NFC preview

NFC EAST

NEW YORK GIANTS

Last season: 12-4 (first place, lost to Philadelphia in divisional round)

Coach: Tom Coughlin (sixth season)

Storyline: Can the Giants replace wide receiver Plaxico Burress? Big Blue seemed bound for another Super Bowl appearance until Burress shot himself. He might have been high maintenance, but he was a big-time down-field threat.

Key addition: Defensive end Chris Canty. The Giants were glad to snap him up from division rival Dallas. He has to transition from a 3-4 linebacker to a 4-3 defensive end plus recover from a preseason hamstring injury.

Why they might make the playoffs: The Giants simply have too many solid pieces not to return to the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season, chiefly a smash-mouth run game and the NFC’s best pass rush (which includes the return of Osi Umenyiora).

Why they might not make the playoffs: They fall apart during three consecutive road games in Weeks 2-4 or sustain injuries to key players like Eli Manning, Brandon Jacobs or Antonio Pierce that leave them decimated for a final five-game stretch that includes three 2008 playoff teams.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Last season: 9-6-1 (second place, lost to Arizona in NFC title game)

Coach: Andy Reid (11th season)

Storyline: What will be Michael Vick’s impact? It took one game for Donovan McNabb to bellyache about how Vick’s insertion will cause the offense to lose rhythm. It’s up to Reid to find a medium - keep McNabb happy and utilize Vick.

Key addition: Left tackle Jason Peters. Acquired in a trade with Buffalo, he struggled in pass protection last year and joins an Eagles line with a new right tackle (Shawn Andrews) and right guard (Stacy Andrews) and, to start the season, minus left guard Todd Herremans (stress fracture).

Why they might make the playoffs: running back LeSean McCoy and wide receiver Jeremy Maclin make big impacts as rookies, running back Brian Westbrook stays healthy and the Eagles continue to play solid defense.

Why they might not make the playoffs: The last five road games are San Diego, Chicago, Atlanta, N.Y. Giants and Dallas. The defense is without S Brian Dawkins (free agent to Denver) and MLB Stewart Bradley (knee injury).

WASHINGTON REDSKINS

Last season: 8-8 (last place)

Coach: Jim Zorn (second season)

Storyline: Is this it for Zorn and Jason Campbell? No coach-quarterback tandem is more intertwined this year. The Redskins do well and both likely stay; the Redskins struggle and Campbell is definitely gone and Zorn is on the hot seat.

Key addition: Linebacker/defensive end Brian Orakpo. Sure, defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth got the mega-money, but Orakpo, stolen by the Redskins with the 13th pick, will greatly enhance the team’s usually dormant pass rush. Orakpo is learning how to play strong-side linebacker, but he already knows what to do on third down - get to the quarterback.

Why they might make the playoffs: Haynesworth proves he is worth the $41 million guaranteed by helping produce more sacks and takeaways, Campbell gets in sync with wide receivers Malcolm Kelly and Devin Thomas and running back Clinton Portis remains healthy.

Why they might not make the playoffs: The veteran offensive line springs several leaks, Haynesworth can’t stay on the field, Portis begins to show signs of age and the Redskins don’t get many interceptions.

DALLAS COWBOYS

Last season: 9-7 (third place)

Coach: Wade Phillips (third season)

Storyline: How hot is the pressure cooker for Phillips? Like Zorn with the Redskins and several other coaches in the NFL, Phillips needs a big year after 2008 was marred by a 44-6 loss to Philadelphia in a must-win finale.

Key addition: The Cowboys hope linebacker Keith Brooking is better than Zach Thomas was last year. Brooking has played for Phillips before so he knows the 3-4 scheme, and he brings experience and knowledge to the defense.

Why they might make the playoffs: QB Tony Romo plays to the level that earned him the starting job three years ago, wide receiver Roy Williams plays to the level of a top-10 draft pick and linebacker DeMarcus Ware continues to be a premier pass rusher.

