The NFC West can’t be any less competitive than last year, right?
Seattle ran away with the division after Arizona took a step back. The aging Cardinals felt a major hangover from the previous year, and I’m not sure if they got much better this past offseason.
Here’s my look at the NFC West. Last year, I went 1-3 in predicting the over/under win totals.
Arizona Cardinals
Over/under 8.5 (-115 o/-115 u)
I took some heat last year for predicting the Cardinals to take a step back. That was the only thing that worked my way in the NFC West last year.
That was based on the aging skill position players and the lack of an up-and-coming option at the wide receiver position for the Cardinals. That is once again evident in 2017. Larry Fitzgerald is an all-time great, but how much longer can he go? And Carson Palmer was one of the biggest disappointments in fantasy football in 2016, and I don’t see that getting much better.
Defensively, they should still be good, so we’ll see if they rely on David Johnson and the running game, and allow the defense to win games. Something tells me that won’t happen, though, and the passing game will get them in trouble. — Verdict: Under
Los Angeles Rams
Over/under 5.5 (even o/-130 u)
I’m not sure a team can get any worse on offense. Los Angeles averaged 262 yards per game last year. To give a little perspective on that, we’d have to go back to 2011 to the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars to find a team that actually averaged fewer yards per game.
Despite being completely anemic on offense, the Rams still found a way to win four games. The offensive line should be better and the defense is already good enough to compete. This team can win six games, especially with a defense that can keep them in games. — Verdict: Over
San Francisco 49ers
Over/under 4.5 (-125 o/-115 u)
I kept trying to ride the 49ers bandwagon to stay in games last season, but that defense just couldn’t keep up. When your offense ranks 31st and the defense is the worst statistically in the NFL, that creates a major problem.
And I’m not sure that was fixed in the offseason.
Good luck naming a starting a wide receiver and Brian Hoyer is slated to start at quarterback. This number is so low that it’s tempting to go with the over, but I just don’t see more than four wins. The defense is still terrible and I’m not sure if the offense can score. That equals a recipe to be a top pick in the 2018 NFL draft. — Verdict: Under
Seattle Seahawks
Over/under 10.5 (-120 o/-110 u)
What was once considered one of the best divisions in football is allowing Seattle a free chance at several wins. San Francisco is an easy two wins, while Arizona could easily see itself on the losing end twice against Seattle. The Rams will beat the Seahawks once like always, but that should give the Seahawks an inside track to five wins.
I’m not huge on this Seattle team anymore, but it’s hard to argue with the schedule. If Seattle can focus once again on the running game with Eddie Lacy and Thomas Rawls, the Seahawks should be in line to win 10 to 11 games. Defensively they’ll be solid again, so I’ll go with the over. — Verdict: Over
