NFC West 2014 Predictions: Seattle Seahawks Repeat Success
I don’t like the Seattle Seahawks, but I do have to give them credit to the extent that not respecting this team would cost me money. That makes writing divisional predictions for the NFC West a little bit difficult for me. That said, I don’t like any of these teams all that much, so I can spread my hatred throughout in order to effectively eliminate my biases. I think the San Francisco 49ers lack offense, the St. Louis Rams lack talent, and the Arizona Cardinals lack depth. So there.
1. Seattle Seahawks (12-4): This is the best team in the division, arguably the best team in the conference, and probably the best or second-best team in the NFL. I question whether Russell Wilson can pull off another Super Bowl run and I don’t like rooting for Pete Carroll. Mostly, I hate Richard Sherman. First of all, why would anyone want to shake your pompous hand while still on the field after the game ends in a loss? The gesture with Michael Crabtree was completely classless, and the fact that he keeps talking about it drives me nuts. Nobody throws at him and he only plays one side of the field, rather than matching up with a team’s best receiver every play. That’s why Peterson of the Cardinals is the better CB. Sherman’s pretty much the reason I root against this team, but with this much talent it’s just silly to expect the wheels to fall off. The Seahawks will probably win again this year; the only question is will they win it all? Here’s hoping they don’t.
2. San Francisco 49ers (11-5): Injuries to their best pass rushers combine with Crabtree’s injury and Frank Gore’s age to provide some serious questions about this team. I expect them to take a step back this year, but they still have the coaching and defense to be a playoff contender. Unfortunately, with this division as strong as it is, it wouldn’t surprise me if the Niners were a team that disappoints this year. I won’t pick it as such, I’m not that bold, but it can easily happen.
3. Arizona Cardinals (10-6): Last season the Cardinals got close. I think they’ll be close again. They have an underrated defense, a great coach, and a serviceable offense. I’m not sure they can sneak in as a wildcard, and I don’t expect three teams from this loaded division to make it. In fact, it’s possible they all knock each other off a bit. That said, this is a good team that should be relevant again.
4. St. Louis Rams (8-8): Somewhere beyond the Michael Sam drama is a great team that is just a few pieces away. A good coach, a good defense, and a few good pieces on offense have the Rams ready to play a lot of competitive games this year. The big question for me is whether Sam Bradford is ready to make the jump to NFL productivity. My guess is no, and I expect the Rams to fall short again this year.
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