β9) | Atlanta (4β12) | |||||||||||
1985 | (2) L.A. Rams (11β5) | (5) San Francisco (10β6) | New Orleans (5β11) | Atlanta (4β12) | |||||||||||
1986 | (3) San Francisco (10β5β1) | (5) L.A. Rams (10β6) | Atlanta (7β8β1) | New Orleans (7β9) | |||||||||||
1987 | (1) San Francisco (13β2) | (4) New Orleans (12β3) | L.A. Rams (6β9) | Atlanta (3β12) | |||||||||||
1988 | (2) San Francisco (10β6) | (5) L.A. Rams (10β6) | New Orleans (10β6) | Atlanta (5β11) | |||||||||||
1989 | (1) San Francisco (14β2) | (5) L.A. Rams (11β5) | New Orleans (9β7) | Atlanta (3β13) | |||||||||||
1990 | (1) San Francisco (14β2) | (6) New Orleans (8β8) | L.A. Rams (5β11) | Atlanta (5β11) | |||||||||||
1991 | (3) New Orleans (11β5) | (6) Atlanta (10β6) | San Francisco (10β6) | L.A. Rams (3β13) | |||||||||||
1992 | (1) San Francisco (14β2) | (4) New Orleans (12β4) | Atlanta (6β10) | L.A. Rams (6β10) | |||||||||||
1993 | (2) San Francisco (10β6) | New Orleans (8β8) | Atlanta (6β10) | L.A. Rams (5β11) | |||||||||||
1994 | (1) San Francisco (13β3) | New Orleans (7β9) | Atlanta (7β9) | L.A. Rams (4β12) | |||||||||||
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1995 | (2) San Francisco (11β5) | (6) Atlanta (9β7) | St. Louis (7β9) | Carolina (7β9) | New Orleans (7β9) | ||||||||||
1996 | (2) Carolina (12β4) | (4) San Francisco (12β4) | St. Louis (6β10) | Atlanta (3β13) | New Orleans (3β13) | ||||||||||
1997 | (1) San Francisco (13β3) | Carolina (7β9) | Atlanta (7β9) | New Orleans (6β10) | St. Louis (5β11) | ||||||||||
1998 | (2) Atlanta (14β2) | (4) San Francisco (12β4) | New Orleans (6β10) | Carolina (4β12) | St. Louis (4β12) | ||||||||||
1999 | (1) St. Louis (13β3) | Carolina (8β8) | Atlanta (5β11) | San Francisco (4β12) | New Orleans (3β13) | ||||||||||
2000 | (3) New Orleans (10β6) | (6) St. Louis (10β6) | Carolina (7β9) | San Francisco (6β10) | Atlanta (4β12) | ||||||||||
2001 | (1) St. Louis (14β2) | (5) San Francisco (12β4) | New Orleans (7β9) | Atlanta (7β9) | Carolina (1β15) | ||||||||||
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2002 | (4) San Francisco (10β6) | St. Louis (7β9) | Seattle (7β9) | Arizona (5β11) | |||||||||||
2003 | (2) St. Louis (12β4) | (5) Seattle (10β6) | San Francisco (7β9) | Arizona (4β12) | |||||||||||
2004 | (4) Seattle (9β7) | (5) St. Louis (8β8) | Arizona (6β10) | San Francisco (2β14) | |||||||||||
2005 | (1) Seattle (13β3) | St. Louis (6β10) | Arizona (5β11) | San Francisco (4β12) | |||||||||||
2006 | (4) Seattle (9β7) | St. Louis (8β8) | San Francisco (7β9) | Arizona (5β11) | |||||||||||
2007 | (3) Seattle (10β6) | Arizona (8β8) | San Francisco (5β11) | St. Louis (3β13) | |||||||||||
2008 | (4) Arizona (9β7) | San Francisco (7β9) | Seattle (4β12) | St. Louis (2β14) | |||||||||||
2009 | (4) Arizona (10β6) | San Francisco (8β8) | Seattle (5β11) | St. Louis (1β15) | |||||||||||
2010 | (4) Seattle (7β9) | St. Louis (7β9) | San Francisco (6β10) | Arizona (5β11) | |||||||||||
2011 | (2) San Francisco (13β3) | Arizona (8β8) | Seattle (7β9) | St. Louis (2β14) | |||||||||||
2012 | (2) San Francisco (11β4β1) | (5) Seattle (11β5) | St. Louis (7β8β1) | Arizona (5β11) | |||||||||||
2013 | (1) Seattle (13β3) | (5) San Francisco (12β4) | Arizona (10β6) | St. Louis (7β9) | |||||||||||
2014 | (1) Seattle (12β4) | (5) Arizona (11β5) | San Francisco (8β8) | St. Louis (6β10) | |||||||||||
2015 | (2) Arizona (13β3) | (6) Seattle (10β6) | St. Louis (7β9) | San Francisco (5β11) | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
2016 | (3) Seattle (10β5β1) | Arizona (7β8β1) | Los Angeles (4β12) | San Francisco (2β14) | |||||||||||
2017 | (3) L.A. Rams (11β5) | Seattle (9β7) | Arizona (8β8) | San Francisco (6β10) | |||||||||||
2018 | (2) L.A. Rams (13β3) | (5) Seattle (10β6) | San Francisco (4β12) | Arizona (3β13) | |||||||||||
2019 | (1) San Francisco (13β3) | (5) Seattle (11β5) | L.A. Rams (9β7) | Arizona (5β10β1) | |||||||||||
2020 | (3) Seattle (12β4) | (6) L.A. Rams (10β6) | Arizona (8β8) | San Francisco (6β10) | |||||||||||
2021 | (4) L.A. Rams (12β5) | (5) Arizona (11β6) | (6) San Francisco (10β7) | Seattle (7β10) | |||||||||||
2022 | (2) San Francisco (13β4) | (7) Seattle (9β8) | L.A. Rams (5β12) | Arizona (4β13) | |||||||||||
2023 | (1) San Francisco (12β5) | (6) L.A. Rams (10β7) | Seattle (9β8) | Arizona (4β13) |
- Notes and Tiebreakers
- a Los Angeles won the Coastal Division based on better point differential in head-to-head games (net 24 points) vs. Baltimore. The Rams and Colts played to a 24β24 tie in Baltimore in October before the Rams won 34β10 on the season's final Sunday at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The result would be the same under the modern tiebreaker, which relies first on head-to-head record (Los Angeles won the head-to-head series, 1β0β1).