Why they might not make the playoffs: Play caller Jason Garrett insists on being pass-first instead of run-first, Romo still melts in big games, Williams continues to be nothing more than a No. 2 receiver and the secondary struggles.

NFC NORTH

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Last season: 10-6 (first place, lost to Philadelphia in first round)

Coach: Brad Childress (fourth season)

Storyline: Can the passing game complement a fifth-ranked run game and a top-ranked run defense? Enter QB Brett Favre. Running back Adrian Peterson is a great running back, but the Vikings need more out of the passing game so they added Favre and rookie wide receiver Percy Harvin.

Key addition: Favre. Coaxed out of retirement despite being 39 and seeing his last two years end dreadfully, he is viewed as the final piece. And he may well be because Favre won’t have to carry the offense.

Why they might make the playoffs: Favre’s right arm doesn’t become a medical mess, Peterson shines, defensive end Jared Allen remains a great pass rusher and S Madieu Williams proves a good replacement for veteran Darren Sharper.

Why they might not make the playoffs: Peterson gets hurt, Favre proves he’s finished and center John Sullivan doesn’t adequately replace Matt Birk. Peterson would be a bigger loss than Favre because Sage Rosenfels is more than serviceable as a fill-in quarterback.

CHICAGO BEARS

Last season: 9-7 (second place)

Coach: Lovie Smith (sixth season)

Storyline: Does Smith’s return to the defensive play-calling position equal a return to the playoffs? Bob Babich didn’t lose his coordinator title after a 21st-place finish in total yards, just his power to call the signals.

Key addition: In another bold step, the Bears outbid the Redskins for quarterback Jay Cutler when Denver coach Josh McDaniels opted for Kyle Orton over Jason Campbell. Cutler is being counted on to ignite an offense that was 26th last year in yards and has been without a dangerous passing game for years.

Why they might make the playoffs: Cutler ignites the passing game even though he doesn’t have a lot of receivers to throw to, and Smith’s play calling helps create playmaking chances for middle linebacker Brian Urlacher.

Why they might not make the playoffs: No receiver besides Devin Hester rises up, Urlacher shows he’s done as a marquee player and Cutler’s mouth rankles teammates and interceptions cost the Bears games.

GREEN BAY PACKERS

Last season: 6-10 (third place)

Coach: Mike McCarthy (fourth season)

Storyline: Are the Packers as good as they looked in the preseason? Green Bay has been unstoppable offensively and stout defensively. Granted, it’s not cause for celebration but it proves QB Aaron Rodgers has improved and the transition to a 3-4 defense might not take long.

Key addition: Defensive coordinator Dom Capers. The Packers were 26th against the run, 25th in sacks and 22nd in points allowed. Capers was added to switch to the 3-4. That means DE Aaron Kampman is now outside linebacker Aaron Kampman.

Why they might make the playoffs: They outscore everybody. Rodgers has four good targets - Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, James Jones and Jordy Nelson. And if running back Ryan Grant regains his form, the Packers will be tough to stop.

Why they might not make the playoffs: They can’t stop anybody. Kampman is the wild card. If he struggles in coverage, what he does as a pass rusher and cornerback Charles Woodson’s interceptions while playing man coverage won’t mean much.

DETROIT LIONS

Last season: 0-16 (last place)

Coach: Jim Schwartz (first season)

Storyline: Will they win a game? They will because losing all 16 is tough to do once, much less twice. And each opponent will fear being the first victim. The most likely chances are home games against St. Louis, Cleveland and, yes, the Redskins.

Key addition: For the future, it’s first overall pick Matthew Stafford. For the present, it’s veteran defenders like linebacker Larry Foote and cornerbacks Phillip Buchanon and Anthony Henry.

Why they might make the playoffs: No reasons. It’s one thing to go from last to first - it’s happened a lot in the NFL. But 0-16 to first? No way. This is a long-term building project for Schwartz and GM Martin Mayhew.

Why they might not make the playoffs: The climb is too steep, especially if Stafford is the starter. If the Lions manage four to five wins this year, it will be a big jump from Matt Millen, who parlayed his front office incompetence into gigs with NFL Network and ESPN.

