For NFL fans weary of trying to keep up with the free-agent feeding frenzy, it's time for a pop quiz on the new 32-team, eight-division alignment that will go into effect this fall.

	To keep up in the NFC West you have to contend with big-play receivers like Isaac Bruce.

Sorry, AFC fans, this quiz concerns NFC divisions only:

Of the four newly formed NFC divisions, which one has the most Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks?

Of the four new divisions, which one has the most NFC title-winning coaches?

And of those divisions, which one had the best combined record last season?

The answer to all three questions, of course, is the NFC West.

That's right. We're talking about the traditionally one-sided but now barely recognizable NFC West, a division that makes geographic sense for the first time in its history now that Atlanta, Carolina and New Orleans have been shipped back to where they belong (the NFC South) and St. Louis and San Francisco have been joined by Arizona (from the NFC East) and Seattle (from the AFC West). As an additional perk of realignment, the division that gave us two decades of domination now makes competitive sense, too.

In the short term, which is the only way one can speak about the NFL these days, the grouping of the Rams, 49ers, Seahawks and Cardinals in the NFC West next season should form the most powerful division in the conference, if not the entire NFL.

The answers to our little pop quiz demonstrate why. The division is extremely strong up the middle. It is loaded with good quarterbacks, good coaches and good records.

The NFC West has two Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks -- the Rams' Kurt Warner and the Seahawks' Trent Dilfer. No other division in the NFL has more than one quarterback who has guided his team to the NFL championship. Meanwhile, Warner (with the Rams in 1999) and Dilfer (with the Ravens in 2000) have won two of the last three Super Bowls.

The NFC West has two coaches -- the Rams' Mike Martz and the Seahawks' Mike Holmgren -- who have won NFC titles (and Super Bowls). In fact, those two have been the NFC's dominant figures in recent years, winning three of the last six conference titles (Holmgren in 1996 and '97 with the Packers, Martz in 2001 with the Rams). Also, as offensive coordinator of the Rams in 1999, Martz had a major hand in winning a fourth NFC title during that span.

	Is West Best?
	The teams that will be in the NFC West in 2002 (Rams, 49ers, Seahawks and Cardinals) combined for more victories in 2001 than the teams in any of the other new divisions:
	Division	'01 record	'01 pct.
	NFC West	42-22	.656
	AFC North	36-28	.563
	AFC East	35-29	.547
	NFC North	32-32	.500
	NFC East	31-33	.484
	AFC West	29-35	.453
	NFC South	24-40	.375
	AFC South	19-29	.396

The NFC West teams combined for a 42-22 record in 2001, by far the best such mark in the new-look NFL. No other NFC division has a combined 2001 record above .500; the next best is the NFC North at 32-32. Only two of the new AFC divisions (the North at 36-28, the East at 35-29) are above .500.

Clearly, the franchise additions and subtractions have turned the NFC West into the division to beat in the conference.

The two holdovers are strong teams that expect to return relatively intact next season. The Rams are coming off a 14-2 season in which they reached the Super Bowl for the second time in three years. The 49ers, after winning only 10 games the previous two seasons combined, rebounded to go 12-4 and make the playoffs.

The two newcomers are ascending teams that expect to continue that trend next season. Despite controversial situations at quarterback and halfback, the Seahawks were 9-7 last year and just missed the AFC playoffs. The Cardinals found some direction under first-year coach Dave McGinnis and came on late to finish 7-9 despite having the NFL's least-talented defense. Both teams were 5-3 in the second half of the season, which could be a jumping off point for next year.

Although they are extensive, the alterations to the NFC West are not likely to change the face of the division much. With the Rams and 49ers setting the tone, it will still be an offense-first division. The newcomers will have to fit in or they'll find themselves sitting out in January.

Indeed, as the Seahawks and Cardinals are about to find out, there are three things a team must have if it wants to compete in the NFC West: an offense that can put up points, a front seven that can stop the run and good-sized cornerbacks.

To keep up with the Rams and 49ers, a team had better have an offense that can score at least three touchdowns a game, every game. St. Louis and San Francisco ranked first and third, respectively, in the NFL in scoring. More importantly, they ranked first and second in offensive touchdowns scored, the Rams with 57, the 49ers with 48.

