Road to Arizona
By HANK GOLA
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
FAVORITES
PATRIOTS
LAST YEAR: 12-4. Playoffs: Lost AFC Championship Game.
INCOMING: Tom Brady can spread the field even more now that he has WRs Randy Moss, Donte' Stallworth and Wes Welker. Kyle Brady adds a blocking TE to the mix. The versatile Adalius Thomas should be a perfect fit at OLB. Backup RB Sammy Morris moves over from Miami.
OUTGOING: RB Corey Dillon, the Pats' leading rusher last season, retired. WR Reche Caldwell was released.
MAIN MAN: Brady is poised for a monster season because of the versatility that surrounds him this year. The Patriots love multiple personnel groupings depending on the defense and the situation. Brady's head is as valuable as his arm.
STRENGTHS: Defensive linemen Richard Seymour (who starts the year on PUP), Vince Wilfork and Ty Warren present matchup problems. If anybody can get Moss to toe the line, it's Bill Belichick.
WEAKNESSES: There is some age at linebacker and concerns safety, now that Rodney Harrison has been suspended four games for hgh. Franchise-tagged CB Asante Samuel missed most of camp holding out.
BOTTOM LINE: The Pats didn't waste time in becoming Super Bowl favorites again. They were only a drive away from returning in '06 and they're certainly a better team now.
CHARGERS
LAST YEAR: 14-2 Playoffs: Lost divisional round
INCOMING: Norv Turner attempts what Marty Schottenheimer couldn't do: win a playoff game. Top pick Craig Davis has speed at WR to stretch the field, and second-round pick Eric Weddle, a hard-hitting safety, has had an impressive camp.
OUTGOING: Keenan McCardell, the Chargers' leading wide receiver, signed with the Texans. The linebacking corps lost Donnie Edwards and Randall Godfrey.
MAIN MAN: Turner built this offense around LaDainian Tomlinson when he was offensive coordinator during LT's rookie season in 2001. Tomlinson is the best player in the league and if Turner can add a vertical element to the attack, the NFL MVP should repeat his big numbers.
STRENGTHS: The front seven is superb, anchored by DT Jamal Williams with Shawne Merriman and Shaun Phillips coming off the edge. When Tomlinson isn't tormenting defensive coordinators, TE Antonio Gates is.
WEAKNESSES: The Chargers don't scare anyone at wide receiver, and QB Philip Rivers, who does not have a big-time arm, must avoid the mistakes he made down the stretch last season. The secondary may not be good enough to beat Indy or New England in the playoffs.
BOTTOM LINE: The Bolts are a lock for the playoffs. Then what?
COLTS
LAST YEAR: 12-4 Playoffs: Super Bowl champs
INCOMING: Rookie WR Anthony Gonzalez gives Peyton Manning yet another weapon in the slot. Second-round pick Tony Ugoh must protect Manning's blind side.
OUTGOING: LT Tarik Glenn shocked the team with his retirment. Lost leading tackler LB Cato June, CBs Nick Harper and Jason David, WR Brandon Stokley and backup RB Dominic Rhodes to free agency. DTs Montae Reagor and Corey Simon went to Titans.
MAIN MAN: Manning finally reached the promised land with an MVP performance in the Super Bowl, but he doesn't seem to be satisfied. This year, he's talking about getting the offense back to 2004 standards, when he threw 49 TD passes.
STRENGTHS: The passing game stands alone in terms of explosiveness. RB Joseph Addai is versatile, as long as he can stand the workload. DE Dwight Freeney seems motivated to improve on his 5.5-sack total of '06.
WEAKNESSES: Run defense - again. DT Anthony MacFarland is out for the season with a knee injury and S Bob Sanders, the key to last year's improvements, began camp on the PUP list. Things could get ugly if Ugoh or backup Charlie Johnson don't have Manning's back.
BOTTOM LINE: Super Bowl hangover is a funny thing, especially since the Colts took so long to get there. The odds say they don't return.
BEARS
LAST YEAR: 13-3 Playoffs: Lost Super Bowl
INCOMING: Rookie TE Greg Olsen will be a weapon in an often-stagnant passing game. SS Adam Archuleta has been reunited with Lovie Smith. DT Darwin Walker, the ex-Eagle, was acquired in a trade with Buffalo.
OUTGOING: Troubled DT Tank Johnson was waived. RB Thomas Jones bolted to the Jets, leaving an ecstatic Cedric Benson to carry the load. The rest of the roster is pretty much intact.
MAIN MAN: Devin Hester lit teams up as a rookie return man last year. Now he's being integrated into the offense as a receiver as the Bears try to spice up the attack. How's it working? They were calling training camp "The Devin Hester Experience."
STRENGTHS: The defense only gets better with the return of Tommie Harris and Mike Brown, who moves from SS to FS, from injuries. LBs Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs seem to be everywhere.
WEAKNESSES: None apparent, other than having to live with Rex Grossman's inconsistency. They also can't afford to get big-headed about last season's success.
BOTTOM LINE: Weak division almost guarantees home-field advantage again as Da Bears appear to be the class of the NFC.
SAINTS
LAST YEAR: 10-6 Playoffs: Lost NFC Championship Game
INCOMING: CB Jason David brings Super Bowl experience from the Colts while ex-Bengal Kevin Kaesviharn starts at safety. Veteran LBs Dhani Jones and Brian Simmons and DT Kendrick Clancy try to upgrade a unit that allowed 4.9 yards per rush. WR David Patten was picked up off waivers. Olindo Mare is the new K.
OUTGOING: WR Joe Horn is in Atlanta. KR Michael Lewis, CB Bryan Scott and S Omar Stoutmire have moved on.
MAIN MAN: Reggie Bush should be even more versatile and explosive in his second season. He added strength and speed with an offseason conditioning program and wants the ball more. He attacked interior defenses with impressive burst in the pre-season.
STRENGTHS: The Saints return most of the components of their league-leading offense, from Drew Brees on down. Bush and Deuce McAllister form the best RB tandem in the league.
WEAKNESSES: The defense, which was 31st in creating turnovers last year, is still a question mark without any name players outside of Pro Bowl DE Will Smith. Defensive tackle, where Brian Young is battling an ankle injury, is a huge concern. Could use a No. 2 receiver to emerge behind Marques Colston.
BOTTOM LINE: A one-year wonder? Not unless somebody can slow down this offense. But it takes more than that to get to the Super Bowl.
SEAHAWKS
LAST YEAR: 9-7 Playoffs: Lost divisional round
INCOMING: With a safety a longtime problem spot, they signed Deon Grant and Brian Russell and hired Jim Mora Jr. as the secondary coach. DE Patrick Kerney follows Mora from Atlanta.
OUTGOING: Matt Hasselbeck loses his favorite receiver in Darrell Jackson, to rival Niners. Another producer, TE Jerramy Stevens, is in Tampa. Traded S Michael Boulware to Houston.
MAIN MAN: Shaun Alexander followed up his MVP year in 2005 by missing much of '06 with a broken foot, although he nearly led the team to a playoff win in Chicago. He turned 30 on Aug. 30 and, unlike Tiki Barber, wants to add to his resume as he gets older.
STRENGTHS: Seattle's offense is superbly balanced, with Hasselbeck keeping honest any defenses that stack up on Alexander. His rapport with Deion Branch seems to have improved. Julian Peterson, Leroy Hill and Lofa Tatupo form a quick, rangy LB corps. Kicker Josh Brown is money.
WEAKNESSES: The defense looks improved but needs a run-stuffer, especially with two games against the Niners' Frank Gore. NT Marcus Tubbs has problems staying on the field. C Chris Spencer comes off two shoulder surgeries and another injury would reshuffle the entire O-line.
BOTTOM LINE: With a healthy Hasselbeck and Alexander, the Seahawks are among the teams to beat in the NFC.
CONTENDERS
EAGLES
LAST YEAR: 10-6 Playoffs: Lost divisional round
INCOMING: Reggie Brown and Kevin Curtis give Donovan McNabb his best WR corps. LB Takeo Spikes is supposed to add teeth to the run defense.
OUTGOING: Jeff Garcia may have saved the '06 season but there wasn't room for him and McNabb. MLB Jeremiah Trotter was released in August.
MAIN MAN: With Tiki Barber in retirement, Brian Westbrook is the most versatile back in the NFC. Westbrook had 319 touches and put up a career-high 1,217 rushing yards and 79 catches. Eagles want to expand that by finding more ways to use him.
STRENGTHS: McNabb is recovered and in charge again. The massive offensive line may be the league's best. Sheldon Brown and Lito Sheppard are lockdown corners. K David Akers rarely misses.
WEAKNESSES: The run defense relies on blitzing too heavily and is prone to big plays. Releasing Trotter was a sign of distress. The defensive tackles need to get better penetration.
BOTTOM LINE: The Eagles should have no problem defending their divisional title and have an outside chance of returning to the big game if they can avoid injuries to key players.
RAVENS
LAST YEAR: 13-3 Playoffs: Lost divisional round
INCOMING: RB Willis McGahee replaces Jamal Lewis. LB Antwan Barnes, a fourth-round pick, has had a phenomenal camp.
OUTGOING: Lewis stayed in the division in Cleveland, but the guy who will really be missed is LB Adalius Thomas, now in New England. RT Tony Pashos signed with the Jags and NT Aubrayo Franklin left for the 49ers.
MAIN MAN: Steve McNair finally provided the Ravens with a legitimate QB last year, but as tough as he is, he could be on the decline as the 2007 season begins. The Ravens need him to remain healthy.
STRENGTHS: The defense, the best in the league last year, is aggressive, versatile and loaded with star power in Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. They will keep the team in every game. McGahee could be a perfect fit for the offense, as long as the O-line improves as hoped.
WEAKNESSES: OT Jonathan Ogden has been on the PUP list with a troublesome toe injury. The roster is a bit creaky. Nine projected starters are 30 or older.
BOTTOM LINE: No one else in the division seems that improved, but joining the Pats, Colts and Chargers in the AFC elite will be difficult.
