NFC West update Week 8

Gather around boys and girls...its story time.

Last season I was visiting some family up in Chicago. So, instead of the Seahawks game, we got the Bears. Understandable. I, of course, was not watching the Bears.

I was watching the scroll at the bottom of the screen...waiting for it to show the Seahawks score. Seattle vs. Arizona. One of those games we should win.

This being last year, we didn't. Eventually the scroll showed that we trailed by three, and Arizona magically had the ball back. Once they put up Hasselbeck's numbers, they had added an interception.

I put my head down and cursed quietly. To which my brother asked, "What are you, a Red Sox fan?"

In a way, we are like Red Sox fans. We sit there waiting for the other shoe to drop. Even when we got the ball back with 4 minutes left against the Rams two weeks ago, I told my friend I wouldn't relax. I've seen this before. We'll go three and out, and they'll get the ball. Sure enough, we did. They fumbled, and all was right with the world.

So, what does this have to do with the NFC West Update? Well, there have been some calls for me to rank everyone as a low threat to win the division. And while there's that feeling of "Why do I think that blown call in the Saints-Rams game will come back to haunt us?" I'm also starting to believe that yes, we will run away with this, regardless of what everyone else does.

So, the Seahawks have a bye, but the rest of the division doesn't. And you can be sure that our rivals will be eager to gain half a game on us.

The standings:
Seattle 5-2 (2-0)
Saint Louis 3-4 (1-2)
Arizona 2-4 (1-2)
San Fransisco 1-5 (1-1)

Saint Louis Rams
Last week: 28-17 win of New Orleans
Threat to win the division: Fine. Its low.

The skinny: A rams fan actually told me that it was about time St. Louis got a call to go their way. I wanted to rattle off a list of times the Seahawks had been screwed over (not the least of which the official tripping Bobby Engram in the endzone against St. Louis), but decided to let him have his day. Last week's game will no doubt lead to some revisions of the instant replay rules.

As it stands though, the Rams won and stayed two games back. Jamie Martin looked respectable in the pocket, and with his lack of arm strength, the Rams now run the ball.

The defense played well against New Orleans. After falling behind 14-0, St. Louis held its own and kept its team in the game.

This week: vs. Jacksonville

Arizona Cardinals
Last week: 20-10 win over Tennessee
Threat to win division: Low

The skinny: The Cardinals looked decent as well on Sunday. Josh McCown was able to move the ball, and the defense held its own. After falling behind 10-0, the Cardinals played inspired ball to get the win. Arizona is showing glimpses of what its capable of, and will probably be a contender in the NFC West next year. Until then though, moments like last Sunday will be rare.

This week: at Dallas

San Fransisco 49ers
Last week: 52-17 loss to Washington
Threat to win the division: Low does not even begin to describe it.

The skinny: Mike Nolan gave up on Tim Rattay way to early. The 49ers look lost, unprepared, and just bad out there. Around the league, teams should adopt the Cincinnati plan with young qbs: Sit them a year, let them watch and learn, and then let them go. Carson Palmer has been real good for the Bengals the past two seasons, and will lead them to the playoffs this year. Then Ben rothlisburger screwed it up, and now teams are waiting for their rookies to do the same.

Alex Smith is not Big Ben. Alex Smith is a new version of Kyle Boller.

I don't mean to put all of San fran's woes on Smith though. The team helped Washington get on track offensively. That speaks volumes about their defense.

At this point, the Niners need to try to be a thorn in people's sides, and wonder what they'll do with the first pick.

This week: vs. Tampa Bay

Enjoy the games,

Alan