ESPN NFL

Much thanks to @groomoo for delicately suggesting we take a more detailed look at the recently published average ages for projected NFL starters.

He wanted to see actual average ages, not just rankings. The information can be difficult to absorb across multiple columns, so we'll break out offenses and defenses separately. The chart shows average ages for projected offensive starters, subject to change during training camps and the preseason.

A few thoughts on the numbers for NFC West teams:

• Arizona Cardinals: The Cardinals are the only team in the division with an older starting quarterback. Carson Palmer is the fourth-oldest projected starting quarterback behind Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Drew Brees. Top quarterbacks endure. One question with Palmer is to what degree serious injuries have affected him. Arizona's projected starting offensive line comes in just under the league average for age, with guard Daryn Colledge the only starter in his 30s. Jonathan Cooper and Bobby Massie are not yet 24. At receiver, Larry Fitzgerald will be turning 30, but that's OK. He's in his prime. And with Michael Floyd in the lineup with him, Arizona comes in just under the NFL average for age at the position.
• San Francisco 49ers: The 49ers had the NFL's youngest starting offense in Week 1 of the 2010 season at 25.27 years old on average. Six of the starters from that 2010 opener remain starters for the team. The list includes Michael Crabtree, Frank Gore, Joe Staley, Mike Iupati, Vernon Davis and Anthony Davis. The 49ers' offensive starters now rank ninth at 27.95 years old, with much of the increase attributed simply to the passage of time. The average will fall once the 49ers move on from Gore, Anquan Boldin and Jonathan Goodwin.
• St. Louis Rams: Only the 49ers' 2010 offensive starters were younger than their Rams counterparts. Sam Bradford and Rodger Saffold are the only starters from that 2010 opener still in the lineup for St. Louis. The current Rams would have the NFL's youngest projected offensive starters by far if they didn't have the third-oldest starting offensive line. We should expect the Rams to draft and/or sign a younger starting offensive linemen next offseason. Most of the other young pieces are in place.
• Seattle Seahawks: Michael Robinson's presence in the lineup at fullback gives Seattle the fourth-oldest starting running backs on average. It's a young man's game, especially at running back. But with quite a few teams going without fullbacks at all, the Seahawks' average at the position is inflated some. Still, the Seahawks drafted two running backs this year, one of them a potential fullback, with an eye toward the future. Robinson and potential starting guard Paul McQuistan, both 30, are the only projected starters older than 27. Top receiver Percy Harvin turns 25 this month. Quarterback Russell Wilson won't be 25 until Nov. 29.

The San Francisco 49ers' Michael Crabtree was the only 1,100-yard receiver in the NFC West last season. He was the only 1,000-yard receiver, the only 900-yard receiver and the only 800-yard receiver.

The breakthrough could have ramifications for the long term.

"I’m taking a different approach this year," Crabtree told the 49ers' website. "I'm the No. 1 receiver on the 49ers and you can quote me on that because I’m really working hard and I’m really trying to be the best player, one of the best in the NFL. It’s going to take a lot. I know what it’s going to take. I just need to go out there and take it."

The distinction between No. 1 and No. 2 receivers can be vague in some cases and meaningless in others. It means a great deal to players, agents and contract negotiators.

Another strong season from Crabtree would help the 49ers on the field while enhancing the receiver's future value. Crabtree's contract runs through the 2014 season. The 49ers have been proactive in re-signing core players, sometimes with more than one year remaining on the contracts. Right tackle Anthony Davis was the latest to cash in.

Where does Crabtree fit in the 49ers' plans? He thinks he's a No. 1 receiver, so we should expect him to seek No. 1 receiver money. His rookie contract negotiation was an epic one, resulting an impasse that kept Crabtree away from the team until October.

The 49ers have time to consider their options with Crabtree, but re-signing Colin Kaepernick could take priority after the 2013 season, the first time players drafted in 2011 become eligible to renegotiate contracts under the current labor agreement.

"I've been quiet the past four years on who’s the No. 1 receiver," Crabtree said in the 49ers.com piece. "I try not to talk about that, but I’m going into my fifth year. It's really time to take that responsibility, be No. 1 and go out and do your job and give the fans what they want to see and give the coaches what they expect of you and that’s greatness, or be the best I can be."

Crabtree once could have voided the final year of his contract by meeting incentives that included reaching at least one Pro Bowl during the first four seasons of the deal, plus other stipulations. The 2009 first-round choice set a career high with 1,105 yards last season, flourishing especially once Kaepernick took over for Alex Smith at quarterback.

The landscape at wide receiver is changing in the division, and not just because the 49ers added Anquan Boldin this offseason.

Larry Fitzgerald should bounce back from a down (for him) season now that the Arizona Cardinals have added quarterback Carson Palmer. Michael Floyd and Andre Roberts should put up better numbers, too.

The Seattle Seahawks added Percy Harvin to a group featuring the ascending Sidney Rice and Golden Tate. The St. Louis Rams plan to feed the ball to eighth overall pick Tavon Austin.

» NFC Eight in the Box: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Who is one potential breakout player for each NFC West team in 2013?

