SI.com projects 2015 NFC standings

from Projecting NFC standings, division by division, as off-season nears end

by Don Banks

http://www.si.com/nfl/2015/05/14/nfc-predictions-standings-2015-nfl-offseason

NFC West

1. Seattle Seahawks—Only time will tell us if the Seahawks really are past the Super Bowl play call that shook Seattle. I’m dubious that a psychic scar of that magnitude can be filed away with the power of compartmentalization, but Pete Carroll’s resilient team might be just the type to prove me wrong. The Seahawks wisely made Marshawn Lynch happy this off-season, but there is that lingering Russell Wilson contract situation to contend with, and the Frank Clark pick in the second round might wind up being way more trouble than it was worth. The Jimmy Graham trade should solve this team’s red-zone scoring issues, but with Max Unger’s departure, the interior of Seattle’s already problematic offensive line just got weaker.

2. Arizona Cardinals—The Cardinals posted their first 11-win record in 39 years last season, but it didn’t quite feel that successful, because their dominant 9-1 beginning gave way to a 2-5 finish that included a one-and-done playoff dismissal at Carolina. That’s what happens when you’re forced to identify and start your fourth-string quarterback. But with a healthy Carson Palmer, Bruce Arians can work a little magic in the NFC West, and I’d be surprised if the Cardinals aren’t nipping at Seattle’s heels all season. The loss of defensive coordinator Todd Bowles bears watching, but Arizona still has enough talent to win with and added some useful cogs in free agency like guard Mike Iupati, linebackers Sean Weatherspoon and LaMarr Woodley and defensive tackle Corey Peters.

3. St. Louis Rams—The perennial tease that is the Rams has a new twist this year. They took Georgia’s Todd Gurley in the draft’s top 10, then went heavily for offensive linemen, with Jeff Fisher fully intent on re-creating the kind of offense that runs first and thinks about passing as a diversion. Whatever you do this season, take the under when St. Louis is involved. Low-scoring games should continue to be the Rams’ calling card. It’s always tempting to pick the Rams as a breakthrough team, but I can’t see Nick Foles playing better in St. Louis than he did in Philadelphia, and who knows what that renovated offensive line is going to look like by September? St. Louis hasn’t had a winning season since 2003, and Fisher hasn’t been north of .500 since ’08. Those are trends I foresee continuing.

4. San Francisco 49ers—In fairness to the 49ers, following the tumultuous events of 2014 and this off-season, they could probably use a little time to collect themselves, catch their breath and re-focus their energies on the future. It’s why I’m giving them this season with absolutely no burden of expectation placed upon them. I’m assigning them last place in the NFC West, with a promise to check back on them in 2016. Jim Tomsula as Jim Harbaugh’s replacement? Who knows? Colin Kaepernick returning to franchise-QB form? I guess we’ll see. No Frank Gore, Patrick Willis, Chris Borland or Vic Fangio? That’s a load of departures to overcome. Whatever the 49ers are to be going forward, it’s clearly not going to be what they were in the past under Harbaugh. I suppose there’s a chance that could be for the better, but I’m fully expecting it to be for the worse.