NFL Team Reports: NFC West

SportingNews Nov 19, 9:29 am EST

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Several times a week, The Trenches will present team reports from Sporting News’ 32 NFL correspondents. Check back each day for the latest news on your team.

Arizona Cardinals

ILB Gerald Hayes(notes) appears ready to return from a back/pelvis injury, which is fortunate for the Cardinals because they are facing a string of games against elite running backs. The stretch starts with the the Rams’ Steven Jackson and continues with the Titans’ Chris Johnson, the Vikings’ Adrian Peterson and the 49ers’ Frank Gore(notes).

Hayes has missed two games, and the Cardinals have missed his physical presence. At 250 pounds, Hayes is about 20 pounds heavier than his replacement, Ali Highsmith(notes). Hayes is the Cardinals’ only big, physical inside linebacker, and he plays an important role because the line isn’t big.

OLB Chike Okeafor(notes), another solid run defender, remains out with a back problem. He likely will be at least questionable for Sunday’s game. —Kent Somers

St. Louis Rams

CB Ron Bartell(notes) is as healthy as he has been since the first month of the season, and that comes just in time for the high-powered Arizona passing attack. A nagging thigh injury robbed Bartell of his closing speed, which resulted in some big plays against him—either on completions or pass-interference calls.

The Rams need Bartell’s size (6-1, 206) to help combat Cardinals WRs Larry Fitzgerald(notes) and Anquan Boldin(notes). Body positioning is also important because Boldin (6-1, 217), and Fitzgerald (6-3, 217) are capable of outmuscling defensive backs.

St. Louis also will need help from Ss Oshiomogho Atogwe(notes) and James Butler(notes) to keep the Arizona wideouts from turning Sunday’s game into a track meet. Atogwe and Butler combined for three takeaways last week against New Orleans and seem to be coming on. —Jim Thomas

San Francisco 49ers

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers(notes) doesn’t throw a lot of interceptions, but he leads the league in most times sacked (41). That’s good news for a 49ers defense that has only 17 sacks.

The 49ers need more from their starting outside linebackers (Manny Lawson(notes) and Parys Haralson(notes)), who have combined for only 3 1/2 sacks. Haralson led the team with eight sacks last season, but he has only one this year and it came in the opener.

Haralson is thickly built and adept at holding the edge on running plays and funneling ballcarriers to ILB Patrick Willis(notes). Indeed, Haralson’s play has contributed to the 49ers’ No. 3 ranking against the run. The flip side, however, is that Haralson lacks the quickness to get around tackles and harass the quarterback. —Matt Barrows

Seattle Seahawks

Rookie G Max Unger(notes) played his best game of the season at Arizona and is showing the potential to be an anchor in the middle. Unger played center his final two seasons at Oregon, but the Seahawks are using him at guard for now.

When Seattle first played Arizona on Oct. 18, Unger struggled when Darnell Dockett(notes) lined up as the 3-technique tackle. Four weeks later, Unger did a much better job against Dockett. Now, Unger faces the challenge of matching up against the Vikings’ Pat Williams(notes) and Kevin Williams(notes), widely considered the best tackle duo in the league.

Whether Unger eventually moves to center will depend on the future of Chris Spencer(notes), a 2005 first-round pick who will be a free agent after the season. Spencer has a history of injuries. He missed the first two games this season with a pulled quadriceps and played last week despite having a broken bone in his right hand. That forced him to snap the ball lefthanded, which he did well. —Danny O’Neil
More from Sporting News: NFL Team Reports: NFC South

Updated Nov 19, 9:29 am EST
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133 Comments

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  1. Joe
    133. Posted by Joe Fri Nov 20 2:18pm EST

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    #129 ... this is the NFL where teams go from zero to hero all the time. Believing your team is next to do it is part of being a fan. If you followed your own advise then why the hell did you cheer for the Cardinals for so long, hoping they continue to suck? Take it from someone who goes to all the home games since '95 and has watched the 4-12 RAMS in '98, the SB champs of '99, the upset in '01, and the falling of the GREATEST SHOW ON TURF in '03 ... know you better enjoy the good times to the fullest cause they end just as quick as they began. Only difference is the RAMS won it in their magical year!!!! Will ARZ ever make it to the SB again? Two years from now SF and StL will be looking down on SEA and ARZ in the standings like it should be in the NFC WEST.

