BigdaddyQH

My early look at the NFC West, where 9-7 just may win the division.

1. Seattle. This team is not spactacular, but is solid. The offense got Branch to help the passing game and Alexander is still solid. The D got some help in the draft. Consistancy is the biggest problem here. The Seahawks forget to show up at times. They can not do that this season.

2. San Francisco. This team has been building for two years now, and should show the results of patience and good draft days. Willis should help a D which gave up 30 or more points 7 times last season. This is way too much, even for the Wild West. The offense is solid.

3. St. Louis. Bulger is still at the helm, and the Rams have a potent offense. The Rams DT's were poor last year, and they drafted 3, including Carriker of Nebraska, to take some pressure off the LB's and secondary. The Rams go thru unexplainable losing streaks. They can not afford that this year.

4. Arizona. A team on the rise with a new head coach and a serious mamagement team behind them. The Cards filled a need with Thomas in the draft. They must protect Leinart better than they did last year. The offense should improve this year. If the "D" can, the Cards will be in the hunt.

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Winning is the Only Accpetable Result

JCD

1) Seattle. Had not to have them win the division. Again. Had a good off-season and kept the core of their team intact. Age will eventually erode that talent base, but not yet. 11-5 and a shot at the NFC title.

2) Arizona. Call me crazy, but I think Wisenhunt was the right man for the job. Cards have the makings for a powerhouse offense... provided the OTs hold up (the line isn't really all that bad, they just had a bunch of guards with no tackles). Defense had more talent that it showed. Wilson is a stud, Dansby can be a stud whem motivated, Berry is a stud when healthy, Dockett was a stud as a rookie while Rolle has the talent to be a stud. They just need to shore up the parts inbetween and play up to their talent. If they do, they are a play-off caliber team.

3) St. Louis. Could easily finish higher. This is a very good offensive team, if they are healthy. Bulger is a cause for concern in that department. Defense is a work in progress. I think their front-7 is rather over-rated myself, the on-field play doesn't back the flashy numbers. The secondary lacks a premiere presence as well.

4) Niners. I really hate putting them this low, I think they are a .500 caliber team. The NFC West just looks to be the class of the NFC this year. If they played somewhere else, the ycould vie for a WC. Smith improved dramatically last year, but they took away his top WR in Bryant. He will have to find a new go-to guy. I love the Banta-Cain addition for the defense. What they lack is the mauler in the middle to anchor it around. All that said, this team is good. Just in a very good division.

BigdaddyQH

I think that any one of these 4 teams can win this wide open division. I give Seattle and San Francisco the edge because they play both Baltimore and Cincinnati at home, while the Cards and Rams have to go to those two cities. Any slip by one of these teams could mean last place.

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Winning is the Only Accpetable Result

Blaze_1UP

9ERS improvements on D should help out big time. Only real question on offense is Alex Smith don't know if he's the right one yet, still waiting to see a big game out of him yet.

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BigdaddyQH

This is the only division that I am not going to try and pick. It would be silly for me to go team by team and predict 7-9 wins for each team. Any team can win this division. I think that the NFC West will be one of the more entertaining divisions in football.

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Winning is the Only Accpetable Result