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Could three of four teams from the NFCW make the playoffs?
NFL's two best teams, Rams and 49ers, are in same division
By BARRY WILNER
AP Football Writer
August 29, 2002
The St. Louis Rams have had everybody's number in recent seasons. No team has been victimized more by the Rams than the San Francisco 49ers, who have dropped six straight to St. Louis. ADVERTISEMENT
That's especially significant this season, where the winner of the NFC West figures to have home-field advantage for the conference playoffs. The Niners must find a way to beat the Rams if they want to supplant St. Louis atop the NFC.
Whichever way they finish, the Rams and 49ers are the class of the league. That's too bad for Seattle, which might have won its old division, the AFC West, but is consigned to third place here. Still, the Seahawks have a wild-card look, even if they barely stay above .500.
Neither the Rams nor the 49ers need worry about break-even. Both should have easy roads to the playoffs. That makes their meetings on Oct. 6 in San Francisco and in the closer on Dec. 30 at St. Louis particularly juicy.
``If we want to bring the division title back here, we've got to get past St. Louis. That's just the way it is,'' 49ers coach Steve Mariucci says. ``Seattle and Arizona are great football teams, but the Rams have owned this division in the past, so somebody's got to knock them off. They're definitely a focus of our discussions every offseason: `How can we beat the Rams?'''
Once again, the Rams will have the most prolific offense in football. They scored 503 points last year in going 14-2, and that was down from the previous two seasons.
In two-time MVP Kurt Warner, coach Mike Martz has the perfect quarterback for his high-speed attack. Warner is a pinpoint passer, strong and unflinching in the pocket. He leaves the imagination to Martz and simply follows orders.
Often those orders are to get the ball to Marshall Faulk, the game's most dangerous offensive force. Look for Faulk to account for well over 2,000 yards and 20 or so touchdowns as a runner and receiver.
As if that's not enough, Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce form the best 1-2 wideout tandem in football, backed by solid Ricky Proehl and quick newcomer Terrence Wilkins.
There are concerns up front, particularly tackle John St. Clair. But not enough to derail this bullet train, which considers the Super Bowl loss to New England a fluke.
``We think we can be better than we were last year, and last year we felt we were the best team in the NFL, although we didn't show it on Super Bowl Sunday,'' Warner says. ``Whenever it's brought up, you always think about it and dwell on it a little bit. ``It's a missed opportunity. But it's a new season, a new year, and we've got new things we want to accomplish.''
The defense should help them accomplish a division title. It was among the most improved units in the NFL last year, and features standouts CB Aeneas Williams, DEs Leonard Little and Grant Wistrom, and two rising stars: SS Adam Archuleta and LB Tommy Polley.
San Francisco will push its longtime rival, and that finale could decide the division crown. The Niners, mired in mediocrity while they dealt with salary cap woes in 1999 and 2000, have made an amazing comeback. They went 12-4 a year ago and are fully capable of at least that again.
Even though they scored 96 fewer points than the Rams in 2001, the 49ers were potent. Their running game, powered by Comeback Player of the Year Garrison Hearst and Kevan Barlow, is a fine complement to the passing and scrambling of QB Jeff Garcia and the receiving of Terrell Owens.
Owens and Mariucci made peace in the offseason, which was critical to the team's psyche. If Owens gets more help from fellow wideouts J.J. Stokes and Tai Streets and TE Eric Johnson, he could contend for MVP honors.
``Things happen at certain times, and emotions at the time are running wild, but at this point, I'm happy,'' Owens says. ``Mooch and I have talked about it. I think it was a lack of communication on both parts.''
San Francisco's steady improvement has included an almost total rebuilding of the defense; DT Bryant Young has been the one constant. Such youngsters as end Andre Carter, LB Julian Peterson and DBs Ahmed Plummer, Jason Webster and Zack Bronson will form the core of an outstanding group.
Although they lost safety Lance Schulters, a good playmaker, and veteran guard and leader Ray Brown, the Niners found able replacements in Tony Parrish and Ron Stone. While Stone has been slowed by an elbow injury, Parrish looks like a solid anchor for a strong secondary.
Seattle won't have QB Trent Dilfer until the end of September, but the opening schedule isn't too tough. Dilfer hasn't lost a start since 1999, and he has enough help to boost the Seahawks into the postseason.
Most notable are RB Shaun Alexander, who had a breakout 2001 season, and underrated WR Darrell Jackson. Coach Mike Holmgren loves top draft pick Jerramy Stevens' potential.
Holmgren has serious worries about the offensive line, where Pro Bowl tackle Walter Jones is unsigned and Chris McIntosh is out with a neck injury.
His defense, spotty last year, will be better if CB Shawn Springs stays healthy. LBs Chad Brown and Anthony Simmons are first-rate, but will this team find a pass rush?
Arizona almost certainly won't find one, putting extra pressure on an unproven secondary, where newcomer Duane Starks at cornerback and developing safety Adrian Wilson should provide improvement.
The Cardinals have a terrific combination of Jake Plummer throwing to David Boston, but can they run the ball with Thomas Jones operating behind a line that should be better than it has performed?
^Predictions: St. Louis (12-4); San Francisco (12-4, wild card); Seattle (9-7, wild card); Arizona (6-10).
