Football

NFC West

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1. San Francisco 49ers
A full year with QB Colin Kaepernick could be a special one.
2. Seattle Seahawks
If they still played in the AFC they would be the favorite in that conference.
3. St. Louis Rams
They would be a playoff contender in any other division.
4. Arizona Cardinals
A new regime will mean a much improved offense with their solid defense.

Head Coach: Jim Harbaugh
Key Position: Secondary – The pressure was certainly on them late last year when the 49ers pass rush lost some steam.  They have tremendous depth here, but they’ll need to stay consistent all year long.
Key Acquisitions: CB Nnamdi Asomugha (Philadelphia Eagles), DE Glenn Dorsey (Kansas City Chiefs), K Phil Dawson (Cleveland Browns), QB Colt McCoy (Cleveland Browns), S Craig Dahl (St. Louis Rams), WR Anquan Boldin (Baltimore Ravens)
Key Rookies: S Eric Reid, TE Vance McDonald, WR Quinton Patton
Head Coach: Pete Carroll
Key Position: Wide Receiver – It’s expected that QB Russell Wilson will take a big step forward this year.  To do that he’ll need his receivers to help more.  With Percy Harvin on the shelf for an early chunk of the season that task will be harder to accomplish.
Key Acquisitions: DE Cliff Avril (Detroit Lions), DE Michael Bennett (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), WR Percy Harvin (Minnesota Vikings)
Key Rookies: RB Christine Michael, DT Jordan Hill
Head Coach: Jeff Fisher
Key Position: Offense – Simply put they have to score.  Their defense was outstanding under the circumstances.  They’ll have to average at least 20 points per game if they want to keep their defense fresh for a long season.
Key Acquisitions: T Jake Long (Miami Dolphins), TE Jared Cook (Tennessee Titans)
Key Rookies: WR Tavon Austin, LB Alec Ogletree, S T.J. McDonald
Head Coach: Bruce Arians
Key Position: Offense – One of the most dreadful offensive teams last year will have a new quarterback and running back this year. They hope that with consistent quarterback play the wide receivers will continue to play up to their standard.
Key Acquisitions: CB Antoine Cason (San Diego Chargers), CB Jerraud Powers (Indianapolis Colts), DE John Abraham (Atlanta Falcons), DE Frostee Rucker (Cleveland Browns), LB Lorenzo Alexander (Washington Redskins), LB Jasper Brinkley (Minnesota Vikings), LB Karlos Dansby (Miami Dolphins), QB Carson Palmer (Oakland Raiders), RB Rashard Mendenhall (Pittsburgh Steelers)
Key Rookies: G Jonathan Cooper, LB Kevin Minter, CB Tyrann Mathieu

NFC South

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1. Atlanta Falcons
A stacked team that stays intact at many key positions.
2. New Orleans Saints
They are one of the best offensive teams and one of the worst defensive teams.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
They could go past New Orleans, but the Bucs offense isn’t good enough.
4. Carolina Panthers
With the loss of the offensive coordinator the Panthers might have to wait another year.

Head Coach: Mike Smith
Key Position: Linebacker – A big reason why they didn’t get to the Super Bowl was the play of this unit.  They were exposed and out of position in the NFC Championship game.  They’ll need to improve here if they want another chance at a title.
Key Acquisitions: DE Osi Umenyiora (New York Giants), RB Steven Jackson (St. Louis Rams)
Key Rookies: CB Desmond Trufant
Head Coach: Sean Payton
Key Position: Defense – They have transformed to a 3-4 style with Rob Ryan being added to the coaching staff.  There are many areas that need work, but it will be interesting to see if this group warms up to the scheme.
Key Acquisitions: CB Keenan Lewis (Pittsburgh Steelers), LB Parys Haralson (San Francisco 49ers), QB Luke McCown (Atlanta Falcons), TE Benjamin Watson (Cleveland Browns)
Key Rookies: S Kenny Vaccaro, DT John Jenkins
Head Coach: Greg Schiano
Key Position: Secondary – The biggest problem on the defense last year has now become a strength.  With CB Darrelle Revis and S Dashon Goldson the secondary has some backbone and it should put less pressure on the defensive front to make plays.
Key Acquisitions: CB Darrelle Revis (New York Jets), S Dashon Goldson (San Francisco 49ers), RB Peyton Hillis (Kansas City Chiefs), FB Brian Leonard (Cincinnati Bengals), TE Tom Crabtree (Green Bay Packers), WR Kevin Ogletree (Dallas Cowboys)
Key Rookies: CB Johnthan Banks
Head Coach: Ron Rivera
Key Position: Secondary – Easily one of the weakest units in the NFL, but they do have some playmakers that need to step up with an awesome front seven unit in front of them.  It will be tough with Atlanta and New Orleans playing them twice.
Key Acquisitions: LB Chase Blackburn (New York Giants), WR Ted Ginn Jr. (San Francisco 49ers), WR Domenik Hixon (New York Giants)
Key Rookies: DT Star Lotulelei, DT Kawann Short, RB Kenjon Barner

