EAST
New York Giants
Last season: 12-4, lost in the divisional round.
Big questions: Do the Giants have the field-stretching receivers to fill the vacancies left by Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer? Can battering ram Brandon Jacobs stay healthy, especially now that backup Derrick Ward isn’t around? How much of an impact will it be getting defensive end Osi Umenyiora back? If there was a benefit to the absence of Umenyiora, it was the emergence of Justin Tuck as a leader both in the locker room and in games.
Big moves: New York bolstered its receiving corps by drafting Hakeem Nicks (first round) and Ramses Barden (third). The Giants also did some serious defensive shopping in free agency, signing linemen Chris Canty and Rocky Bernard, and linebacker Michael Boley.
Bottom line: With former defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo now coaching the Rams, the Giants’ biggest challenge might be filling that sideline void. Eli Manning has proven 2007 was no fluke and that he’s enough of a leader to take the club where it wants to go.
Philadelphia Eagles
Last season: 9-6-1, lost in NFC championship game.
Big questions: How is Philadelphia going to use Michael Vick? What is the Eagles defense going to be like minus late coordinator Jim Johnson, injured middle linebacker Stewart Bradley and departed safety Brian Dawkins? The team has a revamped offensive line, including Pro Bowl addition Jason Peters, but the group has barely spent any playing time together because of injuries.
Big moves: After years of concentrating on the big men up front, the Eagles have turned their off-season attention to skill-position players, adding Vick, signing a true fullback in Leonard Weaver, and drafting receiver Jeremy Maclin in the first round and running back LeSean McCoy in the second.
Bottom line: The Eagles, playing in the league’s toughest division, look good enough to make a playoff push, but first they have to survive this killer stretch: at Redskins, Giants, Cowboys, at Chargers, at Bears, Redskins, at Falcons, at Giants.
Dallas Cowboys
Last season: 9-7.
Big questions: Now that they’ve made the necessary changes to improve chemistry in the locker room, are the Cowboys finally ready to make a playoff run? Assuming he can stay healthy, will Felix Jones make good on the promise he showed as a rookie last season? Is this Tony Romo’s year to prove he can win a postseason game? The Cowboys got rid of one underachieving Roy Williams — the safety — but they appear to have replaced him with another disappointing Roy Williams. Will the former Detroit receiver live up to his whopping price tag?
Big moves: The Cowboys did some major shuffling, getting rid of Terrell Owens, Greg Ellis and safety Williams, and bringing in defenders Keith Brooking, Igor Olshansky and Gerald Sensabaugh, and a very capable backup to Romo in Jon Kitna.
Bottom line: With the distractions of Jessica Simpson and T.O. out of the picture, the Cowboys have no more excuses. It’s time for them to prove they have more than warning-track power and can make a push in December. Wade Phillips will be acting as his own defensive coordinator, and there’s a comfort level there.
Washington Redskins
Last season: 8-8.
Big questions: Will coach Jim Zorn and quarterback Jason Campbell rebound from last season’s mirror-image collapse — 6-2 in the first half, 2-6 in the second? Was the blockbuster signing of Albert Haynesworth money well spent, or another of Dan Snyder’s fantasy-football failures? What kind of impact will the pursuit of quarterback Jay Cutler have on Campbell’s confidence?
Big moves: The acquisition of defensive tackle Haynesworth was the big deal, but not the only risk. The Redskins also signed condo-sized tackle Mike Williams, hoping he can salvage his once-promising career. Washington said goodbye to tackle Jon Jansen, cornerback Shawn Springs and defensive end Jason Taylor.
Bottom line: What began as a very promising season for the Redskins started heading south when their offensive line broke down. Washington has some excellent offensive players in running back Clinton Portis and tight end Chris Cooley, and a defense that could be one of the better units in the league. Now, it’s a matter of going from good on paper to good on the field.
NORTH
Green Bay Packers
Last season: 6-10.
Big questions: How will the Packers adjust to their transition to a 3-4 defense, which will put some of their players in unfamiliar spots? Pro Bowl defensive end Aaron Kampman moves to outside linebacker with more coverage responsibilities, and Pro Bowl corner Al Harris — a bump-and-run expert — will be in a lot more zone. On offense, quarterback Aaron Rodgers played through a dislocated throwing shoulder last season. Can he hold up for 16 games?
Big moves: Green Bay has retooled the right side of its offensive line and is without longtime right tackle Mark Tauscher, who gave up just 16 sacks in 10 seasons. The team’s two first-round picks missed a lot of camp — B.J. Raji (contract) and Clay Matthews (hamstring) — but both should contribute.
Bottom line: If the offensive line holds up, and the defense makes a smooth transition to the new scheme, the Packers could be the surprise team in the division.
Minnesota Vikings
Last season: 10-6, lost in wild-card round.
Big questions: Is Brett Favre the ingredient the Vikings needed to finally get back to the Super Bowl? Can a 39-year-old quarterback step into an offense — even one he knows well — and, on short notice, hit the ground running? Brad Childress has essentially bet his job on it. Can Adrian Peterson, the 2008 rushing champion, have an encore when teams are going to be gearing up even more to stop him? That’s one of the ways Favre could help.
