NFC West - Preview and Prediction
NFC WEST PREVIEW – The NFC West has turned itself around after 4 years ago it was named “the NFC Worst”. The division was football’s laughing stock having sent a 7-9 team in Seattle to the post season as division winners. However in a short space of time things have changed significantly. The NFC West is the only division in football to have carried 2 teams into the playoffs for 4 consecutive years. In Seattle and Arizona the NFC West carries with it two of the favourites for the Super Bowl to go with the two rebuilding Californian teams. The Rams get the chance to impress as they pack up and head back to Los Angeles from St Louis. While the 49ers now have a cross town Californian rival and will battle the Rams for bragging rights. Arizona and Seattle will both be looking to go a step or two further after playoff losses last year. Arizona was thumped by Carolina in the NFC Championship game while Seattle were bounced out by the same opponent a week earlier.
ARIZONA CARDINALS
Last Season (13-3, NFC West Champions, Lost in NFC Championship Game)
The Cardinals might just be one of the most stacked teams for talent in the whole NFL heading into 2016. They set a franchise record last season with 13 regular season wins and securing the NFC West Title in handsome fashion. The Cardinals have most of their talent coming back on both sides of the ball and will be one of the more entertaining sides in the whole NFL in 2016. However they will have bitter memories of veteran quarterback Carson Palmer's disastrous performance in the NFC Championship game as he threw a record 6 interceptions in a shocking meltdown. Palmer was having a tremendous year in Arizona with his big arm and ability to see the field. However there are doubts about him in the big games given he only has 2 playoff wins in his entire career. Palmer's poor post-season play may convince the Cardinals to balance out their offence a little more and give more football to exciting young running back David Johnson. In Larry Fitzgerald, J.J Nelson and John Brown the Cardinals have a talented receiving core with a mixture of attributes. Fitzgerald is the experienced veteran who can win battles in the air, while Nelson and Brown possess lightning speed down the field. The Cardinals had a swarming and aggressive defence in 2015 and they look strong again here heading into this season. They possess probably the 2 most talented young defensive backs in the league in Patrick Petersen and Tyrann Mathieu. The Cardinals love to dial up pressure and blitz more often than most teams having faith in their defensive backs to play one on one coverage.
Verdict - 11-5. NFC West Champions
Arizona have a really talented all round team and should be able to cruise into the playoffs. Their defence, especially at home, will be formidable and I expect them to win at least 6 of their 8 home games, possibly more. While this team has the potential go all the way I will not be betting on Carson Palmer to win in the playoffs. I think Arizona will have to develop a strong and reliable run game to help Palmer through the playoffs.
NRL Team Comparison - Canberra Raiders. This team has exploded in the last year with talent and an attractive style of football similar to Arizona. They appear headed for a few great seasons with roster that has been well built. Few doubts remain that they can go all the way given their relative inexperience in the big games.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Last Season (10-6, 2nd in NFC West, Eliminated in 2nd Round of Playoffs)
The Seahawks have been one of the powerhouses of the NFL over the past 4 seasons. They have managed to reach at least the division round of the playoffs in the last 4 years. During those days the Seahawks secured a Super Bowl triumph and one late Super Bowl disaster when Pete Carroll infamously called a pass when they had 4 plays and 1 yard to win a Super Bowl. The Seahawks will have to rebuild their running game without the retired Marshawn Lynch, however they have a very talented offence and defence overal. Franchise quarterback Russell Wilson had a mostly outstanding 2015 throwing 38 touchdowns to 11 interceptions. Wilson was particular dangerous when teams blitzed him and can often gauge the defence for a big run when there is nothing down the field. Wilson ran for 644 yards in 2015 which shows the explosive dual threat he carries as a quarterback. The Seahawks have a very inexperienced batch of running backs due to "Beast Mode's" retirement and will be relying on Thomas Rawls to step up from his promising season last year. In Tyler Lockett, Doug Baldwin and Jimmy Graham the Seahawks are loaded with talent at wide receiver and tight end. While Baldwin and Graham are efficient and reliable, Lockett might be the player with the most talent ready to have a breakout year. One of the big issues for Seattle this year will be an offensive line that looks really dicey. Last year Russell Wilson was often put under enormous pressure and with no key additions he might have to get used to that going forward. It is the opposite story for Seattle's defensive line with the likes of Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril possessing a huge threat to get to the quarterback. Last year the pair had 23 sacks between them. With Richard Sherman at cornerback and Earl Thomas at safety Seattle has several defensive stars that can create turn overs and make them a leading contender in the NFC.
