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Peyton Manning drove much of the discussion for the most recent NFC West chat. I've featured items on other subjects below, capped by a one regarding the San Francisco 49ers' apparent decision to stick with Alex Smith instead of considering Manning.

Full chat transcript here. Highlights below.

Roland from Winnipeg asks whether the St. Louis Rams would pursue Mike Wallace in restricted free agency if they traded down in the draft and did not sign Vincent Jackson.

Mike Sando: That would be a lot to give up. Wallace would have to get a fat contract. He would be a terrific addition, but how badly would he want to play for a rebuilding team at this point? The money would have to be off the charts, and then the Rams would be parting with such a high pick. The Steelers drafted Wallace in the third round. The Rams need to draft their own Wallaces at some point. That is why they hired Les Snead. He needs to find those types of players.

Northwest Guy from Gig Harbor, Wash., asks for my thoughts on the Marshawn Lynch contract with Seattle. He thinks it favors the team.

Mike Sando: The franchise tag hung over his deal and compromised his bargaining position. That allowed the Seahawks to sign him at a reasonable rate. He was never going to hit the market. He got what he could get, which means he got what he was worth under the circumstances.

Trev from Portland, Ore., says the Cardinals are best positioned land Manning because for reasons consisting of an indoor stadium, grass field, weather, receivers, running backs, staff (former Colts assistant Frank Reich), holding a mid-range draft pick available for a quality offensive tackle and having an extra 15 days for training camp in advance of the Hall of Fame game.

Mike Sando: You make good points. The mid-range draft choice isn't going to be a selling point, in my view. The Hall of Fame game does buy extra practice time, which Manning would value. I don't think 15 extra days of work would swing the deal, but if things did come together overall, that would be a plus. This division would get fun in a hurry with Manning playing for one of its teams, particularly with the 49ers deciding to stay the course.

Chris from Fairfield, Calif., realized in retrospect that San Francisco knew what it was doing when it opted to sign Carlos Rogers instead of Nnamdi Asomugha last offseason. He is now inclined to trust the 49ers as they appear likely to stick with Smith over Manning.

Mike Sando: The 49ers built up what Jim Harbaugh called a lot of "equity" with Alex Smith and other players. Bringing in Manning would change the entire team dynamic, a dynamic the 49ers like very much. There is a risk in not going after him, but the 49ers do not see the payoff as worth the risk. They were already in the NFC Championship Game, a play or two away from the Super Bowl. They feel as though they have a good chance to remain on a similar level if they stay the course. Betting big on Manning introduces a level of risk that does not exist in their minds if they stay the course. I see both sides of it. Just not sure the fit with Manning and Jim Harbaugh would be all that great, either.

Thanks to @dubbacee and others for sending a reminder to post the chat highlights and link to the full transcript. That got away from me Thursday.

The Seattle Seahawks looked around the NFC West in 2003 and decided they needed a cornerback with Marcus Trufant's size, speed and skill.

They made Trufant the 11th pick of the draft.

"In this division we're in, you can't have enough good corners," then-coordinator Ray Rhodes said on draft day 2003.

Trufant wound up covering Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce, Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald while all were at or near their primes. He fared well enough to earn Pro Bowl honors during the 2007 season, but age and injuries eventually caught up with him.

As Danny O'Neil reports, the Seahawks plan to release Trufant in a move that seemed inevitable for various reasons.

Trufant, 31, missed 12 games to injury last season. Brandon Browner and Richard Sherman flourished in his absence. There was no way Seattle was going to bring back Trufant at his $7.2 million salary for 2012. The question was whether the sides might work out something allowing Trufant to return at a diminished rate, and in a diminished role. He had taken a reduced salary for 2011 heading into the season.

Trufant was the longest-tenured current Seahawk. He started at least 15 games in seven of his nine seasons, picking off 21 passes. Trufant started the only Super Bowl in franchise history. He made an immediate impact, starting every game as a rookie and playing well early.

"It’s hard to put into words when you’ve been at this a long time how a young player like Marcus, who’s a rookie, can be as consistent and solid as he has been," then-coach Mike Holgmren said at the time. "I'm one of those who has said, 'Let's not anoint him yet.' But he has been playing very, very well for us."

Terence Newman, Andre Woolfolk and Nnamdi Asomugha were the other first-round cornerbacks entering the NFL with the 2003 draft class.

Back trouble slowed Trufant in 2009 and again last season. He started the first four games in 2011 before landing on injured reserve.

Sorry, San Francisco 49ers fans. It's just tough envisioning the team sacrificing its 2012 first-round draft choice for the right to overpay for Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Mike Wallace.

The 49ers have sought to build their team through the draft, patching their roster with relatively affordable free agents. If they were to splurge for Wallace, sacrificing the draft capital that goes along with landing restricted free agents, the move would run 180 degrees counter to form.

Not that Wallace would necessarily be a waste.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee makes a strong case for Wallace in San Francisco. Barrows: "There's no guarantee a top receiver would still be available when the 49ers pick in the first round. And it's hard to imagine any wideout they did select there would be more effective than Wallace, at least initially. The good news for the pro-Wallace crowd is that the 49ers are likely to be interested when free agency starts, just as they threw their name into the ring with Nnamdi Asomugha last year. But as was the case with Asomugha and other high-end cornerbacks in 2011, the 49ers are likely to drop out once the price gets too steep. While giving up the 30th overall pick for a young but proven commodity like Wallace is justifiable, giving up that pick and signing Wallace to a pricey, long-term deal goes against the 49ers' philosophy."

