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2008 NFC West Predictions

Jimmy Boyd is here with his 2008 NFC West predictions to give you a quick run down of the division. For a more in depth look at these teams, be sure to check out his individual team NFL predictions by clicking on the links below. 
 

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1st – Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks have ruled the NFC West with four straight division titles and five straight playoff appearances. I like them to make it five straight division titles as they are the most complete team in the NFC West. QB Matt Hasselbeck is coming off another Pro Bowl season, but the Seahawks will have to get things figured out with the running game to have a shot at making a Super Bowl run. 2005 NFL MVP Shaun Alexander was discarded by president Tim Ruskell after two unproductive seasons. The combination of new acquisitions Julius Jones and T.J. Duckett will be better then Alexander has been, but they will not be able to match the years of Alexander the Great. The defense has made major strides in recent years so we can expect the Seahawks to rule the West again even if the offense struggles at times.

T2nd - St. Louis Rams

With Marc Bulger at QB and Stephen Jackson at running back, the Rams still have one of the best backfield's in the NFC. Injuries decimated the entire Rams team last season, and I'm expecting major improvements with a much healthier roster. Bulger is coming off of his worst season as a pro and Stephen Jackson missed five games in 2007. I don't expect anything less than big seasons from both stars. The defense still needs work and that will keep the Rams from challenging Seattle for a division title. The biggest area of concern is the defensive line, which was only able to get 5.5 sacks from its defensive end spot. Hopefully rookie Chris Long will change all that.

T2nd – San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers offense was terrible in 2007, averaging just 13.7 points per game. In comes offensive coordinator Mike Martz to change that. QB Alex Smith is no Kurt Warner, Marc Bulger, or even Jon Kitna yet, but the 49ers should still see offensive improvement as Martz is likely to use running back Frank Gore the way he used Marshall Faulk in St. Louis. Gore is a keeper at tailback and has a chance to become the first running back in franchise history to rush for over 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons. Martz is familiar with Isaac Bruce from his days in St. Louis and he will get a chance to work with the veteran receiver again this season after the 49ers acquired him through free agency. In comes defensive end Justin Smith to combine with Defensive Rookie of the Year Patrick Willis to bolster a defense which still needs help.

4th - Arizona Cardinals

Kurt Warner showed he was still more than capable of running an offense last season, but Arizona will likely give the ball to Matt Leinart who already appears to be on the hot seat in just his third season. There are some talented players in place but still too many question marks. The Cards have only been to the postseason once and have only tallied one winning season since moving to the desert in 1988. That's a lot of history going against them. The Cards played well at home last season, but could not get the job done on the road and that will be their major deterrent again.

June 23rd, 2008