My picks (NFC WEST and AFC WEST)

Can the Cardinals build on last years success?
NFC WEST
1. Seattle Seahawks 11-5 - The addition of Housh not such a big deal but a healthy Hasselbeck, defense, and offensive line should lead this team back to the playoffs in a weak division. Mora Jr. will continue mostly what Holmgren has done in the past running the westcoast and should make it back to the top of the division.

2. Sanfrancisco 49ers 8-8 - Singletary will preach smashmouth football and he should have a very good run game led by Gore I just don't think the defense is up to snuff yet. The decision Singletary makes on a qb (Alex Smith or Shaun Hill) will effect their season greatly, if they can get some stability at the position they could challenge for the division but if they continue to flip flop at the most important position at football 8-8 would be an accomplishment.

3. Arizona Cardinals 6-10 - How the mighty have fallen. Superbowl hangover? Madden Curse? Warner is 38 this year coming off his first season starting 16 games and I don't see him doing it again thus the drop off in record. Leinart is not ready to be the starting QB and I doubt he'll ever be, if Warner does go down Fitzgerald's stats will take the biggest hit and the offense can't afford to slow down because it has to make up for the defense's shortcomings. Bottom line back to the old Cardinals.

4. St. Louis Rams 5-11 - A long way from being competitive...SJAX and Avery are bright spots but without a top notch QB and a weak defense there's no way they pull an '08 Dolphins and get in.


Will the Charger's postseason look like this again?
AFC WEST
1. Chargers 11-5 - This is San Diego's last chance the window is closing and I think they know it. They should have no problem punching their ticket to the dance in this division. With a healthy LT and the emergence of Sproles look for the offense to go back to a more balanced attack rather than the aerial show we saw last year. The return of Merriman could be huge for the defense.

2. Raiders 8-8 - Russel or Garcia it doesn't matter the Chiefs and Broncos are dreadful and the Raiders rushing attack of McFadden, Bush, and Fargas combined with an improving defense should have no problem grabbing 2nd in the West.

3. Chiefs 4-12 - Cassel is not a franchise QB they would have been better off staying with Thigpen and focusing on improving the weapons around him. The offense now has only one weapon (who's been average so far in his career) Bowe and no one to take the coverage away from him. They just recently fired their offensive coordinator which can't be good the D is in shambles I don't know how you could expect much out of them this year.

4. Broncos 2-14 - Recipe to a disastrous season Lose your franchise QB check, anger your probowl receiver resulting in a suspension check, barely improve your horrid D check hire a man child as your headcoach to replace a two time superbowl winning headcoach check the list goes on but bottom line the Broncos won't be any good with neckbeard Orton.