NFC WEST St. Louis Rams Seattle Seahawks San Francisco 49ers Arizona Cardinals

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1. St. Louis Rams

Predicted Finish: 11-5

Last Season: 14-2

Insight: In what may be the best division in the NFL, the Rams have the clear edge, having been to the Super Bowl in two of the last three seasons. While Mike Martz wants to remind everyone how well he revamped the defense last season, the offense is still the story. Kurt Warner is the most accurate passer in the game, Marshall Faulk is the best player, period, and the recievers and role players on this team are all fast as lightning. The Rams may have scored a scouting coup, landing RB Lamar Gordon in the third round out of South Dakota State. He is a speedster with shify moves and will challenge and/or complementTrung Canidate in the backup role or speed sets. The loss of Az-Zahir Hakim will be ofset by the pick up of Terrence Wilkins, Gordon and rookie Eric Crouch, who may be returning punts, kickoffs or playing in the slot. The Rams seem to have even more weapons - along with Holt and Bruce at the wideouts and Ernie Conwell at Tight End - than they did last season. The defense still has some question marks, but you either need to completely shut this team down - which means holding them to 24 points or less - or outscore them. Neither option is easy.

Key Games: Sept. 23, at Tampa Bay - early test for one of the two teams that actually beat the Rams in last year's regular season; December 1, at Philadelphia - probable matchup for home field advantage.

2. San Francisco 49ers

Predicted Finish: 10-6

Last Season: 12-4

Insight: Last season, Jeff Garcia and his troops did everything they could to win their division - except beat the Rams. They lost both games against the NFC Champs and then were trashed in the playoffs by Green Bay 25-15. Coach Steve Mariucci has done a marvelous job rebuilding this team, which won only 4 games in 1999 and 6 in 2000. Though they are unlikely to repeat last year's record, they will be very good; Mariucci has an organization that continues to build on the team concept and very few changes were made from last season's roster. The Niners are deep at running back, with Garrison Hearst, Kevan Barlow and Fred Beasley sharing the chores of both running, blocking and receiving the short dump-offs from Garcia. On defense, they were somewhat suspect in all aspects but as this team matures they continue to improve. The strength lies in the secondary, which is what they need to improve upon if they plan on beating the Rams. A playoff spot, though not assured, is likely.

Key Games: Sept, 22, Washington - the Redskins trashed them in preseason, but the real thing may be a different stroy; Oct. 6, St. Louis - getting the Rams at home after a bye week gives the Niners more time to prepare - or get scared; Dec. 30, at St. Louis - last game of the season may decide division title or home field advantage.

3. Seattle Seahawks

Predicted Finish: 9-7

Last Season: 9-7

Insight: Mike Holmgren has done a capable job in his two seasons with the Seahawks, despite not having the best personnel. The real sticking point has been the quarterback position. Holmgren started Matt Hasselbeck last season, but the young QB struggled - going 5-7 in games he started - and will be replaced by Trent Dilfer, who was 4-0 as the starter. Dilfer will get help from a decent offensive line and RB Shaun Alexander, who exploded for 1,318 yards last season and looks to improve upon that number. The defense depends more n speed than size, and that's well suited to the NFC West. Seattle will face all of their old AFC West foes as well this year and may dominate them. Coming within a whisker of the playoffs last season, the same fate may await the Seahawks as the Niners and Rams seem to have a leg up, but a break here and there could propel thim into a wild card spot. They will perform well enough to be competitive against every team they face.

Key Games: Oct. 14, San Francisco, Oct. 20, at St. Louis - A Monday nighter against the Niners, followed by a road trip to St. Louis. A split would be especially sweet, but losing both could dampen spirits in Seattle.

4. Arizona Cardinals

Predicted Finish: 6-10

Last Season: 7-9

Insight: The poor Cardinals. In a year in which they might have had a shot in the NFC East, they get shifted over to possibly the toughest division in the league. While Jake Plummer is exciting and has good receivers (David Boston, Frank Sanders, MarTay Jenkins and TE Freddie Jones), the running game is non-existent. Thomas Jones will get most of the carries, but Josh Scobey (7th round draft pick from Kansas State) may make an impact if given an opportunity. The defense is pretty aweful, though they allowed less points at he end of last season, so they may be on the improve. Still, it is going to be a long winter in Arizona as the Cardinals just don't have enough to compete in the NFC West.

Key Games: Sept. 8; at Washington, Sept. 15, at Seattle; Sept. 22, San Diego - the first three games are against pretty good, but not great teams and should give an indication of Arizona's competitive level.