COWBOYS
LAST YEAR: 9-7 Playoffs: Lost wild card round
INCOMING: Signed S Ken Hamlin, who will allow Roy Williams to play less coverage and more in the box. Leonard Davis leaves Arizona to add even more bulk at RG.
OUTGOING: Bill Parcells leaves without getting America's Team back to America's Game. Wade Phillips is his polar opposite. G Marco Rivera is gone. Released CB Aaron Glenn.
MAIN MAN: After all the Tony Romo hype, he tailed off at the end of the season when the Cowboys needed him most. In the final year of his contract, Romo has impressed his new coach, particularly as an improviser.
STRENGTHS: The Cowboys' D under-performed last year, but Phillips has constructed an attacking 3-4 that will go to the ball and after the QB. DeMarcus Ware and Bradie James are poised for big years. The O-line is the biggest in the league. Davis can really help the run game.
WEAKNESSES: Romo is only the first of the question marks on offense, where Jason Garrett will call the plays. Terry Glenn's knee injuries underscore that the receivers are getting old. Then there's the ever-present Terrell Owens factor. Pass coverage is still flawed.
BOTTOM LINE: Look for improvement under Phillips. They should at least battle for the wild card.
BRONCOS
LAST YEAR: 9-7 Playoffs: Missed
INCOMING: Ex-Titan Travis Henry is the new plug-in running back. Ex-Lion Dre' Bly will man CB opposite Champ Bailey, filling the spot of the late Darrent Williams, whose tragic death still haunts the team. TE Daniel Graham moves over from New England and WR Brandon Stokley comes over from Indy.
OUTGOING: Jake Plummer is the backup in Tampa. DT Gerard Warren was traded to Oakland. RB Tatum Bell, DE Courtney Brown, OT George Foster and DT Michael Myers have also moved on.
MAIN MAN: Mike Shanahan may have sacrificed a shot at the playoffs last season when he handed big-armed Jay Cutler the starting job with five games left, but the move could pay dividends this year. Cutler completed nearly 60% of his passes during his on-the-job training stint. Surrounded by a veteran cast, he can only improve.
STRENGTHS: There's plenty of firepower and a veteran left side of an O-line that has been leading a succession of runners to 1,000-yard seasons. Bailey (10 INTs in '06) is the best CB in the NFL.
WEAKNESSES: Lost DE Ebenezer Ekuban to a season-ending Achilles injury, and they might have trouble staying healthy up front, which was their problem spot last year. If they can't improve on a 35-sack total, they are in trouble.
BOTTOM LINE: They will be in the wild-card mix, but they might be forced to outscore teams - especially the Chargers.
BENGALS
LAST YEAR: 8-8 Playoffs: Missed
INCOMING: Nine-year vet Michael Myers moves over from Denver to bolster the interior D-line. Leon Hall, the first-round pick, has the potential to be a shut-down corner.
OUTGOING: OG Eric Steinbach signed with the Browns. DT Sam Adams, a disappointment in '06, was released.
MAIN MAN: Carson Palmer came back slowly after major knee surgery before '06, but still threw for more than 4,000 yards. Now, with full confidence in his left knee, he should be ready to improve on that. The big question: can he do it in a big game?
STRENGTHS: With a core of Palmer, Chad Johnson and Rudi Johnson, one of the league's premier workhorse backs, the offense is explosive. Chatty Chad is responding to Marvin Lewis' demands for improvement.
WEAKNESSES: Lewis is supposed to be a defensive genius, but Cincy ranked 30th in defense (31st against the pass) last year. They will be thin at linebacker without Odell Thurman (season-long suspension) and David Pollack (neck). The O-line is already banged up. Then there's who shows up next on the police blotter.
BOTTOM LINE: One never knows what to make of Cincy. There's enough talent to win the division and enough questions to cost Lewis his job. Flip a coin - and listen for sirens.
STEELERS
LAST YEAR: 8-8 Playoffs: Missed
INCOMING: The Steelers, who had two head coaches in 38 of their 74 previous years, went outside to replace Bill Cowher with 35-year-old Mike Tomlin. LBsLawrence Timmons (injured early in camp) and LaMarr Woodley were drafted 1-2 to improve the pass rush.
OUTGOING: The Steelers gave up on OLB Joey Porter, even if he was the emotional leader. C Jeff Hartings retired.
MAIN MAN: Ben Roethlisberger took a step backward from the Super Bowl, looking out of his element as the Steeler pass protection broke down. Now he must learn how to play within a more wide-open offense (including a no-huddle) that will give him more freedom, but test his decision-making abilities at the same time.
STRENGTHS: After an injury plagued '06 season, safety Troy Polamalu should get back to confounding QBs. Passing game has potential if Santonio Holmes becomes the go-to guy. Willie Parker, running out of a single-back set, provides a breakaway threat.
WEAKNESSES: The Steelers couldn't get to the QB last year and that exposed old problems at DB, where, outside of Polamalu, uncertainty reigns. The offensive line, which allowed 49 sacks in '06, isn't the strength it once was.
BOTTOM LINE: The Steelers look like a team in transition and at best are a wild card.
JETS
LAST YEAR: 10-6 Playoffs: Lost wild-card round
INCOMING: RB Thomas Jones solidifies last year's weak spot. Picked up DEs Kenyon Coleman and David Bowens. Top pick Darrelle Revis was late to camp.
OUTGOING: Finally dealt unhappy OG Pete Kendall to the Redskins, but that left the position a question mark. QB Patrick Ramsey is gone. The backfield is minus Kevan Barlow, Derrick Blaylock and B.J. Askew. DE Kimo Von Oelhoffen was released.
MAIN MAN: Jones should be the perfect fit for the Jets. The ex-Bear can do everything, including pick up the blitz. If things work out as planned, he'll allow the play-action to take flight. He may not be Curtis Martin, but he's a reasonable facsimile.
STRENGTHS: Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery complement each other and have good chemistry with Pennington. A second season in the 3-4 will help the entire defense, particularly LB Jonathan Vilma. SS Kerry Rhodes is a stud. The kicking game is good.
WEAKNESSES: The offensive line, thought to be a strength, had a pitiful preseason, especially as pass protectors, which, in turn, made Pennington erratic. The run defense has to improve to give the Jets any chance at the division.
BOTTOM LINE: They looked to be closing the gap on the Pats last year. It's open again.
SLEEPERS
RAMS
LAST YEAR: 8-8 Playoffs: Missed
INCOMING: Sure-handed WR Drew Bennett moves over from the Titans and TE Randy McMichael arrives from Miami. Return man Dante Hall moves cross-state from KC. Adam Carriker, the first-round pick, has been impressive at DT. Rutgers' Brian Leonard is giving coaches many options working with RB Steven Jackson in the backfield.
OUTGOING: Wholesale departures include WR Kevin Curtis, LB Dexter Coakley, CB Jerametrius Butler, NT Jason Fisk, DT Jimmy Kennedy and OG Adam Timerman.
MAIN MAN: Jackson is shooting for the 2,500 mark in total yardage and after averaging 4.4 yards a carry and catching 90 passes last year, it isn't farfetched. Jackson should be able to burn defenses too concerned with Ram receivers.
STRENGTHS: QB Marc Bulger, who passed for career highs in yards and TDs last year, is at the top of his game, and his receiving corps is as explosive as ever. Hall is a significant upgrade to a long-time special teams problem. The O-line is healthy again and the defense should be more in tune with second-year coordinator Jim Haslett.
WEAKNESSES: The Rams will score, but can they stop anyone? This is a team without a lot of coverage skill. Depth is a concern everywhere on defense, hence the interest in Simeon Rice.
BOTTOM LINE: There is loads of potential here, especially if the Seahawks slip and the Niners aren't as good as advertised.
JAGUARS
LAST YEAR: 8-8 Playoffs: Missed
INCOMING: WR/KR Dennis Northcutt arrives from Cleveland with more downfield speed than any Jaguar receiver. Tony Pashos (Ravens) is the new RT. Rookie S Reggie Nelson should make an impact. Signed CB Aaron Glenn.
OUTGOING: QB Byron Leftwich was blind-sided last week when the Jags cut ties with him. TE Kyle Brady signed with the Patriots. Released LB Nick Greisen.
MAIN MAN: All the preseason talk was of a slimmed-down Leftwich reclaiming his career. It turns out he lost his job for good. David Garrard, a career backup, outplayed him over the summer and will be in charge of an offense that wants to throw the deep ball.
STRENGTHS: RB Fred Taylor looks great and Maurice Jones-Drew will be a big-play threat as he gets more touches. Maurice Stroud and Jon Henderson are still the best DT tandem in the game.
WEAKNESSES: The receiving corps must prove it can make plays. Veteran C Brad Meester is out at least eight weeks (ankle) and that's not going to help a questionable pass-protection unit. Safety position is inexperienced with Nelson and Gerals Sensabaugh.
BOTTOM LINE: The always inconsistent Jaguars severely underperformed last year, including losing both games to the Texans. If they stay healthy, look for them to rebound with a vengeance.
PANTHERS
LAST YEAR: 8-8 Playoffs: Missed
INCOMING: Jeff Davidson replaces Dan Henning as offensive coordinator, bringing a new zone blocking scheme that might better fit the cutback abilities of the Panthers' RBs. David Carr was signed as Jake Delhomme's backup, a huge upgrade over last year. Top pick Dwayne Jarrett is the latest hope at WR.
OUTGOING: SS Mike Minter retired. WR Keyshawn Johnson was released.
MAIN MAN: Until and if Jarrett develops, Steve Smith is still the Panthers' only receiving threat. He was rested during camp to prevent him from wearing down because teams throw all sorts of coverages at him. Still, the diminutive one manages to find a way to get open.
STRENGTHS: Carolina had the NFL's seventh-ranked defense last year and has a healthy front four, including Julius Peppers, back intact. Ditto for their O-line, which was ravaged by injuries last year.
WEAKNESSES: Delhomme can get sloppy, especially if there is no running game to support him. RB DeShaun Foster has to prove he can avoid injuries. Carolina must improve on the measly 22 turnovers it forced last year.
BOTTOM LINE: A trendy pick last year, the Panthers were short-circuited when injuries cost their starters 80 games. Improvement should be guaranteed.