Arizona Cardinals: Tight end Rob Housler comes to mind as a talented young player likely to benefit from an upgraded quarterback situation. Housler had 45 receptions, so it's not as though he was a nonfactor entirely. Based on that figure alone, we might just as easily point to receiver Michael Floyd, who also had 45 catches, as a breakout candidate. Why Housler? The Cardinals were the only team in the NFL without a touchdown reception from a tight end last season. Housler should catch a few of them with Carson Palmer taking over at quarterback. Last season, Cardinals coach Bruce Arians coordinated an Indianapolis Colts offense featuring rookie tight ends Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener. Those two combined for 111 receptions and five touchdowns. Other breakout candidates for the Cardinals in 2013 could include Sam Acho and/or O'Brien Schofield. Both figure to get extensive opportunities rushing the passer.

St. Louis Rams: Running back Isaiah Pead is a close choice over receiver Brian Quick. Both came to mind immediately as leading candidates for breakout seasons after neither produced much as a second-round choice in 2012. Quick caught two scoring passes among his 27 receptions as a rookie. Pead was a nonfactor with only 10 carries. That gives him more room for growth. Pead should see a significant increase in opportunities now that Steven Jackson is with the Atlanta Falcons. When I asked quarterback Sam Bradford about breakout candidates last summer, Pead was one of the first players he mentioned based on physical abilities alone. Bradford wasn't sure whether Pead could contribute right away after missing organized team activities, because of the graduation schedule at the University of Cincinnati. In the end, Pead never gained much traction. Bradford did think Pead had the talent to be "special" in a change-of-pace role, at least. The thinking here is that Pead should be just as talented now as he was then, and that he'll benefit from a year in the offensive system and additional opportunities.

San Francisco 49ers: Running back LaMichael James stands out as the obvious choice after carrying 27 times for 125 yards as a rookie. James and fellow 2012 draft choice A.J. Jenkins would be the leading candidates for breakout seasons based on players already on the roster. Of the two, only James has shown enough at this point to warrant a clearly defined role in the offense for 2013. There are some obstacles in James' path. Frank Gore remains the projected starter at running back for the upcoming season. Kendall Hunter is returning from injury and could take away carries from James. Still, there should be room for James to contribute over the course of the season. Having the shifty James in the backfield with quarterback Colin Kaepernick gave the 49ers a welcome dimension in the playoffs. James carried 11 times for 65 yards (5.9 average) in the postseason. The 49ers could also have breakout players at free safety and in the No. 2 tight end role behind Vernon Davis; however, it's not yet clear which players will fill those roles. The team could find solutions in the draft later this month.

Seattle Seahawks: Guard J.R. Sweezy is a logical candidate in the truest sense. He projects as the starting right guard after arriving in 2012 as a seventh-round choice from NC State. Sweezy played defensive tackle in college. The Seahawks converted him to guard and loved what they saw, so much so that coaches rushed him into the starting lineup before Sweezy was ready to make the jump. Sweezy played 100 percent of the snaps in Seattle's first, 15th and 16th games last season. He played most of the snaps through two postseason games. Having a full offseason in the starting lineup should send Sweezy on his way. It's possible little-known linebacker Malcolm Smith will break out as a starter after seeing his playing time increase over the final five games last season. Sweezy appears more clearly positioned to start, however. Cornerback Jeremy Lane is another young player to watch. I excluded receiver Golden Tate from consideration because he broke out last season with eight touchdown receptions.

» NFC Eight in the Box: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

How does each team look at wide receiver and what still needs to be done?

Arizona Cardinals: Larry Fitzgerald, Andre Roberts and Michael Floyd comprise a solid top three. LaRon Byrd and Kerry Taylor are the only other receivers on the roster. First-year coach Bruce Arians has said receiver is one position he doesn't worry about. Floyd's continued development after an encouraging finish to the 2012 season will be important. The former coaching staff envisioned moving Roberts to the slot, with Fitzgerald and Floyd on the perimeter. That could still happen. Arians also plans to move Fitzgerald around the formation the way he moved Reggie Wayne in Indianapolis last season. Drafting a receiver for depth would make sense, but there's no need to chase one early. The Cardinals released veteran Early Doucet, who struggled with drops last season.

St. Louis Rams: Chris Givens, Brian Quick and Austin Pettis are the top three. Nick Johnson and Raymond Radway are the only other receivers on the roster. The Rams are eager to develop young players. Givens had five receptions of at least 50 yards during his 2012 rookie season, matching the combined total for wide receivers from every other team in the division. Pettis made a difference around the end zone. The Rams still must add to the position after letting Danny Amendola and Brandon Gibson leave in free agency. Having two first-round picks should give the Rams an opportunity to consider a highly rated prospect at the position. It's clear the team is committed to youth regardless. We should remember, too, that recently added tight end Jared Cook lines up at receiver quite a bit. He made all but six of his 42 receptions from the slot last season.

