2008 NFC WEST PREVIEW

You had to figure that out of 8 division previews, I would egregiously mail in (at least) one. Well, here it is: the NFC West. Why should I take the time to put a lot of effort into previewing a division in which none of the other teams seems to be working hard to catch up to the Seattle Seahawks?

I'll do a blurgb on each team and then move on to a serious division:

* The Arizona Cardinals have been considered a "Sleeper" team by the so-called experts every season for as long as I can remember. While I do like second year head coach Ken Whisenhunt, I don't see any area of the game in which this team is above average, with the exception of the WR position. This is an absolutly mediocre group of players and the only reason they have any chance at making the playoffs is because they are in the NFL's worst division. Based on what I've seen of QB Matt Leinart, he is a tremendous bust, even if the media doesn't want to talk about it. Road games @ Washington, @ Carolina, @ Seattle, @ Philadelphia, and @ New England will all be tough, as will visits from Dallas, Minnesota, and the N.Y. Giants. This team would need to have everything go right to make the postseason.

* Last year at this time, everyone was humping the San Francisco 49ers. They were 2007's answer to the Cleveland Browns. And (not surprisingly) they crashed and burned, finishing 5-11 after a 2-0 start. Their season included an 11 game stretch in which the 49ers went 1-10. Having said all that, I think the 49ers are a team that could sneak up on people this season. They finally benched the laughable Alex Smith and replaced him with J.T. O'Sullivan. They have a good RB in Frank Gore and a potential star at TE in Vernon Davis. The defense is lead by stud MLB Patrick Willis, who was the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year last season. I don't think this team can realistically challenge for a playoff spot but I do expect them to be much more competitive than they were last year.

* The Seattle Seahawks have a better stranglehold on their division than any team in the NFC. The Seahawks have won this division in each of the last four seasons and, while it may be a boring pick, I just don't see who could possibly knock them off this year. Seattle cut ties with former NFL MVP Shaun Alexander and signed RBs Julius Jones and T.J. Duckett to form a running back by commitee with holdover Maurice Morris. I'm a big fan of their Front 7, which should be even better with the addition of first round pick, DE Lawrence Jackson, out of USC. TE John Carlson and FB Owen Schmitt should also have positive impacts as rookies. The schedule sets up relatively well for Seattle and, as long as they can take care of business within the NFC West, they will win the division for the 5th straight year and head to the postseason for the 6th consecutive year, in Head Coach Mike Holmgren's final season.

* The wild card team in this division is definitely the St. Louis Rams. The Rams dealt with injuries to several key players last season and never had a chance to compete, even in a weak division. The talent is certainly there on offense with LT Orlando Pace, QB Marc Bulger, RB Steven Jackson, and WR Torry Holt all back and all presumably healthy. I also like the addition of 2nd overall pick DE Chris Long out of Virginia. The Rams might actually be the best team in the division on paper but Head Coach Scott Linehan has showed absolutely nothing in his first two seasons on the job and several of the Rams key players are getting older. I can't recommend betting on this team either way because I just have no idea what to make of them. I wouldn't be surprised at all if they finished last in the division again. However, the talent is there for them to take advantage of an easy schedule and challenge for a playoff spot, assuming the team stays healthy. I'll give Linehan the benefit of the doubt and call for the Rams to be much improved this year.

Here's how I rank them:

1. Seahawks
2. Rams
3. 49ers
4. Cardinals


I don't expect more than one team to make the playoffs out of this division.


Yesterday: 2-0, +$400

Year to Date: 4-4, +$20

I got off to a good start in college football yesterday (Even surviving a jinx attempt by Chad during the 4th quarter of the Missouri game) to get myself back in the plus after a disappointing NFL Preseason.

Now, let's start giving that back.

(207) Kentucky +3.5 @ Louisville

The SEC is so much better than the second best conference in America that the only true debate is whether any other conference is as good as the SEC East or SEC West divisions.


NL East Update: The Mets bullpen gave up a run in the bottom of the 8th that tied the game, then walked in the winning run in the bottom of the 9th. I just don't know where I ever got this idea that their bullpen sucks. I guess I'm making that up. Ryan Howard hit another meanginless HR, his 37th, in a crucial Phillies win.

Jeff's IPhone Update: He still has it. Matt still wants one of his own.

Jorgen Update: He still hasn't killed any of the kids. Yet.


I'll be rooting for Kentucky this afternoon but it's really just an appetizer for today's biggest event: NASCAR's Pepsi 500.

Hoping to see the 48 car in Victory Lane tonight but how could I possibly root against my main man "Cousin Carl?"



Enjoy the race.