NFC West Outlook

• Sept. 7 at Detroit, 7 a.m. HST
• Sept. 14 Seattle, 10:05 a.m.
• Sept. 21 Green Bay, 10:05 a.m.
• Sept. 28 at St. Louis, 7 a.m.
• Oct. 5 at Dallas, 7 a.m.
• Oct. 12 Baltimore, 10:15 a.m.
• Oct. 26 San Francisco, 11:05 a.m.
• Nov. 2 Cincinnati, 11:05 a.m.
• Nov. 9 at Pittsburgh, 8 a.m.
• Nov. 16 at Cleveland, 8 a.m.
• Nov. 23 St. Louis, 11:05 a.m.
• Nov. 30 at Chicago, 8 a.m.
• Dec. 7 at San Fran., 11:05 a.m.
• Dec. 14 Carolina, 11:15 a.m.
• Dec. 21 at Seattle, 11:15 a.m.
• Dec. 28 Minnesota, 11:05 a.m.

St. Louis Rams

• Sept. 7 at NY Giants, 7 a.m. HST
• Sept. 14 San Francisco, 7 a.m.
• Sept. 21 at Seattle, 10:05 a.m.
• Sept. 28 Arizona, 7 a.m.
• Oct. 13 Atlanta, 3 p.m.
• Oct. 19 Green Bay, 7 a.m.
• Oct. 26 at Pittsburgh, 8 a.m.
• Nov. 2 at San Fran., 11:15 a.m.
• Nov. 9 Baltimore, 3:30 p.m.
• Nov. 16 at Chicago, 8 a.m.
• Nov. 23 at Arizona, 11:05 a.m.
• Nov. 30 Minnesota, 8 a.m.
• Dec. 8 at Cleveland, 4 p.m.
• Dec. 14 Seattle, 8 a.m.
• Dec. 21 Cincinnati, 8 a.m.
• Dec. 28 at Detroit, 8 a.m.

San Francisco 49ers

• Sept. 7 Chicago, 10:15 a.m. HST
• Sept. 14 at St. Louis, 7 a.m.
• Sept. 21 Cleveland, 10:15 a.m.
• Sept. 28 at Minnesota, 7 a.m.
• Oct. 5 Detroit, 10:15 a.m.
• Oct. 12 at Seattle, 2:30 p.m.
• Oct. 19 Tampa Bay, 10:15 a.m.
• Oct. 26 at Arizona, 11:05 a.m.
• Nov. 2 St. Louis, 11:15 a.m.
• Nov. 17 Pittsburgh, 4 p.m.
• Nov. 23 at Green Bay, 8 a.m.
• Nov. 30 at Baltimore, 8 a.m.
• Dec. 7 Arizona, 11:05 a.m.
• Dec. 14 at Cincinnati, 8 a.m.
• Dec. 21 at Philadelphia, 11:15 a.m.
• Dec. 27 Seattle, noon

Seattle Seahawks

• Sept. 7 N. Orleans, 10:15 a.m. HST
• Sept. 14 at Arizona, 10:05 a.m.
• Sept. 21 St. Louis, 10:05 a.m.
• Oct. 5 at Green Bay, 7 a.m.
• Oct. 12 San Francisco, 2:30 p.m.
• Oct. 19 Chicago, 10:15 a.m.
• Oct. 26 at Cincinnati, 8 a.m.
• Nov. 2 Pittsburgh, 11:05 a.m.
• Nov. 9 at Washington, 8 a.m.
• Nov. 16 Detroit, 11:15 a.m.
• Nov. 23 at Baltimore, 8 a.m.
• Nov. 30 Cleveland, 11:15 a.m.
• Dec. 7 at Minnesota, 8 a.m.
• Dec. 14 at St. Louis, 8 a.m.
• Dec. 21 Arizona, 11:15 a.m.
• Dec. 27 at San Francisco, noon