San Francisco 49ers: Michael Crabtree and Anquan Boldin are clearly the top two receivers. Mario Manningham is coming off ACL surgery, took a pay reduction recently and might not figure prominently this season. The 49ers, like the Rams, could use more contributions from a receiver drafted early in 2012. A.J. Jenkins, chosen 30th overall and three spots before the Rams selected Quick, did not catch a pass during his rookie season. What's ahead for him? The 49ers aren't saying much. No one is quite sure. Coach Jim Harbaugh recently sounded more excited about former practice-squad wideout Ricardo Lockette, whose size-speed combination sets him apart from most prospects. Lockette flashed ability with Seattle previously, but his career never took off with the Seahawks. Kyle Williams, Chad Hall, Joe Hastings and Marlon Moore are the other receivers on the roster.

Seattle Seahawks: The addition of Percy Harvin changed the outlook for the position quite a bit. He and Sidney Rice appear to be the top two receivers, but Golden Tate is gaining momentum heading into his contract year. Rice and Tate each caught seven touchdown passes last season. Both averaged 15-plus yards per reception. Doug Baldwin needs improved health to factor as a slot receiver. Even then, opportunities could be scarce. The team thinks Phil Bates and former Cardinals receiver Stephen Williams have the potential to become contributors. Bryan Walters, Charly Martin and Jermaine Kearse are the other receivers on the roster. Drafting for the position would help for long-term planning given Tate's contract situation. Also, injuries have limited Harvin, Rice and Baldwin at times in recent seasons. Rice did stay healthy last season, however.

Every NFC West team but the Arizona Cardinals could reasonably rank a wide receiver upgrade high on its list of priorities.

The Cardinals should be set at the position with Larry Fitzgerald, Andre Roberts and Michael Floyd.

One Seattle fan I heard from through the NFC West mailbag thinks the Seahawks are better than advertised at the position. I'll use the opportunity to take a big-picture look at NFC West teams' production when targeting wide receivers last season.

"I think many fans are misled into believing that we have a weak corps by the fact that the Seahawks are more of a run-dominant team," Brandon from Bremerton, Wash., writes via the mailbag. "Showing the number of targets and the efficiency of catching those targets would be a great measure of how receiving corps are ranked."

We can do that, Brandon. First, though, a few words of warning. Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson held the ball an NFL-high 3.64 seconds before passing when targeting wide receivers, according to ESPN Stats & Information. That bought time for his receivers to get open, often farther downfield. That helps explain why Wilson's passes to wideouts traveled 13.2 yards past the line of scrimmage on average, fifth-longest in the NFL.

Getting open is easier when the defense must worry about a dominant running back such as Marshawn Lynch and a dynamic scrambler such as Wilson. The way Seattle incorporated read-option wrinkles into the offense stressed defenses further.

Seattle ranked 31st in pass targets to wide receivers. That confirms what Brandon said about Seattle being a run-dominant team. But the Seahawks' wide receivers ranked eighth in percentage of targets resulting in completed passes. Seattle's wideouts ranked third in lowest percentage of dropped passes, according to the standard ESPN Stats & Information employs in-game charting. They were also sixth in yards per reception.

The first chart shows where NFC West teams' wide receivers ranked in various categories. Factors beyond the wide receivers come into play. The Cardinals ranked 32nd in expected points added on pass plays targeting wide receivers. I would blame the overall state of their offense, starting at quarterback, more than I would blame the receivers even if the wideouts didn't play as well as anticipated in some cases.

Seattle's efficiency when targeting wide receivers was good, but would it drop appreciably if the Seahawks became more of a throwing team? Or would Wilson continue to maximize the position, getting even more from his receivers as the group worked together more over time? Seattle ranked 19th through Week 7 and fifth thereafter in EPA when targeting wide receivers.

That's a run through some of the statistics. I'd say the Seahawks were better than anticipated at wide receiver. They went from hoping Terrell Owens would catch on to watching Sidney Rice and Golden Tate flourish. Each finished with seven receiving touchdowns. Again, Wilson had a great deal to do with that.

Adding another receiver through the draft would make sense, in my view.

Doug Baldwin has had some injury troubles. Rice had injury problems before last season. Ben Obomanu has been a valuable role player with special-teams ability as well, but he's scheduled to earn $2.3 million in salary for the 2013 season. It's probably time for a younger player to fill that role at lower cost. And if that younger player pushes Tate, Rice or Baldwin for playing time right away, all the better for Seattle.

NFL teams spent Sunday watching running backs and wide receivers work out at the NFL scouting combine. As always, teams are looking for players with big-play ability.

But what is a big play?

In my experience, NFL teams tend to see them as runs covering 12-plus yards and passes covering 16-plus yards.

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch used different measures in a recent piece suggesting the St. Louis Rams need to find a game-breaking player in the draft. But the idea is the same across the board. The longer the play, the better for offenses.

I've put together a couple charts showing where NFC West teams stood last season in big plays, using NFL teams' definition of them. The Rams had 102, which is about the same as they had in 2011 (100) and 2010 (100). They had 89 in 2009.

