The NFL has released their schedule last Thursday, and with it teams now know their paths to the Super Bowl. In the NFC West, the road could not be more difficult. The games within division itself are competitive enough as it is, but clashes outside of the NFC West could make winning the division all the more grueling.

The West Coast teams are slated to face squads from the NFC East and the AFC East, as well as one team from the NFC North and the NFC South, matched up depending on last year's seeding.

With all that said, who among the NFC West squads will have the harshest road to make their way to Raymond James Stadium in February of 2021?

Here's how the NFC West schedules rank.

4. Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals' two games that differ from the rest of the division will be against the Carolina Panthers and the Detroit Lions.

The Lions won just a total of nine games in the last two seasons, so it's understandable to expect that despite drafting cornerback Jeff Okudah, they are still in the process of finding their groove. The Panthers are also going through a transition with Cam Newton being released and quarterback Teddy Bridgewater taking over after a five-win season.

With an upgraded receiving corps, the Cardinals have a chance to get some easy victories in their schedule.

3. Los Angeles Rams

The Rams made some major changes to their roster. They released running back Todd Gurley, and they lost both Dante Fowler to the Atlanta Falcons and Brandin Cooks to the Houston Texans. So, the Rams have a lot of figuring out to do with this squad.

They should have a sigh of relief, however, as going through the AFC East could offer an opportunity to get some much-needed wins. The Dolphins and the Jets are still under some form of rebuilding, while there's uncertainty on how good the Patriots will be with Jarrett Stidham starting under center.

Another team the Rams have to face that they have a good shot in beating is the Chicago Bears, who are still trying to figure out who their starting quarterback should be. But then the Rams have to go through Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, on top of the NFC East and their divisional games. Those games could be dog fights, especially the game against the Bucs, which will come late in the season.

It still seems that the Rams have a relatively easier schedule in the NFC West.

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2. Seattle Seahawks 

The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that the Seahawks will be the most traveled team in the league for the 2020-21 season, amassing almost 30,000 travel miles. On top of that, they will have the longest streak of games without a bye in the NFC West, playing 11 straight weeks after getting a break in Week 5.

To add to it, their two uncommon games will be against the Atlanta Falcons and the Minnesota Vikings. The Falcons might be a winnable game, but the Vikings have shown last year that they have the bite to beat the best teams in the NFC, which makes the matchup tricky for Seattle.

And to finish it off, the Seahawks are paying a visit to the Philadelphia Eagles, who might have a bone to pick with them after a devastating hit by JaDaveon Clowney to Carson Wentz that might have cost the Eagles a playoff victory.

1. San Francisco 49ers

What's the Niners' reward for winning the NFC last season? The fourth toughest schedule in the NFL.

Not only will they have to get past the NFC East and the AFC East, but they will also have a rematch against the Green Bay Packers and the New Orleans Saints.

No one knows for sure what's going on with Green Bay, but as long as Aaron Rodgers is their quarterback, they always have a puncher's chance. The Saints are eager for their payback having just taken Emmanuel Sanders away from the Niners. San Francisco barely got away with a win last year, so they should expect a ready New Orleans team to exact revenge.

With the Seahawks breathing down their necks, the Cardinals improving, and the Rams still having one of the best coaches in the league, on top of a very tough outside of the conference schedule, if the Niners want to return to the Super Bowl, they are certainly are going to have to earn it.