Verdict - 11-5, 2nd in NFC West
I can see Seattle battling it out right to the wire with Arizona for the NFC West crown. The team lost a bit of its swagger last season especially defensively. While they have the talent to make the playoffs and make a run, I think this team is not quite the beast it was when it went to back-to-back Super Bowls. While they will be hard to beat in the playoffs I don't see them making the NFC title game.
NRL Team Comparison - I will go with the North Queensland Cowboys, one of the headline teams for the last few years that play powerful and aggressive football. They have a mix of brutal power on defence and swift playmakers on offence.
LOS ANGELES RAMS
Last Season (7-9, 3rd in NFC West)
The Rams were the big movers in the off-season, leaving St Louis to head back to Los Angeles. While the Raiders and Chargers also applied to head to the vacant big market city, the Rams were awarded it solely by the NFL owners in a majority vote. While they might be joined in LA by another team next season, the Rams, without a winning season since 2003, have a year to try and pull in the crowds and gather some faith back in this team. The Rams have put up some terrible offence in recent years which has kept them out of the playoff picture. This team has invested in potential franchise quarter backs and running backs -however they are young and unproven and it remains to be seen whether veteran coach Jeff Fisher can get this team into the playoffs. Fisher was paraded in St Louis to big fanfare four years ago however has yet to deliver with mediocre season after mediocre season. The Rams drafted Jared Goff from Cal and will be looking to him to become their franchise quarterback. Goff has the potential to be a star in the league however rookie seasons are often laced with setbacks. The Rams have a genuine star in the running back position in Todd Gurley. Gurley rushed for over 1100 yards last season and often made big, explosive plays. The Rams have become the only team in the NFL last season to not have a receiver with over 700 yards. The Rams also have problems at offensive line despite investing heavily in the draft over the years to try and plug some holes. The strength of the whole Rams team lies in their defensive line and their ability to create pressure up front. In Aaron Donald and William Hayes the Rams have players that can make plays and ensure their offence does not have to put up big numbers to win games.
Verdict 7-9. 3rd in NFC West. No Playoffs
The Rams will be typically hard to beat and win some low scoring struggles. However with a rookie quarterback and little receiving talent they are going to struggle to score points. I don't see their new home ground being a fortress this season as teams will be excited to play there. Expect the defence to play hard and tough but they might be spending plenty of time on the field. I think it will be a typical season for Rams fans sadly with not quite enough wins to mount a playoff charge.
NRL Team Comparison - Dragons. Tough defensively and competitive in most games however lacking fire power with the ball - a few seasons straight of mediocrity and unlikely to be elevated without some injections in the roster in the short term.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Last Season (5-11, Last In NFC West)
The 49ers have fallen on hard times after Jim Harbaugh took them to 3 straight NFC title games just a few years ago. The team that possessed a wicked defence and an offence full of big names now appears a side in serious decline. The 49ers made a controversial move in the summer announcing the recent sacked and highly scrutinised Eagles Head Coach Chip Kelly as the man to lead them forward. Last year the 49ers resembled a broken team under Jim Tomsula as Colin Kaepernick imploded and the team were rarely competitive or inspiring in bumbling their ways to a5-11 season record. The 49ers were the model franchise for the NFL back in their halcyon days of the 1980's and 1990's. However now they would be close to the most dysfunctional team in the entire NFL. Ownership mystifyingly rode of town Jim Harbough and things have looked bleak since. Colin Kaepernick and Blain Gabbert will battle it out for starting quarterback duties for the 49ers in 2016 with Gabbert the favourite to win the role. Which is stunning really and shows you how far Kaepernick has fallen as his play has regressed to a shocking level. Gabbert’s record inspires very little confidence with just 8 wins compared to 27 losses as a starter and only 33 touchdowns to 31 interceptions overall. Gabbers has improved a little since a disastrous start to his career in Jacksonville -however he is unlikely to lead the 49ers to the Promised Land. While Carlos Hyde has potential as a running back to take some pressure off the 49ers maligned quarterbacks their receiving core is thin on the ground. With suspect offensive and defensive lines this team looks a little over matched heading into 2016. Chip Kelly has often talked about his system rather than players being the formula for success, however that will be put to the test firmly here.
Verdict 3-13. Last in NFC West.
Look away 49ers fans, I see this being an ugly and long campaign. I don't see the head coach or starting quarterback inspiring any confidence or many wins. I think this team may be right into contention for the Number 1 Draft pick in 2017.
NRL Team Comparison - Have to go with the Newcastle Knights. When Jim Harbaugh left, just like Wayne Bennett did in Newcastle, this team was left to pick up the pieces with nothing left in the locker. Lots of tough rebuilding to do and long, cold winters for the fans.