Schedule Analysis: NFC West

So this is where we’ve arrived in 2012, a three hour special to unveil the NFL Schedule? Well I guess when the league launched it’s own 24/7 dedicated TV network we should have expected it.  Come to think of it, I remember when each network used to have Friday night specials to introduce all the new Saturday morning cartoons each year, and I couldn’t wait!  Man I’m old.

Ultimately, it points out just how big the NFL has become, and reinforces my contention that it has truly become a year-round season.  Die-hard fans are just as intense about their teams performance in free agency and the draft as they are on the field during the regular season.

It’s a fascinating year to look at the NFC West scheduling.  they’re paired up with the AFC East this year, and the amount of prime-time games speaks to the growing belief that the division is on the rise.

So let’s take a quick look at the highlights from each teams schedule, and have a little fun with way-too-early predictions:

ARIZONA CARDINALS:

Toughest Stretch: Week 8 – Week 10 — San Francisco at home, Green Bay and Atlanta on the road.  The Cardinals Bye week is sandwiched between the Packers and Falcons, and they’ll need it.  Those are two grueling back-to-back games.

Best Stretch: Week 3 – Week 7 — Home games vs. Philly, Miami, Buffalo, Road games vs. St. Louis and Minnesota.  Defensively, the Cardinals should be able to hang with all of these teams, although the Eagles are capable of breaking a game open if Vick is healthy and that offense finally clicks.  The key for Arizona, as it has been since Kurt Warner retired, will be the play of their QB.  Whether it’s Kolb or Skelton, if one of them doesn’t step up and play well in a hurry, the Cardinals season could get out of hand quickly.

Arizona will likely need to be around .500 after Week 10 to have any shot at contending in the division, because while their division foes have multiple games against each other the least few weeks of the season, the Cardinals travel to Detroit AND Chicago in Weeks 15 and 16.

Best-Case Scenario:  9-7, too many question marks about the QB position and the offensive line to believe it could be much better.

Bold Prediction: 6-10, and Ken Wisenhunt’s job is in jeopardy.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS:

Toughest Stretch: Week 1 – Week 6 — Home games vs. Detroit, Buffalo, NY Giants, Road games vs. Green Bay, Minnesota, NY Jets.  Right out of the gate the 49ers will need to be ready, opening at Lambeau Field against the Packers.  Then it’s a home game against the explosive Lions, so that Top 5 defense, returning all 11 starters, will be tested.  In Weeks 3 and 4 it’s back-to-back 10:00 am road games before returning home for 3 straight.  Week 7 could be a critical game in the division race when they host a Thursday game vs. Seattle on NFL Network. Alex Smith will need to prove right away that 2011 was no fluke.

Best Stretch: Week 8 – Week 14 — If the 49ers stumble early, this will be their chance to make up some hay, with their Bye week coming after a Week 8 matchup vs. Arizona.  Then they get the Dolphins at home and the Rams twice, sandwiched around the Bears at home and the Saints on the road.

Best-Case Scenario:  12-4,  if Smith plays as effieciently as last year and takes advantage of the new weapons he has at WR, and the defense meets lofty expectations.

Bold Prediction: 10-6.  Too much talent and too good of a coach to fare much worse, but the 49ers got just about every break last year on their way to 13-3.  The division is much improved and gunning for the defending champs.  Either way, the odds-on favorite to win the NFC West.

ST. LOUIS RAMS:

Toughest Stretch: Week 7 – Week 11: Back-to-back against the Packers and Patriots is a tough task, made even tougher by the fact that the New England matchup is in London.  A bye week follows, but then it’s on the road against the 49ers and then the Jets at home.  It’s not much easier right out of the gate, as the Rams open with road games vs. the Bears and Lions in the season’s first 3 weeks.

Best Stretch: Tough to pick one, really.  But Week 14 – Week 16 finds them playing the Bills, Vikings and Buccaneers, albeit with 2 of those 3 on the road.

Best Case Scenario: 6-10. 

Bold Prediction: 3-13.  Similar to Seattle’s 7-9 finish of a year ago, the Rams progress will be measured in how competitive and cohesive they are at season’s end, rather than wins and losses.  Another Top 5 draft pick awaits them, but the pieces are in place for a successful rebuild.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS:

Toughest Stretch: Week 4 – Week 8 — Four out of five on the road, with a quick turnaround to play San Francisco on a Thursday night just 4 days after playing New England.

Best Stretch: Week 9 – Week 15 — Six straight games against teams that did not make the playoffs in 2011, sandwiched around their Bye week.  Still no picnic, as they have to play two straight 10:00 am East Coast games against the Dolphins and Bears.

Best Case Scenario: 11-5, IF Matt Flynn aclimates quickly and looks as confident and competent as he has in his two Packer starts, and the running game and young defense picked up as dominant as they left off in 2011.

Bold Prediction: 9-7.  Will challenge San Francisco for division title, and may have a shot at Wild Card, but still one year away from deep playoff run. Week 16 home matchup against the 49ers could go a long way to deciding the division crown.