The NFL season is approaching quickly, and with that, EZB will be providing previews of each division in the league. Up today: the NFC West.

Seattle Seahawks

Why They Might Win the Division
The Hawks have been there before, and much of the same team returns from last year's 10-6 division winner. Their defense should remain one of the better units in the league, and QB Matt Hasselbeck has proven to be one of the top gunslingers in the league.

Why They Might Not Win the Division
Is anyone really sure Julius Jones and T.J. Duckett, along with holdover Maurice Morris, are the answers at running back? Seattle was in the bottom half of the league in rushing last year, and may not be able to improve on that this year. Their receiving corp is also questionable. D.J. Hackett is a talented player who left in free agency, and no one should expect Bobby Engram to have another season with 94 catches.

St. Louis Rams

Why They Might Win the Division
The offensive line is finally healthy. They were destroyed by injuries last season, as only Alex Barron made it through the year without getting hurt. New offensive coordinator Al Saunders should also be able to exploit mismatches for running back Steven Jackson, who could be in for a great year.

Why They Might Not Win the Division
They still haven't figured it all out on defense, and though Chris Long should provide a nice complement to Leonard Little on the outside, the unit still has to improve on stopping the run. QB Marc Bulger must also stay healthy in order for this team to compete.

Arizona Cardinals

Why They Might Win the Division
Matt Leinart will be the starting QB, and should be much improved in his third season. They also have two of the game's premier wide outs in Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. The defense was in the top 10 in the league against the run in 2007, and should be good in that area once again, especially with safety Adrian Wilson, one of the game's most under-appreciated defensive players.

Why They Might Not Win the Division
Losing Calvin Pace certainly didn't help, and as good as the defense was against the run, that's how bad it was against the pass. Only four teams gave up more passing yards than the Cardinals last season, and the secondary is still iffy in that area. Moving Antrel Rolle to safety is an experiment, which may or may not work.

San Francisco 49ers

Why They Might Win the Division
They hired offensive coordinator Mike Martz to run the show, and his results with quarterbacks cannot be questioned. Frank Gore is capable of being one of the elite backs in football, and Patrick Willis leads a talented group of linebackers.

Why They Might Not Win the Division
Alex Smith still has to prove himself at QB, and the offensive line remains a question mark. As does the defensive line, even after acquiring Justin Smith, who only managed two sacks last season. The team tried to upgrade the receiving corps, but Isaac Bruce is 35, and Ashley Lelie and Bryant Johnson are former first-round selections still trying to find their niche in the league.