BUCS
LAST YEAR: 4-12 Playoffs: Lost in wild card round
INCOMING: Reborn QB Jeff Garcia tries to do for the Bucs what he did for the Eagles. Ex-Giant Luke Petitgout is being counted on to plug a huge hole at LT, but his back is already an issue. LB Cato June comes over from the Colts. DE Kevin Carter arrives from the Dolphins. TE Jerramy Stevens comes over from Seattle. Signed LB Jeremiah Trotter.
OUTGOING: Battering ram FB Mike Alstott was placed on IR with a major neck injury. DE Simeon Rice was released.
MAIN MAN: Garcia's arrival has energized the offense. He is a great fit for the ingenuity of Jon Gruden, who has been hamstrung by the limitations of his QBs the last couple of years. Gruden sees him as another Rich Gannon.
STRENGTHS: Cadillac Williams is healthy again after a hard-working offseason and aiming for 1,500 yards. WR Joey Galloway will be more of a downfield threat now that somebody can get him the ball.
WEAKNESSES: The defense took a step backward last year and the usual studs like Derrick Brooks and Ronde Barber aren't getting younger. With Rice gone, first-round pick Gaines Adams doesn't look ready at DE. The return game is an issue.
BOTTOM LINE: The Bucs can't get much worse, especially with Garcia running the show, so they'll have a legit wild-card shot.
LIONS
LAST YEAR: 3-13 Playoffs: Missed
INCOMING: Tatum Bell arrives from Denver to play Marshall Faulk's role in Mike Martz's offense, with T.J. Duckett, the former Falcon, spelling him. G Edwin Mulitalo (Ravens) is an upgrade. DE Dewayne White arrives from Tampa. Rookie WR Calvin Johnson is the talk of camp.
OUTGOING: CB Dre' Bly, OG Ross Verba, WR Mike Williams and DE James Hall didn't buy into Rod Marinelli's program.
MAIN MAN: QB Jon Kitna thinks the Lions can be a 10-win team. He comes off a 4,000-yard - but 63-sack - season and has taken the lead in talking up the new direction. The problem comes if the strong-armed Kitna ever goes down.
STRENGTHS: Between All-Pro Roy Williams, Mike Furrey (who led the NFC in catches) and the can't-miss Johnson, the Lions have a three-wide package that will provide many matchup problems. The O-line has athleticism and in Martz's offense, they'll need it to protect Kitna.
WEAKNESSES: The D-line doesn't stand up to the run well, especially with DT Shaun Rogers, the key to the entire D, arriving at camp overweight and out of shape. The corners can be exposed in the Cover-2 defense if the Lions can't generate a pass rush. RB Kevin Jones may miss the start of the season with a foot injury.
BOTTOM LINE: Marinelli is determined to change the culture in his second year and visitors to the Lions camp detected a new attitude. Let's just say they'll be better than 3-13.
49ERS
LAST YEAR: 7-9 Playoffs: Missed
INCOMING: Unstrapped by the cap, the Niners spent on eight free agents, including WRs Darrell Jackson and Ashley Lelie, physical CB Nate Clements and S Michael Lewis. Aubrayo Franklin was to be the NT, but tore an MCL in camp. Rookie LB Patrick Willis will be forced into the new 3-4 scheme.
OUTGOING: They released leading receiver Antonio Bryant. TE Eric Johnson is in New Orleans. C Jeremy Newberry crossed the bay to Oakland.
MAIN MAN: Although he had to rest a broken hand much of the summer, workaholic Frank Gore opens the 2007 season as the best inside runner in the NFC. He's shooting for a 2,000-yard season after rushing for close to 1,700 - and 356 against the rival Seahawks - last season.
STRENGTHS: Improving QB Alex Smith has plenty of weapons besides Gore, including young TE Vernon Davis. The O-line is huge and improving each year. LB Tully Banta-Cain has been opening eyes.
WEAKNESSES: The 49ers are changing to a 3-4 without much depth among the D-linemen. They could have problems stopping the run without a true NT.
BOTTOM LINE: Everyone seems to be jumping on the Niner bandwagon, but it might be a season too early. A winning record, even 9-7, would be a nice stepping stone.
MEDIOCRE AT BEST
REDSKINS
LAST YEAR: 5-11 Playoffs: Missed
INCOMING: Brought sure-tackling LB London Fletcher in from St. Louis and brought CB Fred Smoot back from Minnesota. Signed LB Randall Godfrey midway through camp and got G Pete Kendall late. First-round pick LaRon Landry could form a scary safety tandem with Sean Taylor.
OUTGOING: Gone are K John Hall, RB T.J. Duckett, TE Christian Fauria, LBs Lemar Marshall and Warrick Holdman, WR David Patten and CBs Troy Vincent, Mike Rumph and Kenny Wright.
MAIN MAN: Jason Campbell goes into his third season knowing he's the starting QB after a promising finish to 2006. He was having an impressive camp with a better grasp of the offense and a more confident release, but was set back by a knee injury.
STRENGTHS: Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts form a solid backfield. Santana Moss is a big-play threat amid a deep WRs corps.
WEAKNESSES: The Skins had the No. 31 defense in the league last year and allowed more than 137.6 yards rushing per game. They did little to improve along the defensive line. The O-line has to stay healthy. Chris Samuels' preseason knee injury wasn't a good sign.
BOTTOM LINE: They have a shot at a wild card if things break right, but the Skins always have a tendency to disappoint.
CARDINALS
LAST YEAR: 5-11 Playoffs: Missed
INCOMING: Can Ken Whisenhunt, the brain behind the Steelers' O, change the culture of losing? His first-round pick, Levi Brown, should at least change the charchter of the O-line at RT. Other additions: CBs Rod Hood and Ralph Brown, FB Terrelle Smith, OT Mike Gandy, S Terrence Holt.
OUTGOING: G Leonard Davis bolted for Dallas. The inevitable housecleaning included S Robert Griffith, CB Robert Tate, DT Kenrick Clancy, OG Chris Liwienski, C Alex Stepanovich and TE Fred Wakefield. Other than Davis, they didn't lose much.
MAIN MAN: Whisenhunt worked wonders with Ben Roethlisberger his rookie season by keeping him under wraps. He'll be more aggressive with Matt Leinart in his second year. The former Heisman winner has smarts and showed improvement with each game last year. Whisenhunt won't be afraid to wing it.
STRENGTHS: The O-line will improve under position coach Russ Grimm and that's good news for Leinart, who will have more time to find a deep receiving corps led by Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. The secondary is solid.
WEAKNESSES: There might be some adjustment problems as Whisenhunt changes over to a Steeler-like 3-4 defense, particularly since LB Chiki Okeafor was injured for the season. RB Edgerrin James was a bust last year and has to run a lot tougher.
BOTTOM LINE: The Cards should be better. Unfortunately, so should the rest of their division.
TITANS
LAST YEAR: 8-8 Playoffs: Missed
INCOMING: Ex-Colt Nick Harper is Pacman Jones' replacement at CB. Veteran WR Eric Moulds was signed before camp. Cowboy backup Ryan Fowler will start at MLB. The Titans switched rookie Michael Griffin from S to CB, where he has shown big-play potential.
OUTGOING: Gone are the team's leading receiver, Drew Bennett, and leading rusher, Travis Henry. Pacman may not be much as a human being, but the Titans won't easily replace his playmaking ability on both defense and in the return game.
MAIN MAN: So much for QB Vince Young taking loads of time to adjust to the NFL. Given the chance to start, Young gave the Titans all sorts of hope about the future as he won six of his last seven games. As for the immediate future, Young may have to be a one-man gang. There isn't a lot around him.
STRENGTHS: The offensive line, anchored by C Kevin Mawae, is solid and will give Young time to do his thing. The run defense, with LB Keith Bulluck running people down, should be a plus. Ben Troupe leads a good group of TEs.
WEAKNESSES: LenDale White must prove he can hold up as a feature back. The Titans will have problems generating a pass rush and that will lead to coverage problems.
BOTTOM LINE: Young is the wild card, but he can't make up for every deficiency. They're still a year away.
CHIEFS
LAST YEAR: 9-7 Playoffs: Lost in wild card round
INCOMING: Ex-Dolphin Damion McIntosh was supposed to start at LT, but an MCL tear may keep him out. Napolean Harris and Donnie Edwards join the LB corps with ex-Bear backup Alfonso Boone at DT. The Chiefs go with rookie kicker Justin Medlock.
OUTGOING: KC dumped Trent Green and his salary, leaving Damon Huard at QB. G Will Shields followed Willie Roaf into retirement. Leading tackler Kawicka Mitchell is gone. Return man Dante Hall is with the Rams, K Lawrence Tynes with the Giants.
MAIN MAN: Larry Johnson (record 416 carries last year, over 3,400 yards, 40 TDs last two years) turns a plodding offense into a punishing one, but his 25-day holdout could have devastating effects. Even he admitted that he might not be ready by opening day.
STRENGTHS: Pass rush is good with Jared Allen and Tamba Hall combining for 15.5 sacks last year. LB Derrick Johnson should have a big year.
WEAKNESSES: Future Hall of Fame TE Tony Gonzalez may be losing a step. Once among the best in the league, the O-line has become mediocre. Age may be showing at CB with Ty Law and Pat Surtain.
BOTTOM LINE: The Chiefs will not be sneaking into the playoffs this year and will be lucky to have a .500 record.
GIANTS
LAST YEAR: 8-8 Playoffs: Lost wild card round
INCOMING: RB Reuben Droughns moves over from Cleveland to split carries with Brandon Jacobs. LB Kawicka Mitchell is an upgrade. G Zach Piller, DT Marcus Bell, S Michael Stone and K Lawrence Tynes are the other additions. WR Steve Smith might end up being one of the steals of the draft.
OUTGOING: Tiki Barber's early retirement gutted this offense, which also lost T Luke Petitgout, WR Tim Carter and backup TE Visanthe Shiancoe. LBs Carlos Emmons and Brandon Short are gone and K Jay Feely signed with the Dolphins.
