ON DECK: NFC West goes from weak to chic

For a while there, the NFC West was the laughingstock of the NFL.

The Cardinals, Seahawks, Rams and 49ers were the Moe, Larry, Curly and Shemp of professional football. In 2008, the Cardinals won the division with a 9-7 record. Not to be outdone, two years later the Seahawks took the spraypainted-gold crown with a 7-9 record — just edging out the Rams’ 7-9.

But a funny thing is happening this year. The NFC West is ... good. It has what looks to be the best team in football (San Francisco) and is the only division that has two teams without a loss (Niners and Cardinals). The Rams were this close to beating Detroit and being 2-0 themselves, and the Seahawks manhandled the Cowboys.

Obviously two games is too soon to start penciling the NFC West for three playoff spots, but it appears that division is starting to slowly shift into a division that’s worthy of some respect.