Can The Niners Claim The NFC Worst?

The NFC West division is often the subject of ridicule from NFL fanatics. Over the past few seasons, it has clearly been the weakest division in the league.

However, playing in one of the worst divisions in football will always greatly increase your chances of squeaking into the playoffs. Here is quick overview at what the 49ers are up against in 2009.

Arizona Cardinals: Were the Arizona Cardinals truly an elite team in 2009, or were they simply the benefactors of playing in the worst division in football and a team that caught fire at exactly the right time? Arizona's offense could be downright scary in 2008, but with the disgruntled Anquan Boldin uncertain to return to the team, it's unlikely that they will match last season's offensive output. Recent history shows us that teams that have lost the Super Bowl have had a rough time the following season, but the Cardinals should still be considered the front-runners in 2009.

Seattle Seahawks: 2008 was a true disaster for the four-time defending NFC West Champions. Franchise quarterback Matt Hasselback was banged up all season, and with no threat of a running game, the offense simply couldn't cope. The defense also slipped and the Seahawks will look to put back the pieces in 2009.

St. Louis Rams: The days of the greatest show on turf are long gone. St. Louis was outscored by 233 points in 2009, and lost its last 10 games. Longtime veterans Orlando Pace and Torry Holt were let go as the Rams attempt to rebuild from the ground up in 2009.

The Verdict: The NFL is as unpredictable as any of the major sports, but the NFC West would look to be a two-team race between the Niners and Cardinals. Look for the division champ to finish at about 10-6 and grab the No. 3 or No. 4 spot in the playoffs. If the 49ers can continue to receive consistent play from Shaun Hill at the quarterback position and Frank Gore's knees hold up for another year, then the Niners may taste playoffs for the first time since 2002. The Niners are the hunter, the Cardinals the hunted, and Mike Singletary is not the type of coach to passively accept losing. He's going to get the most out of his players (as he did down the stretch in 2008) and the difference in this division may be the two matchups between Arizona and San Fran.