NFC SOUTH

ATLANTA FALCONS

Last season: 11-5 (second place, lost to Arizona in first round)

Coach: Mike Smith (second season)

Storyline: Will things work perfectly for a second straight year? The Falcons were one of the NFL’s surprises last year, reaching the playoffs with a rookie coach (Smith), a rookie quarterback (Matt Ryan) and a new running back (Michael Turner).

Key addition: Tony Gonzalez is the most prolific pass-catching tight end in NFL history and a future Hall of Famer. He’ll get more single coverage because of WR Roddy White, and he will become a safety blanket for Ryan.

Why they might make the playoffs: A great offensive nucleus of Ryan, Gonzalez, Turner and White. The Falcons shouldn’t have any problem scoring - they scored 25 points or more seven times last year.

Why they might not make the playoffs: The defense can’t recover from cutting ties with middle linebacker Keith Brooking, outside linebacker Michael Boley and safety Lawyer Milloy - all in-house decisions. And the schedule - the Falcons play the AFC East and NFC East - is much tougher.

CAROLINA PANTHERS

Last season: 12-4 (first place, lost to Arizona in divisional round)

Coach: John Fox (eighth season)

Storyline: What does QB Jake Delhomme have left? When last seen, he threw five interceptions during a home playoff loss to Arizona. Now 34 years old, Delhomme will rely on a great running game, but he has to show he can still make plays.

Key addition: Defensive coordinator Ron Meeks. The Panthers spent the offseason keeping their own free agents (offensive tackle Jordan Gross and defensive end Julius Peppers). Meeks comes from Indianapolis, where the Colts weren’t always great but knew how to pressure the passer.

Why they might make the playoffs: Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams come close to last year’s combined totals of 2,351 yards and 28 touchdowns, Steve Smith continues to eclipse 1,000 yards and Peppers’ contract drive includes 15 sacks.

Why they might not make the playoffs: Two three-game stretches - Philadelphia-at Atlanta-at Dallas to start the season and at New England-Minnesota-at Giants in December - could prove problematic. And any injury to Peppers would be a huge loss.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Last season: 8-8 (last place)

Coach: Sean Payton (fourth season)

Storyline: Can Gregg Williams resuscitate the defense? The Saints allowed 25 or more points in 10 games last season, negating the work done by the offense (first in points and yards). Enter Williams, who added safety Darren Sharper, cornerback Malcolm Jenkins and defensive end Paul Spicer.

Key addition: Williams wants another head coaching chance and he will be noticed if he can turn around the Saints’ defense. It has looked sharp in the preseason, and Williams has acquired several players from his Redskins and Jaguars days who are familiar with the scheme.

Why they might make the playoffs: The defense improves. Period. Drew Brees passed for 5,069 yards last year, so the offense will move the ball with receiver Marques Colston back for a full season. If anything, the Saints will play some exciting games.

Why they might not make the playoffs: They get outscored. Brees can’t be expected to match his 2008 numbers. Running back Reggie Bush clinches his spot as a huge bust that can’t run inside and can’t stay healthy.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Last season: 9-7 (third place)

Coach: Raheem Morris (first season)

Storyline: It’s a new era in Tampa after the surprising dismissal of coach Jon Gruden and general manager Bruce Allen, and the parting of ways with linebacker Derrick Brooks, running back Warrick Dunn and quarterback Jeff Garcia.

Key addition: QB Byron Leftwich. The District native won the competition over three others during the preseason and is the Week 1 starter for the first time since 2005. But rookie Josh Freeman better be ready - Leftwich has never played a full season.

Why they might make the playoffs: Leftwich finds the form that made him a standout in Jacksonville, the running game takes off with Cadillac Williams and newcomer Derrick Ward and the revamped defense shines with safety Jermaine Phillips back at his natural position after experimenting at linebacker.

Why they might not make the playoffs: A tough schedule - they play the AFC East and NFC East - and simply too many new and young pieces to win the division, especially if Morris opts to go with Freeman at some point.

