It wasn't that long ago the NFC West Division winner went 7-9. It was only two years ago when many across the nation looked at the NFC West and saw the worst division in football.
Oh, how quickly that has changed.
In fact, many are now looking at the NFC West as the best division in all of football. This is in large part to the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks.
The 49ers have been in the playoffs each of the last two seasons, including a Super Bowl berth. The Seahawks came on strong at the end of last season behind a slew of young talent.
Since the offseason has kicked off, both teams have made moves to improve one's self. That is usually the case but this offseason has a slightly different feel.
On Monday, the Seahawks traded for wide receiver Percy Harvin. It was an impact move and one that seemed to strike at one of the 49ers' weaknesses: the secondary. Only hours later, the 49ers traded for a wide receiver of their own: Anquan Boldin.
Was this already in the works before the Seahawks trade? Possibly.
But it could also be a reactionary move to one made by their closest rival, a team that stomped the 49ers in December.
The rivalry between Pete Carroll and Jim Harbaugh is also well documented. Harbaugh had Carroll's number when the two were at Stanford and USC respectively.
Seattle has all the bravado of a team with supreme confidence, almost to the stage of cockiness. But that's what is giving this division and this rivalry some tread with the national media. There is an edge to it.
Everyone can thank Richard Sherman for that.
They are led by two young quarterbacks in Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick. Both have proven they can lead a team in December and beyond in only their first years as starters.
Both teams have young and exciting players. Both have coaches who know how to motivate their guys. Both are heading in the right direction and everyone not on the West Coast is finally starting to take notice.
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