NFC North

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1. Green Bay Packers
A subpar offensive line, but QB Aaron Rodgers gets results regardless.
2. Detroit Lions
With Reggie Bush the offense should have more balance with a solid defense.
3. Minnesota Vikings
Adrian Peterson will rush for 2,000 yards again, but there will be no playoff appearance.
4. Chicago Bears
The defense will keep them in contention until the offense falters.

Head Coach: Mike McCarthy
Key Position: Run Defense – They were trounced by the read option in the playoffs last year and they will need to adjust to that quickly as their first two opponents of the season run that type of offense.
Key Acquisitions: QB Seneca Wallace (Cleveland Browns)
Key Rookies: DE Datone Jones, RB Eddie Lacy, RB Jonathan Franklin
Head Coach: Jim Schwartz
Key Position: Running Back – This position should be fixed now that Reggie Bush is aboard.  Not only can he run between the tackles, he can still be a reliable receiver for QB Matthew Stafford in the flat or on screens.
Key Acquisitions: CB Rashean Mathis (Jacksonville Jaguars), DE Jason Jones (Seattle Seahawks), DT C.J. Mosley (Jacksonville Jaguars), K David Akers (San Francisco 49ers), RB Reggie Bush (Miami Dolphins), S Glover Quin (Houston Texans)
Key Rookies: DE Ezekiel Ansah, CB Darius Slay
Head Coach: Leslie Frazier
Key Position: Quarterback – A lot is riding on Christian Ponder this season.  His job for one and Leslie Frazier’s.  He has the best running back behind him and with WR Greg Jennings aboard he has a number one receiver to throw to.
Key Acquisitions: LB Desmond Bishop (Green Bay Packers), QB Matt Cassel (Kansas City Chiefs), WR Greg Jennings (Green Bay Packers)
Key Rookies: DT Sharrif Floyd, CB Xavier Rhodes, WR Cordarrelle Patterson
Head Coach: Marc Trestman
Key Position: Quarterback – This is the last call for Jay Cutler.  A new head coach that uses a more conservative approach to passing via the West Coast offense.  Will Cutler abandon his gun slinger days and make the adjustment?
Key Acquisitions: G Matt Slauson (New York Jets), LB James Anderson (Carolina Panthers), LB D.J. Williams (Denver Broncos), T Jermon Bushrod (New Orleans Saints), TE Martellus Bennett (New York Giants)
Key Rookies: G Kyle Long, LB Jon Bostic