    As far as SJ goes ... he signed a $45 million dollar contract and still has over half of it to go. He is the star, the workload, the main man ... why would a player go to another team to take on a lesser role? This season SJ stepped into the spotlight as a leader of the RAMS. He is 26 now, in his prime years already. Plus he has repeatably said his career goal is do go down as the best RAMS running back of all time ... next season he will pass all-pro Eric Dickerson. Do a little homework before you thrown out assumptions like that ... it makes you sound like a bandwagon fool, but cheering for ARZ while living in StL explained that already.
  2. <i>vtruitner</i>
    132. Posted by vtruitner Thu Nov 19 8:54pm EST

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    Rams had an impressive effort against the Saints last week, but don't forget that they had two weeks to prepare for that game while the Saints were coming off of two very tough back-to-back division wins. The Saints had every reason to have a big letdown in that game while the Rams had every reason to come out playing like it was their Super Bowl, and the Rams still lost.

    The Rams won't be nearly as well-rested or well-prepared to play the Cardinals, who have been great all season on the road. SF hasn't won on the road since week 1 and I don't see them winning in Green Bay (Rodgers won't give them the ball 5 times like Cutler did), so the Cardinals should have a 3-game division lead after this weekend.
  3. Billy Showbiz
    131. Posted by Billy Showbiz Thu Nov 19 4:21pm EST

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    If putting up 165 rushing yards against the #3 run defense is not an improvement for a Seahawks team that has not run the ball all year I don't know what is. The offense has been excellent the past two weeks (869 yards in their last two games) because they've been playing pass first football which is what the team is built for. There absolutely is improvement and that is all I can really ask for right now.

    The 49ers are terrible. They have an average defense and one of the worst offenses in the league. It looks just like St. Louis only with QBs who are actually worse than Marc Bulger. The defense had been good operating off of Singletary's energy but they were playing over their head and that is why you have seen the teams record go down the tubes.

    I like to see the St. Louis fans on here talking a little bit. That was a great effort against the Saints last week and I was definitely pulling for them. I'm not so sure about their progress though. To me this smells a lot like the game when the Raiders beat the Eagles. Unfortunately for Rams fans the Saints have Brees who comes back and wins games unlike McNabb. The Rams could actually compete next year but I doubt it. They are still really bad and within the next few years they will be the L.A. Rams once again.

    I have nothing to say about the Cards. They have the best offense in the division and one of the best in the league. There are defensive holes but their D is just as good as the Niners and I'm talking about now as opposed to the beginning of the season. The beginning of the season is over Niner fans. You guys love to live in the past.

    Week 13 can not come soon enough. I can't wait to watch all of you dirtball Niner fans pout about losing to the "Seachickens". Your team blows fat ones! Just like half of the men in your city! You guys are going down like a Tranny in the Tenderloin!!!
  4. getoffmydango
    130. Posted by getoffmydango Thu Nov 19 2:53pm EST

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    I'm a die hard niner fan and i love the direction Singletary is taking the team. But I have to concede that we are all but out of the race this year, yet again. If the offense steps up they could go 5-2 the rest of the season. I think the green bay game is a toss up, and we will most likely lose to either the cards or the eagles, but the other games should be winnable.
  5. Big Pappa Pump
    129. Posted by Big Pappa Pump Thu Nov 19 1:25pm EST

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    It's amazing how everyone on here believes so highly that their team will rebound. Take it from someone who has suffered with the Cardinals since 1979. When you start looking up and you are behind, you start saying if this happens and that happens we will win. Ladies and gentlemen, look at your records. The Cardinals will win the division easily. Face it, their schedule is too easy from here on out. They could be up three games after beating St. Louis this weekend. San Francisco could very easily lose that game in Green Bay. I will admit San Francisco is on the rise. Look at your good teams though. You got to have a quarterback. San Francisco's number one problem. As far as you Seahawk fans go, your team has gotten pretty old and you might want to start thinking about rebuilding. Just rip it down, including the stadium, and start from scratch. You had your fun for many years and it's over. As far as St. Louis goes, well I live in the area and don't you wish you had the Cardinals back now? Normally, I would have to wear a sack on my head to be seen in public with a Rams shirt on, but my heart went with the Cards when they left. Don't get to used to having Stephen Jackson (the best running back and that includes Gore) in the West for too much longer. I can't see him giving his prime years away to a team that is doomed. By the way San Fran fans, what happened against Atlanta this year? I hear that Arizona is unpredictable, well you guys lost to Houston 5-4, Atlanta 5-4, and Tennessee 3-6. Face it these are average teams, a wildcard at best and you are losing to them. Arizona may slip now and then but nothing will matter unless San Fran can do it twice!
  6. Joe
    128. Posted by Joe Thu Nov 19 12:02pm EST

