Another week rolls by in the NFL Season, and with it comes a clear favorite in the NFC West: The Seattle Seahawks. With the Cardinals and 49ers struggling, and the Rams relying on their backup quarterback, the Seahawks can take a commanding lead in the division if they take care of business. Of course, the injury to Ken Hamlin will affect the Seahawks as well. That said, Seattle still should be able to win some games and increase their two game lead.
The standings:
Seattle 4-2 (2-0)
St. Louis 2-4 (1-2)
Arizona 1-4 (1-2)
San Fransisco 1-4 (1-1)
Saint Louis Rams
Last week: 45-28 loss to Indianapolis
Threat to win the division: Medium
Why: I used to grade each team threat wise based off of one high, low, and medium. Thats not the case anymore. There are two teams that are out of it, and then there's the Rams who aren't out of it yet.
But, to say that their chance of winning the division is high is simply not true. With Marc Bulger going down, Saint Louis is relying on Jamie Martin. Martin has a career qb rating of 80.6, 15 TD's 15 INTs. Those numbers won't get the job done. Saint Louis can no longer lose turnover battles and win games. The offense isn't as potent, and the defense got worse from last season.
The Rams get a bit of a break this week when they host New Orleans.
Arizona Cardinals
Last week: Bye
Threat to win division: Low
Why: Because there's a good chance that if you had anybody but Neil Rackers on your fantasy team thats a Cardinal, you got a season high in points last week. The Cardinals are turning into the West's Detroit: talented recivers, no talent behind center. Kurt Warner didn't have it early in the year, and Josh McCown never got it. Bad combination. The Cardinals best bet might be to make a run for the number one pick and get Matt Leinart.
And no, it is NEVER to early to begin thinking about the draft. Especially when you've been outscored 134-94.
This week Arizona hosts Tennessee.
San Fransisco 49ers
Last week: Bye
Threat to win division: Low
Why: I was shocked when they put Alex Smith in at starter two weeks ago. I guess the Niners figure they have nothing to lose at this point, and maybe the kid will pull a Rothliesburger. Well, his rating in his first start was a 12.5. There will be better days for Smith, but they aren't now. He tossed four INTs and was sacked seven times. Rough day.
The Niners dealt Tim Rattay to Tampa Bay for a draft pick.
Smith gets his 2nd creer start in Washington this week.
Enjoy the games,
Alan
Great to see this piece again. I missed it the past few weeks.
ReplyDeleteWe've got a nice 3 game lead on the Cards and 9-ers, but there's a lot of football left to be played.
Do I think they'll be a serious threat, no, but they will be if we take them too lightly.
Bulger will probably be healed up and ready to go by Mutton Bowl II, but this time it's in our house, and I don't see them winning here either.
The way the backups have stepped in for Chop, D-Jack, and Bobby, I've got faith that the loss of Hamlin won't be a MAJOR factor on defense.
However, after this incident, and the Boulware scare, we have to keep praying to avoid the injury bug.
Let's face it, if Shaun or Matt goes down to injury, our team gets a lot different in a big hurry.
But all I care about right now is continuing to widen our lead in the division, and to hold on to the number one spot right into February.
Go Seahawks!
My friends were actually discussing the last part of your comment. There are no dominant teams in the NFL this year, especially in the NFC.
ReplyDeleteThe only team thats really set themselves apart is Indianapolis. In the NFC, Tampa Bay is 5-1, but they haven't struck me as great yet.
The teams that should be good, New England, Philadelphia, and Carolina to a certain extent are struggling.
Looking at the NFC only, the division leaders are Tampa (5-1), Dallas (4-2), Seattle (4-2) and Chicago (2-3). I would say the race for both first round byes is wide open.
I would be reluctant to put Seattle up in that upper tier of NFL teams just yet. The league is weird this season, and there is a lot of football to be played.
Big respect game on Sunday. If we can beat Dallas, thats demon number 3 we've shaken from last year (the other two being the Rams and Winning on the Road).
and we've slayed all these demons by killing the devil himself, whose name is "dropped passes"!
ReplyDeletePosted by alba
BTW, it you didn't notice from last time this was posted, and if you were still curious, I made that design. I have one that's a little more modern. I kinda like that old school stuff though...
ReplyDeletePosted by check
"Let's face it, if Shaun or Matt goes down to injury, our team gets a lot different in a big hurry. " There is a no kidding.
ReplyDelete"the division leaders are Tampa (5-1), Dallas (4-2), Seattle (4-2) and Chicago (2-3). "
Tampa is done. Sorry, no matter what you think of Griese, he is/was the best qb on the team. Chicago... never mind. Momma always said if you don't have something nice to say....
Leaving Dallas and us. If we win, we are the best team in the NFC, I don't see how it could be seen any different.
And I still say all the others are low to win the division.
Posted by JoSCh
Anti-lamb stat of the week:
ReplyDeleteThe lambs have only lost 10 home games since 1999. New Orleans have 3 of those wins.
Both teams are hurt, but Martin folded like a Wal-Mart folding chair under sumo wrestler against the INDY defense. NO can win this game.
If NO can work their magic, you'll feel a breeze across you face about 1:15 PST Sunday. It'll be air coming out of the lamb season.
Posted by bokonon
NO is one of the 4 away teams I am betting for this week, along with Indy, Buff, and GB. Jamie Martin sucks with a suckiness not often sucked in our lifetimes.
ReplyDeletePosted by JoSCh
OK, we've beaten the 'Boys. Barely. (not really this is hypothetical), we have a bye then we face the dealy Cardinals. (doesn't even sound right does it.)
ReplyDeleteDo the Hawks stay on track and beat the tar outta the Cards as they did teh Texans? They should right? Barring any injuries in teh Cowboys game (which should be a gut wrenching affair to say the least)
Anyway, what do you think of the bye coming where it does in relation to the opponents we face..The Cards, the Rams and then the Niners....three divisional games, three game we have the potential to walk away from with three wins, but also have the potential to 'loose' two of the three (c'mon, it's in the backs of all your minds, ya know it).
Personally I 'believe' this is the season the unthinkable happens and the Hawks 'don't' let us down.
SuperBowl?.......Maybe, NFC Championship game?....Whynot? I think this team has the ability to make a lot of folks in the media, in the league and most importantly 'some' fans, eat a lot of crow this season.
Here's to a great final three quarters of a season!
Koolaid all around barkeep!
Posted by Vinnyhawkalugi
I re-read my little gem above and just realized even "I" don't know what I was getting at, my opologies to all. B)
ReplyDeleteIt's cool Vin, this line,"SuperBowl?.......Maybe, NFC Championship game?....Whynot? " and this line "Koolaid all around barkeep!" made perfect sense.
ReplyDeletePosted by JoSCh
Like a Tele-vangelist once said, "you don't have to understand the bible, you just have to read it!"
ReplyDeleteThat's the approach that I take to your posts Vin.
Now pass the collection plate...momma needs some more makeup!!!
Posted by alba
LOL, you crack me up guys!
ReplyDeletePosted by Vinnyhawkalugi