MAIN MAN: Barber's retirement and Michael Strahan's absence in camp forced Eli Manning into more of a leadership role and he enjoyed his best preseason. We now know that a flawed Eli will never be Peyton, but he doesn't have to be. The Giants will settle for consistentcy.
STRENGTHS: The O-line is an efficient unit and will give Manning time to throw. The receivers can stretch the field. The run defense is strong up the middle.
WEAKNESSES: How do you replace Barber (2,127 all-purpose yards), not only as a big-play back but as an outlet receiver? Without a pass rush, the secondary is vulnerable. TE Jeremy Shockey is injury prone. WR Plaxico Burress has back problems.
BOTTOM LINE: Too many people have to step up to get this team to the postseason. Tom Coughlin's hot seat is burning.
PACKERS
LAST YEAR: 8-8 Playoffs: Missed
INCOMING: Second-round pick Brandon Jackson could be the starting RB. Ex-Giant CB Frank Walker was the only veteran free agent signed.
OUTGOING: Let RB Ahman Green go. Released WR Robert Ferguson. DT Kendrick Allen left as a free agent.
MAIN MAN: QB Brett Favre is holding on with his guts and heart. As he enters his 17th season, his teammates keep looking younger and his numbers continue to slip.
STRENGTHS: Donald Driver is both superb and irreplaceable as Favre's go-to guy. He has to stay healthy. The O-line can pass protect. The Packers D is sound up front, with an excellent pass rush and one of the league's best young LBs in A.J. Hawk.
WEAKNESSES: Favre can be a strength and a weakness, depending on who's catching his passes - his receivers or opposing defensive backs. CBs Charles Woodson and Al Harris had great seasons in '06, but they're getting old.
BOTTOM LINE: The Pack looked like a potential sleeper when they won their last four games, but followed that with a bad offseason. Things would have to break perfectly to send Favre out a winner.
VIKINGS
LAST YEAR: 6-10 Playoffs: Missed
INCOMING: Got Packers castoff WR Robert Ferguson. RB Adrian Peterson bolsters an already-solid running game. TE Visanthe Shiancoe comes from the Giants. Brooks Bollinger is backup QB.
OUTGOING: QB Brad Johnson, WR Travis Taylor, FB Joey Goodspeed, TE Jermaine Wiggins, LB Napolean Harris and CB Fred Smoot.
MAIN MAN: Randy Moss may have left a while ago, but Peterson took up some of Moss' old bravado when he said he was aiming for Rookie of the Year and MVP honors. Although he'll likely split carries with Chester Taylor, Peterson has superstar potential.
STRENGTHS: The Vikings can run left behind Bryant McKinnie and Steve Hutchinson. Chad Greenway's return after missing last season with a torn ACL boosts a good LB corps.
WEAKNESSES: Going with neophyte Tarvaris Jackson at QB guarantees early season bumps and a one-dimensional approach, especially with this mediocre WR corps. The pass rush is lacking and the secondary is a tinderbox waiting for a match.
BOTTOM LINE: The Vikes are in a rebuilding mode and too unbalanced on both sides of the ball to make much headway this year.
WORST OF THE WORST
FALCONS
LAST YEAR: 7-9 Playoffs: Missed
INCOMING: Bobby Petrino had no idea what he was getting into, did he? QB Joey Harrington was signed away from Miami, WR Joe Horn away from the rival Saints. As many as five rookies could start.
OUTGOING: QB Michael Vick is gone, maybe forever. DE Patrick Kerney signed with Seattle. Mistakenly sent Matt Schaub to the Texans for draft picks before the Vick mess blew up.
MAIN MAN: A stopgap at best, Harrington begins his third straight season with a different team as he tries to get Petrino's offense off the ground. At least he's been in the heat of battle before, even though his INT numbers are troubling. He will be blitzed.
STRENGTHS: If he can stay healthy, DE John Abraham will team up with Anderson to supply a good pass rush. CB DeAngelo Hall will provide some big plays.
WEAKNESSES: To make offensive matters worse, TE Alge Crumpler, Vick's favorite receiver, is battling bad knees. The interior line lacks depth. Special teams are mistake-prone.
BOTTOM LINE: Dog days ahead.
DOLPHINS
LAST YEAR: 6-10 Playoffs: Missed
INCOMING: Cam Cameron, offensive guru at San Diego, gets to see how his X's and O's work without all that talent. QB Trent Green tries to revive his career. LB Joey Porter tries to prove the Steelers wrong, and K Jay Feely escapes New York. Top pick Ted Ginn should provide many happy returns.
OUTGOING: Following coach Nick Saban out the open door were QBs Daunte Culpepper and Joey Harrington, OT Damion McIntosh, TE Randy McMichael, WR Wes Welker, RB Sammie Morris, DEs Kevin Carter and David Bowens and K Olindo Mare.
MAIN MAN: Jason Taylor is a marvel at DE. On a defense that was constantly on the field last year, the then-32-year-old had 13.5. He might line up at OLB in 3-4 fronts.
STRENGTHS: Taylor and Zach Johnson lead a defense that always seems to get it done. Cameron is an innovator. Chris Chambers is a big-time receiver.
WEAKNESSES: Green is still behind the learning curve in Cameron's offense. The O-line is a work in progress - L.T. Shelton is battling his weight and RB Ronnie Brown hasn't shown any consistency. The Dolphins have the oldest front seven in the league.
BOTTOM LINE: Give Cameron another year - and some players.
TEXANS
LAST YEAR: 6-10 Playoffs: Missed
INCOMING: Traded for QB Matt Schaub, who has already shown more leadership than David Carr ever did, and picked up RB Ahman Green.
OUTGOING: Released Carr, their supposed franchise QB, and RB Damonick Davis, the supposed reason they didn't draft Reggie Bush last year. A major housecleaning also included WR Eric Moulds, OT Zach Wiegert, DT Seth Payne, and CB Lewis Sanders.
MAIN MAN: Andre Johnson has somehow emerged from this offense into the top echelon of NFL receivers. He has excellent size, great hands and his work ethic reminds coach Gary Kubiak of Jerry Rice and Rod Smith. Although Johnson averaged 11.3 yards per catch last year, better protection for Schaub should result in bigger plays.
STRENGTHS: The offensive line finally showed signs of improvement. LB DeMeco Ryans (125 tackles last year) has great instincts and is one of the best young defensive players in the league.
WEAKNESSES: Mario Williams (4.5 sacks) wasn't worth his spot in the draft last year. How much does Green have left at RB? They still don't have a viable second receiver behind Johnson.
BOTTOM LINE: An 8-8 season would be a major accomplishment.
RAIDERS
LAST YEAR: 2-14 Playoffs: Missed
INCOMING: Young, unproven Lane Kiffin took the job nobody wanted and actually seems to be hitting it off with eccentric owner Al Davis. QB Daunte Culpepper is the latest retread Raider. RB Dominic Rhodes comes from Indy, but he begins the season with a four-game suspension. DT Gerard Warren bolsters a good defense. Rookie TE Zach Miller is a weapon. They drafted JaMarcus Russell. Signing him was another story.
OUTGOING: The Randy Moss Experiment is over. Other ex-Raiders: QB Aaron Brooks, CB Tyrone Poole, DE Lance Johnstone. Released FB Zack Crockett.
MAIN MAN: Warren Sapp isn't just a new man, he looks like he lost one. He's still using his mouth for talking, less for eating and is down to 285 pounds. The 13-year vet intends to improve on his 10-sack year and make the Pro Bowl again.
STRENGTHS: The safeties are the best part of a young, hungry defense under innovative coordinator Rob Ryan. Michael Huff, last year's No. 1 pick, is a versatile player with Pro Bowl potential.
WEAKNESSES: The offense can't get any worse than it was last year. Moss may be addition by subtraction, but his departure leaves the Raiders without any downfield speed. The O-line is still in flux and the running game will be hurting.
BOTTOM LINE: They're past dysfunctional. That's a start.
BROWNS
LAST YEAR: 4-12 Playoffs: Missed
INCOMING: RB Jamal Lewis, from rival Baltimore where he seemed to have lost a step, hopes to improve a dismal running game, along with LG Eric Steinbach - who promptly hurt his knee - C Seth McKinney and rookie OT Joe Thomas. Second-round pick Eric Wright has won a job at CB.
OUTGOING: QB Trent Dilfer was traded to the 49ers. Starters gone through free agency are WR Antonio Bryant, LB Ben Taylor and OT L.J. Shelton.
MAIN MAN: An 11-day holdout didn't ingratiate Brady Quinn to Romeo Crennel, but after he was deemed nowhere close to ready, he threw for a pair of TDs in his preseason debut. Quinn will be the starter, the question is when.
STRENGTHS: There is some talent at LB between Kamerion Wimbley, who emerged with 11 sacks last season, and Andra Davis, who has averaged 167 tackles over three seasons.
WEAKNESSES: If Quinn isn't ready, who's the QB? Charlie Frye? The run defense - ranked 29th last year - has a couple of rusty anchors in Ted Washington and Orpheus Roye.
BOTTOM LINE: Any improvement has to start within the division, where the Browns are 1-11 under Crennel. Romeo may be whereforth out of town if things don't turn around.
BILLS
LAST YEAR: 7-9 Playoffs: Missed
INCOMING: Marv Levy spent plenty to improve the O-line by signing Gs Derrick Dockery and Jason Whittle and OT Langston Walker. They'll try to provide power blocking for rookie RB Marshawn Lynch.
OUTGOING: LB corps has been hit hard by departures of London Fletcher and Takeo Spikes, while CB Nate Clements took more cash from San Francisco. RB Willis McGahee left for Baltimore.
MAIN MAN: They say that J.P. Losman, the most-maligned starting QB after Rex Grossman, has matured and has been working overtime. Maybe because he doesn't expect to be sacked 49 times this year.
STRENGTHS: Pro Bowl DE Aaron Schobel leads a pass rush that produced 25.5 sacks a year ago. Special teams are excellent.
WEAKNESSES: They will have trouble stopping the run with a small D-line, especially since the AFC East features power running teams.
BOTTOM LINE: The Bills are turning the roster over under Dick Jauron and are still years away from becoming a contender.
