NFC West is best, but teams playoff bound?
Here’s a premise few can dispute: The NFC West is the best division in pro football. In fact, it isn’t close. Sure, the AFC North has shown some power, but it also has the 1- 5-1 Bengals. Plus, the Browns have built their 5-2 record mostly against the league’s dregs.
NFC West teams are 19-8 overall. The AFC North is 178-1, but it’s top-heavy, and until we truly know if Cleveland is legitimate, the guys on the West Coast win the prize.
It’s not inconceivable that the Seahawks, Cardinals, Rams and 49ers all could find their way into the NFC playoffs with a third wild card added. It’s unlikely not because they might be unworthy, but because they could be knocking off each other during intradivision play. So far, only three games have been played within the NFC West: Arizona beating San Francisco and Seattle, and the Niners defeating the Rams.
“Yeah, we’re in the best division in football and, you know, there’s a reason for it,” Rams quarterback Jared Goff said after the loss to the 49ers. “These guys are good. Arizona’s good. Seattle’s obviously undefeated (then). We’re a great team. So every time you play in this division, it’s going to be a tough game, and we know that coming in.”
What the four clubs also know, coming in and going out, is they could be battered by the time they get to January. Fully tested by the trials and tribulations of the division, for sure. But perhaps not in the best shape for a Super Bowl run.
“Obviously, everybody has winning records in our division and everybody’s doing really good, and some people might say we have the best division,” said Tyler Lockett, the Seahawks’ outstanding wide receiver. “But at the end of the day, who cares? We still got to be able to take care of business and those divisional games might end up being key.”
ROOKIE QB TO START FOR COWBOYS >> The Cowboys declared quarterback Andy Dalton out for their game in Philadelphia because of a concussion, clearing the way for rookie Ben DiNucci’s first start.
DiNucci will appear in prime time tonight against the Eagles in his home state of Pennsylvania. The former Pitt quarterback finished his college career at James Madison, leading that school to the FCS championship game before getting drafted in the seventh round by Dallas.
It’s the third straight game for DiNucci to see action for the Cowboys. He took the final snaps late in a blowout loss to Arizona, which was Dalton’s first start in place of injured star Dak Prescott, and threw his first pass last week against Washington.
Prescott was the last rookie to start at quarterback for Dallas four years ago
iNucci’s offensive line will be in better shape with All-Pro right guard Zack Martin returning after missing a game with a concussion. Joe Looney, who was the starting center when he injured a knee in Week 4, was activated from injured reserve. He was replaced by rookie Tyler Biadasz, who has drawn praise from coaches.
The Cowboys activated linebacker Sean Lee from injured reserve, setting up the veteran for his season debut. GIANTS RB BARKLEY HAS KNEE SURGERY >> Giants running back Saquon Barkley had surgery to repair a torn ACL in his right knee.
Giants coach Joe Judge said Ronnie Barnes, the team’s senior vice president of medical services and head trainer, spoke with the surgeon in Los Angeles and said the procedure seemingly went well.
Barkley, the 2018 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, was injured against the Bears in the second game of the season when he was tackled at the end of a run. He has been waiting for the swelling in the knee to go down before having surgery.