NFC East

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1. Dallas Cowboys

A new look on defense with a balanced attack on offense means playoffs.
2. New York Giants
They know what it takes to win in this division.
3. Washington Redskins
A lot has to go right for them to repeat last years success.
4. Philadelphia Eagles
The most exciting offense in college football will debut in Philadelphia.
Head Coach: Jason Garrett
Key Position: Running Back – They need to run the ball more, but they also need RB DeMarco Murray to stay healthy.  Depth is an issue here, but if Murray stays on the field the Cowboys should have a balanced attack.
Key Acquisitions: LB Justin Durant (Detroit Lions), S Will Allen (Pittsburgh Steelers)
Key Rookies: C Travis Frederick, TE Gavin Escobar
Head Coach: Tom Coughlin
Key Position: Defense – Injuries and inconsistent play plagued them last year.  Key additions should improve their inconsistent play.  It will boil down to how much pressure they can create on opposing quarterbacks.
Key Acquisitions: DT Cullen Jenkins (Philadelphia Eagles), DT Mike Patterson (Philadelphia Eagles), LB Dan Connor (Dallas Cowboys), TE Brandon Myers (Oakland Raiders)
Key Rookies: T Justin Pugh, DT Jonathan Hankins, DE Damontre Moore
Head Coach: Mike Shanahan
Key Position: Pass Defense – The secondary was burned often last year against the pass and the Redskins faded down the stretch to rush the passer.  Both phases of the defense have to pick up the slack if they want to defend their division crown.
Key Acquisitions: CB E.J. Biggers (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), LB Darryl Tapp (Philadelphia Eagles), LB Nick Barnett (Buffalo Bills)
Key Rookies: CB David Amerson
Head Coach: Chip Kelly
Key Position: Secondary – This is a rebuilt unit that will need to do what the previous one couldn’t do the last two years, cause turnovers.  The Eagles were 30th in total interceptions with eight and 29th in points allowed.
Key Acquisitions: CB Bradley Fletcher (St. Louis Rams), CB Cary Williams (Baltimore Ravens), S Patrick Chung (New England Patriots), DT Isaac Sopoaga (San Francisco 49ers), LB Connor Barwin (Houston Texans), TE James Casey (Houston Texans)
Key Rookies: T Lane Johnson, TE Zach Ertz

AFC South

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1. Houston Texans
They must make that next step into title contenders.
2. Indianapolis Colts
A lot went right for them last season and they might need some more of that again this year.
3. Tennessee Titans
It’s playoffs or the unemployment line for Mike Munchak and crew.
4. Jacksonville Jaguars
They’ll be in contention for the number pick next year.

Texans
Head Coach: Gary Kubiak
Key Position: Secondary – They had some issues against some of the elite passing attacks last year (16th against pass), but with Ed Reed aboard he should greatly improve the defenses’ coverage and interception totals (15).
Key Acquisitions: FB Greg Jones (Jacksonville Jaguars), S Ed Reed (Baltimore Ravens), P Shane Lechler (Oakland Raiders)
Key Rookies: WR DeAndre Hopkins, S D.J. Swearinger
Colts
Head Coach: Chuck Pagano
Key Position: Defense – They were either in the middle of or near the end of the pack for every major statistical category last year. All of the pressure was on QB Andrew Luck’s shoulders and with the many offseason moves the Colts want to improve the defense in the second year of Chuck Pagano’s regime.
Key Acquisitions: CB Greg Toler (Arizona Cardinals), S LaRon Landry (New York Jets), G Donald Thomas (New England Patriots), DT Ricky Jean Francois (San Francisco 49ers), LB Erik Walden (Green Bay Packers), QB Matt Hasselbeck (Tennessee Titans), RB Ahmad Bradshaw (New York Giants), T Gosder Cherilus (Detroit Lions)
Key Rookies: LB Bjoern Werner
Titans
Head Coach: Mike Munchak
Key Position: Quarterback – Considering that the Titans defense allowed the most points in the franchise’s history last year.  That can partially be blamed for the inconsistent play on offense that resulted in the defense being on the field too much.  QB Jake Locker must show progress this year with the talent around him.
Key Acquisitions: G Andy Levitre (Buffalo Bills), QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (Buffalo Bills), RB Shonn Greene (New York Jets), S Bernard Pollard (Baltimore Ravens), TE Delanie Walker (San Francisco 49ers)
Key Rookies: G Chance Warmack, WR Justin Hunter
Jaguars
Head Coach: Gus Bradley (Seattle Seahawks)
Key Position: Everything – The only place to go is up.  They made small moves in free agency, but they are in a full rebuilding mode that they hope will put them back into contention within two seasons at best.  That could be longer if they don’t get the best out of QB Blaine Gabbert and will have to start all over again.
Key Acquisitions: RB Justin Forsett (Houston Texans)
Key Rookies: T Luke Joeckel, S Johnathan Cyprien, CB Dwayne Gratz, WR Denard Robinson