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    Hawks have no chance winning the west, period!! After they get done with this 3 game road trip their record will be 3-8. The RAMS are carrying momentum and will upset ARZ this week. Saints and ARZ have similar teams with Saints being better and we just barely lost to em. I know every Sunday is different but ARZ has to be uneasy coming to StL this week. Then we get the home sick Hawks to whoop up on. Look up the odds ... teams already have a tough time playing back to back road games, let alone 3 in a row. By week 13 both Rams and Hawks will be 3-8. Hawks are done just like the RAMS. Difference is our kids are on the rise while your team is a bunch of have beens ... enjoy the cellar next year, maybe this year still!!! Rams have transformed from the GREATEST show on turf to the MEANEST show on turf ... fear the RAMS next season you powder-puff NFC WEST teams!!!!
  7. <i>vtruitner</i>
    127. Posted by vtruitner Tue Nov 17 6:32pm EST

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    I see that some Niners fans are still living in week 1. Yes the Niners beat Arizona that week, when the Cardinals were still in a post-Super Bowl funk and coming off a terrible preseason.

    Since then Arizona has gone 6-2 and SF 3-5. Who have the Niners beaten? A Seattle team missing half their players (including Hasselbeck), the 1-8 Rams, and a Bears team whose QB tossed 5 gimmie picks (and somehow the Niners managed only 10 points). The Cardinals put up 42 on that same defense without nearly as many gifts from the QB. Arizona has a 2-game division lead and is far better than they were in week 1, while SF is far worse. As a Cards fan I can't wait for the rematch.
  8. JimW
    126. Posted by JimW Tue Nov 17 6:28pm EST

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    Texas kicking A$$ dont think so. Cardinals have only lose when they have played down to the teams they plays level.
  9. El Mofo myspace.com/mofomuzic
    125. Posted by El Mofo myspace.com/mofomuzic Tue Nov 17 5:48pm EST

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    Until the Cards, Seahawks and Rams beat the 49ers - those teams are still the 9ers B!ITCH this season.
    Yea the Cards look great so but they still lost to the 9ers and I'm sorry - Seahawks - yall look terrible and in case you forgot it was the 9ers that put your QB on the sideline for a bit.
    The 9ers lost 3 close games (Colts - Vikings - Texans) by combined 10 points!! All three of those teams are the are kicking a$$ and those were all road games.

    GO 9ERS!!!!!
  10. walter l
    124. Posted by walter l Tue Nov 17 5:19pm EST

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    Cards are going to run ALL OVER St. Louis this week, just like last year, the Rams will bless our RB's with a 100 hundred game. If Hightower did it last year, why can't he AND Beanie do it Sunday?

    GO BIG RED!!! Stuff S-JAX!
  11. O
    123. Posted by O Tue Nov 17 10:37am EST

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    billy showbiz is a moron. Plain n simple. Are you serious? The hawks suck ass and they're softer than SHlT. How are they getting better? Weren't people considering them to compete with the cards for the division title? Wasn't TJ gonna be that piece that finally pushed them ahead? And even with the Niners regressing, as you say, they're still gonna whoop your team. I'm looking forward to our second meeting this year as well. That'll just rub a little more salt on those seachickens' wounds.
  12. Brad F
    122. Posted by Brad F Mon Nov 16 7:24pm EST

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    Billy Showbiz,


    Can I have some of what U B smokin'?????

    Niners will be eatin BBQ'd hawk on that day.