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
FAVORITES
PATRIOTS
LAST YEAR: 12-4. Playoffs: Lost AFC Championship Game.
INCOMING: Tom Brady can spread the field even more now that he has WRs Randy Moss, Donte' Stallworth and Wes Welker. Kyle Brady adds a blocking TE to the mix. The versatile Adalius Thomas should be a perfect fit at OLB. Backup RB Sammy Morris moves over from Miami.
OUTGOING: RB Corey Dillon, the Pats' leading rusher last season, retired. WR Reche Caldwell was released.
MAIN MAN: Brady is poised for a monster season because of the versatility that surrounds him this year. The Patriots love multiple personnel groupings depending on the defense and the situation. Brady's head is as valuable as his arm.
STRENGTHS: Defensive linemen Richard Seymour (who starts the year on PUP), Vince Wilfork and Ty Warren present matchup problems. If anybody can get Moss to toe the line, it's Bill Belichick.
WEAKNESSES: There is some age at linebacker and concerns safety, now that Rodney Harrison has been suspended four games for hgh. Franchise-tagged CB Asante Samuel missed most of camp holding out.
BOTTOM LINE: The Pats didn't waste time in becoming Super Bowl favorites again. They were only a drive away from returning in '06 and they're certainly a better team now.
CHARGERS
LAST YEAR: 14-2 Playoffs: Lost divisional round
INCOMING: Norv Turner attempts what Marty Schottenheimer couldn't do: win a playoff game. Top pick Craig Davis has speed at WR to stretch the field, and second-round pick Eric Weddle, a hard-hitting safety, has had an impressive camp.
OUTGOING: Keenan McCardell, the Chargers' leading wide receiver, signed with the Texans. The linebacking corps lost Donnie Edwards and Randall Godfrey.
MAIN MAN: Turner built this offense around LaDainian Tomlinson when he was offensive coordinator during LT's rookie season in 2001. Tomlinson is the best player in the league and if Turner can add a vertical element to the attack, the NFL MVP should repeat his big numbers.
STRENGTHS: The front seven is superb, anchored by DT Jamal Williams with Shawne Merriman and Shaun Phillips coming off the edge. When Tomlinson isn't tormenting defensive coordinators, TE Antonio Gates is.
WEAKNESSES: The Chargers don't scare anyone at wide receiver, and QB Philip Rivers, who does not have a big-time arm, must avoid the mistakes he made down the stretch last season. The secondary may not be good enough to beat Indy or New England in the playoffs.
BOTTOM LINE: The Bolts are a lock for the playoffs. Then what?
COLTS
LAST YEAR: 12-4 Playoffs: Super Bowl champs
INCOMING: Rookie WR Anthony Gonzalez gives Peyton Manning yet another weapon in the slot. Second-round pick Tony Ugoh must protect Manning's blind side.
OUTGOING: LT Tarik Glenn shocked the team with his retirment. Lost leading tackler LB Cato June, CBs Nick Harper and Jason David, WR Brandon Stokley and backup RB Dominic Rhodes to free agency. DTs Montae Reagor and Corey Simon went to Titans.
MAIN MAN: Manning finally reached the promised land with an MVP performance in the Super Bowl, but he doesn't seem to be satisfied. This year, he's talking about getting the offense back to 2004 standards, when he threw 49 TD passes.
STRENGTHS: The passing game stands alone in terms of explosiveness. RB Joseph Addai is versatile, as long as he can stand the workload. DE Dwight Freeney seems motivated to improve on his 5.5-sack total of '06.
WEAKNESSES: Run defense - again. DT Anthony MacFarland is out for the season with a knee injury and S Bob Sanders, the key to last year's improvements, began camp on the PUP list. Things could get ugly if Ugoh or backup Charlie Johnson don't have Manning's back.
BOTTOM LINE: Super Bowl hangover is a funny thing, especially since the Colts took so long to get there. The odds say they don't return.
BEARS
LAST YEAR: 13-3 Playoffs: Lost Super Bowl
INCOMING: Rookie TE Greg Olsen will be a weapon in an often-stagnant passing game. SS Adam Archuleta has been reunited with Lovie Smith. DT Darwin Walker, the ex-Eagle, was acquired in a trade with Buffalo.
OUTGOING: Troubled DT Tank Johnson was waived. RB Thomas Jones bolted to the Jets, leaving an ecstatic Cedric Benson to carry the load. The rest of the roster is pretty much intact.
MAIN MAN: Devin Hester lit teams up as a rookie return man last year. Now he's being integrated into the offense as a receiver as the Bears try to spice up the attack. How's it working? They were calling training camp "The Devin Hester Experience."
STRENGTHS: The defense only gets better with the return of Tommie Harris and Mike Brown, who moves from SS to FS, from injuries. LBs Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs seem to be everywhere.
WEAKNESSES: None apparent, other than having to live with Rex Grossman's inconsistency. They also can't afford to get big-headed about last season's success.
BOTTOM LINE: Weak division almost guarantees home-field advantage again as Da Bears appear to be the class of the NFC.
SAINTS
LAST YEAR: 10-6 Playoffs: Lost NFC Championship Game
INCOMING: CB Jason David brings Super Bowl experience from the Colts while ex-Bengal Kevin Kaesviharn starts at safety. Veteran LBs Dhani Jones and Brian Simmons and DT Kendrick Clancy try to upgrade a unit that allowed 4.9 yards per rush. WR David Patten was picked up off waivers. Olindo Mare is the new K.
OUTGOING: WR Joe Horn is in Atlanta. KR Michael Lewis, CB Bryan Scott and S Omar Stoutmire have moved on.
MAIN MAN: Reggie Bush should be even more versatile and explosive in his second season. He added strength and speed with an offseason conditioning program and wants the ball more. He attacked interior defenses with impressive burst in the pre-season.
STRENGTHS: The Saints return most of the components of their league-leading offense, from Drew Brees on down. Bush and Deuce McAllister form the best RB tandem in the league.
WEAKNESSES: The defense, which was 31st in creating turnovers last year, is still a question mark without any name players outside of Pro Bowl DE Will Smith. Defensive tackle, where Brian Young is battling an ankle injury, is a huge concern. Could use a No. 2 receiver to emerge behind Marques Colston.
BOTTOM LINE: A one-year wonder? Not unless somebody can slow down this offense. But it takes more than that to get to the Super Bowl.
SEAHAWKS
LAST YEAR: 9-7 Playoffs: Lost divisional round
INCOMING: With a safety a longtime problem spot, they signed Deon Grant and Brian Russell and hired Jim Mora Jr. as the secondary coach. DE Patrick Kerney follows Mora from Atlanta.
OUTGOING: Matt Hasselbeck loses his favorite receiver in Darrell Jackson, to rival Niners. Another producer, TE Jerramy Stevens, is in Tampa. Traded S Michael Boulware to Houston.
MAIN MAN: Shaun Alexander followed up his MVP year in 2005 by missing much of '06 with a broken foot, although he nearly led the team to a playoff win in Chicago. He turned 30 on Aug. 30 and, unlike Tiki Barber, wants to add to his resume as he gets older.
STRENGTHS: Seattle's offense is superbly balanced, with Hasselbeck keeping honest any defenses that stack up on Alexander. His rapport with Deion Branch seems to have improved. Julian Peterson, Leroy Hill and Lofa Tatupo form a quick, rangy LB corps. Kicker Josh Brown is money.
WEAKNESSES: The defense looks improved but needs a run-stuffer, especially with two games against the Niners' Frank Gore. NT Marcus Tubbs has problems staying on the field. C Chris Spencer comes off two shoulder surgeries and another injury would reshuffle the entire O-line.
BOTTOM LINE: With a healthy Hasselbeck and Alexander, the Seahawks are among the teams to beat in the NFC.
CONTENDERS
EAGLES
LAST YEAR: 10-6 Playoffs: Lost divisional round
INCOMING: Reggie Brown and Kevin Curtis give Donovan McNabb his best WR corps. LB Takeo Spikes is supposed to add teeth to the run defense.
OUTGOING: Jeff Garcia may have saved the '06 season but there wasn't room for him and McNabb. MLB Jeremiah Trotter was released in August.
MAIN MAN: With Tiki Barber in retirement, Brian Westbrook is the most versatile back in the NFC. Westbrook had 319 touches and put up a career-high 1,217 rushing yards and 79 catches. Eagles want to expand that by finding more ways to use him.
STRENGTHS: McNabb is recovered and in charge again. The massive offensive line may be the league's best. Sheldon Brown and Lito Sheppard are lockdown corners. K David Akers rarely misses.
WEAKNESSES: The run defense relies on blitzing too heavily and is prone to big plays. Releasing Trotter was a sign of distress. The defensive tackles need to get better penetration.
BOTTOM LINE: The Eagles should have no problem defending their divisional title and have an outside chance of returning to the big game if they can avoid injuries to key players.
RAVENS
LAST YEAR: 13-3 Playoffs: Lost divisional round
INCOMING: RB Willis McGahee replaces Jamal Lewis. LB Antwan Barnes, a fourth-round pick, has had a phenomenal camp.
OUTGOING: Lewis stayed in the division in Cleveland, but the guy who will really be missed is LB Adalius Thomas, now in New England. RT Tony Pashos signed with the Jags and NT Aubrayo Franklin left for the 49ers.
MAIN MAN: Steve McNair finally provided the Ravens with a legitimate QB last year, but as tough as he is, he could be on the decline as the 2007 season begins. The Ravens need him to remain healthy.
STRENGTHS: The defense, the best in the league last year, is aggressive, versatile and loaded with star power in Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. They will keep the team in every game. McGahee could be a perfect fit for the offense, as long as the O-line improves as hoped.
WEAKNESSES: OT Jonathan Ogden has been on the PUP list with a troublesome toe injury. The roster is a bit creaky. Nine projected starters are 30 or older.
BOTTOM LINE: No one else in the division seems that improved, but joining the Pats, Colts and Chargers in the AFC elite will be difficult.
COWBOYS
LAST YEAR: 9-7 Playoffs: Lost wild card round
INCOMING: Signed S Ken Hamlin, who will allow Roy Williams to play less coverage and more in the box. Leonard Davis leaves Arizona to add even more bulk at RG.
