The NFC West was maligned, and justifiably so, last season as the NFL’s worst division (the AFC West was the other candidate). For a while it looked as if the division champion might be 8-8, but the Cardinals rallied to finish 9-7 and proceeded to tear through the playoffs and push the Steelers to the brink in Super Bowl XLIII.

So what to look for this season?
You can probably write off the Rams, who are rebuilding with new coach Steve Spagnuolo, and the 49ers, who have issues at quarterback and aren’t brimming with talent.
So that leaves the Cardinals and the Seahawks. Seattle, the West power for most of the decade, suffered through one of the most injury-riddled seasons in recent memory in Mike Holmgren’s final year as its coach. If Matt Hasselbeck and the Seahawks are healthy and T.J. Houshmandzadeh settles in, Seattle has a realistic shot at dethroning Arizona.
Next-level players
Chris “Beanie” Wells, RB, Cardinals: The rookie from Ohio State has a nice burst for a player his size (6-foot-1, 228 pounds), and although he nursed an ankle injury in the preseason and will lose some carries to Tim Hightower, he should get plenty of work after the departure of Edgerrin James.
John Carlson, TE, Seahawks: He became Seattle’s most reliable option last season after the receiving corps was decimated by injuries, hauling in 55 passes with five TDs. He might not be Matt Hasselbeck’s go-to guy week in and week out, but he showed he has the talent to produce consistently.
Josh Morgan, WR, 49ers: The continued holdout by Michael Crabtree will likely benefit Morgan, who averaged 16 yards per catch in limited action as a rookie. It’s hard to get excited when it comes to San Francisco’s offense, but Morgan’s potential to raise his game bears watching.
O.J. Atogwe, FS, Rams: He has racked up an impressive 17 interceptions, 13 in the past two seasons, and 246 tackles in his four seasons, and St. Louis designated him with its franchise tag in the off-season. Despite his desire for a new contract, Atogwe didn’t skip any time in training camp and would be a star if he played on a good team.
Elite game
Seahawks at Cardinals, Nov. 15: If indeed Seattle recovers from its calamitous 2008 season and Arizona doesn’t regress, this could be a pivotal game in the race for the playoffs.
Elite player
Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Cardinals: Great hands, unmatched ball skills, good size and speed make for one consistently outstanding package. He deservedly became a bona fide superstar during last season’s Super Bowl run. Pencil him in for 95-100 catches, 1,400 yards and 10 TDs.