LINKS PRO FOOTBALL HOME AFC EAST AFC NORTH AFC SOUTH AFC WEST NFC EAST NFC NORTH NFC SOUTH NFC WEST COLLEGE FOOTBALL HOME SPORTS HOME	1. St. Louis Rams Predicted Finish: 11-5 Last Season: 14-2 Insight: In what may be the best division in the NFL, the Rams have the clear edge, having been to the Super Bowl in two of the last three seasons. While Mike Martz wants to remind everyone how well he revamped the defense last season, the offense is still the story. Kurt Warner is the most accurate passer in the game, Marshall Faulk is the best player, period, and the recievers and role players on this team are all fast as lightning. The Rams may have scored a scouting coup, landing RB Lamar Gordon in the third round out of South Dakota State. He is a speedster with shify moves and will challenge and/or complementTrung Canidate in the backup role or speed sets. The loss of Az-Zahir Hakim will be ofset by the pick up of Terrence Wilkins, Gordon and rookie Eric Crouch, who may be returning punts, kickoffs or playing in the slot. The Rams seem to have even more weapons - along with Holt and Bruce at the wideouts and Ernie Conwell at Tight End - than they did last season. The defense still has some question marks, but you either need to completely shut this team down - which means holding them to 24 points or less - or outscore them. Neither option is easy. Key Games: Sept. 23, at Tampa Bay - early test for one of the two teams that actually beat the Rams in last year's regular season; December 1, at Philadelphia - probable matchup for home field advantage.
	2. San Francisco 49ers Predicted Finish: 10-6 Last Season: 12-4 Insight: Last season, Jeff Garcia and his troops did everything they could to win their division - except beat the Rams. They lost both games against the NFC Champs and then were trashed in the playoffs by Green Bay 25-15. Coach Steve Mariucci has done a marvelous job rebuilding this team, which won only 4 games in 1999 and 6 in 2000. Though they are unlikely to repeat last year's record, they will be very good; Mariucci has an organization that continues to build on the team concept and very few changes were made from last season's roster. The Niners are deep at running back, with Garrison Hearst, Kevan Barlow and Fred Beasley sharing the chores of both running, blocking and receiving the short dump-offs from Garcia. On defense, they were somewhat suspect in all aspects but as this team matures they continue to improve. The strength lies in the secondary, which is what they need to improve upon if they plan on beating the Rams. A playoff spot, though not assured, is likely. Key Games: Sept, 22, Washington - the Redskins trashed them in preseason, but the real thing may be a different stroy; Oct. 6, St. Louis - getting the Rams at home after a bye week gives the Niners more time to prepare - or get scared; Dec. 30, at St. Louis - last game of the season may decide division title or home field advantage.
	3. Seattle Seahawks Predicted Finish: 9-7 Last Season: 9-7 Insight: Mike Holmgren has done a capable job in his two seasons with the Seahawks, despite not having the best personnel. The real sticking point has been the quarterback position. Holmgren started Matt Hasselbeck last season, but the young QB struggled - going 5-7 in games he started - and will be replaced by Trent Dilfer, who was 4-0 as the starter. Dilfer will get help from a decent offensive line and RB Shaun Alexander, who exploded for 1,318 yards last season and looks to improve upon that number. The defense depends more n speed than size, and that's well suited to the NFC West. Seattle will face all of their old AFC West foes as well this year and may dominate them. Coming within a whisker of the playoffs last season, the same fate may await the Seahawks as the Niners and Rams seem to have a leg up, but a break here and there could propel thim into a wild card spot. They will perform well enough to be competitive against every team they face. Key Games: Oct. 14, San Francisco, Oct. 20, at St. Louis - A Monday nighter against the Niners, followed by a road trip to St. Louis. A split would be especially sweet, but losing both could dampen spirits in Seattle.
	4. Arizona Cardinals Predicted Finish: 6-10 Last Season: 7-9 Insight: The poor Cardinals. In a year in which they might have had a shot in the NFC East, they get shifted over to possibly the toughest division in the league. While Jake Plummer is exciting and has good receivers (David Boston, Frank Sanders, MarTay Jenkins and TE Freddie Jones), the running game is non-existent. Thomas Jones will get most of the carries, but Josh Scobey (7th round draft pick from Kansas State) may make an impact if given an opportunity. The defense is pretty aweful, though they allowed less points at he end of last season, so they may be on the improve. Still, it is going to be a long winter in Arizona as the Cardinals just don't have enough to compete in the NFC West. Key Games: Sept. 8; at Washington, Sept. 15, at Seattle; Sept. 22, San Diego - the first three games are against pretty good, but not great teams and should give an indication of Arizona's competitive level.