NFC EAST:

DALLAS: 2001's Most Surprising Stat: The Dallas Cowboys had the NFL's 4th-ranked defense last year.

I'll wait for you to pick your jaw up off the ground.

Surprised? Yeah, me too. The 'Boys beat Miami, Tampa Bay, and Philadelphia for yardage allowed last year. However, though they didnt give up much yardage, they were 20th in the league in scoring defense, and that's why despite a season that ranks as a statistical success, the Cowboys went out and reloaded. Newly integrated into the fold are imports La'Roi Glover (Saints), Bryant Westbrook (Lions), and Kevin Hardy (Jaguars). With this sorta genuine talent added to an already pretty deep defense, the Cowboys can expect to field one of the NFL's legitimately good D's this season. However, the offense is a mess. The offensive line has questions that must be answered, Emmitt Smith is getting old, and with Raghib Ismail lost for the year, the wide receiver position is in the hands of career underachiever Joey Galloway, rookie Antonio Bryant, and second year players Reggie Swinton and Ken-Yon Rambo. Oh, and the quarterbacks are Quincy Carter and Chad Hutchsinson. The Cowboys will be improved, but they probably arent legitimate playoff contenders. But in 2003, watch out.

WASHINGTON: New year, another new coach for punk owner Daniel Snyder. But this time, rather than having Norv Turner to kick around and Marty Schottenheimer to fued with, Snyder has his man in Steve Spurrier. Spurrier works perfectly with Snyder: cocky to a fault and bluntly harshly honest, Spurrier has already begun ruffling feathers in the NFL ranks. The 49ers already have the Gators -- er, I mean, Redskins -- in their sights after Spurrier ridiculously ran up the score against them in the American Bowl. Hey, maybe he was just trying to pad the "margin of victory" portion of the BCS score.

On the field, the 'Skins have constructed in one year a legitimately good defense. Unlike in 2000, when Snyder tried to buy a Super Bowl with such aging superstars as Deion Sanders and Bruce Smith, the defense was built to new defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis' specifications. Imported this year are free agents Daryl Gardener (Dolphins), Renaldo Wynn (Jaguars), Jeremiah Trotter (Eagles), and Jessie Armstead (Giants). And while it will take time for the players to come together to form a unit, the talent is there for the Redskins to have a defense as talented as the 2000 record-setting Ravens. Stay tuned.

NEW YORK GIANTS: When it rains, it pours. Two years ago, the Giants were in the Super Bowl. Now they'll be happy with an 8-8 record. The offense remains mostly intact from last year, for better or worse, as does the defense, but the foundation of the Giants is starting to crumble. Michael Strahan and Tiki Barber are feuding. Jim Fassel's job security is, once again, in question. The offensive line is made of a gaggle of nobodies. But despite all this, there are still players worth watching on this team. Among them, Barber and Strahan; Cornelius Griffin, who was dynamic in 2000 before being hampered by injuries last year; and rookie tight end Jeremy Shockey, who has looked phenominal in preseason play. But with the ever-inconsistent Kerry Collins at QB and a startling lack of depth across the board, it appears this will be the swan song for this incarnation of the Giants.

PHILADELPHIA: It's... difficult to evaluate the Eagles' offseason moves. On one hand I have an untold amount of respect for head coach/GM Andy Reid for making bold decisions with no apologies. In 1999, when everyone in the city of Philadelphia was calling for Ricky Williams to be drafted, Reid pulled the trigger on Donovan McNabb -- a move that drew boos from the crowd at the NFL draft. We all know how this move ultimately panned out. Last year, when Reid saw a glut of young talented wide receivers on his roster not gettling playing time, he cut the veterans ahead of them, Charles Johnson and Torrance Small, so that the kids could play. They took some knocks last year, but ultimately flourished, and will be even better this year. And this last offseason, when he deemed linebacker Jeremiah Trotter a detriment to the organization and a player that could not be re-signed (correctly or not) he released him. One could argue Reid should have tried to get compensation for Trotter, but what's done is done.