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle checks in with 49ers tight end Nate Byham, who says his surgically repaired knee is full strength. Byham: "Watching all season all I could do was lick my chops and think, 'I’m excited to a part of this.' Especially how they use tight ends and fullbacks. I really see myself fitting in at that H-back spot and that tight end spot. They work it like a jigsaw puzzle. They like to move guys around."

Matthew Hathaway of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch offers details on the stadium renovation plan Rams officials rejected Thursday. Hathaway: "Taken as a whole, the CVC plan lacked the grand scale of several recent NFL stadium rehabs, like the $375 million overhaul of Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium or the $250 million renovation of Sun Life Stadium in Miami. The CVC plan also called for the Rams to pay for 52 percent of the $124 million project. That's a bigger share than what was paid by NFL teams in recent, more expensive rehab projects in Kansas City, Chicago or New Orleans."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says Cardinals tackle Brandon Keith, like Levi Brown, has arrived at a crossroads of sorts. Somers: "Keith showed flashes of the ability that made coaches think he could be an everyday starter. He's athletic for a man of 335 pounds and he can be a physical run blocker. Like Brown, that's his strength. His weakness, like Brown's, has been pass protection. Fast rushers tend to beat him off the ball. The problematic knee has played a role in that, no question. No matter the reason, Keith hasn't shown yet that he can hold up as a starter over time. Like Brown, the Cardinals want Keith back but at the right price. My sense is they place a higher value on Brown returning because he's durable, smart and has the ability to also play the right side."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says the combine allowed Seattle's personnel people and coaches to get a better read on underclassmen in the draft. Farnsworth: "That junior class, those players who have been granted special eligibility for the draft, numbers 65 this year -- including Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, Baylor QB Robert Griffin III, Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon, LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne, USC tackle Matt Kalil, Boston College middle linebacker Luke Kuechly, Memphis defensive tackle Dontari Poe and Alabama running back Trent Richardson. All are expected to be first-round picks on April 26."

Dave Grosby and Bob Stelton of 710ESPN Seattle do not expect the Seahawks to trade up for a quarterback in the draft.

Mike Salk of 710ESPN Seattle says the Seahawks' general manager, John Schneider, does not sound averse to adding a quarterback such as Peyton Manning, if available.

The San Francisco 49ers signed David Akers, Carlos Rogers, Donte Whitner, Jonathan Goodwin and Braylon Edwards as unrestricted free agents from other teams last offseason.

None signed for more than $4.25 million per season.

That track record could remove the 49ers from serious consideration for the big-name wide receivers scheduled to hit the market next month. Those options could be diminishing anyway.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says Kansas City's decision to sign former Oakland Raiders cornerback Stanford Routt could indicate the Chiefs will use the franchise tag on receiver Dwayne Bowe, winnowing down the list of free agents San Francisco might consider this offseason. Maiocco: "Bowe is another significant wide receiver who will probably not be on the open market for the 49ers to explore. And without Bowe available, it might drive up the prices for the other receivers, most notably Vincent Jackson. Also, it could make it more difficult for any team wishing to make a run at restricted free agent Mike Wallace, as his price could be rising, too." Noted: I would not expect the 49ers to sign a high-profile wideout from another team to a lucrative deal. Last offseason, the 49ers bowed out of the Nnamdi Asomugha sweepstakes and came out ahead by signing Rogers to a one-year deal. That course seems likely at receiver as well.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says Williams' rehab from a broken arm is progressing slowly and steadily, with Williams recently passing the 100-pound mark in the bench press, a weight just about anyone in relatively good health could press without much trouble. Urban: "Williams actually believes his weight has been one of the easiest things to handle since he got hurt that miserable day against the 49ers, when the helmet of teammate Stewart Bradley slammed into his arm, shattering the bone to the point he needed two rods to be inserted. His foray into the bench press has been important, a 'sign of encouragement' for a man who normally benches more than 300 pounds. Right after the surgery, Williams said he was told he could only pick up things like a bottle of water, 'and only the 16-ounce bottle, not the 20-ounce one.' Living everyday life and doing things like getting dressed was difficult."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says former St. Louis Cardinals running back Stump Mitchell interviewed to coach running backs on Jeff Fisher's staff amid questions about whether Mitchell will return as head coach at Southern University. Thomas: "A versatile player, Mitchell was an accomplished receiver, punt returner and kickoff returner, finishing with nearly 11,000 all-purpose yards and scoring 42 touchdowns. He even threw a 15-yard TD pass in 1986. At the conclusion of his playing career, Mitchell was a head coach at the high school and college (Morgan State) levels in the 1990s before joining Mike Holmgren's inaugural staff in Seattle as running backs coach in 1999. He was with the Seahawks for eight seasons then joined Washington's staff as assistant head coach/running backs coach in 2008."

The Associated Press says former Seahawks guard Steve Hutchinson could become a salary-cap casualty for Minnesota as the Vikings implement a youth movement. Hutchinson says he played "great" last season after an injury rehabilitation slowed him in 2010. Hutchinson has one year remaining on the controversial contract he signed with Minnesota after the Seahawks named him their transition player following their 2005 Super Bowl season. Noted: Hutchinson would upgrade Seattle's line if he returned to the Seahawks, but with Robert Gallery under contract and familiar with the team's blocking scheme, the team does not have an immediate need at left guard. Second-year right tackle James Carpenter is a candidate to play there after Seattle re-signed Breno Giacomini amid expectations Giacomini will remain at right tackle.

