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NFL Pro Football 2007 NFC West Preview
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NFC East
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Fearless Rick's NFL Preview - NFC WEST
Rick Gagliano | 8/03/2007
NFC WEST - Predicted order of finish and (predicted record)
While they've stood pat with much of the talent on hand, the other teams in this division have improved and it's going to be a dogfight. Matt Hasselbeck and Shaun Alexander are both healthy again, but the defense, which always has had trouble stopping the passing game, is still a liability, though theirs is decidedly better than the other teams in the division. The Seahawks will be lucky to win this division for a third straight year.
Arizona spent their first round pick on OT Levi Brown from Penn St., who should step right in and provide stability on passing downs. Arizona's offense was a shade better than Seattle's from a yards per game perspective and the Cardinals split their games with the Seahawks in 2006, with both teams winning at home.
This looks like the year the Cardinals finally break through and make it to the playoffs.
Alex Smith had a decent season at QB, but much more is expected this season. He will have more weapons and another year of experience, so the 'Niners should be improved offensively. They've got more work to do on defense, where they ranked dead last in points allowed in 2006, at 25.8 per game, but they've used free agency to improve at a number of positions. A playoff berth is not out of the question.
Against teams which made the playoffs, the Rams were 0-4, and they're not likely to do much better this year. They have a solid offense, but a very shaky defense, which allowed 23.8 points and 335 yards per game, near the bottom of the league. The Rams will be competitive against the teams in their division, but face an uphill struggle with games at Dallas, Baltimore, New Orleans and Cincinnati.
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Seattle Seahawks (9-7) - Seattle is the best of a weak bunch toiling in the NFC West. The Seahawks have all the ingredients for success, but after losing in the Super Bowl to Pittsburgh two years ago, they ran into a buzz-saw in Chicago and were booted from the playoffs.
Arizona Cardinals (9-7) - After a 5-11 campaign in 2006, the Cardinals have much to look forward to in 2007. They won 4 of their last 6 games, Matt Leinart is a year older and wiser, Larry Fitzgerald should play all 16 games, Eggerin James is still a dangerous back and the defense should be bolstered with the additions via the draft of Alan Branch (DT, Michigan) and Buster Davis (LB, Florida St.). Another solid addition was Steve Breaston, a wide receiver out of Michigan.
San Francisco 49ers (8-8) - The 49ers surprised everybody by finishing 7-9 last season, but they're out for more in 2007. They signed Darrell Jackson from Seattle and Ashley Lelie from Denver to bolster their receiving corps, and signed safety Darnell Bing off waivers. They also signed almost all of their draft picks, including #1, Patrick Willis, a linebacker out of Mississippi.
St. Louis Rams (6-10) - The Rams finished 2006 with an 8-8 record, but it's a little deceiving because they were never close to a playoff berth and won their final three games against Oakland, Washington and Minnesota, teams which were also going nowhere fast.
