Since the Cardinals moved into the NFC West during the great NFL realignment of 2002, the division has had its ups and downs. There were a few seasons in which the division winner won less than double-digits (the Cardinals made the Super Bowl in 2008 after going 9-7 but running away with a division title) or even sub-.500 (the Seahawks going 7-9 but becoming NFCW champs in 2010.)

But Saturday night, as the West champions Los Angeles Rams -- the only division team to make the postseason -- lost at home to the Falcons after an 11-5 season, it meant that for the first time since that 2002 realignment, an NFC West team did not reach at least the Divisional round of the playoffs.

Even in those "down" years, the NFCW survived the Wild Card round. The Cards in 2008, that alleged "worst team to ever make the playoffs," won the NFC Championship. Even that 7-win Seattle team, through the "BeastQuake" game, advanced to the next round. (The NFC West streak goes back further, in fact, prior to the Cardinals' arrival, thanks to the Greatest Show on Turf Rams.)

Funny enough, the NFC West was one of only two divisions (the NFC South being the other) to have at least three teams finish at least .500 or better, thanks to the Cardinals' two-game winning streak to close the season.