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 The 2008 NFL Odds to win NFC West say Seattle should take the NFL West division with key addition Julius Jones and that will open up the passing game. This is a tough call for 2nd place in this division but I'll go with Arizona. I'm taking the St. Louis Rams for 3rd place if the offensive line stays healthy. San Francisco rounds it out until they can score some points on offense, they are at the bottom of the 2008 NFL Odds to win NFC West.
Arizona Cardinals - By finishing 8-8 last season Arizona looks to go a little further and make the playoffs. The Cardinals have only been to the playoffs one time in the 20 year history of the team. The Cardinals should have made the playoffs last season, they lost two game they should have won to lowly San Francisco. If they want to contend for the division this year they must get running back Edgerrin James going. He will be under the microscope this season, he doesn't want to become like Shaun Alexander. Quarterback Matt Leinart, so far the best thing he has done in the NFL is hold wild parties. This has to be the key year for him to show he has what it takes to be a starting NFL quarterback in this league. Will Leinart grab and hold the starting job, or will we see Kurt Warner fight his way back on the field? Leinart was starting last year before he broke his collarbone and it sidelined him. Once Leinart got hurt, Warner was the starter and tossed 27 touchdown passes in only 11 starts despite playing most of the season with a torn ligament in his left (throwing) elbow. The Oddsmakers at Sportsbook.com currently have Arizona Cardinals +225 to win the NFC West division. San Francisco 49ers - They picked up wide receiver Isaac Bruse with a free-agent signing. Does he have much left is the question? His veteran presence is what this team needs. Bruse, now 35, terrorized the 49ers during his 14 seasons with the St. Louis Rams. Jerry Rice also gave the new 49er receiver his blessing to wear his number 80. The Rams released him, Niners quickly picked him up for a reunion with offensive coordinator Mike Martz. Also on the hot seat this year has to be quarterback Alex Smith. He was the #1 over all pick in the draft in 2005, he will have to earn everything he get's this season. There is no guarantee that Smith will start this season. If Smith wins the job like expected, he will be on a short leash and you might see backup QB Shaun Hill. I can tell you that the San Francisco fans are growing impatient with the number #1 overall pick in 2005. In my opinion Alex Smith will never be a quality QB. I think that Hill should be given the chance to start until he can prove he is a playoff quality QB or until a replacement is found. Isaac Bruce will probably retire after this season because Smith is going to make every receiver on 49ers team look horrible. The Oddsmakers at Sportsbook.com currently have San Francisco 49ers +550 to win the NFC West division. Seattle Seahawks- This year is coach Mike Holmgren's 10th and final season so you know the players are going to play hard and try to win it all for him this year. Holmgren already announced his retirement at the end of the season and defensive back coach Jim Mora should be taking over the job. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck could miss having familiar targets down field this season. Two draft picks should be able to help immediately on the defensive line, Jackson and Bryant. Red Bryant is the future son-in-law of former Seattle defensive lineman Jacob Green. Lawrence Jackson will be able to push inside over the guard in passing situations. Key addiction to the Seahawks roster this year is Julius Jones. With Alexander gone, Seattle will use Jones a ton in the running game. Jones will receive the bulk of the carries but 254-pound TJ Duckett should see his share of carries mostly in short yardage situations. I can understand why Dallas fans were disappointed with him, but you have to realize that the Seahawks' play style is nothing at all like the Cowboys. This will be a great year for the Hawks. They get the AFC East with the only really tough game being played in Seattle where they don't lose, and they get the NFC East which is a great division, but one that they've dominated over the last three years. On top of that, they get the the thorn-in-the-side Packers at home without Favre. I think they have a great chance of getting the #1 seed in the NFC, which is an almost guaranteed Superbowl berth with home field advantage. The Oddsmakers at Sportsbook.com currently have Seattle Seahawks -125 to win the NFC West division. St. Louis Rams- Franchise has been in the league for 70 years now, and only three teams of this franchise have finished with three or fewer wins. The Rams finished last year with a 3-13 record and in a special place in that dishonorable group. Now the team is preparing for training camp there is a new mind set for this year, and according to coach Scott Linehan. "It's easy to say, 'Hey, forget about last year, focus on this year.' But getting them to do it ..." Linehan said. "Our players have made a concerted effort to embrace that concept and really focus on what's good about getting to the 2008 season, and not on what we've got to do to make amends for the 2007 season." Running back Steven Jackson is one of the best backs in the league when he is healthy. He was out with a groin injury last season for 4 games, but still managed to get over 1,000 yards rushing for the third straight season in a row. Last season Jackson had three consecutive games where he ran for over 50 yards. You do not want to get in this truck's way, he can power his way through anybody, he's got good speed for being so big, he is very elusive; he can squeeze through holes just like LT. Jackson runs with a passion, he will be the center of the offense this year. The Oddsmakers at Sportsbook.com currently have St Louis Rams +500 to win the NFC West division.
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