Two of the last four NFC representatives in the Super Bowl have amazingly come from the NFC West, with Seattle playing for the championship in 2005, and Arizona last season. The Cardinals finished the regular season at 9-7, but came within two minutes of upsetting the Steelers, only to lose, 27-23.
Arizona made great strides last season, behind Kurt Warner's resurgence at quarterback, and Larry Fitzgerald's leap into the NFL's elite receivers. However, digging deeper into the Cardinals' improbable run, Ken Whisenhunt's club swept each of their division opponents, accounting for six of nine victories. The other three wins came against Miami in Week 2, Buffalo in Week 5, and Dallas in Week 6. The defense yielded at least 47 points in three separate contests against the Jets (56), Eagles (48), and Patriots (47).
The Seahawks took a step back in 2008, finishing 4-12 in Mike Holmgren's final season. It didn't help that quarterback Matt Hasselbeck missed nine games with a lingering back injury. Seattle's passing game is set to improve not only with Hasselbeck healthy again, but also the acquisition of ex-Bengal wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who caught 92 passes last season.
The 49ers started slow under Mike Nolan, but played well towards the end of last season with the installment of Mike Singletary as head coach. San Francisco won five of its final seven games to finish 7-9, while covering four of its last five games as an underdog.
The Rams hit a new low in 2008, claiming only two victories, as Scott Linehan is out as head coach and Steve Spagnuolo is in. The former Giants defensive coordinator comes into a dire situation in St. Louis, as the Rams are slowly starting over after the releases of wide receiver Torry Holt and offensive tackle Orlando Pace.
Here are the season win totals for the NFC West, according to Sportsbooks.
Arizona Over 8.5 (-115) Under 8.5 (-115)
Seattle Over 8 (-160) Under 8 (+130)
San Francisco Over 7 (-145) Under 7 (+115)
St. Louis Over 5.5 (-160) Under 5.5 (+130)
The panel had differing opinions on the top two teams in the division, on whether Arizona will come back down to Earth, and if Seattle bounces back this season.
Chris David, Brian Edwards, and I are all in agreement on the Seahawks rebounding in 2009, and becoming a playoff team once again. David says, "On paper, the Seahawks catch a real easy home schedule and could put up a 7-1 spot if it plays to its level. The road was trouble last year and will be tough again, however, new head coach Jim Mora Jr. has had success keeping a team focused, evidenced by his efforts in Atlanta."
Edwards says that Qwest Field will once again become the 12th man for the Seahawks, "Let's not forget that this team enjoys one of the premier home-field advantages in the league, thanks to the weather and travel for opponents."
Judd Hall disagrees with the panel on Seattle's chances for an 'over' this season. Hall believes the addition of rookie linebacker Aaron Curry from Wake Forest will help, but Hasselbeck's health is still a concern. Hall says, "Reports say that Hasselbeck is at full strength, but how long will that last with an offensive line that appears to be without Walter Jones. I don't see this club winning more than six games this season."
The chances of the Cardinals repeating their miracle run of '08 are likely, according to Hall. "It's an easy choice for people to fade the Cardinals here after falling in the Super Bowl. But they still have Warner, Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. I like Tim Hightower in the backfield with Chris "Beanie" Wells as a change of pace," Hall notes. "The schedule does have a couple lousy road trips in there (at Seattle, then at New York, at San Francisco, then at Detroit), but this team should have no problem making it back to the playoffs with 10 wins," Hall concludes.
David doesn't see the Cardinals duplicating last season's success. "A lot went right for Arizona in 2008 and playing as a favorite rather than an underdog is a much different role. The SB loser theory is another great fade tool and it applies to the Cards. In the last 10 seasons, the Super Bowl loser has failed to make the playoffs eight times, including the Patriots last year. Of those 10, five had nine or more wins but more importantly, only one team improved their win total. With that being said, an 8-8 record in the desert looks solid," David claims.
Edwards and I are in agreement on the Rams having plenty of issues this season. Mark Bulger's health is still in question this season, while the schedule does St. Louis no favors, with three of its first four games on the road. Steven Jackson is coming off a subpar season, and despite his immense talent, the running back still signed a mega-contract prior to last season, so his motivation is still in question.
Ask a Denver Broncos fan about his team's quarterback situation, and he'll likely give you the finger.
With less than two weeks and one preseason game before the start of the regular season, the Broncos have two quarterbacks with injuries, an apparent attempt at cornering an always fertile market.
Starter Kyle Orton is recovering from an open dislocation of his finger, which means the bone came through his skin. Backup Chris Simms has an ankle sprain that could sideline him anywhere from two to four weeks.
The team believes both will be ready for the Sept. 13 opener at Cincinnati, where Denver is getting 3.5 points and the total is 44. Neither is expected to play Thursday, when Tom Brandstater likely gets the start vs. Arizona in a game that has no line.
Cincinnati has its own quarterback issues. Carson Palmer has missed two preseason games with an ankle sprain, forcing coach Marvin Lewis to consider playing him in the exhibition finale against the Indianapolis Colts Thursday.
The host Bengals are giving four points with a total of 36.5, which could be helped by Palmer working a couple of possessions. He practiced Monday and wideout Chad Ochocinco tweeted that Palmer was fine.
That's also the word on Tom Brady, who has heard more questions about his sore shoulder than his surgically repaired knee this preseason. At practice Tuesday, the superstar reportedly threw separately while watched by quarterbacks coach Bill O'Brien before joining full scrimmage drills.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick was his usual forthcoming self and did not say whether Brady would play in Thursday's preseason finale against the New York Giants, where the Pats are 3-point favorites. He is expected to play in the Sept. 14 season opener, where New England is -10.5 vs. Buffalo, the second-biggest spread on the Week 1 board.
Things are not fine with Brady's former backup, Matt Cassel, or his new team, the Kansas City Chiefs. Cassel has an MCL sprain and will miss at least the season opener at Baltimore, where Kansas City is getting nine points.
The line has moved to as much as 10 points at some books, and it's easy to see why. On Monday, first-year coach Todd Haley fired offensive coordinator Chan Gailey and will call the plays in Thursday's preseason finale at St. Louis for Tyler Thigpen and Brodie Croyle.
Haley hasn't said who is starting that game, or the season opener, although Thigpen has been taking the majority of the practice snaps since Cassel went down.
San Francisco 49ers starter Shaun Hill has a back strain that the team decided did not require an MRI. He played last week but may not see much action Friday at San Diego, which is a 4-point favorite. Barring any complications, Hill will start the season opener at Arizona, where the Niners are getting 6.5 points.
And the Detroit Lions are starting top overall pick Matthew Stafford in Thursday's preseason finale at Buffalo, where the Bills are 3-point favorites. Part of the reason Stafford is starting is because Daunte Culpepper (foot cut) and Drew Stanton (torn knee cartilage) are hurt, forcing the Lions to sign Brooks Bollinger.
Lions coach Jim Schwartz still has not named a starter for the season opener at New Orleans, where Detroit is getting 13 points, the biggest spread on the board. As Schwartz has delayed his decision, the line has climbed 1.5 points at some books.
Nfl 9/2
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