NFL 2008: NFC predictions

This is the second part of my regular-season predictions for the 2008 NFL season. We'll revisit these at the season's end.

NFC East
Overview: As if 13 Pro Bowl players wasn't enough, the Cowboys added two more in CB Adam Jones and LB Zach Thomas in the offseason, still Dallas has to win postseason games (plural). Losing 25 sacks due to retirement and injury won't help the Giants' defense, but don't sell the champs short, they could win this division. The Eagles addressed their needs in free agency and the draft, though another target for Donovan McNabb would have really helped. The Redskins could be very fun to watch but age is a factor on both lines.
1. Dallas: QB Tony Romo and Coach Wade Phillips need to break through in the postseason. RB Felix Jones was a great draft pick, but Dallas could use another quality receiver opposite Terrell Owens. There is no question the Cowboys are loaded at every other position.
2. N.Y. Giants: The G-men took a lot of hits on defense, so players such as DEs Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka and a new trio of safeties has to come up big. QB Eli Manning needs WRs Plaxico Burress, Amani Toomer and Steve Smith to stay healthy, and the bruising running game to pick up where it left off.
3. Philadelphia: The Eagles got younger and faster on defense, so expect defensive coordinator Jim Johnson to release the hounds. QB Donovan McNabb has a lot left in the tank, and he will prove it despite a dearth of receiving options.
4. Washington: A lot of questions in the capital. How will the players adapt to new coach Jim Zorn's system? Can the lines stay healthy? Is QB Jason Campbell fully recovered? Put Washington in any other division in this conference it likely would finish at least second, that's how strong the East is.

NFC North
Overview: This is a bizarre division. It's possible the worst team (Detroit) might have the best quarterback (Jon Kitna). Defense will be the rule of the day as Minnesota, Green Bay and Chicago all could be among the top 10 in the league. The Packers might regret trading Brett Favre and not having an experienced backup if Aaron Rodgers goes down to injury. The Bears need to avoid injuries that decimated their defense last season and get something, anything from their offense. The Lions could be better and have a worse record than last season.
1. Minnesota: You know the story. The Vikings led the league in rushing and rushing defense, but had the worst pass defense and fourth-worst passing game. DE Jared Allen and S Madieu Williams, when he heals, should help the former at least a little. The latter depends on whether QB Tavaris Jackson can limit his errors and make more plays, particularly to high-priced free-agent WR Bernard Berrian, who can stretch defenses but also drops a lot of balls.
2. Green Bay: Last season, the Packers had the second-best passing game. Given the depth and talent of their receiving core, it could be just as good ... if they had a quarterback with more than zero NFL starts. I think Rodgers will do reasonably well, but Brett Favre won games last season for the Packers, who need a full season of Ryan Grant's second-half of 2007 production.
3. Chicago: It's fashionable to blame the lack of production from former starting QB Rex Grossman for the Bears' offensive woes, but the reality was they were 30th in rushing. So rookie Matt Forte is the key for them. Given the secondary was without two starters nearly all season, expect the pass defense to improve.
4. Detroit: The Lions again turned over a significant portion of their roster, and many of the new faces on defense played for coach Rod Marinelli in Tampa Bay. That would have been great three or four years ago. The passing game should be very good if Kitna gets time to throw, but the combination of unproven running backs and a below-average line isn't a good combination.

NFC South
Overview: While the Saints say last season, which featured an 0-4 start after reaching the NFC title game in 2006, was an aberration, their offseason actions say otherwise. They obtained at least six new starters through trades, free agency and the draft. Say what you will about Jon Gruden winning with Tony Dungy's players, but that's no longer accurate. He and Bruce Allen are slowly rebuilding the Bucs from the trenches out. The Panthers' win totals for the past three seasons: 11-8-7. Notice a trend? Things have nowhere to go but up for the Falcons.
1. New Orleans: If RBs Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister are healthy, the Saints are loaded on offense. Drafting DT Sedrick Ellis and adding LBs Jonathon Vilma and Dan Morgan helps the defense. If the secondary is average, the Saints will win a lot more than they lose.
2. Tampa Bay: The Bucs might have the best young offensive line in the game, and their defensive line has the potential to be just as good. The back seven on defense also has young playmakers in LB Barrett Ruud and S Jermaine Phillips and Tanard Jackson. The cautious, ball-control approach on offense worked well last season. Think Ravens East, as long as the offense doesn't screw things up for the defense, the Bucs will be fine.
3. Carolina: As ridiculous as it would have sounded a few years ago, this is probably a make-or-break year for Coach John Fox and several players, DE Julius Peppers to name one. Carolina's offense was predictably sunk when QB Jake Delhomme blew out his throwing elbow, but the defense's falloff, particularly up front, was baffling. Rookie T Jef Otah and RB Jonathon Stewart will have to play prominent roles.
4. Atlanta: The Falcons make no bones about it, they're starting from scratch with a new coach, QB, RB and a few new OL parts. Most of their veteran players were let go in the offseason, and given neither offense nor defense were in the top two-thirds of the NFL, that probably wasn't a bad idea.

NFC West
Overview: The Seahawks are one of the more solid teams in the conference, particularly on defense, they have the division's best quarterback and coach. The Cardinals are a fashionable breakout pick, but I don't see it. If the 49ers aren't better - a lot better - expect another house cleaning by the Bay. The Rams have a lot of holes on defense and on the offensive line, which overshadows a decent group of skill players.
1. Seattle: Say this for the Seahawks, they have been consistently good under Holmgren, making the playoffs the past five seasons. This year should be no different as Seattle has good balance on both sides of the ball. If the running back by committee of Julius Jones, Maurice Morris and TJ Duckett is effective, it will offset injuries to WRs Bobby Engram and Deion Branch. The defense has stars and depth at all three position groups.
2. Arizona: Turnovers and penalties undermined the Cardinals again and again last season. The offense is full of playmakers and the line is improved. The defense has to improve against the pass (it was 28th), and it has the potential to do so with the return of S Adrian Wilson (heel injury), the move of Antrell Rolle to safety and the drafting of CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.
3. San Francisco: It doesn't say a lot for former No. 1 overall pick Alex Smith that journeyman JT O'Sullivan beat him out in Mike Martz's QB-friendly offense. The NFL's worst offense in 2007, the 49ers have handed the keys to Martz and brought one of his most reliable players in WR Isaac Bruce. RB Frank Gore must stay healthy. The defense gives up a lot of yards, but not as many points as one would assume. It has the personnel to be a lot better.
4. St. Louis: The Rams can't possibly have as many injuries as they had last season, can they? The offense is in good hands with QB Marc Bulger, RB Steven Jackson and WR Torry Holt. The defense, however, needs a massive upgrade, and aside from rookie DE Chris Long, didn't get it. Turnovers also were a huge problem.

Playoff teams: Dallas, Minnesota, New Orleans, Seattle, N.Y. Giants, Philadelphia or Green Bay