Olde City Sports Network

The division with the Super Bowl Champion Los Angeles Rams. As well as the team that played the Rams in the NFC Championship game. But this division also has a team with Kliff Kingsbury as a head coach so we really get both ends of the spectrum in the division. The NFC West is known for the absolute best division matchups throughout the season and even though the Seahawks traded Russ Drew Lock or Geno Smith is going to steal a game from the Rams. Speaking of the Seahawks!

Seattle Seahawks:

NO DK Metcalf is not a top-five receiver. I had to say that before breaking this down. No Russell Wilson means disaster for the Seahawks. Your best defender left. No sorry. YOU CUT YOUR BEST DEFENDER AND HE JOINED A DIVISION RIVAL WHO ALSO WON THE SUPER BOWL LAST SEASON!!! Then you have Quandre Diggs who is a stud in the secondary having to share the field with *checks notes* Jamal Adams? The 12th man is going to have a rough season but I will say those fans love them Seahawks.

Arizona Cardinals:

I almost put them in last place I almost did it. I literally had Arizona typed out before being nice and putting the Seahawks. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE the roster. Budda Baker is really HIM and Kyler Murray has James Conner, DeAndre Hopkins, Marquise Brown, A.J. Green and Zach Ertz to throw too. Yes, I know Hopkins is suspended but only for six games leaving 11 games to show why he is a top receiver in the league. BUT, I hate Kliff Kingsbury. Oh my God, no other coach irritates me more than him. You can just tell, watch them play, the Cardinals are winning games based on their talent. There is no scheme to make the team more successful. No adjustments are made, their flaws get exposed and Kliff is just like “Keep doing the same thing, no one wil expect the same thing again.” Again, this roster is good enough to compete deep in the playoffs but your coach stinks get rid of him and we’ll talk AZ.

San Francisco 49ers:

The Niners are an odd team heading into this season. I know they will be good but, how good? Wild Card? Win the division? The only team with the ability to stop the Rams in this division is the Niners but at the same time, they are also capable of losing a game they should not like Washington or Atlanta. They do have a really good team, perfectly balanced with tons of playmakers on both sides. The only thing making the decision to put them in second place is Trey Lance. I am not saying he is a bad player; I just don’t know what we’ll get from him. He did not get a lot of snaps last season but he looked good when he did get in the game. Now it is my understanding, he is the starter and he has been working with the starters so let’s see what the young fella can do. I think he’ll be great but it is too early to tell.

Los Angeles Rams:

Any surprises here? They lost Von Miller and then signed Bobby Wagner. OBJ’s contract expires and they move on from Robert Woods, they sign Allen Robinson and Van Jefferson continues to develop into a solid receiver in this league. Not to mention they still have Matt Stafford, Cooper Kupp, Jalen Ramsey and Aaron Donald. On top of that Cam Akers is coming back and has looked great in camp according to reports. Would anyone actually be shocked if they repeated? Be honest. No one? Ok then there’s nothing left to talk about.

Thanks, everyone for joining me through division talk. You are all great and wonderful people and I hope your teams lose to the Saints <3.

Seahawks photo credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Cardinals photo credit: AP Photo/Ralph Freso

49ers photo credit: Jed Jacobsohn/AP

Rams photo credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Evan Hale - The Halftimers Podcast/ Olde City Sports Network