Brady Henderson of 710ESPN Seattle suggests recent comments from Seahawks general manager John Schneider could indicate an unwillingness to draft Ryan Tannehill or another quarterback with the 11th or 12th overall choice. ESPN's Todd McShay had this to say about Tannehill: "He still has a lot to learn in an offense that struggled this year at times and was very inconsistent in terms of the supporting cast, but I think with his athleticism, his arm, his ability to make throws on the run and create after the initial play breaks down, there's a lot of potential there. And certainly if you have time to develop him properly he has a chance to be a really good starter in the NFL."

Filippo from Windsor, Canada, thinks Alex Smith, not Kyle Williams, was the 49ers' biggest problem in the NFC Championship Game. He wondered whether the team could trade for Peyton Manning this offseason.

Mike Sando: There will almost certainly be no trade for Manning. The Colts could not trade Manning without first paying a $28 million bonus to him. Failing to pay that bonus by March 8 would make Manning a free agent when the trading period opened five days later.

My early take on Manning was that the Colts would keep him as long as he were healthy. Sweeping changes in the organization have created the impression Indianapolis anticipates making a clean break at the position. Indianapolis appears increasingly likely to part with Manning unless the sides adjust that bonus to buy time. Manning will not want to do that, most likely, if he knows the Colts are going to draft his replacement, Andrew Luck.

This has become a perfect storm. Manning's injury was worse than anticipated. He missed the entire season, longer than expected. The Colts were worse than anticipated without him, so bad they secured the top pick. Manning's health did not improve as anticipated. One of the brightest college quarterback prospects in years happened to be available in the next draft. And then Manning had that $28 million lever in his contract.

Those are all extreme circumstances. Throw them together and it's tough to envision the Colts keeping Manning. That $28 million price tag is too high amid questions about Manning's health.

We're in a holding pattern until the March 8 bonus date. Perceptions could change by then. If Manning does become a free agent, his health will remain the key variable. It's too early to know where he might land.

I suspect the 49ers will re-sign Alex Smith before or around the March 13 start to free agency. Arizona has until March 17 to pay a $7 million bonus to keep Kevin Kolb. The gap could give the Cardinals a chance to at least consider Manning. Lots of other teams would have interest as well.

Manning's recent comments to Bob Kravitz were illuminating. Manning said he felt as though sweeping changes in the Colts' organization had left people there "walking on eggshells." But Manning is the one with reason to feel that way. He's no longer in control of his immediate future.

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Dan from Portland asks why few people seem to be connecting Manning to the Seattle Seahawks. He thinks Kolb should get another chance in Arizona. He thinks Alex Smith should be the starter in San Francisco. And he sees Sam Bradford as the quarterback in St. Louis. Doesn't that leave Seattle as the most logical destination among NFC West teams?

Mike Sando: Yeah, I've wondered why Arizona has been mentioned in so many of the reports. It is possible people close to Manning are pushing Arizona as a possible destination because, one, Manning might see that as an appealing place to land and, two, the Cardinals do have that $7 million decision to make on Kolb. I see no reason for the Cardinals to push the Manning angle in the news, unless they hope to pressure Kolb into an adjusted contract.

I agree with you on Seattle making the most sense from a quarterback-need perspective. The fit from a system standpoint would take some adjusting. I also wonder how much the Seahawks would want to commit financially to such a high-profile player with clear health concerns. Would they see this as a risky two-year rental, or as a chance to become a championship contender quickly?

Manning's health is the No. 1 variable. If he hits the market in good physical condition, lots of teams will be interested.

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Jeremiah from Germany thinks 49ers fans should be clamoring for Dwayne Bowe, not Marques Colston, in free agency this offseason.

Mike Sando: It's tough for me to envision the Chiefs letting Bowe get away. Smart teams re-sign their best players, especially when those players are young. I would also favor Bowe over Colston, all else being equal. But I also think the 49ers would be more likely to address the position in the draft and with a lower-priced free agent. That is how they believe in putting their team together. They have been averse to overpaying for players other teams have let hit the market. That was the case last offseason when the 49ers showed no interest in Nnamdi Asomugha and other top free agents.

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Scott from Epsom, N.H., thinks I've failed to pay the New York Giants their proper respects and have instead sought to diminish their victory by branding them as concussion-inflicting cheaters. "Grow up," he writes. "It's a game."

Mike Sando: The stories about the Giants trying to inflict a concussion upon Kyle Williams originated in the Newark Star-Ledger and New York Magazine. I simply linked to them, which was pretty much a no-brainer from an NFC West perspective. These were direct quotes from Giants players speaking on the record in well-established publications.

On the game itself, the 49ers blew a prime opportunity to reach the Super Bowl, giving up 10 points on uncharacteristic special-teams turnovers. That was my focus from a 49ers/NFC West standpoint coming out of the game. There's no shortage of favorable Giants coverage out there. I just thought the 49ers did more to lose the game than their opponent did to win it. This being the NFC West blog, the 49ers were going to be my focus.

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Adam from El Paso noticed that the last quarterbacks drafted in first rounds tend to struggle. He pointed to Patrick Ramsey (2002), Rex Grossman (2003), J.P. Losman (2004), Jason Campbell (2005), Jay Cutler (2006) and Brady Quinn (2007) as examples. He pointed to Joe Flacco (2008) and possibly Cutler as exceptions, but wondered if there was something to it.

Mike Sando: Interesting observation. There is nothing dooming these players. Overall, though, the quarterbacks with the most obvious skills tend to get drafted earlier. If you've reached the late first round and are thinking about a quarterback, you're probably gambling more than teams selecting them earlier. Perhaps you're more apt to be reaching for a prospect because you need one and fear missing out.