NFL's two best teams, Rams and 49ers, are in same division
By BARRY WILNER
AP Football Writer
August 29, 2002
The St. Louis Rams have had everybody's number in recent seasons. No team has been victimized more by the Rams than the San Francisco 49ers, who have dropped six straight to St. Louis. ADVERTISEMENT
That's especially significant this season, where the winner of the NFC West figures to have home-field advantage for the conference playoffs. The Niners must find a way to beat the Rams if they want to supplant St. Louis atop the NFC.
Whichever way they finish, the Rams and 49ers are the class of the league. That's too bad for Seattle, which might have won its old division, the AFC West, but is consigned to third place here. Still, the Seahawks have a wild-card look, even if they barely stay above .500.
Neither the Rams nor the 49ers need worry about break-even. Both should have easy roads to the playoffs. That makes their meetings on Oct. 6 in San Francisco and in the closer on Dec. 30 at St. Louis particularly juicy.
``If we want to bring the division title back here, we've got to get past St. Louis. That's just the way it is,'' 49ers coach Steve Mariucci says. ``Seattle and Arizona are great football teams, but the Rams have owned this division in the past, so somebody's got to knock them off. They're definitely a focus of our discussions every offseason: `How can we beat the Rams?'''
Once again, the Rams will have the most prolific offense in football. They scored 503 points last year in going 14-2, and that was down from the previous two seasons.
In two-time MVP Kurt Warner, coach Mike Martz has the perfect quarterback for his high-speed attack. Warner is a pinpoint passer, strong and unflinching in the pocket. He leaves the imagination to Martz and simply follows orders.
Often those orders are to get the ball to Marshall Faulk, the game's most dangerous offensive force. Look for Faulk to account for well over 2,000 yards and 20 or so touchdowns as a runner and receiver.
As if that's not enough, Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce form the best 1-2 wideout tandem in football, backed by solid Ricky Proehl and quick newcomer Terrence Wilkins.
There are concerns up front, particularly tackle John St. Clair. But not enough to derail this bullet train, which considers the Super Bowl loss to New England a fluke.
``We think we can be better than we were last year, and last year we felt we were the best team in the NFL, although we didn't show it on Super Bowl Sunday,'' Warner says. ``Whenever it's brought up, you always think about it and dwell on it a little bit. ``It's a missed opportunity. But it's a new season, a new year, and we've got new things we want to accomplish.''
The defense should help them accomplish a division title. It was among the most improved units in the NFL last year, and features standouts CB Aeneas Williams, DEs Leonard Little and Grant Wistrom, and two rising stars: SS Adam Archuleta and LB Tommy Polley.
San Francisco will push its longtime rival, and that finale could decide the division crown. The Niners, mired in mediocrity while they dealt with salary cap woes in 1999 and 2000, have made an amazing comeback. They went 12-4 a year ago and are fully capable of at least that again.
Even though they scored 96 fewer points than the Rams in 2001, the 49ers were potent. Their running game, powered by Comeback Player of the Year Garrison Hearst and Kevan Barlow, is a fine complement to the passing and scrambling of QB Jeff Garcia and the receiving of Terrell Owens.
Owens and Mariucci made peace in the offseason, which was critical to the team's psyche. If Owens gets more help from fellow wideouts J.J. Stokes and Tai Streets and TE Eric Johnson, he could contend for MVP honors.
``Things happen at certain times, and emotions at the time are running wild, but at this point, I'm happy,'' Owens says. ``Mooch and I have talked about it. I think it was a lack of communication on both parts.''
San Francisco's steady improvement has included an almost total rebuilding of the defense; DT Bryant Young has been the one constant. Such youngsters as end Andre Carter, LB Julian Peterson and DBs Ahmed Plummer, Jason Webster and Zack Bronson will form the core of an outstanding group.
Although they lost safety Lance Schulters, a good playmaker, and veteran guard and leader Ray Brown, the Niners found able replacements in Tony Parrish and Ron Stone. While Stone has been slowed by an elbow injury, Parrish looks like a solid anchor for a strong secondary.
Seattle won't have QB Trent Dilfer until the end of September, but the opening schedule isn't too tough. Dilfer hasn't lost a start since 1999, and he has enough help to boost the Seahawks into the postseason.
Most notable are RB Shaun Alexander, who had a breakout 2001 season, and underrated WR Darrell Jackson. Coach Mike Holmgren loves top draft pick Jerramy Stevens' potential.
Holmgren has serious worries about the offensive line, where Pro Bowl tackle Walter Jones is unsigned and Chris McIntosh is out with a neck injury.
His defense, spotty last year, will be better if CB Shawn Springs stays healthy. LBs Chad Brown and Anthony Simmons are first-rate, but will this team find a pass rush?
Arizona almost certainly won't find one, putting extra pressure on an unproven secondary, where newcomer Duane Starks at cornerback and developing safety Adrian Wilson should provide improvement.
The Cardinals have a terrific combination of Jake Plummer throwing to David Boston, but can they run the ball with Thomas Jones operating behind a line that should be better than it has performed?
^Predictions: St. Louis (12-4); San Francisco (12-4, wild card); Seattle (9-7, wild card); Arizona (6-10).
