The Seattle Seahawks have not been outplayed by their divisional rivals since 2003, and not much is likely to change in the NFC West throughout the 2008 season.

Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck had a stellar 2007 season throwing for 3,966 yards and 28 touchdowns. The three-time Pro Bowl selection should be leading his team right back to the playoffs once again. Hasselbeck led the Hawks to the Super Bowl in 2005, but they never won it in franchise history. Only time will tell how far they will go this year.

The Arizona Cardinals went 8-8 last year and are highly unlikely to go further up or down the ladder from that position. They picked up Edgerrin James this season, who has run for over 1,000 yards five seasons in a row. The Cardinals ought to start Matt Leinart, the 2004 Heisman Trophy winner, over the ever-aging Curt Warner. If Leinart takes enough snaps this year, the Cardinals may have their way with the Seahawks in 2009.

The San Francisco 49ers (5-11) were expected to have a good season in 2007 and they sure didn’t live up to it. I’m expecting the 49ers to gather a few more wins this year, but I can’t even figure out who their quarterback is going to be on opening day. Can you? Will it be Alex Smith? Shaun Hill? Or the newly acquired J.T. Sullivan who has been on 10 teams in the last four years?

The St. Louis Rams (3-13) were the worst team in the NFC in the 2007 season, and I expect no improvement from them whatsoever this year. The Rams first-round draft pick Chris Long, a defensive end out of Virginia, figures to be the only player worth watching out of the bunch. They will be lucky if they can pick up three wins this season.

Projected NFC West standings:
Seattle Seahawks 12-4
Arizona Cardinals 9-7
San Francisco 49ers 8-8
St. Louis Rams 2-14

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