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Joe from Phoenix sees Jeff Fisher delivering credible coordinators and asks whether we should expect him to land top free agents as well. He points to Cortland Finnegan as a possibility and wants to know if there are others with ties to Fisher or the current Rams coordinators.

Mike Sando: Yes, we should expect the Rams to have interest in free-agent players Fisher and his coordinators coached in the past. Finnegan is one of them.

Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer spent the last six seasons with New York, but the Jets do not have many potential offensive free agents of note. The list includes quarterback Mark Brunell, receiver Plaxico Burress, tight end Matthew Mulligan, quarterback Kevin O'Connell, running back LaDainian Tomlinson and tackle Robert Turner.

Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams spent the last three seasons with New Orleans.

The Saints' potential defensive free agents include linebacker Jonathan Casillas, defensive end Jeff Charleston, linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar, nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin, linebacker Ramon Humber, defensive end Turk McBride, cornerback Tracy Porter, defensive tackle Shaun Rogers and cornerback Leigh Torrance.

Williams was also with 49ers cornerback Carlos Rogers, another potential free agent, years ago in Washington.

Fisher's roots as head coach in Tennessee provide additional connections. The Titans' potential free agents include snapper Ken Amato, safety Jordan Babineaux, linebacker Patrick Bailey, defensive end Dave Ball, Finnegan, safety Michael Griffin, running back Ahmard Hall, receiver Lavelle Hawkins, defensive end William Hayes, safety Chris Hope, defensive end/tackle Jason Jones, tackle Mike Otto, guard Jake Scott, linebacker Tim Shaw and safety Anthony Smith.

A single tweet from a Philadelphia reporter trumped all the others I ran across after the NFL announced its Pro Bowl teams for the 2011 season.

"I have to say this one more time before I go to bed," Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News wrote. "49ers have more Pro Bowlers (8) than the entire NFC East (7). Not how I saw it in August."

The situation at cornerback was particularly illustrative. Carlos Rogers, a relatively cheap pickup by the San Francisco 49ers in free agency, is a Pro Bowl starter. Nnamdi Asomugha, the Philadelphia Eagles' prized offseason acquisition, is only a second alternate -- behind first-alternate Brandon Browner, a player the Seattle Seahawks signed from the CFL amid zero fanfare.

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle provides perspective by noting that the 2011 49ers tied a franchise record with six Pro Bowl starters. Branch: "They also had six starters in 1971. San Francisco and New England, which also had eight players selected, have the most Pro Bowlers of any NFL team this season and the Niners' eight Pro Bowlers are their most since they had 10 in 1995."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com passes along reaction from 49ers players following their selection to the Pro Bowl.

Also from Maiocco: player-by-player review for the 49ers' defensive players from Week 16.

More from Maiocco: a look at the offensive players.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor and the team's other Pro Bowl selections/alternates earned their standing on the strength of votes from coaches and players. Coach Pete Carroll on Chancellor and Browner: "As first-time starters, the fans wouldn’t really know them. But their peers have recognized the impact that they’ve had."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times takes a closer look at the range where the Seahawks figure to draft in the first round.

Brady Henderson of 710ESPN Seattle passes along Carroll's thoughts on what Tarvaris Jackson could do better late in games. Henderson: "Specifically, Carroll pointed to a third-and-2 play on the final possession in which Jackson threw incomplete deep down the middle of the field. Carroll said throwing a check-down pass instead would have gained about 15 yards."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic checks in with the Cardinals' Pro Bowlers, including Adrian Wilson. Somers: "This is Wilson's fourth consecutive Pro Bowl selection and fifth overall. In early August, it didn't seem possible that he would play this season, much less make the Pro Bowl. Wilson suffered a torn right biceps muscle in training camp and missed the preseason. He didn't play well in the first month or so of the season, but then settled into coordinator Ray Horton's new scheme. Wilson thanked his teammates, the coaching staff and the rest of the organization for being patient while he returned from the injury."

Also from Somers: The Cardinals plan to bring back quarterback Kevin Kolb even though they could get out of his contract by declining to pay a $7 million bonus. Somers: "He's not going anywhere. The Cardinals traded away too much (cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, second-round pick in 2012) and committed to a five-year contract worth as much as $63 million. Kolb has missed six starts and most of a seventh game this season due to injury, but the Cardinals are too deep in this relationship to sever it after one year. And just as important, who takes over if Kolb is gone?" Noted: That last part is a key consideration. It's a little early to bail on such a significant investment under unusual circumstances.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com has this to say about John Skelton's slow starts and fast finishes: "It’s so odd, not that Skelton plays better at the end of games but that there is such a discrepancy on how much better he plays. Is it inexperience, or a lack of a full offseason of reps (since he got little as a rookie in his non-lockout offseason), as coach Ken Whisenhunt suggests? Maybe. But it’s hard to tell why Skelton suddenly gets all Brady in the final 15 minutes (yes, he is compared to Tebow, but Skelton usually is passing the ball better than Tebow late) when he can be very John Navarre before then."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Chris Long, Steven Jackson and James Laurinaitis have played well enough to receive Pro Bowl consideration. Thomas: "Laurinaitis is enjoying arguably his best NFL season, with 131 tackles, three sacks, and two interceptions. But only two middle linebackers per conference earn Pro Bowl berths, and San Francisco's Patrick Willis and Chicago's Brian Urlacher -- this year's NFC Pro Bowlers -- are tough competition." Noted: I hadn't considered Laurinaitis seriously given the Rams' struggles on defense, particularly against the run. The Cardinals blocked him well while springing Beanie Wells for 228 yards. Some of the other inside linebackers in the NFC West -- Daryl Washington, NaVorro Bowman and K.J. Wright -- have sometimes stood out.

