After reaching the playoffs every year from 2012 to 2016 - which included three NFC West division titles, two NFC Championship banners and a Super Bowl 48 victory - the Seattle Seahawks saw a changing of the guard in 2017.
While the Seahawks limped to a 9-7 finish to miss the playoffs for the first time in six years, they saw the divisional rival Los Angeles Rams win 11 games and capture the NFC West crown.
The Seahawks have since undergone massive changes to the roster, which hints that GM John Schneider is looking at a rebuild. Pro Bowl cornerback Richard Sherman, star pass-rusher Michael Bennett, elite tight end Jimmy Graham and corner Jeremy Lane are all gone.
In an interview with Cameron DaSilva of Rams Wire, L.A. running back Todd Gurley explained how much the Rams have enjoyed watching the Seahawks decimate their roster, as the next great NFC West power continues to build.
"Hey, you know we’re happy about it," said. :We have to take advantage of the situation while we can. Those guys have been beating up on us for a while now."
While the Seahawks cut loose many of their key players, the Rams loaded up on more superstar talent in the offseason. They landed one of the league's premier wide receivers in Brandin Cooks, via a trade with the New England Patriots. L.A. also signed Pro Bowl defensive end Ndamukong Suh and traded for star cornerbacks, Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib.
"It’s definitely time for us to come in and try to take over this division and try to be back-to-back champs. It’s not going to be easy. Everyone in your division knows you as well as you do, so we have to just come and try to take over that division."
The Rams snapped a 13-year playoff drought this year, finally ending years of misery. It was only icing on the cake when their perennial division foes crumbled, miss the playoffs and decided to restart.
Barring any major surprises in 2018, the Rams should once again take home the NFC West crown - all while watching the perennial bullies, the Seahawks, try to rebuild after a letdown 2017 season.