Losing Trotter will prove to be a step back for the team, but the magnitude of that step back will be decided by Reid and his staff and how they deal with his loss. Last year's fourth linebacker Barry Gardner and free agent Levon Kirkland (Seahawks) will man the position now, and by all indications, the staff is happy with their performance. Assuming the necessary tweaks can be made to the defense's scheme to compensate for Trotter's loss, the defense will keep right on moving along and the Eagles will remain Super Bowl contenders. Looking at the rest of the team, McNabb has been cited as the most improved player in Eagles camp, and that sentiment is downright frightening. And newly-signed Dorsey Levens is healthy, and that is also a scary thought for any 49ers fan who remembers 1997-1998 when Levens ran all over the NFL. The Eagles will be in the hunt.

NFC SOUTH:

ATLANTA: And now, proof positive why owners should not meddle in football operations. New Falcons owner Arthur Blank severely overpaid for free agents Warrick Dunn (Buccaneers), Todd Weiner (Seahawks), and Allen Rossum (Packers). Dunn is the only player among the three who has been to a Pro Bowl. Both times he was an injury replacement. Then Blank pulled the trigger on drafting T.J. Duckett in the first round, prompting the Falcons to release fan favorite Jamal Anderson and giving the team two backs worthy of big minutes. This year the Falcons wont do much. This is a year for the development of Michael Vick, pure and simple. But because so much money is invested in Weiner, Dunn, and Rossum, the Falcons wont be able to sign much in the way of quality free agents next year, summarily hamstringing them for the immediate future.

CAROLINA: The Panthers are beginning to lay the foundation for what could be a good team by 2003. By drafting Dan Morgan and Chris Weinke last year along with Julius Peppers and DeShaun Foster this year, the Panthers got themselves some very talented players at skill positions. That wont be enough this year, however. Foster has fumbling issues that need to be addressed, Peppers has to get up to speed on the NFL game, Morgan has to make it through a full season, and Weinke requires yet more seasonig. But there's a solid offensive line in place, a highly talented wideout in Mushin Muhammad, and some spare parts that could turn into 2003's surprise team. This year however, the Panthers will get walked on.

NEW ORLEANS: The times, they are a'changing down in the bayou. Gone from the Saints' roster are longtime mainstays Ricky Williams, Willie Jackson, Willie Roaf, Joe Johnson, La'Roi Glover, and Fred Weary, among others. But the Saints compensated remarkably, signing, drafting, and promoting players that drastically change the makeup of the team, but might keep them competitive. The defense underwent huge changes, trading Glover for Grady Jackson and Johnson for rookie Charles Grant and second year man Willie Whitehead. The line is focused more on stopping the run than sacking the QB now, and that will be a change for coach Jim Haslett's defense. The offense, however, figures to be the point of biggest change. If things go correctly, the Saints could have an offense as explosive and talented as the Rams did before the '99 season.

Okay, stay with me on this. Deuce McAllister plays the role of Marshall Faulk. He's not as talented as Faulk, but neither is Priest Holmes, who led the NFL in rushing last year for the Chiefs in a similar role. He just has to be used correctly. Joe Horn plays the role of Isaac Bruce, the productive veteran. Rookie Donte Stallworth is Torry Holt, a rookie in '99. Stallworth is already uncoverable in practice and is a speed burner. Jerome Pathon is a darter who looked on the verge of breakout last year, and is a lot like Az-Zahir Hakim. And Jake Reed, a veteran who's lost a step, is Ricky Proehl. And the Saints have a dimension the Rams dont, with a mobile quarterback in Aaron Brooks. You might say I'm reaching on this, and I am, but if the dice roll in N'Awlins' favor, this could be a new offensive juggernaut.