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch offers thoughts on a report from San Diego suggesting Jon Gruden and A.J. Smith could come to St. Louis in leadership roles with the Rams. Miklasz: "My best guess is that the speculation is most likely originating from Los Angeles, home of off-the-books Rams adviser John Shaw, who is tight with Chargers' president/owner Dean Spanos."

Looks like we can push back thoughts of the Seattle Seahawks moving rookie third-string quarterback Josh Portis into the lineup for a few late-season starts.

The possibility had some appeal when Jackson struggled during a 23-17 home defeat to the Washington Redskins last week. But with Jackson playing efficiently and making big plays down the field during a 31-14 victory against Philadelphia on Thursday night, the team cannot reasonably remove him from the lineup.

Jackson's struggles against Washington appeared related to his pectoral injury. He struggled to make throws he seemed to be making previously. In retrospect, Jackson's ability to practice extensively early in the week and play well only four days after the Washington game suggests the injury wasn't such a limiting factor, after all.

Having the earliest game in Week 13 and the latest one in Week 14 gives Jackson an extended period to rest his injury. There still could come a time when giving Portis a look makes sense. The coaching staff likes him enough to justify such a move if Jackson's health deteriorates or the medical staff thinks keeping Jackson in the lineup risks an injury threatening his 2012 season. It's less practical making such a move with five games remaining if Jackson can still play the way he did against the Eagles.

Jackson completed 13 of 16 passes for 190 yards and one touchdown. He posted the second-highest passer rating (137.0) of his career as a starter. His Total QBR score (76.9) beat the previous season high he set against Atlanta in Week 4 (68.2).

Jackson completed 6 of 8 passes for 89 yards on third down. His Total QBR for third-down plays stood at 93.5 out of 100, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Overall, he completed 5 of 6 passes for 111 yards throws traveling more than 10 yards past the line of scrimmage.

The Eagles continued their season-long trend of sending four or fewer pass-rushers the vast majority of the time. Jackson, playing without top receiver Sidney Rice, picked apart a secondary that lost top corner Nnamdi Asomugha to injury. The Eagles' third corner, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, missed the game entirely. The Eagles also lost safety Colt Anderson to a season-ending knee injury during the game.

The chart ranks Jackson's performances this season by Total QBR, which takes into account how quarterbacks affect win probability through passes, runs, sacks and penalties. I've included NFL passer ratings for a look at raw passing as well.
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One of my Facebook friends asked whether the Seattle-St. Louis game was the NFL's least inspiring matchup this week. He must have missed that 4-0 showing from the NFC West in Week 10.

I mean, how many other games this week feature two teams coming off victories the previous week? Only one other game does, and that would be ... Arizona at San Francisco. OK, then, let's hit some chat highlights:

Travis from Tucson, Ariz., wonders how Carlos Rogers could stand only fourth in fan voting for the Pro Bowl. He asked to see vote totals, available through Nov. 15.

Mike Sando: Charles Woodson leads the way with 298,376 votes in fan balloting through Nov. 15. Chris Houston is next with not quite 150,000. Nnamdi Asomugha is third with around 125,000. Rogers is fourth at 78,072 and Charles Tillman is close behind at 70,496. Rogers just needs to keep doing what he's been doing. A big game at Baltimore on Thanksgiving would serve notice on a national stage.

Jason from Rochester, N.Y., thinks the Seattle Seahawks' approach at quarterback could suggest they're waiting for Green Bay's Matt Flynn to become a free agent after the season. Seattle general manager John Schneider has ties to the Packers, and under this scenario the Seahawks could draft a pass-rusher in the first round.

Mike Sando: It's an interesting theory, but I'm not yet convinced the Seahawks' management thinks enough of Flynn to make him the starter. The point you raise is worth keeping in the back of our minds. I just think the team will be more likely to draft a quarterback with more obvious physical talent.

Matt from Wilmington, N.C., sees Laurent Robinson playing well for San Diego and wonders why the St. Louis Rams did not keep Robinson.

Mike Sando: Robinson had trouble staying healthy. He also had only 6.8 receptions per drop last season, which ranked 63rd out of 83 players with at least five receptions in 2010, according to ESPN Stats & Information. He simply wasn't very good with the Rams.

Steve from Palisades Park, N.J., asks which game on the 49ers' schedule looks most like a "trap" game.

Mike Sando: Let's start with this one Sunday against a Cardinals team that has won its last two games, has shown an ability to strike down the field, is getting better pressure on opposing quarterbacks and has the ability to score on special teams. I've been wondering if the 49ers would have an off game, or a game where the other team surprises them. Has not really happened yet. Do not think it is likely to happen, but with a Thanksgiving game against Baltimore on the horizon, it's possible.

This would be a bold week to pick a Cardinals upset. Imagine the quarterback discussion in Arizona if John Skelton emerged with his third consecutive victory in Kevin Kolb's absence.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

FALLING

1. Mike Sims-Walker, ex-Rams WR: That did not take long. Sims-Walker went from key free-agent addition to dropping three passes against Washington to being named inactive to being released in a short period of time. Perhaps now we know why the Jacksonville Jaguars decided against bringing back Sims-Walker even though they lacked proven players at the position. Sims-Walker was the logical Rams receiver to go once the team acquired Brandon Lloyd from Denver. The team expects to welcome back veteran Mark Clayton from the physically unable to perform list at some point, too.

