Seattle the unanimous pick in the NFC West

[CGI_Ram]

Why bother play the season? Just give the crown to Seattle already... :hehe:

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We previewed the NFC West on our latest "Around The League Podcast." Some big-picture thoughts are below. We've already previewed the AFC East, AFC North, AFC South, AFC West, NFC East, NFC North and NFC South.

Seahawks unanimous pick to take division crown

Last year, my choice of Seattle as division champ looked bold. (And incorrect.) This year the Seahawks are the chalk choice. All four Around The League writers picked Pete Carroll's crew to win the division, with Dan Hanzus taking the Seahawks to win the Super Bowl and Marc Sessler picking Seattle to win the NFC.

It's amazing that the loss of Percy Harvin hasn't dimmed our projections, but this is a complete team. Russell Wilson is only going to get better; he can make Golden Taint into a star. The Seahawks have the best running back group in the NFL. The pass rush is very deep and the secondary is littered with Pro Bowl players. Carroll and general manager John Schneider have built to this moment for four years. It's their time.

Small decline projected for San Francisco

All four of us had the 49ers in the playoffs as a wild card team. But three of us had them falling to 10-6, a decent drop after they only lost seven games in the last two seasons combined. A decline would be surprising in one sense because the team gets a full season of Colin Kaepernick at quarterback. But it makes sense when you consider Kaepernick's wide receiver crew and the general malaise of the 49ers defense down the stretch last year.

The 49ers are smarter than most teams. They think differently, and aren't afraid to say so. They also have a coach who finds motivation in the smallest of slights. Perhaps all the Seahawks hype this year will fire them up.

Tough spot for rising Rams team

Sessler chose the Rams as a wild card team at 9-7. I thought that would be a more trendy pick heading into this season, but playing in the NFC West makes it difficult. The Rams lost just one game in the division last season, but that's very unlikely to happen again. They also have to face the NFC South, meaning the two best divisions in football face off in the regular season. (Sorry, NFC North.)

It's also worth wondering if expectations for the Rams' offensive talent is too high. It's a very young group that will have to improve a great deal just to be average.

Cardinals are not talent poor

Arizona has a brand new coach, general manager, and coordinators and yet this doesn't feel like a rebuilding team. Carson Palmer is better than he's given credit for and certainly is a "win-now" option rather than a long-term plan. Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd and Andre Roberts help form a talented wide receiver group. On defense, Arizona boasts Pro Bowl talent like Patrick Peterson, Calais Campbell, Darnell Dockett, and soon-to-be suspended Daryl Washington.

Like the Rams, the Cardinals have an uphill battle because of their schedule. This figures to be a dangerous team. Throw them in the AFC South and they'd have a better chance as a surprise playoff team.

Check out the entire "The Around the League Podcast" NFC West preview here, along with our Defensive Player of the Year picks.

 

[-X-]

Tough spot for rising Rams team

Sessler chose the Rams as a wild card team at 9-7. I thought that would be a more trendy pick heading into this season, but playing in the NFC West makes it difficult. The Rams lost just one game in the division last season, but that's very unlikely to happen again. They also have to face the NFC South, meaning the two best divisions in football face off in the regular season. (Sorry, NFC North.)

It's also worth wondering if expectations for the Rams' offensive talent is too high. It's a very young group that will have to improve a great deal just to be average.

Expectations are pretty high ... that's for sure. We're all expecting very big things from an offense that has so many 1st and 2nd year players - many of whom are just getting exposed to (a) an NFL playbook and (b) Schottenheimer's playbook. It's going to take a good deal of coaching and scheming to get these guys quickly acclimated and producing. Everyone makes their bones this year if they pull it off.

 

[Zaphod]

Well, they have to play the 49ers Cardinals and Rams twice, so that's six losses already

 

[rickrawk]

It's not unanimous.I picked the Rams to win the NFC West!!

GO RAMS!!!!

 

[Mojo Ram]

My expectations are to score more points and get to 9 wins...setting us up for a 2014 smackdown on the entire NFC.

Too high?

 

[Mojo Ram]

If i were to be objective about it(cringe) i would have to pick the Seacocks as well.
That running gm is ruthless.

 

[-X-]

My expectations are to score more points and get to 9 wins...setting us up for a 2014 smackdown on the entire NFC.

Too high?

Too late.

11-5 and the crown in 2013.

.

sent via Tapatalk.

 

[Selassie I]

Considering what our offense was,,, I don't think expecting improvement is far fetched at all.

There will be some growing pains, but I fully expect a much more explosive and effective offense. Defenses will be stressed and opposing coaches are gonna be mind-dealing about a multitude of things that didn't exist here last year.


Expect improvement my Brethren,,, you will not be disappointed.

 

[EastRam]

Ok

 

[Memphis Ram]

Ok

:lmao: Now that's funny. :lmao:

 

[ramsince62]

My expectations are to score more points and get to 9 wins...setting us up for a 2014 smackdown on the entire NFC.

Too high?

Too late.

11-5 and the crown in 2013.

.

sent via Tapatalk.

I see where you're coming from on the 11-5 thingy, X. Particularly when I review their game schedule.

I think if they could play mistake free and keep the "I's" down (statistically & potentially), it "appears" do-able.

That said, this is an extremely young team and young teams (tend) to make mistakes. Couple that with the most competitive division in the league and you have a recipe for unintended consequences.

As a result, I think it will be closer to 8 or perhaps 9 wins......BUT WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR....while enjoying their ascension and at times, spectacular play.