Outlook

49ERS

• LAST YEAR: Won NFC West, rallied from 38-14 deficit to beat Giants in wild-card game, then lost in Tampa. Owner John York fired coach Steve Mariucci, hired Dennis Erickson.
• STRENGTHS: Pro Bowl combo of QB Jeff Garcia and WR Terrell Owens, below, as formidable as ever. Solid OL adds rookie T Kwame Harris.
• WEAKNESSES: Owens seems determined to test Erickson, skipping final three minicamps. Defense was green and injury-plagued, and didn't upgrade.
• Top additions: Head coach Erickson, DT Travis Kirschke, RB Rashaan Salaam, CB Fred Weary.
• Rookies to watch: Harris, DT Anthony Adams.
• Key losses: G Dave Fiore, DT Dana Stubblefield, DE Chike Okeafor, WR J.J. Stokes, DT Junior Bryant, QB Cade McNown.
• Goals: Erickson will try to take team to next level, which means Super Bowl trip that eluded Mariucci. Return of linebackers Jamie Winborn and Saleem Rasheed from injury important to defensive improvement.

RAMS

• LAST YEAR: After winning 2001 NFC title, Rams started 2002 at 0-5 and never recovered. Injuries to Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk, Orlando Pace and Aeneas Williams were devastating. After three straight years as No. 1 in yardage, fell to 13th.
• STRENGTHS: Faulk, when healthy, is elite all-purpose running back. Warner's broken pinky and hand allowed Marc Bulger to emerge, going 6-1 as starter.
• WEAKNESSES: Defense is thin. LBs unproven.
• Top additions: G David Loverne, S Jason Sehorn, OT Kyle Turley, P Sean Landeta, C Dave Wohlabaugh, RB Leon Johnson, TE Cam Cleeland.
• Rookies to watch: DT Jimmy Kennedy, LB Pisa Tinoisamoa.
• Key losses: CB Dre Bly, CB Dexter McCleon, RB Trung Canidate, G Tom Nutten, P Mitch Berger, FB James Hodgins, WR Ricky Proehl, G Heath Irwin, DT Jeff Zgonina, OL Frank Garcia, TE Ernie Conwell.
• Goals: Coach Mike Martz and Warner must re-establish rapport after season of injuries and miscommunication. Offensive line, linebacking undergoing change.

SEAHAWKS

• LAST YEAR: Injuries all season, but offense flourished and defense improved in closing weeks. After season, coach Mike Holmgren relinquished GM duties.
• STRENGTHS: QB Matt Hasselbeck averaged 476 yards passing in final six games; WR Koren Robinson emerged; RB Shaun Alexander had team-record 18 TDs; LB Anthony Simmons.
• WEAKNESSES: Defense allowed NFL-high 152.6 yards rushing per game.
• Top additions: S Damien Robinson, DE Chike Okeafor, OT Michael Thompson, DT Norman Hand, LB Randall Godfrey, P Rodney Williams.
• Rookies to watch: CB Marcus Trufant, S Ken Hamlin, OT Wayne Hunter.
• Key losses: S Marcus Robertson, P Jeff Feagles, K Rian Lindall.
• Goals: New defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes must rejuvenate 28th-ranked defense, 32nd against run. Both rookie defensive backs could start.

CARDINALS

• LAST YEAR: Offense ranked 27th, defense 29th.
• STRENGTHS: OL. It will try to clear way for RB Emmitt Smith, star signing in offseason. RB Marcel Shipp is coming off good year, rushing for 834 yards and averaging 4.4 per carry.
• WEAKNESSES: WR. David Boston, Frank Sanders and MarTay Jenkins left. Ranked last in sacks, 30th against run and 29th against pass.
• Top additions: S Dexter Jackson, QB Jeff Blake, Smith, OL Frank Garcia, LB James Darling, WR Marques Walker, FB James Hodgins.
• Rookies to watch: WR Bryant Johnson, DE Calvin Pace.
• Key losses: Boston, QB Jake Plummer, Jenkins, Sanders, RB Thomas Jones, C Mike Gruttadauria, S Kwame Lassiter.
• Goals: To see if Smith has anything left besides charisma.