2. Lockout grace periods: It's tough for the San Francisco 49ers' division rivals -- and other teams -- to complain too loudly about the lockout setting them back. The 49ers have gotten to 5-1 despite changing over just about all of their coaching staff and installing new schemes. As Arizona Cardinals president Michael Bidwill said following his team's 1-4 start, "A lot of guys are making mistakes. Can you say, 'Well, gee, that is lack of offseason?' We're now into October. We now should be able to clean up those things. These are professional athletes and they have to rise to the occasion. And none of the other 31 teams had an offseason, either. We shouldn't be at that much of a disadvantage where we've only won one game."

3. Shawntae Spencer, 49ers CB: Spencer was a starter last season and arguably the best cornerback on the team. He's not getting on the field at this point because Carlos Rogers, Tarell Brown and rookie Chris Culliver are ahead of him on the depth chart. The 49ers did a good job addressing the position in the offseason. Had they stood pat, Spencer would probably be starting. Injuries have also set back Spencer this season.

RISING

1. Aldon Smith, 49ers OLB: The player San Francisco drafted in the first round is quickly becoming a candidate for defensive rookie of the year, along with Ryan Kerrigan of the Washington Redskins. Smith has 5.5 sacks over the 49ers' last three games. He is playing well and benefiting from the talent around him. Opposing offenses must funnel additional resources toward defensive end Justin Smith in particular.

2. Vic Fangio, 49ers defensive coordinator. The 49ers' defensive performance on the road against the Detroit Lions was mostly dominant. The defense provided a safety and held the Lions to two third-down conversions in 15 opportunities. Fangio and the personnel department deserve much credit for putting together the right mix of players on defense. Drafting Smith seventh overall and Culliver in the third round helped the defense right away. Other moves that have worked out well: adding Rogers to replace Nate Clements, moving NaVorro Bowman into the lineup at the expense of Takeo Spikes, signing and moving into the lineup Ray McDonald and remaking the safety position without losing Dashon Goldson. The 49ers took some heat for not signing Nnamdi Asomugha, but no one is complaining now.

3. Delanie Walker, 49ers TE: Walker now has touchdown receptions in consecutive games. He has three for the season after catching none since 2008. Years ago, when Trent Dilfer was still playing for the 49ers, I remember him saying Walker was one of the most talented players on the team. Year after year, Walker seemed on the verge of becoming a bigger factor, but it would never happen to the extent anticipated. It's looking like the new coaching staff is finding ways to get more key plays from Walker. His game-winning touchdown reception in the final minutes Sunday stands as a career highlight, but perhaps not for long.

Al Davis' legend will live long after his passing at age 82. A quick personal recollection:

Colleague Bill Williamson and I were among several reporters standing in a hotel lobby at the NFL owners meeting in 2009. Davis was in failing health, but his mind remained sharp.

Using a walker, Davis made small talk as he approached deliberately and with great determination. When one of the reporters mentioned the massive contract Davis had handed to cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha a month or so earlier, Davis joked that Willie Brown, the Raiders' long-retired Hall of Fame corner, was asking for similar money.

Davis paused to gather himself. He asked each of us standing there to identify ourselves, at which point Davis would process the information as if determining our handshake worthiness. Each time, he would extend his hand and say, rather generously, what a pleasure it was to meet us.

This went on for a few moments before Davis turned his attention to Casey Pearce, who was standing nearby. Pearce works for the St. Louis Rams' media relations staff now. He worked for the San Diego Chargers at the time, but Davis had assumed he was one of the reporters gathered for the owners meeting.

Pearce introduced himself, and when he identified his employer as one of the Raiders' principal AFC West rivals, Davis reacted as only Davis could. He looked Pearce in the eye, sized him up from head to toe, pulled back his hand and said with a perfectly measured trace of competitive disdain, "We'll see you in the opener."

Five things I noticed while watching the San Francisco 49ers defeat the Philadelphia Eagles on the road in Week 4:

