NFC West Week 2 Review: Uh Oh
See what happens when NFC West teams don't just play against each other? Pretty pathetic performance for "our" division last weekend after going 2-2 week one. Nobody was able to pull out a victory The Cardinals defense continues to flounder, the Seahawks offense is approaching pitiful levels and the Rams had some costly turnovers against the Giants.
Admittedly, the 49ers and Seahawks had some tough match-ups against the Cowboys and Steelers, respectively. Both teams were coming off of tough losses and really needed a win. The Rams, however, played a Giants team that just doesn't look very good thus far. The Cardinals were playing the Great Grossman, but he threw two interceptions and the Cardinals offense played pretty well. That was a game they should have won.
Here's a closer look at how the division fared after the jump.
Arizona Cardinals at Washington Redskins
The Cardinals defense has given up over 900 yards of total offense the first two games of the season. As Jeremy Clarkson would say, "that is apocalyptically bad." Rex Grossman wasn't able to replicate his week one performance and he threw two interceptions. That's more like it Rex. The real problem for the Cardinals was defending the rush. They gave up 172 yards on the ground.
Offensively, they again played well. Kevin Kolb had another nice game statistically, and hooked up with Larry Fitzgerald for a 73-yard touchdown. Keep it going boys, my fantasy team "Alex Smith is my god" needs that. Beanie Wells also had a nice game, gaining 93 yards on only 14 carries. He's averaging 5.7 yards a carry so far this season. Maybe they should try giving him more carries.
Seattle Seahawks at Pittsburgh Steelers
Tarvaris Jackson is on pace to be sacked 80 times this season. He's on pace to break David Carr's sack record of 76. The good news: He may not last the 16 games he would need to break the record. The bad news: He may not last 16 games. Considering what he is working with, he really didn't play that bad. He completed 20 of 29 passes and didn't throw any interceptions, but the Seahawks only averaged 5.5 yards per pass attempt. I didn't watch the game, but I'd imagine Jackson didn't enough time to throw the ball down the field very often.
They couldn't run the ball either. They rushed for only 31 yards and averaged 2.4 yards per rush. Overall they managed just 164 yards of total offense. Defensively, they struggled to defend the pass and gave up 126 yards to Mike Wallace. The Steelers picked on cornerback Brandon Browner all game. I don't see things getting much better for the Seahawks. Their front seven is solid and they have two promising young safeties, but after that there is not much to be excited about when you watch this team.
St. Louis Rams at New York Giants
The Rams could have used Steven Jackson yesterday. Neither of their running backs, Carnel Williams and Jerious Norwood, averaged over three yards a carry. Sam Bradford did pass for over 300 yards and did not throw an interception, but he completed less than 50% of his completions. Eli Manning and the Giants had a rough start offensively, but the Rams were unable to capitalize and committed two costly turnovers in the first half.
The Rams passing defense did a decent job, allowing under 200 yards passing on the night, though they did give up two touchdowns through the air. The Giants were able to control the clock with their run game, though, and rushed 38 times for 119 yards (3.1 yards per carry). They won the time of possession battle 34:12 to 25:48.
The standout performer for the Rams on offense was Danario Alexander. He only had three receptions, but he gained 122 yards and scored a touchdown. James Laurinaitis was all over the field defensively and finished with 14 tackles and one tackle for loss.
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As long as nobody in this division gets to draft Luck
I’m satisfied. As much as I love seeing the cRams and Seapigeons struggle, I would much rather that wunderkid head back east to an AFC division we rarely have to play.
I'm praying for the Colts to go 0-16
and the Seahawks to got 1-16
Harbaugh will find a QB and he will succeed.
I’m so lucky someone declined my trade attempt for Jamaal in my FF league
by Florida Johnny on Sep 20, 2011 9:29 AM PDT up reply actions
Chiefs and Colts have to be playing this year
they both won their divisions last year
Looks like they play in week 4 though, too early to call it the Luck Bowl.
It’s hard to see the Colts winning more than 3 games at this point.
by whistlingmountain on Sep 20, 2011 10:49 AM PDT up reply actions
I doubt he felt that
until the next morning. I’m pretty sure he wasn’t feeling that part of his body when he came out of the locker room.
Harbaugh will find a QB and he will succeed.
shh, he's a hero!
Don’t get me wrong, I think just about every professional football player is insanely tough. What they have to put up with is intense, and just making it through NFL 2-a-days is amazing, let alone following it up with 20+ weeks of play.
But too much gets made of players playing “with pain” when they’re clearly injected and it’s more awkward discomfort they’re feeling than real pain.