- b The Baltimore Colts won the NFL Championship, but lost to the AFL's New York Jets in Super Bowl III.
- c Due to player strikes, the league shortened the 1982 season's games and realigned all the teams into conferences. The records for the division teams are based on what it would have looked like if they were still in the division.
Rivalries
- 49ersβCardinals rivalry
- 49ersβRams rivalry
- 49ersβSeahawks rivalry
- RamsβSeahawks rivalry
- RamsβSaints rivalry (until 2002)
- CardinalsβRams rivalry
- CardinalsβSeahawks rivalry
Fans
- 49er Faithful - Fans of the 49ers.
- Mob Squad - Fans of the Rams.
- The 12th Man - Fans of the Seahawks
- Red Sea - Fans of the Cardinals
Total playoff berths as members of the NFC Coastal/West
- (1967β2023)
Team | Division Championships | Playoff Berths | Super Bowl Appearances | Super Bowl Wins |
---|---|---|---|---|
San Francisco 49ers1 | 22 (6) | 26 (7) | 8 (3) | 5 (0) |
St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams1 | 16 (4) | 24 (6) | 5 (2) | 2 (1) |
Seattle Seahawks2 | 9 | 15 | 3 | 1 |
St. Louis/Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals2 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
Atlanta Falcons2 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
New Orleans Saints2 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Baltimore Colts2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Carolina Panthers2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
- 1Numbers since re-alignment in parentheses
- 2These numbers only reflect the Seahawks, Cardinals, Falcons, Saints, Colts, and Panthers' time as members of the NFC West.
References
- "Famine is Over for S.F." Independent. Long Beach, California. Combined News Services. December 21, 1970. p. 31 β via Newspapers.com.
- "49ers Claim NFC West Crown". The Argus. Fremont, California. UPI. December 20, 1971. p. 10 β via Newspapers.com.
- Smolich, Marco (December 17, 1972). "49ers Squeak By for West Title". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, California. p. 6 β via Newspapers.com.
- Brockmann, Dave (December 27, 1981). "Resurging 49ers: Best NFL Record, NFC West Champions". Santa Cruz Sentinel. Santa Cruz, California. p. 73.
- Vyeda, Ed (December 20, 1983). "49ers Destroy Dallas to Win NFC West". Santa Cruz Sentinel. Santa Cruz, California. p. D1 β via Newspapers.com.
- "Forced to Go on the Defensive, 49ers Still Win". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. Times Wire Services. December 3, 1984. pp. 3β9.
- Murray, William D. (December 22, 1986). "Niners Defense Rip Rams 24β14". The Press-Tribune. Roseville, California. United Press International. p. 19 β via Newspapers.com.
- Soltau, Mark (December 28, 1987). "49ers Storm to the Title". The San Francisco Examiner. San Francisco, California. p. F1 β via Newspapers.com.
- Kotala, Carl (December 19, 1988). "Humbled 49ers Feeling Defenseless". The San Bernardino County Sun. San Bernardino, California. Gannett News Service. p. C2 β via Newspapers.com.
- Waldner, Mike (December 12, 1989). "Comeback Kids Reverse Role". News-Pilot. San Pedro, California. p. B1.
- Jenkins, Jim (December 3, 1990). "Super Bowl XXIV1/2 is Finally Here". Santa Cruz Sentinel. Santa Cruz, California. p. B3 β via Newspapers.com.
- Georgatos, Dennis (December 20, 1992). "49ers Wrap Up NFC West, Home Field". The Hanford Sentinel. Hanford, California. Associated Press. p. 14 β via Newspapers.com.
- Atkins, Harry. "Young Guns 49ers Past Lions, 55β17". The San Bernardino County Sun. San Bernardino, California. Associated Press. p. C4 β via Newspapers.com.
- Schumacher, John (November 29, 1994). "49ers Not Satisfied with Title". Santa Maria Times. Santa Maria, California. p. C1 β via Newspapers.com.
- Georgatos, Dennis (December 18, 1995). "San Francisco Wants to Stay Home for Playoffs". The Napa Valley Register. Napa, California. Associated Press. p. B1 β via Newspapers.com.
- Peterson, Anne M. (November 17, 1997). "49ers Win NFC West". The Hanford Sentinel. Hanford, California. Associated Press. p. 8 β via Newspapers.com.
- "49ers Clinch NFC West with Comeback Win Over Dallas". Tulare Advance-Register. Tulare, California. Associated Press. December 9, 2002. p. B1 β via Newspapers.com.
- McCauley, Janie (December 5, 2011). "San Francisco is Playoff Bound". Santa Maria Times. Santa Maria, California. Associated Press. p. B1 β via Newspapers.com.
- Gackle, Paul (December 31, 2012). "Win Not Enough to Erase Concerns". The San Francisco Examiner. San Francisco, California. p. A18 β via Newspapers.com.
- "NFL Standings". www.nfl.com. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
- Sanchez III, Jose Luis (December 29, 2019). "49ers Go Against History in Seattle to Clinch NFC West". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 23, 2020.