• The offensive line firing off the ball. The 49ers' previously struggling line was off the ball and across the line of scrimmage in a flash to spring Frank Gore's 40-yard run early. This was an aggressive game from the line against a suspect Eagles run defense. Vernon Davis and Jonathan Goodwin stayed on their guys at the line of scrimmage on Gore's big run early. Mike Iupati pulled as Davis released to the linebackers. Joe Staley buried weakside linebacker Brian Rolle. Davis locked onto linebacker Jamar Chaney while Gore shot into the secondary. Eagles cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha took a bad angle and Gore went past him easily. On another big run, Staley pulled and stayed on Chaney for eight yards, with receiver Michael Crabtree blocking two guys -- first cornerback Joselio Hanson, then Asomugha -- as Kendall Hunter popped into the secondary. Iupati pulled repeatedly and with great effect as the 49ers ran out the clock late.
• The NaVorro Bowman show continues. General manager Trent Baalke was correct during training camp when he said Bowman would team with Patrick Willis to give the 49ers perhaps the best inside linebacker tandem in the league. Bowman blew up LeSean McCoy on a pass to the flat early. He decked Michael Vick on a third-and-3 blitz, forcing an incomplete pass. The Eagles did beat Bowman with a play-action pass to tight end Clay Harbor in the red zone. Vick was already down when Bowman knocked loose the ball on a scramble, but still, this was a heady play. Bowman tagged McCoy again on a play in the flat after nearly picking off a pass during the same drive. With Vick scrambling on third-and-3 in the third quarter, Bowman charged from 10 yards away and took down Vick short of the marker. This was a phenomenal play against the NFL's most dynamic player.
• Defense gave up 500 yards and played well. That would appear impossible on the surface, but it's scary how productive the Eagles can be offensively. The 49ers' offense helped Philly's cause when Alex Smith lost a fumble. The 49ers also had a field goal blocked. This defensive unit punished the Eagles' skill players with physical tackles at all levels of the defense. When the Eagles got away with holding Aldon Smith, allowing a dump pass to Jeremy Maclin, safety Reggie Smith chopped down the receiver at the legs violently. Free safety Dashon Goldson lit up Maclin late in the game. Linebacker Ahmad Brooks tipped a pass for a key incompletion late in the game. The game-saving fumble Justin Smith forced on Maclin came after Smith made sure he wrapped up Maclin with his right arm. Goldson could not have been more alert in pouncing on the ball within inches of the sideline. Justin Smith's pressure was also critical to Carlos Rogers' interception.
• Alex Smith seems more accurate on the move. Too many of the quarterback's conventional passes aren't quite on target even when completed. But when Smith scrambles, his accuracy seems to improve. The sideline throw he made to Crabtree in the third quarter was one example. Smith committed a football sin when he scrambled nearly to the right sideline before throwing back to the middle for Hunter along the yard lines, but the pass was right on target.
• Patrick Willis blitzed, as promised. The 49ers' Pro Bowl linebacker finished last season with a career-high six sacks. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said he wanted Willis to take the next step as a pass-rusher. Willis has no sacks through four games and hasn't been a big factor as a rusher. The 49ers sent him at one point in the third quarter Sunday, but Willis ran right into guard Evan Mathis, who blocked effectively on the play. San Francisco rushed only three a short time later when Vick found Jackson deep. Aldon Smith rushed, but the Eagles doubled him while Willis lurked.

This was a fun game to watch and a great victory for the 49ers, but also one in which the Eagles were complicit. Philadelphia kicker Alex Henery missed twice in the fourth quarter from inside 40 yards. The 49ers can be grateful the Eagles let David Akers sign with San Francisco in the offseason. Akers missed twice from longer range, including one that was blocked, but I highly doubt he would have missed twice from inside the 40. He has made all five from inside the 40 this season.

Thoughts on the San Francisco 49ers' 24-23 road victory against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 4:

What it means: The 49ers are the best team in the NFC West after scoring a signature victory under new coach Jim Harbaugh. The offense the 49ers generated after falling behind 20-3 on the road against a good pass-rushing team showed they could open up the offense without imploding in a toxic cloud of Alex Smith turnovers. No team in the NFC West plays defense the way the 49ers play defense. Smith continues to minimize mistakes and has now shown an ability to make plays downfield.

What I liked: Defensive end Justin Smith's hustle and athletic ability in tracking down receiver Jeremy Maclin to force a fumble when the Eagles were moving into range for the winning field-goal try could be the play of the season for San Francisco. The 49ers' defense gave up too many yards, but forcing key turnovers allowed San Francisco to stay in the game. Frank Gore, after struggling through the first three games, came through with his first 100-yard game of the season. He repeatedly made clutch runs in the late going to help his team win, making an extra effort on the go-ahead touchdown run. He played with heart. Alex Smith, who passed for 291 yards without an interception, found Michael Crabtree for a 38-yard reception against Nnamdi Asomugha. He found tight end Vernon Davis and receiver Josh Morgan for touchdowns. Harbaugh was on his game, twice winning replay challenges. And the 49ers' ability to win back-to-back road games for the first time since 2006 -- after Harbaugh insisted the team remain in the Eastern time zone all the while -- buys tremendous credibility for Harbaugh.

What I didn't like: Jason Babin collected three sacks and made it tough for the 49ers to finish their comeback. The Eagles' Michael Vick approached 400 yards passing. The Eagles made too many big plays in the passing game, including a 61-yarder to DeSean Jackson. That has been a problem area for the 49ers this season, particularly against Dallas and Philadelphia. The Cowboys and Eagles have big-play offenses, however, so some of the big plays are tolerable. An offsides penalty against Ahmad Brooks with 2:15 remaining stopped the clock and kept the Eagles' drive going, at least until Justin Smith's big play on Maclin.

What's next: The 49ers are home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 5.

Alex Smith was absolutely correct Wednesday when describing fundamental changes to the Philadelphia Eagles defense he'll face Sunday.

Last season, Smith and the San Francisco 49ers prepared for an Eagles defense that rushed the passer with five-plus defenders 14.8 times per game by season's end. That figure ranked fifth in the league, according to ESPN Stats & Information. The 2011 Eagles, more confident in their secondary with new cornerbacks Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, are sending five or more rushers 7.7 times per game. That figure ranks 28th.

"Yeah, very different from the Eagles from the past," Smith told reporters in Ohio, where the 49ers are staying between games in the Eastern time zone. "There is much less pressure in terms of linebackers and secondary. Before it was high pressure, a lot of different looks, giving me a lot of different things to think about. This isn’t quite as much variety, but they’re still giving as much pressure. I think they lead the NFL in sacks."

The Eagles did rank first in sacks with 12 until the Dallas Cowboys inched past them by one during their Monday night game against Washington. Improved coverage from in the secondary should, in theory, give the Eagles' front four more time to reach opposing passers unassisted. Why blitz at the expense of coverage when the front four has time to get pressure?