Always reminds me of Favre when he was “tough as nails” and .. addicted to pain killers…
by whistlingmountain on Sep 20, 2011 10:47 AM PDT up reply actions
I heard a good point made yesterday (on radio). With all the concerns about player safety, including Vick being taking out after biting his tongue, why was Romo allowed back in by team doctors? If the goal is to protect players from themselves, it failed on this count. Had the Niners blitzed the injured QB a few more times (as they should’ve) he’d be out for the next month.
- Thank you SF Giants for an incredible 2010 season and painting the City orange & black!
You gotta bring ass to get ass.
brain injuries
are being treated differently, as they should be.
by whistlingmountain on Sep 20, 2011 1:16 PM PDT up reply actions
The Seahawks will draft him
and he’ll demand a trade after fully realizing what a big ol’ d-bag Pete Carroll actually is lol
by sanfranfanmdk on Sep 20, 2011 9:34 AM PDT up reply actions
imagine
if the Seapigeons had the #1 pick and Luck, disturbed by the thought of playing for such a disingenuous clown, shocks everyone by sticking around for his senior year! I would die laughing, though that scenario is exceedingly unlikely.
Pete Carroll has a way with making #1 overall draft picks decline the draft
call it a gift if you will
He'll end up in KC
They were average before the injuries. Now they’re the worst team in their division, and play the AFC East and NFC North this season. Luck may end up being a Chief.
- Thank you SF Giants for an incredible 2010 season and painting the City orange & black!
You gotta bring ass to get ass.
if you think Haley is going to be in KC if they pick 1st
you’re kidding yourself
by whistlingmountain on Sep 20, 2011 1:17 PM PDT up reply actions
No fear, Seahawks fans will win a couple of home games for the team
I’d say that the Chiefs have the inside track now.
by Mood_Indigo on Sep 20, 2011 11:57 AM PDT up reply actions
Pictures above
The Rams players decided to go with plan B… And decided to hug their opponents with the “I’m a lover not a fighter” gameplan.
by Leoniner on Sep 20, 2011 9:37 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
Their original gameplan is what the Niners should have used against the Cowboys
Both the Giants and Cowboys had depleted secondaries, but yet the Rams were the only ones that chose to attack it. Sure you can say, “well they ended up losing worse than the Niners” but their main problem was redzone execution. If they would have gotten TD’s instead of chip shot FG’s, they would have won
by sanfranfanmdk on Sep 20, 2011 9:47 AM PDT up reply actions
The main problem the Rams face is
that they’re just not very talented. Bradford isn’t at the place where most people thought he’d be after the way he came out of the gate, it’s hard for people to just take a step back and see. They’re just a mediocre offense that doesn’t have big play ability, and a mediocre line with their injury prone RB out.
The Cardinals really have looked the most promising of the division opponents, but we’re talking 7/8 wins here. Every team is really bad in a couple areas that have no chance of being resolved this season.
by whistlingmountain on Sep 20, 2011 10:43 AM PDT up reply actions
Crabtree and Edwards
Had they played that would’ve been the plan.
- Thank you SF Giants for an incredible 2010 season and painting the City orange & black!
You gotta bring ass to get ass.
No Luck Niners
The 49ers are good enough to be out of the Andrew Luck race, but not good enough to win a playoff game. That pretty much puts them where they’ve been the past few years. I really don’t want the Colts to get Luck. That’s just wrong. To go from Manning to Luck…too lucky…too many more years of hearing pointless Irsay quotes. I’m cheering for KC.
I know it’s early, but I think the competition for the West title (for what it’s worth) actually includes Arizona, which I wasn’t expecting rolling into the year. Kolb is better than I thought.
Another random thought: is it just me, or does Eli Manning resemble Alex Smith? Or is Eli what Alex aspires to be?
I don't think you can compare Alex Smith
to a Super Bowl winning QB. Whether or not the Giants won that SB because of Eli, he still led his team and finished on top. I think best case scenario for Alex at this point in his career is to play at a level similar to Eli Manning.
Eli can thank Plaxico (amongst others) for that Superbowl win
Notice how he has been average, often terrible, since Plax has been off of the team, and that the Giants haven’t done anything worth of note? lol I’m just hoping Edwards is alright and that he can turn into that big, physical receiver that makes QB’s look good, a receiver that you feel confident throwing to when he’s completely covered, and he’ll still come down with the ball.
by sanfranfanmdk on Sep 20, 2011 9:44 AM PDT up reply actions
I Have Similar Hopes
But he needs to get back on the field. Gotta believe that the 9ers offensive production (and Harbaugh’s scaredy-cat coaching decisions) were greatly affected by his absence.
