NFC West: No longer the worst?

[Cardiac]

Those 49ers are for real folks. Going to Lambeau and basically owning the Packers is impressive. Harbaugh is proving to be a great HC. Their D is crazy good.

Rams go to Detroit and almost beat them. Fisher is a VERY good HC and that team will win more than many of us expected.

Cards and Seahawks played a very hard nosed blood bath. Both teams have very good D's and play with a boulder on their shoulder.

The only HC that isn't top notch is Petey, but he is good. I question his starting Wilson but maybe Flynn isn't all that.

Interesting trend for our division is how good the defensive units have become. With Fisher as the HC expect the Rams to improve on D sooner than later.

Is the NFCW almost a mirror image of the AFCN? Outstanding D's without an elite QB (Big Ben the exception).

 

[mojorizen7]

 

[Crazy Canuck]

NFC West had more Conference wins than the NFC East last year. So, no matter what pundits may say, they were not the worst as of last season. We'll see after 2012.

 

[Cardiac]

NFC West had more Conference wins than the NFC East last year. So, no matter what pundits may say, they were not the worst as of last season. We'll see after 2012.

Many ways to look at stats to make a case. Which division had the most teams picking higher in the draft?

Rams #2, Skins #6

Seahawks #12, Cowboys #14

Cards #13, Eagles #15

49ers #30, Giants #32

See, overwhelming evidence right here.

Okay maybe I'll go with starting QB's since it's a QB drive league.

Manning, Romo, Vick and now RG

vs.

Smith, Bradford, Kolb/Bones, Wilson.

I would not have but the NFCE as a contender for worst division before your post but now they do have to be considered.

 

[DutchmanAZ]

SF is the team to beat, and they look scarey good. Here's Sando's take:

Thoughts on the Arizona Cardinals' 20-16 victory over the Seattle Seahawks following their Week 1 matchup at University of Phoenix Stadium:

What it means: The quarterback drama and questions that dominated pregame discussion aren't going away. Kevin Kolb, all but written off in Arizona, came off the bench to throw the go-ahead touchdown pass in the fourth quarter after an ankle injury knocked out starter John Skelton. Seahawks rookie Russell Wilson answered by quickly leading Seattle down the field, but his final pass fell incomplete in the end zone on fourth down with 18 seconds left. In the bigger picture, both teams are still looking up at the San Francisco 49ers. The standings show a tie atop the NFC West, but neither Seattle nor Arizona played anywhere near the level San Francisco demonstrated while handling the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Both teams appeared limited offensively. Both have big injury concerns

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest

 

[conraddobler]

The 49ers are as of right now my pick to go to the SB in the NFC, yes they are that good, their defense is killer and Harbaugh has the offense going well enough.

 

[JeffGollin]

Forget the stats. The overall level of play in the NFC West is consistently high across the board.

 

[Phrazbit]

I dont think we were the worst last year. The AFC South is a stinkfest of a division, the AFC West last year was quite a bit worse than the NFC West.

 

[Cardiac]

I dont think we were the worst last year. The AFC South is a stinkfest of a division, the AFC West last year was quite a bit worse than the NFC West.

Texans and Titans had for better results then the Cards, Seahawks and Rams. Two AFCS teams in the top 15 of the draft compared to 3 for the NFCW. Yes the Jags and Colts blew but they now have Luck and Gabbert as their QB's so.....

The AFC west wasn't special but again they had 2 teams in the top 15 draft picks which is less than the NFCW and NFCE.

Rivers, Manning, Palmer and Cassle are a far more impressive QB groug than the NFCW.

 

[52brandon]

I think at minimum 2 AFC divisions are worse. SF, as much as it pains me to say, is the best team in the NFL right now. The other 3 in the NFCW have made significant improvements as well. Hard to believe, but true

 

[RugbyMuffin]

I dont think we were the worst last year. The AFC South is a stinkfest of a division, the AFC West last year was quite a bit worse than the NFC West.

+1

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Texans and Titans had for better results then the Cards, Seahawks and Rams. Two AFCS teams in the top 15 of the draft compared to 3 for the NFCW. Yes the Jags and Colts blew but they now have Luck and Gabbert as their QB's so.....

The AFC west wasn't special but again they had 2 teams in the top 15 draft picks which is less than the NFCW and NFCE.

Rivers, Manning, Palmer and Cassle are a far more impressive QB groug than the NFCW.

What was the head-to-head AFC-NFC results from last season?

 

[Solar7]

I'll be interested to see how SF pans out against a team with a more solid defense that can shut down their offense. That team could end up losing some close ones.

That might be a little bit of wishful thinking. They were very impressive this weekend, and I hate admitting that.

 

[Bodha]

No longer the worst?


Getting there, but still the worst. Since QBs make or break a team, and the NFCW still has the weakest (although strengthening) group.

Smith still sucks no matter what anyone says. Hes being protected by that D and littany of Offensive weapons.

Wilson and Flynn are admirable. Not great, but getting better, no doubt.

Bradford is a darn good QB with a little support from his team.

Skelton is skelton. Kolb showed flashes of awesome yesterday. Heres hoping.

 

[AzStevenCal]

No longer the worst?


Getting there, but still the worst. Since QBs make or break a team, and the NFCW still has the weakest (although strengthening) group.

Smith still sucks no matter what anyone says. Hes being protected by that D and littany of Offensive weapons.

Wilson and Flynn are admirable. Not great, but getting better, no doubt.

