The Picks Are In!! (NFC West)

NFC West:

1. St. Louis Rams

The question becomes whether this year’s NFC West leader can enter the playoffs at 6-10 this year. It’s honestly a pathetic division and it didn’t seem to get better from last season, even with all the money the Seahawks spent. But whatever. Here we go. Sam Bradford has a great offensive coordinator this year in Josh McDaniels (as well as a great mentor to quarterbacks.) The team lost OJ Atogwe but they replaced him with Quintin Mikell, a more than able safety who can fit in with the team philosophy.  Add Mike Sims-Walker to Sam Bradford’s weapons and they become closer to complete as an offense with star running back Steven Jackson. But this team is the least inept in a division of ineptitude, if you catch my drift.

2. Arizona Cardinals

Well Kevin Kolb is about 80 steps up from the likes of Derek Anderson, John Skelton, and Max Hall. But I don’t know if he transforms this team to contender as his contract may suggest. If Andre Johnson is the number 1 receiver in the league, Larry Fitzgerald is 1a. It’s hard to find great talent beyond that, especially with the trading of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. But in the end, second place in this division is surely just first place for losers.

3. San Francisco 49ers

For these next two teams, I’ll explain the positive things about each team and then the negatives. I’m getting lazy.

Pros: Patrick Willis (absolute star), Michael Crabtree, Braylon Edwards’ hands (just kidding again), Mike Iupati, chance for Andrew Luck

Cons: Alex Smith, Braylon Edwards’ hands, Alex Smith, first year coach from college, Alex Smith, defensive line, Alex Smith, Frank Gore’s health, Alex Smith

4. Seattle Seahawks

Pros: Brandon Mebane, Aaron Curry’s potential, Russell Okung (if healthy), Marshawn Lynch (if sane)

Cons: Pete Carroll’s honey-moon period history, Russell Okung’s health, Sidney Rice’s contract, Tarvaris Jackson (worse than Alex Smith), departure of Hasselbeck, Marshawn Lynch (if insane)

Wild Card:

(3) Green Bay def. (6) Tampa Bay

(5) Atlanta def. (4) St. Louis

Divisional:

(1) Philadelphia def. (5) Atlanta

(2) New Orleans def. (3) Green Bay

NFC Championship:

(2) New Orleans def. (1) Philadelphia

Super Bowl:

New England def. New Orleans