Rams quarterback Sam Bradford led the NFC West with 66 of these 16-plus completed passes. Seattle's Russell Wilson was second with 64. San Francisco's Colin Kaepernick (41) and Alex Smith (32) combined for 73. John Skelton (26), Kevin Kolb (20), Ryan Lindley (12) and Brian Hoyer (4) combined for Arizona's total of 62.

The San Francisco 49ers had 126, up from 108 in each of the previous two seasons. Seattle had 121, a rise from 95 in 2011, 100 in 2010 and 80 in 2009. Arizona had 84, down from its totals in 2011 (103), 2010 (102) and 2009 (122).

The first chart shows totals for last season. The chart below shows individual NFC West leaders, also from last season.

The Seahawks and 49ers pumped up their totals for rushing with additional quarterback runs covering at least 12 yards. Wilson (14) and Kaepernick (11) combined for 25 of them. Smith added two for the 49ers. Kolb had five. Bradford had three.

We can revisit in the future whether the 12- and 16-yard cutoffs are most meaningful. I just know those are the cutoffs teams cite when evaluating players and offensive production.

Thoughts on the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals following the 49ers' 27-13 victory Sunday at Candlestick Park:

What it means: The 49ers claimed their second consecutive NFC West title while giving themselves a shot at securing the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs and a first-round playoff bye. They'll be the second seed if Minnesota defeats Green Bay in a game that was ongoing as the 49ers defeated Arizona. If the Packers win, the 49ers will enter the playoffs as the third seed, setting up a wild-card home game against Chicago.

What I liked: The Cardinals were competitive early in a game without meaning for them. They dominated the first quarter, even. The 49ers got outstanding play from receiver Michael Crabtree. Those two things stood out most to me.

Crabtree won multiple matchups with Patrick Peterson, the Cardinals' Pro Bowl cornerback. He moved past 1,000 yards receiving for the season and gave the 49ers badly needed consistency from a position diminished by injuries.

Crabtree was a leading reason the 49ers were able to overcome a slow start and put away the Cardinals with about a quarter to spare.

What I didn't like: The 49ers couldn't generate enough on offense early in the game. Arizona held a 128-15 advantage in yardage through one quarter. That seemed inexcusable given what the Cardinals had to work with offensively and what the 49ers had to gain with a strong performance.

The Cardinals had enough trouble keeping pace without turnovers. Rookie receiver Michael Floyd lost a fumble early in the fourth quarter. Arizona wasn't going to mount a comeback to win the game at that point, but the turnover made a bad situation worse.

Floyd wasn't the only 2012 first-round receiver to cost his team in this game. The 49ers' little-used A.J. Jenkins dropped a pass on third down in the first half.

A TD pass, finally: The Cardinals completed a pass for a touchdown for only the third time since Week 7. Brian Hoyer's 37-yard scoring strike to Floyd pulled Arizona within two touchdowns in the fourth quarter.

What's next: The Cardinals finished the regular season with a 5-11 record. We now wait to see whether the team makes changes to its front office and/or coaching staff. The 49ers start preparing for the playoffs.

Our weekly look at playing-time trends in the NFC West, with an eye toward the fantasy leagues you routinely dominate:

• 2012 Targeting Fitzgerald

  QB	Kolb	Skelton	Lindley
  Cmp.-Att.	32-52	19-40	5-25
  Pct.	61.5	47.5	20.0
  YPA	6.9	5.7	2.6
  TD-INT	3-2	1-1	0-3
  Pass dist.	8.2	10.6	12.8
  NFL rating	85.3	63.1	0.00

  Arizona Cardinals: Larry Fitzgerald continues to play all or nearly all the offensive snaps for Arizona. His stats should only benefit with John Skelton's return to the lineup. He was a non-factor with Ryan Lindley playing. It's still tough to bank on much, however. Skelton completed 2 of 7 passes for 26 yards and an interception when targeting Fitzgerald in the regular-season opener. The two connected nine times for 149 yards and six first downs against Seattle in Week 17 last season, however. Rookie receiver Michael Floyd played a career-high 94.4 percent of the snaps last week as Arizona played without injured starter Andre Roberts. Roberts is listed as questionable this week. Running back LaRod Stephens-Howling played more than 75 percent of the snaps three times in a four-week period ending in Week 9. He has played less than 20 percent of the snaps over the past two weeks. Beanie Wells' return accounts for much of the difference. Wells has played about 40 percent of the snaps since returning.
• St. Louis Rams: Brandon Gibson and Chris Givens each played 90.7 percent of the snaps against San Francisco as the Rams played without the injured Danny Amendola. It's unclear whether or how much Amendola might play against Buffalo. It's also unclear how much playing time Givens has earned regardless. Givens ranks fifth among NFL players in receptions (16) and receiving yards (207) over the past two weeks, all with Amendola either out of the lineup or playing sparingly. Sam Bradford has completed 16 of 20 passes to Givens over that span. He has targeted Givens on a wider range of throws after previously looking for Givens mostly on deep ones. Running back Steven Jackson has played better than 70 percent of the snaps in three of the Rams' last four games. He had played that much only twice previously.
• San Francisco 49ers: Injuries are affecting the 49ers to a degree they have not in the recent past. Receiver Mario Manningham is not expected to play against Miami. Receiver Kyle Williams is out for the season. Running back Kendall Hunter is out for the season. Receiver A.J. Jenkins and running back LaMichael James, both rookies, could now begin factoring in meaningful ways. Frank Gore has played better than 80 percent of the snaps in three of the 49ers' past four games after playing less than 70 percent for the season previously. Fullback Bruce Miller's snaps are up. Randy Moss' snaps have been up. Running back Brandon Jacobs played a season-high 10.4 percent against the Rams. James' expected activation in the near future threatens Jacobs' playing time.
• Seattle Seahawks: Sidney Rice, Golden Tate and Zach Miller all played about 95 percent of the snaps at Chicago last week. Tate did not play against Arizona in Week 1. He and Rice now lead the NFC West with seven touchdown receptions apiece. Braylon Edwards, released during the week, had been playing between about 15 percent and 30 percent of the snaps over the previous three weeks. Doug Baldwin's improved health contributed to Edwards' release. Baldwin played 50 percent of the snaps at Chicago, his highest total since the opener. Anthony McCoy's snaps fell some against the Bears, but he has earned a role in the offense. Fullback Michael Robinson played season-low snaps against Chicago (17.6 percent), Miami (20.0 percent) and Arizona the first time (21 percent). He is at 35 percent in other games