Bradford is a darn good QB with a little support from his team.

Skelton is skelton. Kolb showed flashes of awesome yesterday. Heres hoping.

I can't buy your logic. First off, you say we are the weakest division because QB's make or break a team and then you point to Smith and tell us to ignore the team's success because Alex sucks. If he sucks and IF QB's make or break a team then SF would also have to suck, wouldn't it?

I agree that QB's are the single most important position but regardless of what ESPN and the like want you to believe, this is still very much a team sport. San Francisco is clearly a very good team but it's probably a little early to tell for the rest of the division.

Steve

 

[Crazy Canuck]

I'll be interested to see how SF pans out against a team with a more solid defense that can shut down their offense. That team could end up losing some close ones.

That might be a little bit of wishful thinking. They were very impressive this weekend, and I hate admitting that.

I can think of two 'D's' that match up well against their 'O' - Cards and Seahags.

 

[Mulli]

If and when they give out trophies for this type of thing, I will care which division is the worst.

 

[Bodha]

I can't buy your logic. First off, you say we are the weakest division because QB's make or break a team and then you point to Smith and tell us to ignore the team's success because Alex sucks. If he sucks and IF QB's make or break a team then SF would also have to suck, wouldn't it?

I agree that QB's are the single most important position but regardless of what ESPN and the like want you to believe, this is still very much a team sport. San Francisco is clearly a very good team but it's probably a little early to tell for the rest of the division.

Steve

I agree on the SF point. You rarely see such a good team with such a sub par QB.


But I think my point could be illustrated if Smith whent down. Or if SF had a terrible QB situation like us. Even with that D and with those offensive weapons, I think theyd struggle more.

I hate Smith, and he does suck, but he is completely propped up by his team, since weve seen what the real Smith looks like the past 5 years, but he is Adequate. He runs that team well. Without him, I think theyd have problems again.

 

[ajcardfan]

We beat the Niners the last time we played them. Let's decide it on the field, rather than crowning their ass after 1 week.


I predict Green Bay is going to be one of the major disappointments of the NFL this year.

 

[Bodha]

We beat the Niners the last time we played them. Let's decide it on the field, rather than crowning their ass after 1 week.


I predict Green Bay is going to be one of the major disappointments of the NFL this year.

I wish that was the case, but 1 game doesnt decide the season.

They dominated GB and we struggled against Seattle. Odds are theyll rack up more W's than us, whether or not we beat them.

 

[sportznutt]

We still rival the AFC South for worst in the NFL. Depending on how real the Jets/Bills game was, the AFC East could be up there for consideration too.

 

[Phrazbit]

Texans and Titans had for better results then the Cards, Seahawks and Rams. Two AFCS teams in the top 15 of the draft compared to 3 for the NFCW. Yes the Jags and Colts blew but they now have Luck and Gabbert as their QB's so.....

The AFC west wasn't special but again they had 2 teams in the top 15 draft picks which is less than the NFCW and NFCE.

Rivers, Manning, Palmer and Cassle are a far more impressive QB groug than the NFCW.

Is this a topic just pertaining to QBs or to entire teams? Last year IMO, it wasnt even close. The NFC West was a much better division than the AFC West especially, and while the AFC South did have the Texans, our division had the Niners, and the AFC South also had 2 of the most pathetic teams in the league last year.

 

[Cardiac]

If and when they give out trophies for this type of thing, I will care which division is the worst.

I agree if the discussion is only for bragging rights etc.

If the NFCW was stronger in 2009 we don't get to the playoffs or SB. Same thing for the Seahawks the year they went. Same thing for the Giants last year.

Now some believe metal sharpens metal so being in a tougher division forces every team in that division to get better. I'm not sure if I believe that since I think every team does their best to improve as much as possible no matter what division they are in.

So maybe playing against the best improves ones skills, this theory I can get behind more than the above.

So is this a better football conversation and do you care more?

 

[Cardiac]

Is this a topic just pertaining to QBs or to entire teams? Last year IMO, it wasnt even close. The NFC West was a much better division than the AFC West especially, and while the AFC South did have the Texans, our division had the Niners, and the AFC South also had 2 of the most pathetic teams in the league last year.

The AFCW had 31 wins last year and the NFCW had 30. So I don't know how we were a much better division.

Now the AFCS only had 26 wins so it's a valid argument they could be the worse division. I stated way back in this thread that there are several different ways to try and determine how good a division is or isn't.

CC put out the conference play stat. I listed draft position, QB talent and now divisions W/L records.

Maybe we can have ESPN put together a Divisional rating system similar to their revised QB rating scale.

It's all subjective and we know for sure and some don't care, Mulli.

 

[AzStevenCal]

The AFCW had 31 wins last year and the NFCW had 30. So I don't know how we were a much better division.

Now the AFCS only had 26 wins so it's a valid argument they could be the worse division. I stated way back in this thread that there are several different ways to try and determine how good a division is or isn't.

CC put out the conference play stat. I listed draft position, QB talent and now divisions W/L records.

Maybe we can have ESPN put together a Divisional rating system similar to their revised QB rating scale.

It's all subjective and we know for sure and some don't care, Mulli.

I'll say this, for a few years we were clearly the worst division in football. In fact, we were the laughingstock of the league. Now, worst or not, this division plays competitive football. Being the worst may not matter to some but it does to me. It has a bearing on how we are treated by the national media and it is part of the reason most of the ESPN/NFL Network conversations on our teams occur during the commercial breaks.

Steve