Both of the newcomers will have to improve dramatically on last season's production, when Seattle ranked 19th in points and Arizona 20th. However, both offenses did show promise late in the season.

Cardinals quarterback Jake Plummer had his best season, completing 57.9 percent of his passes for 3,653 yards, a career-high 18 touchdowns and a career-low 14 interceptions. With wide receiver David Boston emerging as a star and the massive offensive line returning intact, the only thing holding back the Cardinals is the running game.

No Arizona back rushed for 100 yards in a game last season and the team ranked 27th in rushing yards in the NFL. Any improvement will have to come from former first-round draft pick Thomas Jones, a two-season disappointment who inherits the job while Michael Pittman is allowed to leave via free agency. However, if the line gels during its second season together, the running game could improve.

The Seahawks have the opposite problem. Despite having to share time with Ricky Watters, Shaun Alexander ranked sixth in the NFL with 1,318 rushing yards. At quarterback, however, Holmgren's three-year struggle to find a competent starter continued as he waffled over over Matt Hasselbeck, his hand-picked quarterback of the future, and Dilfer, a late free-agent addition. Small wonder the Seahawks ranked 27th in the NFL in passing yards.

Holmgren put an end to the indecision last week when he re-signed Dilfer and named him his starter. Dilfer was 4-0 as a starter in Seattle last year -- compared to Hasselbeck's 5-7 -- and now has won 19 of his last 20 starts for three teams. Dilfer's 92.0 passer rating was the best of his career.

St. Louis, San Francisco and Seattle all ranked in top 10 in the NFL in rushing yards last season, so it is imperative in the NFC West that a team is able to stop the run. The Rams, 49ers and Seahawks are in good shape there. After completing extensive rebuilding projects on defense last year, all three ranked in the top half of the league in stopping the run.

The Cardinals, however, have work to do in that area. They are planning an extensive overhaul of their defense this year, particularly in the line, where end Kyle Vanden Bosch, coming off a knee reconstruction, is the only keeper. Unless the Cardinals can complete a one-year, Rams-like makeover on defense, they'll have trouble bottling up the offenses in the division.

The NFC West is also the home of big, powerful wide receivers. The Cardinals' Boston, 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds, led the NFL with 1,598 receiving yards (on 98 catches). The 49ers' Terrell Owens, 6-3 and also 220, had an NFL-high 16 touchdowns among his 93 catches. The Rams' receiving tandem of 6-footers Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt combined for 145 catches and 2,469 yards. And Seattle's 6-1 Koren Robinson appears ready to break out after catching 39 passes as a rookie first-round draft pick.

The quarterbacking in the division might be the NFL's best, too. The Rams' Warner and the 49ers' Jeff Garcia were first and third, respectively, in the NFL passer ratings. In fact, of the eight starting and backup quarterbacks in the NFL who had passer ratings above 90 last season, three -- Warner, Garcia and Dilfer -- are in the NFC West.

Of the newcomers, Seattle seems to be the most prepared for handling the division's big, tall receivers and quality quarterbacks. Cornerback Shawn Springs missed time due to a hamstring injury and an NFL suspension, but he's one of the best when healthy. Willie Williams was the Seahawks' most consistent cornerback, but he's short and might be pushed to nickel back by promising second-year man Ken Lucas. Whoever plays cornerback will need help from a pass rush that ranked 21st in the NFL in sack percentage.

Like the line, Arizona's secondary is in a state of transition. All four starters are free agents, although one, safety Kwame Lassiter, isn't going anywhere because he was hit with a franchise tag. Oft-injured cornerback Tom Knight definitely won't be back. The Cardinals would like re-sign cornerback Corey Chavous, who turned in a solid effort last season, but he might draw interest elsewhere. With so many question marks in both the line and backfield, the Cardinals defense has a long way to go to catch up with the offenses in their new division.

All in all, it looks like the the biggest losers in the realignment of the NFC West are the airlines. Frequent flyer miles will be down, but the competition will be more intense and scoring will be up, especially if Arizona doesn't fix its defense quickly.

Tom Oates of the Wisconsin State Journal writes an NFC column every week for ESPN.com.