OUTGOING: Bill Parcells leaves without getting America's Team back to America's Game. Wade Phillips is his polar opposite. G Marco Rivera is gone. Released CB Aaron Glenn.
MAIN MAN: After all the Tony Romo hype, he tailed off at the end of the season when the Cowboys needed him most. In the final year of his contract, Romo has impressed his new coach, particularly as an improviser.
STRENGTHS: The Cowboys' D under-performed last year, but Phillips has constructed an attacking 3-4 that will go to the ball and after the QB. DeMarcus Ware and Bradie James are poised for big years. The O-line is the biggest in the league. Davis can really help the run game.
WEAKNESSES: Romo is only the first of the question marks on offense, where Jason Garrett will call the plays. Terry Glenn's knee injuries underscore that the receivers are getting old. Then there's the ever-present Terrell Owens factor. Pass coverage is still flawed.
BOTTOM LINE: Look for improvement under Phillips. They should at least battle for the wild card.
BRONCOS
LAST YEAR: 9-7 Playoffs: Missed
INCOMING: Ex-Titan Travis Henry is the new plug-in running back. Ex-Lion Dre' Bly will man CB opposite Champ Bailey, filling the spot of the late Darrent Williams, whose tragic death still haunts the team. TE Daniel Graham moves over from New England and WR Brandon Stokley comes over from Indy.
OUTGOING: Jake Plummer is the backup in Tampa. DT Gerard Warren was traded to Oakland. RB Tatum Bell, DE Courtney Brown, OT George Foster and DT Michael Myers have also moved on.
MAIN MAN: Mike Shanahan may have sacrificed a shot at the playoffs last season when he handed big-armed Jay Cutler the starting job with five games left, but the move could pay dividends this year. Cutler completed nearly 60% of his passes during his on-the-job training stint. Surrounded by a veteran cast, he can only improve.
STRENGTHS: There's plenty of firepower and a veteran left side of an O-line that has been leading a succession of runners to 1,000-yard seasons. Bailey (10 INTs in '06) is the best CB in the NFL.
WEAKNESSES: Lost DE Ebenezer Ekuban to a season-ending Achilles injury, and they might have trouble staying healthy up front, which was their problem spot last year. If they can't improve on a 35-sack total, they are in trouble.
BOTTOM LINE: They will be in the wild-card mix, but they might be forced to outscore teams - especially the Chargers.
BENGALS
LAST YEAR: 8-8 Playoffs: Missed
INCOMING: Nine-year vet Michael Myers moves over from Denver to bolster the interior D-line. Leon Hall, the first-round pick, has the potential to be a shut-down corner.
OUTGOING: OG Eric Steinbach signed with the Browns. DT Sam Adams, a disappointment in '06, was released.
MAIN MAN: Carson Palmer came back slowly after major knee surgery before '06, but still threw for more than 4,000 yards. Now, with full confidence in his left knee, he should be ready to improve on that. The big question: can he do it in a big game?
STRENGTHS: With a core of Palmer, Chad Johnson and Rudi Johnson, one of the league's premier workhorse backs, the offense is explosive. Chatty Chad is responding to Marvin Lewis' demands for improvement.
WEAKNESSES: Lewis is supposed to be a defensive genius, but Cincy ranked 30th in defense (31st against the pass) last year. They will be thin at linebacker without Odell Thurman (season-long suspension) and David Pollack (neck). The O-line is already banged up. Then there's who shows up next on the police blotter.
BOTTOM LINE: One never knows what to make of Cincy. There's enough talent to win the division and enough questions to cost Lewis his job. Flip a coin - and listen for sirens.
STEELERS
LAST YEAR: 8-8 Playoffs: Missed
INCOMING: The Steelers, who had two head coaches in 38 of their 74 previous years, went outside to replace Bill Cowher with 35-year-old Mike Tomlin. LBsLawrence Timmons (injured early in camp) and LaMarr Woodley were drafted 1-2 to improve the pass rush.
OUTGOING: The Steelers gave up on OLB Joey Porter, even if he was the emotional leader. C Jeff Hartings retired.
MAIN MAN: Ben Roethlisberger took a step backward from the Super Bowl, looking out of his element as the Steeler pass protection broke down. Now he must learn how to play within a more wide-open offense (including a no-huddle) that will give him more freedom, but test his decision-making abilities at the same time.
STRENGTHS: After an injury plagued '06 season, safety Troy Polamalu should get back to confounding QBs. Passing game has potential if Santonio Holmes becomes the go-to guy. Willie Parker, running out of a single-back set, provides a breakaway threat.
WEAKNESSES: The Steelers couldn't get to the QB last year and that exposed old problems at DB, where, outside of Polamalu, uncertainty reigns. The offensive line, which allowed 49 sacks in '06, isn't the strength it once was.
BOTTOM LINE: The Steelers look like a team in transition and at best are a wild card.
JETS
LAST YEAR: 10-6 Playoffs: Lost wild-card round
INCOMING: RB Thomas Jones solidifies last year's weak spot. Picked up DEs Kenyon Coleman and David Bowens. Top pick Darrelle Revis was late to camp.
OUTGOING: Finally dealt unhappy OG Pete Kendall to the Redskins, but that left the position a question mark. QB Patrick Ramsey is gone. The backfield is minus Kevan Barlow, Derrick Blaylock and B.J. Askew. DE Kimo Von Oelhoffen was released.
MAIN MAN: Jones should be the perfect fit for the Jets. The ex-Bear can do everything, including pick up the blitz. If things work out as planned, he'll allow the play-action to take flight. He may not be Curtis Martin, but he's a reasonable facsimile.
STRENGTHS: Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery complement each other and have good chemistry with Pennington. A second season in the 3-4 will help the entire defense, particularly LB Jonathan Vilma. SS Kerry Rhodes is a stud. The kicking game is good.
WEAKNESSES: The offensive line, thought to be a strength, had a pitiful preseason, especially as pass protectors, which, in turn, made Pennington erratic. The run defense has to improve to give the Jets any chance at the division.
BOTTOM LINE: They looked to be closing the gap on the Pats last year. It's open again.
SLEEPERS
RAMS
LAST YEAR: 8-8 Playoffs: Missed
INCOMING: Sure-handed WR Drew Bennett moves over from the Titans and TE Randy McMichael arrives from Miami. Return man Dante Hall moves cross-state from KC. Adam Carriker, the first-round pick, has been impressive at DT. Rutgers' Brian Leonard is giving coaches many options working with RB Steven Jackson in the backfield.
OUTGOING: Wholesale departures include WR Kevin Curtis, LB Dexter Coakley, CB Jerametrius Butler, NT Jason Fisk, DT Jimmy Kennedy and OG Adam Timerman.
MAIN MAN: Jackson is shooting for the 2,500 mark in total yardage and after averaging 4.4 yards a carry and catching 90 passes last year, it isn't farfetched. Jackson should be able to burn defenses too concerned with Ram receivers.
STRENGTHS: QB Marc Bulger, who passed for career highs in yards and TDs last year, is at the top of his game, and his receiving corps is as explosive as ever. Hall is a significant upgrade to a long-time special teams problem. The O-line is healthy again and the defense should be more in tune with second-year coordinator Jim Haslett.
WEAKNESSES: The Rams will score, but can they stop anyone? This is a team without a lot of coverage skill. Depth is a concern everywhere on defense, hence the interest in Simeon Rice.
BOTTOM LINE: There is loads of potential here, especially if the Seahawks slip and the Niners aren't as good as advertised.
JAGUARS
LAST YEAR: 8-8 Playoffs: Missed
INCOMING: WR/KR Dennis Northcutt arrives from Cleveland with more downfield speed than any Jaguar receiver. Tony Pashos (Ravens) is the new RT. Rookie S Reggie Nelson should make an impact. Signed CB Aaron Glenn.
OUTGOING: QB Byron Leftwich was blind-sided last week when the Jags cut ties with him. TE Kyle Brady signed with the Patriots. Released LB Nick Greisen.
MAIN MAN: All the preseason talk was of a slimmed-down Leftwich reclaiming his career. It turns out he lost his job for good. David Garrard, a career backup, outplayed him over the summer and will be in charge of an offense that wants to throw the deep ball.
STRENGTHS: RB Fred Taylor looks great and Maurice Jones-Drew will be a big-play threat as he gets more touches. Maurice Stroud and Jon Henderson are still the best DT tandem in the game.
WEAKNESSES: The receiving corps must prove it can make plays. Veteran C Brad Meester is out at least eight weeks (ankle) and that's not going to help a questionable pass-protection unit. Safety position is inexperienced with Nelson and Gerals Sensabaugh.
BOTTOM LINE: The always inconsistent Jaguars severely underperformed last year, including losing both games to the Texans. If they stay healthy, look for them to rebound with a vengeance.
PANTHERS
LAST YEAR: 8-8 Playoffs: Missed
INCOMING: Jeff Davidson replaces Dan Henning as offensive coordinator, bringing a new zone blocking scheme that might better fit the cutback abilities of the Panthers' RBs. David Carr was signed as Jake Delhomme's backup, a huge upgrade over last year. Top pick Dwayne Jarrett is the latest hope at WR.
OUTGOING: SS Mike Minter retired. WR Keyshawn Johnson was released.
MAIN MAN: Until and if Jarrett develops, Steve Smith is still the Panthers' only receiving threat. He was rested during camp to prevent him from wearing down because teams throw all sorts of coverages at him. Still, the diminutive one manages to find a way to get open.
STRENGTHS: Carolina had the NFL's seventh-ranked defense last year and has a healthy front four, including Julius Peppers, back intact. Ditto for their O-line, which was ravaged by injuries last year.
WEAKNESSES: Delhomme can get sloppy, especially if there is no running game to support him. RB DeShaun Foster has to prove he can avoid injuries. Carolina must improve on the measly 22 turnovers it forced last year.
BOTTOM LINE: A trendy pick last year, the Panthers were short-circuited when injuries cost their starters 80 games. Improvement should be guaranteed.
