They Are Who We Thought They Were: NFC West - Week 11

Arizona Cardinals (6-3, 1st)
Last week: Def. Seattle 31-20 at home
Next up: St. Louis on the road
We thought: Way better of a team than anticipated, and better than they were at this point in the regular season last year.
They are: No one executes the slightly underthrown fade ball better than Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald.

San Francisco 49ers (4-5, 2nd)
Last week: Def. Chicago 10-6 at home
Next up: Green Bay on the road
We thought: Beating Chicago was essential if they had any hope of staying close to Arizona.
They are: Alive. Expect another tight on against the Packers.

Seattle Seahawks (3-6, 3rd)
Last week: Lost to Arizona 31-20 on the road
Next up: Minnesota on the road
We thought: Not bad enough to dismiss every week but not good enough to take seriously.
They are: Not much has changed. The tackling display on Beanie Wells was pretty atrocious.

St.Louis Rams (1-8, 4th)
Last week: Lost to New Orleans 28-23 at home
Next up: Arizona at home
We thought: Fiesty enough to make the Saints sweat a bit.
They are: Fiesty enough to make the Cardinals sweat a bit.

They Are Who We Thought They Were: NFC West - Week 10

Arizona Cardinals (5-3, 1st)
Last week: Def. Chicago 41-21 on the road
We thought: Schizophrenic. Similar to last year, only now they win on the road and play crummy at home.
They are: A good team who had a bad week. And major props to Ken Wisenhunt for the Denny Green crack, even though the sportswriters in the media room seemed hesitant to laugh.

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San Francisco 49ers (3-5, 2nd)
Last week: Lost to Tennessee 34-27 at home
We thought: Needed to be ready to play against a rejuvenated Titans team.
They are: Tough, more entertaining, but need to start winning. Four real tough losses have them in some trouble. Vernon Davis could be huge again on Thursday night against the terrible Bears D.

Seattle Seahawks (3-5, 3rd)
Last week: Def. Detroit 32-20 at home
We thought: Possibly in trouble against an occasionally pesky Lions team.
They are: Lucky to get that 3rd win.

St.Louis Rams (1-7, 4th)
Last week: Bye
We thought: Are both the Giants and Steve Spagnuolo wishing he was still calling the defensive plays in Jersey?
They are: Whatever.