Can We Talk Some Trash? The NFC West and the Playoffs

by LA49er on Jan 12, 2011 2:59 PM PST

"The NFC West [is] made up of pro football's bad seeds"
John Clayton

"I really don’t want to analyze the NFC West because it is such a joke, but I am obligated to say something about them."
Adam Wells

"On Sunday, the 7-8 Rams and 6-9 Seahawks played for the NFC West 'championship'"
Chris Lillstrung

The NFC West may not be made up of the same bitter rivalries and high-flying talent as the NFC or AFC East, but when it comes to the playoffs, our "pathetic" division has one thing no one can take away:

It hasn't been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs since 2004.

In the 2003 - 2004 playoffs, the Seattle Seahawks fell to the Green Bay Favres, er, Packers, 33-27.

And that's the last time the "lowly" NFC West has been eliminated with their mercy berth into the playoffs.

2004 - 2005 Playoffs: The St Louis Rams and Seattle Seahawks faced off in the first round, with the Rams ultimately besting the 'Hawks 27-20. They would go on to get mauled by the Falcons 47 -17 in the second round.

Fine, that's a gimme- the NFC West got two mercy berths that year, and they just happened to be against each other.

2005 - 2006 Playoffs: The Seattle Seahawks beat the Washington Redskins 20 - 10 with the 1 seed to ultimately face the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl (which the Steelers won 34 - 14).

2006 - 2007 Playoffs: The Seahawks eked past the Dallas Cowboys 21 - 20 in the first round only to fall to the Chicago Bears in overtime 27 - 24 in the next round.

2007 - 2008 Playoffs: Seahawks slap the Redskins 35 - 14 only to get slapped by the Packers 42 - 14. Another 2nd round exit.

2008 - 2009 Playoffs: This was the magic year for the Cardinals, not only not exiting in the first round but leapfrogging the Falcons, Panthers and Eagles only to lose to the Steelers in the Super Bowl.

2009 - 2010 Playoffs: The Cardinals take it to the wire in a thrilling 51-45 overtime victory (the highest scoring postseason game in NFL history) only to fall to the New Orleans Saints in their magical year.

And finally, we have the 2010 - 2011 playoffs where the Seahawks avenged the loss to topple the Saints' offensive juggernaut and move on to the second round against the Bears, where again they have not hope, will get annihalated, blah blah blah.

The point of this ridiculous Fan Post? Just to talk a little trash. Maybe we won't look great getting there, but the NFC West is a near-lock to win at least once in the postseason. To the haters, I can only say - "Re-seed this."

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors.

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Comments

This phrase still haunts me...

“Troy Smith gives us the best chance to win…”

That sums up the NFCW for me in 2010.

Jim Harbaugh, new Head Coach of the San Francisco 49ers. Now what?

by drummer on Jan 12, 2011 3:06 PM PST reply actions

I mean i dont think Alex is good

but that statement was just wrong lol… at least we got harbaugh

Mass genocide is the most exhausting activity one can engage in, outside of soccer.

by Joshpreet on Jan 12, 2011 3:11 PM PST up reply actions

Troy Smith was a sight for sore eyes

I remember Matt Maiocco tweeting about the novelty of crisp, accurate throws.

Of course, that was all before Mike Singletary “fixed” him.

49er 'til I die! (if they don't kill me first)

by LA49er on Jan 12, 2011 3:14 PM PST up reply actions

Adam Wells?

Does he write for anybody but Bleacher Report?

by David Fucillo on Jan 12, 2011 3:43 PM PST reply actions

I don't think so

But it was surprisingly difficult to find quotable lines disparaging the NFCW, after having heard and read them all season.

49er 'til I die! (if they don't kill me first)

by LA49er on Jan 13, 2011 7:29 AM PST up reply actions

This,

“The NFC West is the worst division in all of sports.” -Steve Mariucci (1/8/2011)

I was "Deific16"
The cake is a lie.

by Sultan of Seitan on Jan 13, 2011 11:48 PM PST up reply actions

Good one!

49er 'til I die! (if they don't kill me first)

by LA49er on Jan 14, 2011 7:46 AM PST up reply actions

NFC west owns in the playoffs

We get hot when it matters, take that AFC west. Last time they were represented in the playoffs was that Raider outing with our GOAT. We had two superbowls against the Steelers, one won the other barely losing.

by mcwagner on Jan 12, 2011 3:48 PM PST reply actions

Cardinals and… Seahawks?

go rowand

by lincypoo i wuv u on Jan 14, 2011 2:45 PM PST up reply actions

People can say what they want about the NFC West...

but in the past 10 years we’ve had someone fromthe NFCW go to the Superbowl 4 times. Rams went in 2000 and 2002, Seahawks went in 2006, and Cardinals went in 2009. That’s FOUR out of TEN years against 7 other divisions. ’Nuff said.

by Terrell 'Turtle' Hannah on Jan 12, 2011 5:48 PM PST reply actions

The rest were patriots or steelers

by mcwagner on Jan 12, 2011 6:53 PM PST up reply actions

Well, strictly speaking,

that’s against 3 other divisions in the NFC. And you’re actually counting 11 years (2000 thru 2010). But the NFCW is still better than average over that period. Throw in the 99 SB (Falcons), and you have 12 seasons. NFC Champs by division: South = 4, West = 4, East = 3, North = 1.
(Based on where teams are now).

by bob47 on Jan 13, 2011 1:00 AM PST up reply actions