BUCS
LAST YEAR: 4-12 Playoffs: Lost in wild card round
INCOMING: Reborn QB Jeff Garcia tries to do for the Bucs what he did for the Eagles. Ex-Giant Luke Petitgout is being counted on to plug a huge hole at LT, but his back is already an issue. LB Cato June comes over from the Colts. DE Kevin Carter arrives from the Dolphins. TE Jerramy Stevens comes over from Seattle. Signed LB Jeremiah Trotter.
OUTGOING: Battering ram FB Mike Alstott was placed on IR with a major neck injury. DE Simeon Rice was released.
MAIN MAN: Garcia's arrival has energized the offense. He is a great fit for the ingenuity of Jon Gruden, who has been hamstrung by the limitations of his QBs the last couple of years. Gruden sees him as another Rich Gannon.
STRENGTHS: Cadillac Williams is healthy again after a hard-working offseason and aiming for 1,500 yards. WR Joey Galloway will be more of a downfield threat now that somebody can get him the ball.
WEAKNESSES: The defense took a step backward last year and the usual studs like Derrick Brooks and Ronde Barber aren't getting younger. With Rice gone, first-round pick Gaines Adams doesn't look ready at DE. The return game is an issue.
BOTTOM LINE: The Bucs can't get much worse, especially with Garcia running the show, so they'll have a legit wild-card shot.
LIONS
LAST YEAR: 3-13 Playoffs: Missed
INCOMING: Tatum Bell arrives from Denver to play Marshall Faulk's role in Mike Martz's offense, with T.J. Duckett, the former Falcon, spelling him. G Edwin Mulitalo (Ravens) is an upgrade. DE Dewayne White arrives from Tampa. Rookie WR Calvin Johnson is the talk of camp.
OUTGOING: CB Dre' Bly, OG Ross Verba, WR Mike Williams and DE James Hall didn't buy into Rod Marinelli's program.
MAIN MAN: QB Jon Kitna thinks the Lions can be a 10-win team. He comes off a 4,000-yard - but 63-sack - season and has taken the lead in talking up the new direction. The problem comes if the strong-armed Kitna ever goes down.
STRENGTHS: Between All-Pro Roy Williams, Mike Furrey (who led the NFC in catches) and the can't-miss Johnson, the Lions have a three-wide package that will provide many matchup problems. The O-line has athleticism and in Martz's offense, they'll need it to protect Kitna.
WEAKNESSES: The D-line doesn't stand up to the run well, especially with DT Shaun Rogers, the key to the entire D, arriving at camp overweight and out of shape. The corners can be exposed in the Cover-2 defense if the Lions can't generate a pass rush. RB Kevin Jones may miss the start of the season with a foot injury.
BOTTOM LINE: Marinelli is determined to change the culture in his second year and visitors to the Lions camp detected a new attitude. Let's just say they'll be better than 3-13.
49ERS
LAST YEAR: 7-9 Playoffs: Missed
INCOMING: Unstrapped by the cap, the Niners spent on eight free agents, including WRs Darrell Jackson and Ashley Lelie, physical CB Nate Clements and S Michael Lewis. Aubrayo Franklin was to be the NT, but tore an MCL in camp. Rookie LB Patrick Willis will be forced into the new 3-4 scheme.
OUTGOING: They released leading receiver Antonio Bryant. TE Eric Johnson is in New Orleans. C Jeremy Newberry crossed the bay to Oakland.
MAIN MAN: Although he had to rest a broken hand much of the summer, workaholic Frank Gore opens the 2007 season as the best inside runner in the NFC. He's shooting for a 2,000-yard season after rushing for close to 1,700 - and 356 against the rival Seahawks - last season.
STRENGTHS: Improving QB Alex Smith has plenty of weapons besides Gore, including young TE Vernon Davis. The O-line is huge and improving each year. LB Tully Banta-Cain has been opening eyes.
WEAKNESSES: The 49ers are changing to a 3-4 without much depth among the D-linemen. They could have problems stopping the run without a true NT.
BOTTOM LINE: Everyone seems to be jumping on the Niner bandwagon, but it might be a season too early. A winning record, even 9-7, would be a nice stepping stone.
MEDIOCRE AT BEST
REDSKINS
LAST YEAR: 5-11 Playoffs: Missed
INCOMING: Brought sure-tackling LB London Fletcher in from St. Louis and brought CB Fred Smoot back from Minnesota. Signed LB Randall Godfrey midway through camp and got G Pete Kendall late. First-round pick LaRon Landry could form a scary safety tandem with Sean Taylor.
OUTGOING: Gone are K John Hall, RB T.J. Duckett, TE Christian Fauria, LBs Lemar Marshall and Warrick Holdman, WR David Patten and CBs Troy Vincent, Mike Rumph and Kenny Wright.
MAIN MAN: Jason Campbell goes into his third season knowing he's the starting QB after a promising finish to 2006. He was having an impressive camp with a better grasp of the offense and a more confident release, but was set back by a knee injury.
STRENGTHS: Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts form a solid backfield. Santana Moss is a big-play threat amid a deep WRs corps.
WEAKNESSES: The Skins had the No. 31 defense in the league last year and allowed more than 137.6 yards rushing per game. They did little to improve along the defensive line. The O-line has to stay healthy. Chris Samuels' preseason knee injury wasn't a good sign.
BOTTOM LINE: They have a shot at a wild card if things break right, but the Skins always have a tendency to disappoint.
CARDINALS
LAST YEAR: 5-11 Playoffs: Missed
INCOMING: Can Ken Whisenhunt, the brain behind the Steelers' O, change the culture of losing? His first-round pick, Levi Brown, should at least change the charchter of the O-line at RT. Other additions: CBs Rod Hood and Ralph Brown, FB Terrelle Smith, OT Mike Gandy, S Terrence Holt.
OUTGOING: G Leonard Davis bolted for Dallas. The inevitable housecleaning included S Robert Griffith, CB Robert Tate, DT Kenrick Clancy, OG Chris Liwienski, C Alex Stepanovich and TE Fred Wakefield. Other than Davis, they didn't lose much.
MAIN MAN: Whisenhunt worked wonders with Ben Roethlisberger his rookie season by keeping him under wraps. He'll be more aggressive with Matt Leinart in his second year. The former Heisman winner has smarts and showed improvement with each game last year. Whisenhunt won't be afraid to wing it.
STRENGTHS: The O-line will improve under position coach Russ Grimm and that's good news for Leinart, who will have more time to find a deep receiving corps led by Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. The secondary is solid.
WEAKNESSES: There might be some adjustment problems as Whisenhunt changes over to a Steeler-like 3-4 defense, particularly since LB Chiki Okeafor was injured for the season. RB Edgerrin James was a bust last year and has to run a lot tougher.
BOTTOM LINE: The Cards should be better. Unfortunately, so should the rest of their division.
TITANS
LAST YEAR: 8-8 Playoffs: Missed
INCOMING: Ex-Colt Nick Harper is Pacman Jones' replacement at CB. Veteran WR Eric Moulds was signed before camp. Cowboy backup Ryan Fowler will start at MLB. The Titans switched rookie Michael Griffin from S to CB, where he has shown big-play potential.
OUTGOING: Gone are the team's leading receiver, Drew Bennett, and leading rusher, Travis Henry. Pacman may not be much as a human being, but the Titans won't easily replace his playmaking ability on both defense and in the return game.
MAIN MAN: So much for QB Vince Young taking loads of time to adjust to the NFL. Given the chance to start, Young gave the Titans all sorts of hope about the future as he won six of his last seven games. As for the immediate future, Young may have to be a one-man gang. There isn't a lot around him.
STRENGTHS: The offensive line, anchored by C Kevin Mawae, is solid and will give Young time to do his thing. The run defense, with LB Keith Bulluck running people down, should be a plus. Ben Troupe leads a good group of TEs.
WEAKNESSES: LenDale White must prove he can hold up as a feature back. The Titans will have problems generating a pass rush and that will lead to coverage problems.
BOTTOM LINE: Young is the wild card, but he can't make up for every deficiency. They're still a year away.
CHIEFS
LAST YEAR: 9-7 Playoffs: Lost in wild card round
INCOMING: Ex-Dolphin Damion McIntosh was supposed to start at LT, but an MCL tear may keep him out. Napolean Harris and Donnie Edwards join the LB corps with ex-Bear backup Alfonso Boone at DT. The Chiefs go with rookie kicker Justin Medlock.
OUTGOING: KC dumped Trent Green and his salary, leaving Damon Huard at QB. G Will Shields followed Willie Roaf into retirement. Leading tackler Kawicka Mitchell is gone. Return man Dante Hall is with the Rams, K Lawrence Tynes with the Giants.
MAIN MAN: Larry Johnson (record 416 carries last year, over 3,400 yards, 40 TDs last two years) turns a plodding offense into a punishing one, but his 25-day holdout could have devastating effects. Even he admitted that he might not be ready by opening day.
STRENGTHS: Pass rush is good with Jared Allen and Tamba Hall combining for 15.5 sacks last year. LB Derrick Johnson should have a big year.
WEAKNESSES: Future Hall of Fame TE Tony Gonzalez may be losing a step. Once among the best in the league, the O-line has become mediocre. Age may be showing at CB with Ty Law and Pat Surtain.
BOTTOM LINE: The Chiefs will not be sneaking into the playoffs this year and will be lucky to have a .500 record.
GIANTS
LAST YEAR: 8-8 Playoffs: Lost wild card round
INCOMING: RB Reuben Droughns moves over from Cleveland to split carries with Brandon Jacobs. LB Kawicka Mitchell is an upgrade. G Zach Piller, DT Marcus Bell, S Michael Stone and K Lawrence Tynes are the other additions. WR Steve Smith might end up being one of the steals of the draft.
OUTGOING: Tiki Barber's early retirement gutted this offense, which also lost T Luke Petitgout, WR Tim Carter and backup TE Visanthe Shiancoe. LBs Carlos Emmons and Brandon Short are gone and K Jay Feely signed with the Dolphins.
