NFC South

Standard

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 West

Standard

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

AFC South

Standard

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

AFC West

Standard

1. Denver Broncos
It will be Super Bowl or bust part two.
2. Kansas City Chiefs
Amazing how getting a reliable quarterback can change a teams outlook.
3. San Diego Chargers
It could be another rough year if they don’t protect QB Philip Rivers’ blindside.
4. Oakland Raiders
A lot of roster upheaval, but they still have ‘Run DMC’ (McFadden) to be their workhorse.

Broncos
Head Coach: John Fox
Key Position: Running Back – It’s not a glaring weakness, but one that Denver must solve if they are to take pressure off of QB Peyton Manning.  But to be honest, the Broncos will need to make sure the defense doesn’t give up big plays like they did against the Ravens in the playoffs last year.
Key Acquisitions: CB Quentin Jammer (San Diego Chargers), CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (Philadelphia Eagles), DT Terrance Knighton (Jacksonville Jaguars), G Louis Vasquez (San Diego Chargers), LB Shaun Phillips (San Diego Chargers), WR Wes Welker (New England Patriots)
Key Rookies: DT Sylvester Williams, RB Montee Ball
Chiefs
Head Coach: Andy Reid (Philadelphia Eagles)
Key Position: Quarterback – The one team that desperately needed a good quarterback was the Kansas City Chiefs.  Ranked 32nd in passing last year, they relied heavily on their RB Jamaal Charles and the defense to bail them out.  With QB Alex Smith aboard they hope to give their defense more rest and more opportunities for Charles and others to score. 
Key Acquisitions: CB Dunta Robinson (Atlanta Falcons), CB Sean Smith (Miami Dolphins), DE Mike DeVito (New York Jets), QB Alex Smith (San Francisco 49ers), TE Anthony Fasano (Miami Dolphins), WR Donnie Avery (Indianapolis Colts)
Key Rookies: T Eric Fisher, RB Knile Davis
Chargers
Head Coach: Mike McCoy (Denver Broncos)
Key Position: Offense – The focus should be to keep QB Philip Rivers upright and have more time to make plays in the pocket. Without a reliable running game to alleviate the pressure Rivers sees, it will be another long season for the Chargers.
Key Acquisitions: CB Derek Cox (Jacksonville Jaguars), DE/LB Dwight Freeney (Indianapolis Colts), RB Danny Woodhead (New England Patriots), T King Dunlap (Philadelphia Eagles)
Key Rookies: T D.J. Fluker, LB Manti Te’o, WR Keenan Allen
Raiders
Head Coach: Dennis Allen
Key Position: Running Back – They seemed to have forgotten that RB Darren McFadden is one of the best running backs in football. Now that they traded away QB Carson Palmer, they’ll look to get back to featuring more of McFadden.
Key Acquisitions: CB Tracy Porter (Denver Broncos), CB Mike Jenkins (Dallas Cowboys), LB Nick Roach (Chicago Bears), QB Matt Flynn (Seattle Seahawks), S Charles Woodson (Green Bay Packers)
Key Rookies: CB D.J. Hayden, T Menelik Watson

AFC East

Standard

1. New England Patriots
A lot of changes on offense, but QB Tom Brady has won Super Bowls with less talent.
2. Miami Dolphins
With the offseason spending spree it’s a win-now mentality in Miami.
3. Buffalo Bills
Six different head coaches now during their 13 year playoff drought.
4. New York Jets
Things will get pretty ugly with the Jets if they don’t start out winning.

Patriots
Head Coach: Bill Belichick
Key Position: Secondary – Ranked 29th against the pass last year will not result in a Super Bowl title if that happens again this year.
Key Acquisitions: WR Danny Amendola (St. Louis Rams), DT Tommy Kelly (Oakland Raiders), S Adrian Wilson (Arizona Cardinals)
Key Rookies: LB Jamie Collins
Dolphins
Head Coach: Joe Philbin
Key Position: Quarterback – Ranked 27th in scoring last season, Miami with all of the new offensive weapons at QB Ryan Tannehill’s disposal must improve in this area.
Key Acquisitions: CB Brent Grimes (Atlanta Falcons), LB Dannell Ellerbe (Baltimore Ravens), LB Philip Wheeler (Oakland Raiders), T Tyson Clabo (Atlanta Falcons), TE Dustin Keller (New York Jets), WR Brandon Gibson (St. Louis Rams), WR Mike Wallace (Pittsburgh Steelers)
Key Rookies: DE Dion Jordan, K Caleb Sturgis 
Bills
Head Coach: Doug Marrone (Syracuse University)
Key Position: Quarterback – Ranked 25th in passing, the Bills will need to find consistency at this position. They’re hoping rookie QB E.J. Manuel will solve this as they begin to implement a read option system.
Key Acquisitions: LB Manny Lawson (Cincinnati Bengals), QB Kevin Kolb (Arizona Cardinals)
Key Rookies: QB E.J. Manuel, WR Robert Woods, LB Kiko Alonso
Jets

Head Coach: Rex Ryan
Key Position: Every offensive position – The Jets were the 30th ranked offense last year and it doesn’t bode well this year either. If they can get back to establishing the running game, they might get back to the middle of the pack.
Key Acquisitions: LB Antwan Barnes (San Diego Chargers), RB Chris Ivory (New Orleans Saints), S Dawan Landry (Jacksonville Jaguars)
Key Rookies: CB Dee Milliner, DT Sheldon Richardson, QB Geno Smith