EARTH CITY, Mo. -- Although preseason projections are always a year-to-year proposition, there doesn't seem to be much debate that the NFC West is clearly the best division in football.
With the reigning champion Seattle Seahawks and powerhouse San Francisco 49ers along with the dangerous Arizona Cardinals and upstart St. Louis Rams, there isn't a team in the league that looks forward to the heavyweight bouts required of facing an NFC West team.
Over at Grantland, Bill Barnwell and Robert Mays discussed the strength of the division and how it could play out in 2014 in their divisional preview podcast.
The tide could turn this year and another division could emerge but I have a hard time believing that the NFC West's run as king is going to come to an end in 2014. Everything is cyclical in the NFL as fans of the NFC West can attest but this is one cycle that should live another year, at least barring any major rash of injury.
I.C.Y.M.I.
A roundup of Saturday's Rams stories appearing on ESPN.com. ... In the wee hours of the morning, we took a look back at defensive end Michael Sam's first preseason performance. ... Next, we offered the news that tight end Mason Brodine was lost for the season to a broken ankle. ... From there, we looked at the strange finish to the preseason opener and what the Rams can learn from it. ... After that, we turned our attention to the potential return this week for many key Rams, including quarterback Sam Bradford. ... We then revisited three things to watch from Friday night's game. ... We closed the day by discussing an interesting move by Rams coach Jeff Fisher and his use of a challenge against the Saints.
Elsewhere:
Also from Grantland and Barnwell, a look at Bradford and the deep ball.
At stltoday.com, Bryan Burwell writes about Sam's solid start.
Jim Thomas provides his game story from the preseason opener.
Joe Lyons writes that quarterback Austin Davis had some success against the Saints.
At 101sports.com, Chris Long discussed the preseason opener with sideline reporter Will Witherspoon.