NFC West preview: SEA underestimated; LAR pressure
The NFC West features several of the NFL's top storylines for the season, including Seattle's attempt to fend off a Super Bowl hangover, pressure facing the Rams and late-season games with huge playoff implications.
Video Transcript
All right, let's do a little NFL preview time here.
Now- Okay usually on these shows, not on Not So Fast, they always start on these shows with the- Mm-hmm AFC East first, and it's like that East Coast bias thing.
We are gonna go way out West and go- That's not East Coast bias.
That's the way the standings are ordered, Paul.
We argue about this all the time.
Yeah, but you're- are you an alphabetist?
Are you saying we gotta go alphabetical on the show?
'Cause that's even bo- more bothersome.
When people break down the NFL, you start with either NFC East or AFC East.
You don't start in another division.
That's why this show is special.
We go- Oh Mountain Time Zone, Pacific Time Zone.
We embrace men of the people.
All right, let's do a little NFC West.
We're talking about that a lot.
The Seahawks lose Clint Kubiak- Mm-hmm the offensive coordinator.
They lose running back Kevin Wa- Ka- Kenneth Walker, who I actually like that move.
Instead of spending a lot on the running back position, they move on and get Ja'Darian Price.
Seahawks not getting a lot of coverage.
Any chance for a drop-off?
Oh, of course there's a chance for a drop-off.
I mean, the rule is you don't really repeat in the NFL.
But man, I think people are underestimating them big time.
Plus 210 to win the NFC West.
They're the defending champion, and there aren't any real losses.
They almost have the whole defense back.
They lost a guy named Reek Wollan, who actually ended up costing them with dumb penalties- That one more than he helped them.
Yep.
So I, I think Seattle is being underestimated right now.
All right, we're gonna get to the Rams in a second, but what's interesting about the Seahawks and the Rams- Yeah they play in week 16 and week 18.
Ooh.
They jam those games together.
Okay.
The division will be, decided those days, and also probably home field advantage for the entire NFC playoffs.
Yeah, I remember last year there was that crazy night game with the two-point conversion.
Yep.
I think Charbonnet picked up the ball, and the Seahawks winning that game gave them home field, which I think was critical in the playoffs.
So that 16, week 16 and week 18 could decide the whole NFC.
We talked a little bit about this yesterday.
If you look at the Rams- Yeah everyone is just bowing at the Rams' altar.
The chance for them to have an issue, besides Matt Stafford's health- Yeah the chance for them to have an issue, a hiccup.
Yeah, I mean, they're thin.
They're thin, and they're old, and it's a long NFL season.
That's like us, thin and old.
Yeah, and what happened to Matthew Stafford's back injury, Paul?
It's, it's, it's all better.
How We, we know backs.
And you know, we're old- And he had the shoulder a couple years ago older players.
Yeah, no, I think there's a lot on the line here.
We still could have suspensions.
I, I think the plus 500 number to win the Super Bowl is ridiculous.
First of all, the team that's plus 500, five to one to win the whole thing, never wins.
So I, I'm actually fading the Rams despite logic because that D line is incredible.
I mean, I, no one's arguing against Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald.
It's just arguing that anybody can be that strong a favorite in the NFL.
All right, two more teams.
The 49ers.
Can you picture the 49ers with six wins or 11 wins?
'Cause I could picture both.
I could picture them with 11 wins.
Even if they have another rash of injuries, Kyle Shanahan's such a good coach, and I think he runs the offense so well, kind of doesn't matter who's there.
I mean, the fact that they won so many games without Nick Bosa last year was a good sign to me.
I, I think the Seahawks, I'm sorry, the Niners are gonna be at least a wild card team, but they're not dangerous, threatening like the Seahawks and the Rams.
All right, let's finish with the Cardinals on brand.
Now, is that plus one million to win the title?
It looks like, 10,000, a million, whatever.
Add some zeros there if you want.
The Cardinals, I like that they're kind of in tank mode- Right because there's a lot of quarterbacks for next year, but they didn't go full tank mode.
They drafted- Yes they drafted Jeremiah Love, the great running back out of Notre Dame, and they're spending 50 million on him.
That bothers me.
If you're gonna tank, tank.
Don't draft a guy who's ready to play now, ready to dominate now, on a team that's not ready to host him.
Yeah, you know when I knew the Cardinals didn't know what they were doing?
Week one of preseason.
They let Love carry the ball 13 times.
What are you doing?
It's week one of the preseason.
Of course, he gets hurt.
I would put him in bubble wrap.
I'd play him maybe- Right yeah, because you're waiting for next year's quarterback is in the college ranks right now.
Do not overuse Jeremiah Love.
If you're tanking, don't take a running back.
Yeah.
That's what Winston Churchill said that years ago.
Yeah.
Was it Churchill?