That is all for now. I'll be heading over to CenturyLink Field in a bit.

Note: ESPN Stats & Information contributed to this item.

CHICAGO -- All four NFC West teams are playing early games Sunday. As a result, news regarding inactive players hit all at once.

Let's sort through what it means.

• Arizona Cardinals: With Andre Roberts out, rookie first-round draft choice Michael Floyd is starting at wide receiver. Early Doucet is active after missing the game last week. Floyd, second-year tight end Rob Housler and possibly Doucet could see more targets. The defense will suffer again without injured end Calais Campbell, arguably the best player on the team not named Larry Fitzgerald.
• St. Louis Rams: Top receiver Danny Amendola is out. That probably means more chances for emerging rookie Chris Givens, who topped 100 yards last week while a foot injury limited Amendola to 14 percent of the offensive snaps. Linebacker Mario Haggan's absence affects the base defense, which figures to play more against a 49ers offense that favors heavier personnel groupings.
• San Francisco 49ers: Brandon Jacobs is active. Rookie LaMichael James is not. That puts Jacobs in prime position to make an impact as the 49ers play their first game of the season without injured No. 2 back Kendall Hunter. Rookie first-round pick A.J. Jenkins is active, a rarity. The team needed him after losing third/fourth receiver Kyle Williams to a season-ending injury. It's unclear whether Jenkins will play much, however. Michael Crabtree, Mario Manningham and Randy Moss are the top three receivers. Moss and Williams had been getting a similar number of snaps. Will Jenkins get some of those, or will the veteran receivers absorb all of them? Tough to say.
• Seattle Seahawks: Walter Thurmond makes his 2012 debut and will serve as the nickel corner after the team named Marcus Trufant inactive with a hamstring injury. Thurmond is better than Trufant at this stage of their careers if both are healthy. Thurmond hasn't been able to stay healthy. This is a big game for him. Seattle is without linebacker Leroy Hill. He's been playing hurt and it has shown in his game.

Our weekly look at playing-time trends in the NFC West, with an eye toward the fantasy leagues you routinely dominate:

CHICAGO -- The Arizona Cardinals were expected to welcome back veteran tight end Todd Heap last week following a prolonged injury absence.

Instead, the Cardinals named Heap inactive again. Second-year tight end Rob Housler wound up playing a career-high 83.8 percent of the team's offensive snaps against St. Louis. It was the first time Housler had played as many snaps as wideout Andre Roberts.

Heap's situation has been one of the strangest I can recall for a player in the NFC West. There is no reason for Arizona to reverse course. Housler caught eight passes for 82 yards against the Rams. Heap is 32 years old and has eight receptions all season.

• Arizona Cardinals: Rookie receiver Michael Floyd, relegated to the bench in Week 11 after struggling, played a career-high 67.5 percent of the offensive snaps against the Rams. Floyd's playing time spiked when the team named Early Doucet inactive with injured ribs. Doucet's status is in question this week as well.
• St. Louis Rams: Rookie receiver Chris Givens played a career-high 85.2 percent of the offensive snaps in Week 12. He responded with the first 100-yard game of his career. Givens is emerging as more than a deep threat, too. He could see similar snap counts against the 49ers, particularly if Danny Amendola misses the game or is limited. Amendola, battling a foot injury, was limited to 14 percent of the snaps against Arizona. He was listed as doubtful on the injury report this week.
• San Francisco 49ers: Fullback Bruce Miller has gone from playing about one-third of the snaps over the first seven games to one-half of them in subsequent games. He played very well against New Orleans while logging a season-high 60.3 percent of the snaps. He should continue to get significant reps, particularly with the team losing receiver Kyle Williams to a season-ending injury. Randy Moss also could play more. He was above 40 percent of snaps against the Saints, only the second time this season he has played that much. Frank Gore has set season-highs for snap percentages twice in the past three weeks. Kendall Hunter's season-ending injury makes Gore even more important to the 49ers. Brandon Jacobs or LaMichael James could factor now.
• Seattle Seahawks: Backup tight end Anthony McCoy has played better than half the offensive snaps in each of the Seahawks' last two games. He had done so only once previously this season, at St. Louis in Week 4. Third receiver Doug Baldwin and fullback Michael Robinson played fewer snaps against the Dolphins in Week 12 than they had over the previous couple weeks. Staying healthy enough to factor has been the biggest challenge for Baldwin. He should become a reliable target for Russell Wilson if the Seahawks shift to their three-receiver offense a little more frequently. Sidney Rice and Golden Tate are solidly entrenched as the top two, however.