TAMPA BAY: Yes, Jon Gruden was hired in the offseason. Yes he made changes to the offense which I really like. Yes the defense still features Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, Simeon Rice, and co. And yes, I think it's possible for the Bucs to win a lot this year. But until I see a real change in attitude, a change in approach to the game, I wont believe that Bucs are capable of anything other than a first round playoff exit. But with Michael Pittman, Keenan McCardell, Ken Dilger, and others in the fold, anything really is possible.

NFC NORTH:

GREEN BAY: Of all the teams in a position to unseat the Rams as NFC champions, I'm most intrigued by the Packers. The Pack sports Brett Favre, one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history; Ahman Green, the best NFL running back not named Faulk; and one of the best young offensive lines in the league on offense. They have the biggest defensive line in football, a fast young linebacking corps, and a highly respectable secondary, even with the retirement of LeRoy Butler. But the key to the Packers success, despite all those strong points, lies in the hands of the guys catching the balls. In one of three big trades in the offseason (The Ricky Williams and Drew Bledsoe trades were the others), Terry Glenn was imported from the Patriots. He's received a fresh start in Green Bay and is excited about it. If he can rediscover whatever it is that gave him a rookie record 90 receptions in 1996, he gives the Pack its primary wideout, but that's a question mark. His complements are question marks too. Robert Ferguson, a second round pick last year, was billed as a playmaker but didnt catch a single pass last year. And while Javon Walker looks the part and appears ready, he is but a rookie. At least Favre has a tight end in the offense, finally. Bubba Franks caught nine touchdown passes last year, the most for a Packer TE since Mark Chmura was in his prime and second in the NFL to the Colts' Marcus Pollard last year. If these players all pan out, the Packers could prove the biggest threat of all to the Rams, but we'll see.

CHICAGO: The Bears were one of the NFL's surprise teams last year. Leading the NFL in scoring defense thanks to the play of Brian Urlacher and his supporting cast, the Bear's defense was among the hardest in the league to score on. And with Anthony Thomas and a good offensive line, the Bears ground out yards and clock and ground out victories to the tune of a 13-3 record. The defense returns largely intact, save the losses of defensive backs Walt Harris and Tony Parrish. And the offense lost Shane Matthews and Blake Brockermeyer, but drafted Marc Colombo and signed Chris Chandler and welcome back Marcus Robinson to a wide receiver corps that is loaded for bear. (Ha! Pun!) If Chicago receives consistent QB play and is good in replacing Harris and Parrish, they will use the year of experience they have under their belt to make it back to the playoffs.

DETROIT: On the field, Detroit is in full-on rebuilding mode. But that mindset probably wont last long. The Lions took Oregon QB Joey Harrington with the 3rd pick in the draft, and they are determined to play him as soon as he's ready. He represents the future of the position for the Lions and they want to get him on the field learning ASAP. They've protected him with a big offensive line, and they've surrounded him with some veteran weapons to give him a chance to flourish early. And while you could certainly do worse than James Stewart at HB and Az Hakim, Bill Schroeder, and Germane Crowell at WR, one wonders if that quartet will hang around long. Stewart is overpaid, and Hakim and Schroeder could wind up being overrated. The Lions' defense is in a state of transition, with a dearth of talent at corner and linebacker. But they have a solid defensive line led by Luther Elliss and a potentially difference-making linebacker in Chris Claiborne. While the Lions will face a tough year this year, the future is looking up.

MINNESOTA: Denny Green is gone, and with him is the mindset that the defense doesnt deserve to have money devoted to improving it. Signed this offseason by the Vikings were defensive ends Kenny Mixon and Lorenzo Bromell from the Dolphins, linebacker Henri Crockett from the Falcons, and defensive back Corey Chavous from the Cardinals. Add to that some solid drafting the last couple years by the Vikings, and the defense is on the right track.

