Is the NFC West the League’s Best Division?
Week one of the NFL is complete. There were some surprises, some upsets and some of the same old thing. In the NFC West, three of the four teams were victorious and it might have been all four but two played head to head.
Some are already asking if this could be the toughest division in football and the answer is a resounding YES.
The biggest difference seen from last season and the start of this season is the new personnel each of the NFC West teams have added to make their teams better.
San Francisco traded to obtain the services of wide receiver Anquan Boldin and all he did was rack up 202 receiving yards in game 1 against Green Bay. The Seattle Seahawks picked up Percy Harvin, who as this time is injured but will help them when he is healthy.
Arizona traded in the NFL draft for veteran Carson Palmer to give them experience at quarterback. St. Louis improved more than anything through the draft with receiver Tavon Austin and then signed Jared Cook at tight end.
The Seahawks squeaked out a 12-7 win in the first week against a tough Carolina team. The Seahawks needed a fourth quarter 47-yard Russell Wilson touchdown and a late fumble recovery to defeat the Panthers. However, the Seahawks defense looked as strong as ever and when Harvin returns the offense will be running like a well-oiled machine.
San Francisco showed that Colin Kaepernick has not missed a beat. The young talented quarterback threw for 412 yards against the Packers, leading the 49ers to a well-deserved 34-28 win. The running game for the 49ers was not what it was the last time these two teams met, but who needs one when your quarterback throws for over 400 yards.
St. Louis looked like the real deal the first week. Sam Bradford has improve light years in running the offense and Cook paid off dividends at tight end catching two touchdown passes plus an important late game reception that helped to set up the game winning field goal.
Arizona played exceptionally well, but had the bad luck of facing division rival St. Louis. Larry Fitzgerald showed he has not lost a step with his two touchdown receptions. Fitzgerald ended the game with eight catches, but was shutout in the decisive fourth quarter. The defense for Arizona also scored a touchdown.
The only miscue on Arizona’s part was allowing St. Louis back into the game after having an 11-point lead late in the third quarter. The Cardinals outgained the Rams overall but sputtered in the fourth quarter gaining just 67 yards.
If week one was any indication of things to come, the NFC West will send not one or two but possibly three teams to the postseason.