All for now. I'll be heading over to Soldier Field shortly for the Seahawks' game against the Chicago Bears.

Thoughts on the Arizona Cardinals' 23-19 defeat against the Atlanta Falcons in the Georgia Dome on Sunday:

What it means: The Cardinals have now lost six consecutive games following a 4-0 start. This game was a bit like their season. Arizona started quickly thanks to a strong defense, but quarterback issues dragged them down over time. Coach Ken Whisenhunt emphasized accountability during the bye week. He backed it up by benching quarterback John Skelton while the Cardinals held a 13-3 lead. Skelton missed a wide-open Larry Fitzgerald in the end zone as the Cardinals failed to fully capitalize on three first-quarter interceptions off Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan. The fact that Arizona picked off five passes and still lost highlighted the team's glaring issues at quarterback.

What I liked: The defense was fantastic and did enough to win this game with only average play from the quarterback position. Defensive end Darnell Dockett was disruptive. He batted one pass to set up an interception. He blew up running plays. The bye week seemed to restore Dockett's health and productivity. William Gay, Kerry Rhodes and Greg Toler had first-quarter interceptions. Inside linebacker Daryl Washington added a fourth pick in the second half. Sam Acho produced a fifth, collecting a pass that bounced off teammate Dan Williams' helmet as Williams leaped to defend the pass. LaRod Stephens-Howling gained 127 yards on 22 rushes. He had 52- and 40-yard runs in the half. The 52-yarder featured a jump cut for the ages. William Powell had a 65-yard kickoff return. Punter Dave Zastudil and the coverage units positively affected field position as the Cardinals jumped to their early lead. Toler made an outstanding effort at throwing a loose ball back inbounds so Arizona could recover for a turnover.

What I didn't like: The quarterback play was horrendous by NFL standards. Skelton had completed 2 of 7 passes for 6 yards when the Cardinals benched him. Rookie Ryan Lindley completed 2 of 7 passes for 18 yards on his first seven attempts. He completed 9 of 20 passes for 64 yards (3.2 per attempt) overall. The Cardinals ran the ball well and have talent at wide receiver. They needed more production from their passing game under the circumstances. The offense wasn't alert enough when the Falcons picked up a loose ball and returned it for a touchdown. The whistle had never blown. Arizona gave away free points on that play. Washington, though outstanding this season, committed a 15-yard penalty after the Cardinals stopped the Falcons on third-and-15. The Cardinals, after holding firm defensively much of the day, gave up a quick touchdown drive to lose the lead late. Fitzgerald could not finish a fourth-and-2 reception in Falcons territory as the team made its final push to retake the lead.

Notable: Minus the one game he had missed to injury, veteran safety Adrian Wilson had played a higher percentage of defensive snaps than any Cardinal other than cornerback Patrick Peterson. Wilson wasn't on the field early in the game. His snaps were down overall. Was this one of the switches Whisenhunt had alluded to when he said during the bye that changes would be made? The quick hook for Skelton had to be one. Also, the Cardinals went away from rookie receiver Michael Floyd after he appeared to line up incorrectly, leading to a turnover.

Coaching gaffe: Falcons coach Mike Smith threw his challenge flag before officials initiated a mandatory review following the third-quarter turnover Toler helped to force. Smith's challenge was in violation of the rules. And because he threw the flag before booth officials initiated their review, the play became unreviewable. The Cardinals took over possession, short-circuiting a Falcons drive deep in Cardinals territory. Everyone makes mistakes, but coaches earning millions should know basic rules regarding challenges.

Key injury: Peterson suffered a hamstring injury, apparently in the fourth quarter.

What's next: The Cardinals are home against the Rams in Week 12.