NFC WEST

ARIZONA CARDINALS

Last season: 9-7 (first place, lost to Pittsburgh in Super Bowl)

Coach: Ken Whisenhunt (third season)

Storyline: Does Kurt Warner have another magical season left in him? The 38-year old likely clinched his spot in Canton by leading Arizona to the Super Bowl last year. If he keeps his form, the Cardinals are NFC contenders.

Key addition: Running back Beanie Wells. The Cardinals’ running game was dormant last year so Arizona was proactive, cutting Edgerrin James and using their first-round pick on Wells, a dynamic playmaker (5.8 yards per carry last season at Ohio State) who should make a great offense even better.

Why they might make the playoffs: They have the best team in the NFC West and play like it. The Seahawks, 49ers and Rams have new coaches, leaving the Cardinals a perfect chance to go at least 5-1 in the division.

Why they might not make the playoffs: They fall apart because of injuries or they lose road games at places like Jacksonville, Detroit and within the division. In reality, the Cardinals have no excuses not to run away with the NFC West.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Last season: 7-9 (second place)

Coach: Mike Singletary (first full season)

Storyline: Do the 49ers finallnay break through and reach the playoffs? Singletary earned the full-time job after the 49ers went 5-2 in their last seven games. San Francisco hasn’t made the postseason since 2002.

Key addition: Singletary. Previously the defensive coordinator, he has attempted to instill toughness during training camp and a re-dedication to the running game. Singletary’s biggest challenge is avoiding a season-crippling losing streak like the six-game skid last year.

Why they might make the playoffs: They up their sack and takeaway totals (bottom third of the league last year) and Maryland alum Shaun Hill establishes himself at quarterback, running back Frank Gore improves the 27th-ranked running game and tight end Vernon Davis plays like a top-10 pick.

Why they might not make the playoffs: Not enough offensive weapons. Even if wide receiver Michael Crabtree is signed in time for the opener, his season is a wash - first-round picks can’t just show up after missing training camp and expect to produce.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Last season: 4-12 (third place)

Coach: Jim Mora Jr. (first season)

Storyline: Was last year’s disaster an injury-related fluke? The Seahawks lost an NFC-high 72 man games to injury, and general logic suggests that won’t happen again. But the team is aging. Left tackle Walter Jones is 35, and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck will be 34 in late September.

Key addition: Wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh. He benefited from playing opposite Chad Ochocinco in Cincinnati, making at least 90 catches in each of the last three years. Now it’s time for his shot as a No. 1 receiver.

Why they might make the playoffs: Hasselbeck connects often with Houshmandzadeh and Deion Branch, newcomer Edgerrin James complements running back Julius Jones and the pass defense improves from last in the NFL. Seattle hopes new defensive tackle Cory Redding impacts the pass rush.

Why they might not make the playoffs: A three-game road swing to Arizona, Minnesota and St. Louis, so few catches by the receivers that tight end John Carlson again leads the team in receptions and the secondary remains atrocious.

ST. LOUIS RAMS

Last season: 2-14 (last place)

Coach: Steve Spagnoluo (first season)

Storyline: Will the Rams be the NFC’s second-worst team? It’s a pretty safe bet. The Rams finished last year with a 10-game losing streak and didn’t do much in free agency.

Key addition: Center Jason Brown. The former Raven was signed in the opening days of free agency to anchor a unit that allowed 45 sacks last year.

Why they might make the playoffs: The rest of the division falls apart, running back Steven Jackson comes out flying after participating in a full camp, Marc Bulger isn’t running for his life or to the training room and Spagnuolo turns around a defense that was 28th in yards allowed and 31st in points allowed.

Why they might not make the playoffs: Way too many holes in the roster and a schedule that will likely leave them 0-3 (at Seattle, at Redskins, home vs. Green Bay). The Rams are building the right away, drafting offensive and defensive linemen in the first round, but they are a long way from contending for a playoff spot.

-Ryan O’Halloran