Is Jed York onto something?

One day after losing to the Eagles to drop to 0-5 on the season, Jed York - owner and president of the San Fransisco 49ers - stated that not only will his team make the playoffs this season, but will outright win the NFC West. On the surface, this statement seems completely preposterous. Since 1990, no team that has ever started 0-5 has even reached the playoffs, let alone win it's division. So, it would seem that it would be relatively simple to dismiss this statement outright.

But let's take a closer look here. It isn't as though the 49ers play in anything that resembles a juggernaut of a division in the NFC West. Presently, the division leader is Arizona at 3-2 (who has been outscored by their opponents 88 to 138). Following them is Seattle at 2-2 and the Rams at 2-3. This division won't exactly confuse anyone as anything beyond mediocre. After five games, the 49ers are only three games back, so the difference in record is possible to come back from.

Now, let's look at their remaining schedule. Starting next week, they host Oakland, head to Carolina, play Denver in London, host St. Louis and Tampa Bay after a bye week, go to Arizona and Green Bay, host Seattle, go to San Diego and St. Louis, and finish up hosting Arizona. Of those teams, only three (Tampa, Green Bay, and Arizona) are over .500. Also in the 49ers favor, they have played only one game in division.

Looking at the teams in the NFC West, the other teams also have some potentially serious issues. Arizona is starting an undrafted rookie free agent in Max Hall (who I personally think will turn out to be decent, but that's another topic). Matt Hasselback has been one hit from the IR for the last three seasons, and does anyone really trust Charlie Whitehurst? St. Louis might be in the best shape quarterback-wise with Bradford, but his primary target is now out for the season. Seattle has troubles getting to the quarterback. Arizona's defense as a whole is terrible, ignoring the uncharacteristically bad day that Drew Brees and the Saints had yesterday. St. Louis has serious problems amongst it's receiving corps now that Clayton is out for the year.

Maybe Jed York is right. The NFC West certainly seems wide open for anyone to take, even as unlikely as it would seem for a 0-5 team to win a division.