MAIN MAN: Barber's retirement and Michael Strahan's absence in camp forced Eli Manning into more of a leadership role and he enjoyed his best preseason. We now know that a flawed Eli will never be Peyton, but he doesn't have to be. The Giants will settle for consistentcy.
STRENGTHS: The O-line is an efficient unit and will give Manning time to throw. The receivers can stretch the field. The run defense is strong up the middle.
WEAKNESSES: How do you replace Barber (2,127 all-purpose yards), not only as a big-play back but as an outlet receiver? Without a pass rush, the secondary is vulnerable. TE Jeremy Shockey is injury prone. WR Plaxico Burress has back problems.
BOTTOM LINE: Too many people have to step up to get this team to the postseason. Tom Coughlin's hot seat is burning.
PACKERS
LAST YEAR: 8-8 Playoffs: Missed
INCOMING: Second-round pick Brandon Jackson could be the starting RB. Ex-Giant CB Frank Walker was the only veteran free agent signed.
OUTGOING: Let RB Ahman Green go. Released WR Robert Ferguson. DT Kendrick Allen left as a free agent.
MAIN MAN: QB Brett Favre is holding on with his guts and heart. As he enters his 17th season, his teammates keep looking younger and his numbers continue to slip.
STRENGTHS: Donald Driver is both superb and irreplaceable as Favre's go-to guy. He has to stay healthy. The O-line can pass protect. The Packers D is sound up front, with an excellent pass rush and one of the league's best young LBs in A.J. Hawk.
WEAKNESSES: Favre can be a strength and a weakness, depending on who's catching his passes - his receivers or opposing defensive backs. CBs Charles Woodson and Al Harris had great seasons in '06, but they're getting old.
BOTTOM LINE: The Pack looked like a potential sleeper when they won their last four games, but followed that with a bad offseason. Things would have to break perfectly to send Favre out a winner.
VIKINGS
LAST YEAR: 6-10 Playoffs: Missed
INCOMING: Got Packers castoff WR Robert Ferguson. RB Adrian Peterson bolsters an already-solid running game. TE Visanthe Shiancoe comes from the Giants. Brooks Bollinger is backup QB.
OUTGOING: QB Brad Johnson, WR Travis Taylor, FB Joey Goodspeed, TE Jermaine Wiggins, LB Napolean Harris and CB Fred Smoot.
MAIN MAN: Randy Moss may have left a while ago, but Peterson took up some of Moss' old bravado when he said he was aiming for Rookie of the Year and MVP honors. Although he'll likely split carries with Chester Taylor, Peterson has superstar potential.
STRENGTHS: The Vikings can run left behind Bryant McKinnie and Steve Hutchinson. Chad Greenway's return after missing last season with a torn ACL boosts a good LB corps.
WEAKNESSES: Going with neophyte Tarvaris Jackson at QB guarantees early season bumps and a one-dimensional approach, especially with this mediocre WR corps. The pass rush is lacking and the secondary is a tinderbox waiting for a match.
BOTTOM LINE: The Vikes are in a rebuilding mode and too unbalanced on both sides of the ball to make much headway this year.
WORST OF THE WORST
FALCONS
LAST YEAR: 7-9 Playoffs: Missed
INCOMING: Bobby Petrino had no idea what he was getting into, did he? QB Joey Harrington was signed away from Miami, WR Joe Horn away from the rival Saints. As many as five rookies could start.
OUTGOING: QB Michael Vick is gone, maybe forever. DE Patrick Kerney signed with Seattle. Mistakenly sent Matt Schaub to the Texans for draft picks before the Vick mess blew up.
MAIN MAN: A stopgap at best, Harrington begins his third straight season with a different team as he tries to get Petrino's offense off the ground. At least he's been in the heat of battle before, even though his INT numbers are troubling. He will be blitzed.
STRENGTHS: If he can stay healthy, DE John Abraham will team up with Anderson to supply a good pass rush. CB DeAngelo Hall will provide some big plays.
WEAKNESSES: To make offensive matters worse, TE Alge Crumpler, Vick's favorite receiver, is battling bad knees. The interior line lacks depth. Special teams are mistake-prone.
BOTTOM LINE: Dog days ahead.
DOLPHINS
LAST YEAR: 6-10 Playoffs: Missed
INCOMING: Cam Cameron, offensive guru at San Diego, gets to see how his X's and O's work without all that talent. QB Trent Green tries to revive his career. LB Joey Porter tries to prove the Steelers wrong, and K Jay Feely escapes New York. Top pick Ted Ginn should provide many happy returns.
OUTGOING: Following coach Nick Saban out the open door were QBs Daunte Culpepper and Joey Harrington, OT Damion McIntosh, TE Randy McMichael, WR Wes Welker, RB Sammie Morris, DEs Kevin Carter and David Bowens and K Olindo Mare.
MAIN MAN: Jason Taylor is a marvel at DE. On a defense that was constantly on the field last year, the then-32-year-old had 13.5. He might line up at OLB in 3-4 fronts.
STRENGTHS: Taylor and Zach Johnson lead a defense that always seems to get it done. Cameron is an innovator. Chris Chambers is a big-time receiver.
WEAKNESSES: Green is still behind the learning curve in Cameron's offense. The O-line is a work in progress - L.T. Shelton is battling his weight and RB Ronnie Brown hasn't shown any consistency. The Dolphins have the oldest front seven in the league.
BOTTOM LINE: Give Cameron another year - and some players.
TEXANS
LAST YEAR: 6-10 Playoffs: Missed
INCOMING: Traded for QB Matt Schaub, who has already shown more leadership than David Carr ever did, and picked up RB Ahman Green.
OUTGOING: Released Carr, their supposed franchise QB, and RB Damonick Davis, the supposed reason they didn't draft Reggie Bush last year. A major housecleaning also included WR Eric Moulds, OT Zach Wiegert, DT Seth Payne, and CB Lewis Sanders.
MAIN MAN: Andre Johnson has somehow emerged from this offense into the top echelon of NFL receivers. He has excellent size, great hands and his work ethic reminds coach Gary Kubiak of Jerry Rice and Rod Smith. Although Johnson averaged 11.3 yards per catch last year, better protection for Schaub should result in bigger plays.
STRENGTHS: The offensive line finally showed signs of improvement. LB DeMeco Ryans (125 tackles last year) has great instincts and is one of the best young defensive players in the league.
WEAKNESSES: Mario Williams (4.5 sacks) wasn't worth his spot in the draft last year. How much does Green have left at RB? They still don't have a viable second receiver behind Johnson.
BOTTOM LINE: An 8-8 season would be a major accomplishment.
RAIDERS
LAST YEAR: 2-14 Playoffs: Missed
INCOMING: Young, unproven Lane Kiffin took the job nobody wanted and actually seems to be hitting it off with eccentric owner Al Davis. QB Daunte Culpepper is the latest retread Raider. RB Dominic Rhodes comes from Indy, but he begins the season with a four-game suspension. DT Gerard Warren bolsters a good defense. Rookie TE Zach Miller is a weapon. They drafted JaMarcus Russell. Signing him was another story.
OUTGOING: The Randy Moss Experiment is over. Other ex-Raiders: QB Aaron Brooks, CB Tyrone Poole, DE Lance Johnstone. Released FB Zack Crockett.
MAIN MAN: Warren Sapp isn't just a new man, he looks like he lost one. He's still using his mouth for talking, less for eating and is down to 285 pounds. The 13-year vet intends to improve on his 10-sack year and make the Pro Bowl again.
STRENGTHS: The safeties are the best part of a young, hungry defense under innovative coordinator Rob Ryan. Michael Huff, last year's No. 1 pick, is a versatile player with Pro Bowl potential.
WEAKNESSES: The offense can't get any worse than it was last year. Moss may be addition by subtraction, but his departure leaves the Raiders without any downfield speed. The O-line is still in flux and the running game will be hurting.
BOTTOM LINE: They're past dysfunctional. That's a start.
BROWNS
LAST YEAR: 4-12 Playoffs: Missed
INCOMING: RB Jamal Lewis, from rival Baltimore where he seemed to have lost a step, hopes to improve a dismal running game, along with LG Eric Steinbach - who promptly hurt his knee - C Seth McKinney and rookie OT Joe Thomas. Second-round pick Eric Wright has won a job at CB.
OUTGOING: QB Trent Dilfer was traded to the 49ers. Starters gone through free agency are WR Antonio Bryant, LB Ben Taylor and OT L.J. Shelton.
MAIN MAN: An 11-day holdout didn't ingratiate Brady Quinn to Romeo Crennel, but after he was deemed nowhere close to ready, he threw for a pair of TDs in his preseason debut. Quinn will be the starter, the question is when.
STRENGTHS: There is some talent at LB between Kamerion Wimbley, who emerged with 11 sacks last season, and Andra Davis, who has averaged 167 tackles over three seasons.
WEAKNESSES: If Quinn isn't ready, who's the QB? Charlie Frye? The run defense - ranked 29th last year - has a couple of rusty anchors in Ted Washington and Orpheus Roye.
BOTTOM LINE: Any improvement has to start within the division, where the Browns are 1-11 under Crennel. Romeo may be whereforth out of town if things don't turn around.
BILLS
LAST YEAR: 7-9 Playoffs: Missed
INCOMING: Marv Levy spent plenty to improve the O-line by signing Gs Derrick Dockery and Jason Whittle and OT Langston Walker. They'll try to provide power blocking for rookie RB Marshawn Lynch.
OUTGOING: LB corps has been hit hard by departures of London Fletcher and Takeo Spikes, while CB Nate Clements took more cash from San Francisco. RB Willis McGahee left for Baltimore.
MAIN MAN: They say that J.P. Losman, the most-maligned starting QB after Rex Grossman, has matured and has been working overtime. Maybe because he doesn't expect to be sacked 49 times this year.
STRENGTHS: Pro Bowl DE Aaron Schobel leads a pass rush that produced 25.5 sacks a year ago. Special teams are excellent.
WEAKNESSES: They will have trouble stopping the run with a small D-line, especially since the AFC East features power running teams.
BOTTOM LINE: The Bills are turning the roster over under Dick Jauron and are still years away from becoming a contender.
posted by The Gryphon at 9:20 AM
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