Big moves: Before Favre was added, the Vikings traded for quarterback Sage Rosenfels. They also drafted speedy receiver Percy Harvin, who likely will be an all-purpose threat for them. Losing the leadership of center Matt Birk and safety Darren Sharper hurts.
Bottom line: This could be the year for the Vikings, who believe they have the right quarterback to complement Peterson and also have the league’s best rushing defense two years running. Favre is coming off surgery on his throwing arm, and a lot hinges on how much he’s got left.
Chicago Bears
Last season: 9-7.
Big questions: Do the Bears really have a franchise quarterback in Jay Cutler, or will he be a different player when he’s not playing behind Denver’s line and throwing to those Broncos receivers? Can Rod Marinelli get the defensive line back on track? Will Tommie Harris finally play up to the big contract extension he got last summer? Does left tackle Orlando Pace, coming off an up-and-down training camp, still have the legs to finish his stellar career the way he wants to?
Big moves: Clearly, the addition of Cutler was the headline-grabbing move of the off-season for the Bears. But this franchise was built on defense, and Lovie Smith replaced the coaches at all three levels on that side of the ball. Evidently, he didn’t feel it was the players or the scheme, but the guys wearing the whistles. We’ll see.
Bottom line: For years, the NFC North has struggled to contribute two highly competitive teams to the mix. This year there could be three. The No. 1 key for the Bears will be getting their defense back up to some semblance of its 2006 form.
Detroit Lions
Last season: 0-16.
Big questions: Will Jim Schwartz change the culture of losing for a downtrodden franchise that has won just 10 games over the last three seasons? Can No. 1 pick Matthew Stafford survive 16 games as a rookie starter with veteran Daunte Culpepper waiting in the wings? Will Detroit’s huge influx of free agents make a difference?
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Big moves: The Lions were compulsive shoppers in the free-agent market, picking up several fairly significant names, including linebackers Larry Foote and Julian Peterson; defensive tackle Grady Jackson; cornerbacks Phillip Buchanon and Anthony Henry; receiver Dennis Northcutt; and tackle Jon Jansen.
Bottom line: With Schwartz calling the shots, the Lions should be vastly improved on defense (they finished 32nd the last two seasons). Rookie safety Louis Delmas and tight end Brandon Pettigrew look promising too. But don’t look for a Dolphins-type turnaround.
SOUTH
New Orleans Saints
Last season: 8-8.
Big questions: The Saints put up incredible offensive numbers last year but were just as hurt by their defense. Can they patch those leaks? Will the offense be even better now that Drew Brees is throwing to healthier targets in Marques Colston and Jeremy Shockey? Can Reggie Bush put together an entire season of good play? Will the change at defensive coordinator, from Gary Gibbs to Gregg Williams, make the difference that puts the Saints back into playoff contention?
Big moves: Under Gibbs, the Saints defense rarely forced turnovers or made big plays, even though they gave up a lot of them. Williams appears to have changed the attitude of that unit. The secondary is better with the addition of cornerback Jabari Greer and safety Darren Sharper.
Bottom line: The division could be there for the taking for New Orleans, provided its defense improves as it should. Brees is one of the best quarterbacks in the game, and his offensive line did a terrific job of protecting him last year, allowing a franchise-low 13 sacks. An encore performance likely would mean a playoff run.
Atlanta Falcons
Last season: 11-5, lost in the wild-card round.
Big questions: Is this the season Tony Gonzalez will win a playoff game? How does the addition of that Hall of Fame-caliber tight end improve an already strong offense? Will Atlanta’s defense, depleted of five veteran fixtures, be a liability? Matt Ryan had a terrific rookie season and a horrific, one-and-done performance in the playoffs. Will he take the next step this year? And how does he top his debut (a touchdown on his first pass as a pro)?
Big moves: The addition of Gonzalez was huge, and he still has enough left to be a major factor. The defense lost Keith Brooking, Michael Boley, Lawyer Milloy Grady Jackson and Domonique Foxworth.
Bottom line: The Falcons, who have an outstanding offensive line and a first-rate running back in Michael Turner, could be in a position similar to the Saints last season — score like crazy and pray it’s enough to hold off opponents. Atlanta’s most glaring weakness is its secondary, which has small and inexperienced corners and so-so safeties. Then again, the skeptics were wrong about the Falcons last year.
Carolina Panthers
Last season: 12-4, lost in the divisional round.
Big questions: Jake Delhomme made an impressive return from elbow surgery before coming unglued with six turnovers (five interceptions and a fumble) in the playoff loss to Arizona. How much does he have left? Take away Julius Peppers, and the Panthers generated almost no pass rush last season. Can new defensive coordinator Ron Meeks ratchet up that pressure?
Big moves: Coach John Fox has a fresh crop of assistant coaches — six new ones — and a new defensive system under Meeks, formerly of the Colts. If all goes as planned, rookie defensive end Everette Brown will help bolster the pass rush, and Richard Marshall will be an able replacement for Ken Lucas.