Offensively, the Vikings have made a commitment to throw 40% of their passes to Randy Moss. And while this may seem a bit ludicrous, if Moss stays healthy and the Vikings stay committed to this goal, Moss could shatter longstanding NFL single season receiving records this year. His supporting cast, however, is not what it was in 1998 or even 2000, the years Minnesota reached the NFC Championship game. Retired are Cris Carter and Robert Smith, gone are Todd Steussie, Randall McDaniel, Jeff Christy, and Korey Stringer. And while Daunte Culpepper is a bona fide star quarterback, he also must deal with the losses. Lining up at halfback is Michael Bennett, who finally stopped looking lost the last three games of last year. Lining up opposite Moss are wideouts D'Wayne Bates, who has looked solid in camp but is untested, and Derrick Alexander, a veteran who has severely underachieved thus far. And no. 1 pick Bryant McKinnie has held out and leaves the Vikings without a legitimate starting left tackle if he is unsigned. The Vikes will be better this year, but it's anyone's guess as to how good, or bad, they can be.

NFC WEST:

ARIZONA: While the Cardinals made some solid moves in the offseason, their roster is still riddled with question marks, such as: Can Jake Plummer finally realize his considerable potential and become a legitimate NFL quarterback? Can Thomas Jones snap out of his funk and provide the Cardinals with the solid running game they need to be succesful? Will the largely no-name defense step up and at least make it a little challenging for the opposition to score? In order for Arizona to succeed this year, these questions all need to be answered with a resounding yes. The Cards now play in the NFL's strongest division, and look like the worst of the bunch. And while they might be good enough to win the NFC South, that wont cut it here. For Arizona to succeed, they need their talent guys to step up and be consistent. It wont be enough to have David Boston and a bunch of hacks.

SEATTLE: The Seahawks are in a similar position to the Cardinals, and yet are much much different. A week ago, Seahawks fans thought they were looking at an offense run by Trent Dilfer, a winning QB who was ready to have the reins taken off, Shaun Alexander, a man who could break NFL records if turned loose, a stable of good young wideouts and a very solid offensive line. But Dilfer went down for eight weeks and now the 'Hawks are turning once again to Matt Hasselbeck, acquired from the Packers last year for one of the Seahawks' first round draft picks, to lead. Hasselbeck took lumps last year and no one is quite certain whether or not he's ready to be the man, or if he'll ever be ready to be the man. But Seattle will pin its early season hopes on him and pray for the best. Defensively, the Seahawks released Levon Kirkland after one year, replacing him with second year man Isaiah Kacyvenski, who has looked solid thus far. If Shawn Springs returns from a nagging hamstring injury last year, Seattle will be good defensively. And then it's up to Hasselbeck. If he flourishes, he could keep Dilfer on the bench even after he heals. If he falters, Seattle could see the wind taken out of its playoff sails early. Ultimately, the Hawks will be competitive, but a strong division will keep them from advancing.

ST. LOUIS: The reigning NFC champs continue to have that championship look about them. But with the salary cap dogs closing in, the Rams know that this year is probably the final hurrah for a record setting offense and a dominant team. The Rams made some cosmetic changes on defense, exchanging London Fletcher for Jamie Duncan. Both players have different strengths, but similar talent levels. Also, it appears Dre' Bly will start opposite Aeneas Williams at corner, bumping Dexter McCleon to nickelback status. On offense, right tackle is looking like a trouble spot, with John St. Clair and Grant Williams the class of the position. And Az Hakim departed for Detroit, only to be replaced by Terrence Wilkins, a player with Hakim's speed, but not his flair. Ultimately, the Rams have to deal with every team in the NFL gunning for them and having some weaknesses this year in defense of their NFC crown. And while they'll be good, you heard it here first. The Rams will not be in the Super Bowl this year. And for that reason, scroll down.

SAN FRANCISCO: When it's all said and done, here lies the class of the NFL. The 49ers sport the NFL's most versatile offensive attack. Able to beat you with the run (no. 2 rushing offense in the NFL last year) or the pass (Jeff Garcia and Terrell Owens combined for more touchdowns than any QB-WR duo), the 49ers are a machine offensively. They sport the best-coached offensive line in football, incredible depth at HB, and the afformentioned dynamic passing attack. But what will set the 49ers apart from the rest of the lot is their defense.