NFC West 19 years...

[keasley45]

Great thread. One other thing worth noting is that over the past 19 years, a team from the nfc west has been the nfc's representative in the superbowl 7 times. That's a remarkable stat and makes Seattle's success that much more significant. Everyone is quick to hail the patriots as the dynasty for the ages. But they got rich off the dregs of the NFL in their division. The Hawks have been a force despite playing in the fiercest division in football over two decades.

 

[Hockey Guy]

Great thread. One other thing worth noting is that over the past 19 years, a team from the nfc west has been the nfc's representative in the superbowl 7 times. That's a remarkable stat and makes Seattle's success that much more significant. Everyone is quick to hail the patriots as the dynasty for the ages. But they got rich off the dregs of the NFL in their division. The Hawks have been a force despite playing in the fiercest division in football over two decades.

Come on man!!!!

We're in the toughest division NOW but it's hardly been the fiercest division for over 2 decades.

 

[chris98251]

We have been in the toughest division since inception, AFC West was also arguably the toughest division in football only challenged by the AFC central in that era.

NFC West had the 49ers and Rams prior to rearrangement, that moved the Saints who were perennial losers and the Expansion Falcons out and brought in the Expansion Panthers and Perennial loser Cardinals.

It's just in the last 20 that the NFC West has had contenders top to bottom.

 

[Maulbert]

We have been in the toughest division since inception, AFC West was also arguably the toughest division in football only challenged by the AFC central in that era.

NFC West had the 49ers and Rams prior to rearrangement, that moved the Saints who were perennial losers and the Expansion Falcons out and brought in the Expansion Panthers and Perennial loser Cardinals.

It's just in the last 20 that the NFC West has had contenders top to bottom.

More like last 10. The '02-'10 NFC West was largely garbage, outside Seattle in 2005. Hell, in 2008, the NFC West went 10-30 in games vs. non-NFC West opponents. It was a fluke the Cards made the Super Bowl that year. They were the only team to post a winning record in the division that year, and had a +1 point differential.

On the flip side, the 2013 NFC West did the opposite and went 30-10 vs. non-divisional opponents, and every team had a winning record outside the West (Hawks 9-1, Cards 8-2, Niners 7-3, Rams 6-4).

 

[oldhawkfan]

Here is how the NFC West has shaken out every year since 2003.

Hawks: 2nd, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 3rd, 3rd, 1st, 3rd, 2nd, 1st, 1st, 2nd, 1st, 2nd, 2nd, 2nd, 1st
Niners: 3rd, 4th, 4th, 3rd, 3rd, 2nd, 2nd, 3rd, 1st, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 4th, 4th, 3rd, 1st, 4th
Rams: 1st, 2nd, 2nd, 2nd, 4th, 4th, 4th, 2nd, 4th, 3rd, 4th, 4th, 3rd, 3rd, 1st, 1st, 3rd, 2nd
Cards: 4th, 3rd, 3rd, 4th, 2nd, 1st, 1st, 4th, 2nd, 3th, 3rd, 2nd, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 4th, 3rd

One of those is much, much better than the others.

This list only covers the last 18 years. I think we can now add 2020 results to this list.

Seahawks:
10 1st place finishes
6 2nd place finishes
3 3rd place finishes
0 4th place finishes

49ers:
3 1st place finishes
3 2nd place finishes
6 3rd place finishes
7 4th place finishes

Rams:
3 1st place finishes
6 2nd place finishes
4 3rd place finishes
6 4th place finishes

Cardinals:
3 1st place finishes
4 2nd place finishes
6 3rd place finishes
6 4th place finishes

So in the past 19 years, the other 3 teams in the NFC WEST combined, don’t have as many 1st place finishes as the Seahawks. 16 out of 19 years they have been either 1st or 2nd. Plus they are the only team without any last place finishes. For the better part of 2 decades, this division has been basically owned by the Seattle Seahawks.

 

[94Smith]

You have to have consistent QB play. Seahawks have benefitted from Hasselbeck followed by Wilson. The middle years were some of the 3rd place finishes. The Rams successful years were mainly from Warner and Bulger (some). Goff has been inconsistent. Cardinals success was Warner and Palmer. The 49ers success was when they had consistency from inconsistent Qbs- Smith, Kaepernick, Garcia, Garopollo

 

[Ad Hawk]

So in the past 19 years, the other 3 teams in the NFC WEST combined, don’t have as many 1st place finishes as the Seahawks. 16 out of 19 years they have been either 1st or 2nd. Plus they are the only team without any last place finishes. For the better part of 2 decades, this division has been basically owned by the Seattle Seahawks.

Thinking back, I'm a bit surprised that Mora's year didn't earn us a last-place finish. What did we have, 4 wins that year? That's usually enough to sew up the end of the division.