Who wins this division you ask? Get back to me on the last day of the regular season at about 8 p.m. and I’ll have an answer for you. But if Week 1 was any indication of what’s to come in 2008, it’s that the West may not be won by Seattle.
St. Louis Rams. Simply putrid, no ways around it. The offense was brutal. The Rams managed only eight first downs, were 0-for-11 on 3rd down and had just 166 yards of total offense. The line couldn’t open up any running lanes for Steven Jackson. Everytime Marc Bulger dropped back to pass, he had Philly green and white all over him. The defense gave up 566 total yards (414 through the air), allowing three different Philly receivers to go over 100 yards. The Scott Linehan firing watch has officially begun. I fully expect him to be unemployed by Week 9.
San Francisco 49ers. Sure it’s a new season, but it’s still the same song playing on the jukebox for the 49ers. The reigns were turned over to journey qb J.T. O’ Sullivan, who’s the latest quarterback flavor of the week. Despite his efficient day (14/20 for 195 yards), O’ Sullivan turned the ball over three times (1 interception, 2 fumbles). The 49ers offense finished with five turnovers on the day and had the football just three times in the second half. To make the quarterback situation worse, backup and former starter Alex Smith appears to have a fractured shoulder that looks like it’ll end his season and probably his career as a 49er. Frank Gore continues to be the teams’ only reliable option and playmaking threat. San Francisco has been one-dimensional for three, going on four seasons and they simply haven’t figured out how to make the offense better besides handing the rock off to Gore. Best of luck Mike Martz. Quick side note: Mike Nolan has lost 33 of the 49 games during his tenure in the Bay Area.
Seattle Seahawks. Boy those cross country trips will get you everytime. But that flight home couldn’t have been fun. They took one on the chin in Buffalo, no way around it. Matt Hasselbeck entered the game with a creaky back and his offensive line didn’t make things much better. They allowed five sacks and numerous in-your-face hurries. The running game wasn’t much of a factor. What once was their strength now is their greatest weakness. The o-line hasn’t been very good since Steve Hutchinson left. The special teams play was about as awful as a special teams unit can be. Seattle gave up a punt return for a touchdown, a fake field goal for a touchdown and lost a fumble on a kickoff. To make matters worse, the Seahawks lost WR Nate Burleson for season with a torn ACL and running back Maurice Morris could miss the rest of the month, possibly longer, with an injured knee. Seattle must find a way to patch together a wide receiver unit that is now missing four wideouts.
Arizona Cardinals. One week in the books and the Cardinals sit atop the standings in the division. Arizona turned in all around effort against San Francisco. Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin still form the league’s best starting wideout tandem. The defense devoured an inferior 49ers offense, forcing five turnovers in the win.