The Giants ask Eli to do a lot more than most teams ask of their QB
that offense would shut down when he goes out, defenses would stack the box and it’d get bad quickly. The Giants have so many injuries, and have lost players in free agency lately. Transition year for them, they’ll fire Coughlin when they get eliminated from the playoffs.
by whistlingmountain on Sep 20, 2011 10:44 AM PDT up reply actions
It would please me ... and make sense
If Coach Harbaugh would look in the rear view mirror, he’d see marrying Singletary’s bull-headed approach of trying to “force the run” with his own ain’t working so far. ‘Dink n’ Dunk,’ and “Pass to set up the run” ala Bill Walsh just might work. Try it, ya’ might like it!
I think the Redskins have been better than the Cowboys and Giants
Skins Cowboys game should be interesting. Skins thoroughly dominated the Cardinals but kept them in the game with mistakes.
Cardinals with the only out of division win thus far, and will benefit the Cardinals since the rest of the division plays much better foes from the NFC South.
by whistlingmountain on Sep 20, 2011 10:40 AM PDT reply actions
Pathetic seems a bit strong
After all, they were playing the almighty NFCE and the defending AFC champs (three of the four on the road). Most expected the Niners to get rolled by a big-bad-angry team from Dallas. The division is certainly better than 2008 when all of these teams would’ve been blown out.
What this weekend showed is that the Niners continue to be stuck in the “just good enough to cost themselves a big win” mode of the past few years while they rebuild with a new staff. AZ can and will put up a good number of points every week but their defense will prevent them from breaking 8-8. STL has the best defense in the division but the lack of a great WR or TE will haunt them in road games. Only Seattle is truly pathetic.
This should make the next few years very good for three of teams in the NFCW, assumig the Niners can upgrade at QB and AZ gets a dominant pass rusher.
- Thank you SF Giants for an incredible 2010 season and painting the City orange & black!
You gotta bring ass to get ass.
Love the Jeremy Clarkson reference
The Cardinals defense has given up over 900 yards of total offense the first two games of the season. As Jeremy Clarkson would say, “that is apocalyptically bad.”
Hopefully, by the time we play the Cards, Harbaugh will have enough confidence in our offense to open it up a little and take advantage of their weakness.
by doyoufeellucky on Sep 20, 2011 11:26 AM PDT reply actions
The Division looks bad, but the 49ers are the strongest of the bunch with the Cards coming in second.
Rams are 3rd and the Seahawks look like our Offense the last few years…not this years.
We beat the Seahawks without really playing offense, and should have beat the Cowboys who look like a legit team.
Blame who you want on the loss, but I blame the D, they let the Cowboys score two times to tie it up, and overtime? teribble.
Please don't hurt me.
I’m a Cowboy fan. I’m just here to say I think you have a good football team, especially the front seven on defense. You can take pride in the fact that the 49ers have allowed the fewest rushing yards of any team in the NFL according to NFL.com. You have a lot of things put in place already and are very underrated. I hope to see your team in the playoffs at the end of the season.
We're not Raider fans, we won't shoot you after a game.....
Good luck with Romo and the lung, hope he gets well soon. This is a game the 49ers let get away from a really good team. Although the loss hurts, it shows that we can hang with the good teams in the NFL. We all are aware that your bad record last year was due to losing Romo. I think the 49ers are better than what most media guys will admit to.
It would be a great rematch in the playoffs, hope to see you there.
by ericalancanty on Sep 20, 2011 12:24 PM PDT up reply actions
Haha! Thanks!
Romo’s injury last year didn’t help. The Cowboys allowed the most points of all NFL teams in the league last year and were horribly undisciplined. Once Wade Phillips was fired, the team did much better. We’ll see what happens this year with the new pieces in place – the biggest being a revamped OL and new defensive coordinator.
By the way, your punter is awesome!
FO Ranking of NFCW QBs
Kolb +10% 16
Bradford -2.4% 22
Smith -7.5% 26
Jackson -26% 30
Positive sign for us… Smiths’ catch rate is 68.9% – much higher than normal. I do feel from watching the games he has been more accurate. Only 1 or 2 “Smith Special” overthrows that I can remember. No tipped pass INTs. He’s also the 5th best rushing QB in the league this year!!!
Brian Sabean: Sing His Praises To The Heavens!
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PARPG- Indy post-apocalyptic roleplaying game that seems to have resurrected itself in my absence...

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