Our weekly look at playing-time trends in the NFC West, with an eye toward fantasy football:

• Arizona Cardinals: Rookie receiver Michael Floyd has played about 60 percent of the Cardinals' offensive snaps over the past two weeks. He was at 38.4 percent previously. Early Doucet played a season-low 29.9 percent against Green Bay in Arizona's most recent game. His dropped passes have cleared the way for Floyd, who has earned additional playing time anyway. Second-year tight end Rob Housler has played 64.2 percent of the snaps since Todd Heap suffered a knee injury in Week 2. Housler played 22.5 percent over the first two games. The team expected Heap to have returned by now. It's unclear when Heap will return. Running back Beanie Wells, who could return from a toe injury Nov. 25, never played more than 38.5 percent of the snaps in a game when he was available this season. That will presumably change upon his return. The Cardinals need him.
• St. Louis Rams: Receiver Brandon Gibson played a season-high 86.4 percent of the snaps against San Francisco last week. That was up from 53.1 percent the previous week. Rookie Chris Givens' return from a one-game team suspension figures to reduce snaps for Gibson, who did not help himself with a costly penalty for lining up improperly last week. Rookie Brian Quick played only eight percent of the snaps last week despite catching a touchdown pass early in the game. That was his lowest percentage for a game since Week 2. Backup tight end Matthew Mulligan has quietly played 38.9 percent of the snaps this season. Starter Lance Kendricks is at 82.5 percent. Kendricks has played increasingly well as a blocker and receiver. Danny Amendola played 85.2 percent of the snaps in his first game back from injury. Running back Steven Jackson was at 79.5 percent against the 49ers, his highest single-game total since playing 94.8 percent in the opener. He is at 64.8 percent for the season.
• San Francisco 49ers: Receiver Randy Moss has played at least 35 percent of the snaps in each of the 49ers' last three games. He had done so only once this season previously, in Week 3. He is at 32.4 percent for the season. Michael Crabtree leads the receivers at 66.4 percent, followed by Mario Manningham (52.0), Kyle Williams (37.2) and Moss. Those figures count only games in which the players participated. Manningham missed one game. Running back Frank Gore played a season-high 82.1 percent against the Rams. He is at 70.7 percent for the season. Kendall Hunter is second among 49ers halfbacks at 26.2 percent. Fullback Bruce Miller is getting more time in recent weeks as the 49ers have recommitted to their conventional offense. Tight end Vernon Davis has played every offensive snap in each of the 49ers' last four games.
• Seattle Seahawks: Quarterback Russell Wilson is the only non-offensive lineman in the division to play every offensive snap for his team this season. Tight end Zach Miller has played a higher percentage of the Seahawks' offensive snaps (84.7) than any other tight end, wide receiver or running back. Receiver Sidney Rice has been much more durable after having surgery on each shoulder during the offseason. The procedures were supposed to make it easier for Rice to participate in weight training to improve his strength. Rice has played 77.8 percent of the snaps to this point without missing a game. Fellow receiver Golden Tate has played 74 percent since missing the opener. Running back Marshawn Lynch played a season-low 60.3 percent against the New York Jets as Seattle headed into its bye week. He played more than 60.3 percent only four times all last season. Rookie Robert Turbin has played 18.8 percent for the season, but no less than that since Week 5.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Greetings from Candlestick Park, site of the St. Louis Rams' first NFC West road game under coach Jeff Fisher.

I've been going through ESPN's playing-time data with an eye toward trends affecting NFC West skill players.

The chart shows players getting the most additional playing time over the past three weeks.

Rams receiver Austin Pettis played 23 percent of the offensive snaps when he was active during the first six weeks of the season. He has played 60.5 percent when active over the past three weeks. The difference between those figures -- plus-37.5 -- represented the largest gain for an NFC West skill player.

The method is imperfect because it doesn't account for games when players were not active and did not play at all. But that was an acceptable trade-off in light of the alternative, which would have required explaining why each player was not active.

Pettis' playing time figures to take a hit if Danny Amendola returns to the Rams, as he is expected to do Sunday.

Arizona's LaRod Stephens-Howling ranks second on our list. His playing time will take a hit once Beanie Wells returns from injury. That could happen Nov. 25.

Niners fullback Bruce Miller appears on the list. The 49ers have recommitted to their core personnel groupings in recent weeks. That probably explains his rise.

Arizona tight end Rob Housler is getting more time. That was expected in his second season. Having Todd Heap on the injured list has also contributed. Teammate Michael Floyd, the Cardinals' first-round draft choice in 2012, figures to see even more playing time based on his improved play and Early Doucet's struggles.

At the other end, Arizona's William Powell, San Francisco's Colin Kaepernick, St. Louis' Steven Jackson, the 49ers' Garrett Celek and Seattle's Doug Baldwin have seen the largest declines in playing time based on our methodology. All dropped between 11.2 and 23.7 percentage points.

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Thoughts on the San Francisco 49ers' 24-3 victory over the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium in Week 8:

What it means: The 49ers affirmed their status as the most complete team in the NFC West and the clear favorite to win the division. Their 6-2 record gives them a two-game lead over Seattle and Arizona, with St. Louis lagging three games back. San Francisco appears ready to pull away from its rivals over the second half of the season. The Cardinals appear less likely than Seattle to challenge for a playoff spot.

What I liked: The 49ers' Michael Crabtree and the Cardinals' Patrick Peterson went head to head on a national stage. The young first-round draft choices matched up several times in the first half. Crabtree enjoyed a clear advantage this time. He now has won two of their past three matchups.