    Can you smell what I'm cookin'????
  13. Billy Showbiz
    121. Posted by Billy Showbiz Mon Nov 16 4:09pm EST

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    I do talk a lot of smack. I don't have the satisfaction of my team winning this year so I'll take satisfaction in my least favorite team, the Niners losing. And even with that loss to the Cards this weekend, at least the Hawks are getting better. We ran the ball very well against a tough run defense. They finally started a game out strong jumping out to a lead. The Niners on the other hand have regressed this season. They looked really tough to start the season and have looked terrible since. This week against the Bears was a win but it was UGLY! The Niners looked worse than they have all season. Not one of those interceptions was on a good defensive play. They were thrown right to them. I'm looking forward to the second meeting with the Seahawks. If our defensive coach doesn't decide to sit back in a zone all day we'll put the Niners back in their place which is below the Seahawks in the division.
  14. Juan C
    120. Posted by Juan C Mon Nov 16 3:01pm EST

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    Hey Showbiz,

    You talk alot of smack for a team that got beaten bad by the niners and got swept by the Cards. As for the has-been comments. That goes for successful team that are now old and a walking MASH unit. Which if you ask anyone represent the Hawks.
  15. MichaelR
    119. Posted by MichaelR Thu Nov 12 2:15pm EST

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    'Seahawks are too injured'
    I'm a Seahawk fan also, but I'm tired of the injury excuse. Hasslebeck plays injured but most of his team mates will take time off for a hangnail. They had all of their squad back last week and managed a whopping 30 yards rushing. Mora liked it so much he gave the game ball to Julius 'I finally made it in to the endzone so I'll do a disigusting dance while were 11 points down to the Lion' Jones. Some one else here said the Hawks are a soft team. Pretty much.
  16. walter l
    118. Posted by walter l Tue Nov 10 3:53pm EST

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    It was Anthony Becht, not Stephen Spach, who got the 2nd TE TD for AZ. Spach should be cut to free up a roster spot, then we could play some rookies more, or Dominique Byrd, I would love to see what he could do in the passing game.
  17. Billy Showbiz
    117. Posted by Billy Showbiz Mon Nov 9 6:46pm EST

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    OUCH! The Niners lose to the Titans. How many wins did they have coming into this one? Right...just one against a terrible Jacksonville team. The beginning of the season is starting to feel like it was a long time ago isn't it. I can't really sit here and honestly say that I believe the Seahawks are going to win the division this year but at least we'll come out ahead of the has beens in San Francisco!
  18. Sean D
    116. Posted by Sean D Mon Nov 9 4:38pm EST

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    Not are year. At least we can watch ARI lose the Super Bowl again. Now thats funny.
  19. Matt A
    115. Posted by Matt A Mon Nov 9 10:52am EST

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    How about them NFC CHAMPION Arizona Cardinals? LOL They DESTROYED the Bears! GO BIG RED!
  20. Dan L
    114. Posted by Dan L Mon Nov 9 10:31am EST

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    What a joke. Writer lists the first place cards last (they would win the alphabetical challenge there as well). Then all he lists is that Boldin is mad. Sounds like a few writers are mad too. LOVE IT
  21. Bronkoz
    113. Posted by Bronkoz Wed Nov 4 1:39am EST

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    The softest team in the NFL...Seahawks...I swear they stay hurt???? Why?????
  22. DonaldC
    112. Posted by DonaldC Tue Nov 3 3:38pm EST

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    @ 101 the 49ers "tooks" on the Vikings and lost in the last 12 seconds of the game, and only because the corner losty his mind for a second. The niners can and will beat the Texans! And by the way they already woops up on the Cards in the first game of the season; they can and will beat them again...
  23. Ron R
    111. Posted by Ron R Mon Nov 2 7:53pm EST

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    Niners have great potential, however their offensive game plan is just that, OFFENSIVE, predictable, unimaginative, boring and a waste of talent.
  24. Ron R
    110. Posted by Ron R Mon Nov 2 7:53pm EST

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    Niners have great potential, however their offensive game plan is just that, OFFENSIVE, predictable, unimaginative, boring and a waste of talent.
  25. <i>ninerzzzz</i>
    109. Posted by ninerzzzz Mon Nov 2 4:46pm EST

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    Hey # 101 the niners have beaten everyone in the nfc south? west idiot!
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