The 2010 Eagles rushed the passer with at least one defensive back 7.6 times per game on average, eighth-most in the league. The average is twice per game this season. Only Jacksonville, Detroit and Cleveland have sent DB pressure less frequently.

OK, then. Next question: How has Smith fared when teams rush four or fewer defenders relative to when they send more? And what about when teams send DB pressure?

So far this season, Smith ranks 21st in NFL passer rating (81.2) and 25th in Total QBR (43.7) against four or fewer rushers. His NFL rating is 115.0 with an 80.1 QBR against five or more.

Smith is a sensational 8 of 8 passing for 106 yards, one touchdown and perfect ratings -- both NFL and QBR -- when teams rush at least one defensive back this season. But the Eagles have pressured with their secondary only six times through their first three games, so Smith might have few opportunities to build on his fast start in those situations.

The Eagles' change in approach would appear to work against Smith overall.

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 1:

Containing the Michael Vick experience: The St. Louis Rams have fielded one of the sounder defenses in the NFL. They allowed only five pass plays of 40-plus yards last season, one off the NFL low and 13 fewer than Houston's league-worst mark. The Rams will have to be at their best against a Philadelphia Eagles offense that has made the big play appear routine. With Vick at quarterback most of the way, the 2010 Eagles completed 15 pass plays covering at least 40 yards, most in the league. DeSean Jackson had eight of them and Jeremy Maclin had four.

World's tallest cornerback: Seahawks coach Pete Carroll emerged from the laboratory this offseason with something I cannot recall seeing at any level of football: a 6-foot-4 cornerback. Brandon Browner, late of the CFL, is expected to make his first NFL start against San Francisco. Seeing him lined up at corner takes some getting used to. Early in camp, teammates initially thought he was a safety and Carroll was testing out some weird new scheme. "When they said he was a corner, I thought maybe now they wanted to go with a 'created' player," receiver Ben Obomanu said. "I have a little cousin who plays NCAA and Madden football. He always creates these 6-7, 6-6 corners. I was like, 'Well, coach Carroll is trying something new.' But when I saw him play, I could see he has been playing corner a long time." Browner is a player to watch in Week 1.

Peterson, Washington and big returns: New rules for kickoffs will produce more touchbacks this season, but return specialists had to like what they saw in the regular-season opener between Green Bay and New Orleans on Thursday night. That game featured a 108-yard kickoff return and a 72-yard punt return, both for touchdowns. The NFC West has its share of big-play returners, with Cardinals rookie Patrick Peterson joining a group featuring Leon Washington, LaRod Stephens-Howling and Ted Ginn Jr. Those last three combined for six return touchdowns last season. Peterson returned an interception for a touchdown during preseason and nearly broke a long punt return.

Familiarity breeds contempt, or at least meaning: Turnover is such in the NFL that every game is a grudge match or extra meaningful for someone. Quintin Mikell's first game with St. Louis comes against his former team, Philadelphia. Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo, the Eagles' former defensive assistant, faces his old boss, Andy Reid, for the first time as a head coach. Derek Anderson's first game with Carolina, albeit as a backup, comes against his former team, Arizona. Cornerback Richard Marshall's first game with Arizona comes against his former team, Carolina. Same goes for new Cardinals tight end Jeff King. Surprising Seattle rookie receiver Doug Baldwin's first NFL game falls against his college coach, Jim Harbaugh, who did not sign him as an undrafted free agent. Bobby Engram's first game as an NFL assistant coach, for San Francisco, comes against his former team, Seattle. Oh, and I seem to recall hearing something about Carroll and Harbaugh facing off in college. Subplots proliferate. As Carroll noted, better have those boom mikes at the ready.

Bradford and the deep ball: The Rams intend to stress defenses with more downfield throws this season. They'll rely more on scheme and creativity than raw speed to set up these opportunities. Doubters will have to credit quarterback Sam Bradford and coordinator Josh McDaniels if the Rams can beat the Eagles' stacked secondary with downfield throws. Philadelphia gave up 54 pass plays of at least 20 yards last season, ninth-most in the league, but they've since added cornerbacks Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. The Rams managed only 36 such plays, third-fewest in the NFL.

Regular ESPN.com contributor K.C. Joyner has shared a few NFC West notes from his 2011 fantasy football guide, including this one for the St. Louis Rams:

Joyner: "Adding Josh McDaniels and a slew of improved wideouts to the team are strong indicators that the Rams will lean just as heavily on their passing game this year as they did last year. The good news for St. Louis is that the schedule also bodes quite well for this type of mindset. The evidence for this can be found in the matchup strength numbers for Sam Bradford and the Rams running game. The matchup strength takes a look at a number of defensive metrics (both for individual players and for the team as a whole) and assigns points based on where they rank leaguewide. ... Bradford has 83 matchup points, a total that ranks him tops among quarterbacks. The Rams' running game has 25 points, a total that is only one point away from ranking dead last."

My thoughts: Someone hide these numbers from Steven Jackson. They play into perceptions McDaniels favors the passing game and will abandon the run more quickly than some coordinators would. Some Rams opponents in 2011 have invested heavily to upgrade their pass defense. Week 1 opponent Philadelphia has gone out of its way to strengthen its secondary, adding Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Nnamdi Asomugha. The New York Giants, on the schedule in Week 2, used a first-round pick for a cornerback, only to watch Prince Amukamara suffer a broken foot. Arizona used the fifth-overall choice for cornerback Patrick Peterson. A couple other teams on the schedule, notably Cincinnati and San Francisco, subtracted starting corners. This is going to be Bradford's offense for the long term, obviously.