2009 NFC West Champion: Seattle Over Arizona

Reasons why Seattle will take the NFC West by storm in 2009:

First off, I don't think people realize that Warner has started all 16 games just once since 2002, granted it was last year. He has 58 starts since in the 2002-2009 period, that is an average of just 8.29 games per season, it is only a seven game average without the 2008-2009 season included.

He turns 38 in June. How durable is he? If he is out, Arizona has zero chance.

If his numbers return to the 2007-2008 (27 TD's, 17 INT's) level he had, which isn't much of a fall-off, then look for Seattle to win the division if Hasselbeck starts at least 12 games.

The last full season Hasselbeck had, 2007-2008, he threw for 28 TD's and 12 INT's. He didn't have Boldin or Fitzgerald either. He was throwing to Branch, Burleson, Hackett and Obamanu.

That is, at best, an average recieving corps.

This year, Hasselbeck has TJ Houshmendzadeh to throw to, as well as Branch, Burleson, Obamanu (who I think is a solid reciever), Butler (rookie who runs a 4.38 40-yard dash, led Penn State in receptions, and has been great in mini-camp), and John Carlson (who looks like the next Jason Witten).

Sencea Wallace (Seattle's back-up QB) could put up 20 TD's and 10 INT's throwing to those guys for a full season. This recieving corps is one of the top five in the league when everyone is healthy.

Here is my prediction for the upcoming year, supposing Hasselbeck starts 14 games and there are some other minor injuries (think, an average injury season):

Seattle: 11-5
Arizona: 9-7
San Fransisco:7-9
St. Louis: 3-13

This isn't the weakest division anymore as reputation would insist...

If most of the team (key players) is healthy for the entire year, I can see the Seahawks finishing 13-3.