Bottom line: The Panthers have never had consecutive winning seasons, and they’ve got a very difficult schedule this season. On the learning curve, their offense is well ahead of their defense.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Last season: 9-7.
Big questions: The new-look Buccaneers have 32-year-old Raheem Morris at coach (instead of Jon Gruden), Mark Dominik at general manager (instead of Bruce Allen), and a completely reworked defensive philosophy under Jim Bates. With the “Tampa-2” scheme a thing of the past, does the team have the personnel to fit the new defensive system? On offense, can the Buccaneers make do with Byron Leftwich at quarterback long enough to let rookie Josh Freeman adjust to the pros, or will they be forced to play him too soon?
Big moves: Like their coach, the Buccaneers are young. They’ve shown a lot of their older leaders the door, among them Jeff Garcia, Ike Hilliard, Joey Galloway, Derrick Brooks and Cato June. The addition of tight end Kellen Winslow and running back Derrick Ward should give the offense a boost.
Bottom line: The Buccaneers will score more than they did last year but are facing an unfamiliar problem — Will they be able to stop anyone? They have a strong offensive line and running game, led by Cadillac Williams, but are inexperienced at receiver. Watch them try to pound people, then cross their fingers on defense.
WEST
San Francisco 49ers
Last season: 7-9.
Big questions: The new-attitude 49ers won five of their last seven under coach Mike Singletary. Can they sustain that momentum? They’re on their seventh offensive coordinator in seven seasons, and Jimmy Raye will be looking to run Frank Gore between the tackles early and often. The tight end will be a big part of the game plan too. The defense improved vastly when Singletary replaced Mike Nolan but could get a lot better at pressuring the passer.
Big moves: Shaun Hill has gotten the nod over Alex Smith for the starting quarterback job. Hill is 7-3 as a starter and 5-0 at Candlestick. The biggest free-agent pickup was cornerback Dre Bly, who’s slated to start on the right side.
Bottom line: The charismatic Singletary is slowly but surely changing the culture of this once-proud franchise. Hitting and competition was a huge part of training camp. Now, we’ll see if that translates into victories.
Arizona Cardinals
Last season: 9-7, lost in Super Bowl.
Big questions: Will the team change significantly with new coordinators on both sides of the ball? Can Kurt Warner again prove skeptics wrong and turn in another phenomenal season? How, if at all, will Anquan Boldin’s unhappiness with his contract impact his play on the field? Is Larry Fitzgerald the best receiver in the game?
Big moves: Bill Davis replaces the fired Clancy Pendergast at defensive coordinator, and two coaches — Russ Grimm and Mike Miller — will step in for former offensive coordinator Todd Haley, now coaching the Chiefs. Running back Edgerrin James is gone, and first-round pick Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower will power the ground game.
Bottom line: History does not favor the Cardinals, who are looking to become just the second team this decade to make the playoffs the year after losing the Super Bowl. The last time Arizona reached the postseason, in 1998, the team followed that with a 6-10 finish.
Seattle Seahawks
Last season: 4-12.
Big questions: Jim Mora takes over at coach for Mike Holmgren, but that move was announced long before Holmgren finally stepped down. Did the Seahawks make the right move in passing up Mark Sanchez in the draft and instead using the fourth pick on outside linebacker Aaron Curry? Can Matt Hasselbeck bounce back from his most frustrating and injury-riddled season? How much help will it be to have receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh in his arsenal?
Big moves: Houshmandzadeh, Carson Palmer’s favorite target in Cincinnati, comes in to replace Bobby Engram and energize a Seahawks receiving corps that has dropped far too many passes. Cornerback Ken Lucas should help, but the indefinite loss of two standouts — cornerback Marcus Trufant and tackle Walter Jones — really hurts. The addition of running back Edgerrin James could help take some of the workload off of Julius Jones.
Bottom line: The Seahawks were hobbled in a big way last season, and things don’t look so rosy after training camp, either. Nonetheless, if offensive coordinator Greg Knapp can get the running game going, it will take some pressure off Hasselbeck, who’s still a very good quarterback.
St. Louis Rams
Last season: 2-14.
Big questions: Can the Rams find the end zone? The onetime touchdown factory scored just 20 of them last season and was held to fewer than 20 points in all but three games. Can Steven Jackson stay healthy? The running back has missed four games in each of the last two seasons. Will the West Coast offense suit quarterback Marc Bulger? He’ll be playing behind a reconfigured offensive line. Can coach Steve Spagnuolo bring with him some of the winning ways he helped foster as defensive coordinator of the Giants?
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Big moves: The Rams have made a major investment in their offensive line, signing free-agent center Jason Brown (Baltimore) and using the No. 2 pick on Baylor tackle Jason Smith. Gone are a pair of longtime stalwarts — tackle Orlando Pace and receiver Torry Holt.
Bottom line: Winners of just five games in the last two years, the Rams are determined to turn things around. Spagnuolo has a tough task before him. He had great success in New York, but had better players.