The Seattle Seahawks are facing an early challenge in the NFC West race, and their chances of winning the division title are not what they were expected to be entering the season.

Bleacher Report picked the San Francisco 49ers to claim the NFC West title this season over the Seahawks, given San Francisco’s perfect 6-0 start to the year and the state that both the Seahawks and the Los Angeles Rams are in to begin the year.

Behind San Francisco in the division race is Seattle at 3-3. The Arizona Cardinals are No. 3 in the division at 2-4, with the Los Angeles Rams currently in last place at 2-4 as well, putting the 49ers in control of the standings at this point of the season.

The 49ers also hold key head-to-head tiebreakers over the Seahawks, Cardinals and Rams, giving San Francisco a significant advantage in the race for the division crown. Those results may prove to be decisive depending on how the rest of the year shakes out, leaving Seattle with less room for error as it attempts to close the gap.

For the Seahawks, the path back into contention will depend on stringing together wins and taking advantage of upcoming divisional matchups. San Francisco's unbeaten start, meanwhile, has positioned the 49ers as the team to beat in the NFC West, putting pressure on Seattle to respond as soon as in Week 7 against the Kansas City Chiefs, before the division race slips further out of reach.