by Week 1 of the 2011 campaign: Barry Sims, David Baas, Brian Westbrook, Aubrayo Franklin, Manny Lawson, Takeo Spikes — and Nate Clements, a notable misfire after the 49ers gave him the largest contract ever given to a defensive player in 2007. Guard Chilo Rachal, safety Reggie Smith, and cornerback Shawntae Spencer would remain on the team as reserves in 2011; in all, the team would turn over nearly half its starters by the end of the following season. The Niners were already building around a young offensive line, having used first-round picks on Joe Staley, Mike Iupati, and Anthony Davis, while all-world inside linebacker Patrick Willis seemed to be roaming the middle for naught on defense.

The Seahawks were successful enough to go to the playoffs, and theythe season with John Skelton at the helm, but many of the players who fueled their great 2012 defense were around at the end of the 2010 season, including Calais Campbell, Darnell Dockett, Daryl Washington, Greg Toler, Adrian Wilson, and Kerry Rhodes. The Cardinals had dealt Anquan Boldin to the Ravens during the previous offseason, but they still had Larry Fitzgerald, giving them the best offensive weapon in the division by a significant margin.

The most promising team in the division, by far, was the Rams. St. Louis had the best quarterback in the NFC West in rookie Sam Bradford, who had shouldered an enormous workload while leading the Rams to their best record in four seasons. They also had one of the best young coaches in football in