Division Winner: The Arizona Cardinals should repeat as the winners of the NFC West division. They are currently head-and-shoulders above the other teams in the West division. Even if San Francisco can get solid quarterback play out of Shaun Hill it would be shocking if they were to make a run at the title. Seattle and St. Louis are still in rebuilding mode and with the age of their quarterbacks, Marc Bulger is 32 and Matt Hasselbeck being 33, and having no replacement in sight these teams could be rebuilding for a few years.

Wild Card Team: No team will win a Wild Card birth from this division. All three remaining teams still have some sort of personnel issues that will keep them from the playoffs this season. Lack of injuries and continued development of the young players on all three teams should be the goal and the idea of a playoff birth may only be a year or two away for them all.

Player on the Rise: This guy has underachieved and been kicked off the field by his coach, but this season will be the year of Vernon Davis. This guy has all of the skills to be one of the best tight ends in the league, and this year I think he finally realizes his potential. The Niners have a quarterback starting from Week 1 for the first time in his career in Shaun Hill, and a pass catching tight end will be his best friend. Davis will have career highs in receptions, yards and touchdowns this season and he will finally show the 49ers why they drafted him with the sixth pick in 2006.

Player on the Demise: Marc Bulger’s stats have been decreasing the past two seasons, and this season may be his worst. He is coming out of training camp with a broken pinkie finger that hurts when he grips and throws the ball, not a good sign for a quarterback. The Rams are also turning from a passing offense to more of a power running offense so Bulger will have fewer opportunities to throw the ball, which could be good and bad for him. I think that Bulger will only make it to 2,000 yards passing while also missing at least 5 games this season due to either injury or being pulled by Coach Steve Spagnuolo.

Division MVP: Larry Fitzgerald will be the MVP of this division, and could possibly be the MVP of the league. The past two seasons he has had over 1,400 yards receiving with at least 10 touchdowns and expect more of the same again this season. With Arizona’s improving defense the Cardinals should get more offensive possessions and Fitzgerald will be able to capitalize on those possessions. He will have his first 1,500 yards season this year with around 15 touchdown receptions for the division winning Arizona Cardinals this year.