Crabtree outmuscled Peterson to grab a high pass in the end zone. He broke away from Peterson and kept his balance during a 22-yard reception to set up a David Akers field goal. Later, Crabtree left Peterson on the grass en route to another scoring reception. The 49ers' passing game hadn't gotten going like this since the game against Buffalo three weeks ago.

Alex Smith's finger injury obviously isn't a factor any longer. He completed 18 of 19 passes for 232 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Smith got the ball to his receivers and let them do much of the work, including when Randy Moss shook Jamell Fleming and Paris Lenon along the sideline for a 47-yard touchdown.

For the Cardinals, Daryl Washington collected two more sacks, giving him eight for the season. That's tremendous production from an inside linebacker. Washington should challenge for a Pro Bowl berth this season, particularly with Dallas' Sean Lee out for the year. The 49ers' Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman also are in the mix for Pro Bowl berths at inside linebacker, of course.

Cardinals rookie receiver Michael Floyd, although inconsistent, flashed talent by making a left-handed grab while falling to the ground in the final minutes.

What I didn't like: The Cardinals' defense had no answer for the 49ers' offense. San Francisco ran the ball at will early in the game, then succeeded through the air before and after the catch. Arizona has been much better on defense much of the season. However, four of the Cardinals' five most recent opponents -- Miami, Buffalo, Minnesota and San Francisco -- have moved the ball too easily on the ground, through the air or both ways.

This was the first time all season Arizona allowed more than 21 points in a game.

Of course, Arizona's offense deserves a fair amount of the blame. The defense can't do everything. Quarterback John Skelton threw inaccurately with and without imminent pressure. That has been typical for him. On some plays, inaccuracy made it nearly impossible for Cardinals receivers to make gains after the catch. Receivers had to reach for balls just to make catches, allowing defenders to close ground.

Smith, despite his strong passing performance, held the ball too long, taking sacks. He risked injuries unnecessarily while setting back the offense. Smith took hard hits from Calais Campbell and Darnell Docket after having time to unload the ball.

Also, 49ers guard Alex Boone committed a face mask penalty to kill a promising San Francisco drive early in the game.

Advantage, Goldson: Niners safety Dashon Goldson leveled Cardinals receiver Early Doucet following a short reception over the middle. Goldson celebrated by holding both arms skyward. This one might have been personal.

Goldson and Doucet brawled during a Week 11 game between the teams last season. The league levied a $25,000 fine against Goldson and a $10,000 fine against Doucet. Doucet was the instigator, but the NFL cited him for only unnecessary roughness, while Goldson was cited for fighting, which carries higher fines.

Doucet returned to the game.

Draft-pick comparison: The Cardinals selected Peterson fifth overall in 2011 when they could have taken Aldon Smith, who went to the 49ers two picks later. Both have been impact players overall, but Smith had the better night Monday. He had two sacks.

Fitzgerald shaken up: Larry Fitzgerald remained in the game and was on the field in the final minutes despite getting shaken up when he went face first into the grass during the first half. There was no injury announcement made in relation to Fitzgerald. He returned to the game quickly.

Roof open: While states in the East weathered Sandy, the Cardinals opened the roof for this game. The official play-by-play sheet said the temperature was 90 degrees at kickoff. The thermometer on my rental car read in the 80s several hours earlier. Either way, the NFL lucked out with its scheduling for this game.

Not the 2002 Raiders: Arizona is the first team since the 2002 Oakland Raiders to go from 4-0 to 4-4. Those Raiders went 11-5 and reached the Super Bowl thanks to MVP quarterback Rich Gannon.

What's next: The Cardinals visit the Green Bay Packers in Week 9. The 49ers have a bye before facing the St. Louis Rams at Candlestick Park in Week 10.

Our latest look at playing time in the NFC West, with an eye toward fantasy football:

Wide receivers are the focus this time.

Every team but San Francisco had more than four of them active in Week 7.

• Arizona Cardinals: Fitzgerald was targeted six times, all from the Cardinals' three-receiver offense. Andre Roberts, Early Doucet and tight end Rob Housler each had four targets from that personnel. Roberts and Doucet got all five wide receiver targets from the four-receiver offense.
• San Francisco 49ers: The 49ers emphasized the run in this game. Seattle took away deeper throws. That explains why running back Frank Gore led the team in receiving yards with 45 this week. Twelve of Alex Smith's 14 completed passes traveled no more than five yards past the line of scrimmage.
• St. Louis Rams: Quarterback Sam Bradford spread the ball pretty evenly to his various targets. He targeted six players on third down, none more than twice. Steven Jackson and Austin Pettis saw their third-down targets increase in Week 6, the Rams' first game without Danny Amendola. Lance Kendricks and Brandon Gibson went from zero last week to two apiece this week. No pattern there yet.
• Seattle Seahawks:
  Doug Baldwin's injury left additional snaps for the other receivers. Braylon Edwards has five targets over the past two games after getting one over the previous four. That includes two of the team's four red zone targets over the past two weeks. That could be something to watch given that Edwards did catch a touchdown pass against New England.


All for now. About to board a plane from St. Louis to Seattle. Catch you in a bit.