This is part of an ongoing 8-part series where the Steel City Underground team takes their stab at predicting the 2016 NFL season.

This edition focuses on the NFC West.

2015 Finish	Terry	Brian	Joe	Josh
ARI	ARI	SEA	SEA	ARI
SEA	SEA	AZ	AZ	SEA
LA	LA	LA	LA	LA
SF	SF	SF	SF	SF

Terry and Josh have the division finishing the same as last season, while Brian and Joe think Seattle takes the hill again.

NO ONE thinks the 49ers are any good…

Terry

I never bet against Bruce Arians. Older team yes, but he just makes magic happen with what he has.

Palmer needs to look 32 not 37 this year. Find Fitz and if the Johnson’s x2 RBs can help carry the load they will go 10-6.

Seattle and Russell Wilson… that kid is such a special player and he gets hit a ton and manages to stay healthy. I see them either 2nd or tying for 1st in this division. Let’s hope Rawls is coming back better than ever and Michael continues his preseason greatness into the regular season.

LA has Todd Gurley. The QB situation is interesting, but they should get a 3rd place spot with a new start in LA. Not a Chip Kelly fan, not a Kaepernick fan, and not even sure how Blane Gabbert still has a job in the NFL… need I say more?

What a mess in San Fran.

Brian

Why am I picking the Seahawks to win this division?

Well, frankly it’s just to be obstinate.

Everybody and their cousin thinks Arizona wins, and I wonder if maybe Carson Palmer plays like 47 rather than 37, his age finally catching up to him? So I’m going to give the ever so slight edge to Seattle.

I think Arizona is right there in case things fall apart in the Emerald City.  They still have a solid, verging on great defense, and a good group of young receivers and backs. If Seattle slips, Arizona will be there, but for now I’m putting them second.

Todd Gurley is the only reason I put the Rams 3rd. Okay – that’s not true. The Rams are 3rd because the 49ers are in this division, and I really would have to be smoking something to think the hot mess that is the 49ers can achieve anything other than cellar dwelling this season.

Joe

I’m taking Seattle too but I have a different reason: Arians’ players always get hurt. It happened to Ben Roethlisberger and Rashard Mendenhall, and now it’s happening to Carson Palmer, Andre Ellington, Chris Johnson and could happen to David Johnson.

Arians is smart enough to lean on a defense, but without his star QB for several games, they’ll concede to a well-oiled Seattle Seahawks machine. Russell Wilson is incredibly talented: he doesn’t throw much, but when he has to, he can. They’ll have a running back committee approach to replace Lynch, and that shouldn’t matter much as the Rams and Niners are still playing catch up.

Well, at least the Rams are. I can’t say the 49ers know what they’re doing, and if they’re trying to get worse, then mission accomplished… all the way to the first pick in next year’s draft!