EAST
The Philadelphia Eagles bolstered their defense in particular signing linemen Jason Babin and Cullen Jenkins as well as top flight backs Dominique Cromartie and Nnamdi Asomugha. With six of their first nine opponents coming off losing seasons, Michael Vick and company should get a comfortable division lead early and ride that into the playoffs. Pressure’s on as expectations are much greater this season.
But the Giants are hungry and will have something to say about who wins the division as they have now gone two straight seasons missing the playoffs. But they’ll have to climb up without the services of talented cornerback Terrell Thomas who tore a knee ligament. But it is upfront on D where the Giants can do real damage. Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora are both coming off 11.5-sack seasons. 
If Mathias Kiwanuka — who was the team’s best defensive player when he got hurt last year — can approach his old form after injuring his neck, with that lethal combo New York may ride the D train to playoff city.
Dallas is coming off their first 10-loss year since 2004. Of course QB Tony Romo’s injury did not help matters missing the final 10 games with a fractured left clavicle.
The Cowboys are 39-22 since Romo took over as the starter and 3-7 when he’s been injured, but this year he will be playing with several raw linemen protecting him.
Coming in to redirect the worst defense in team history will be Rob Ryan, the former Browns defensive coordinator. The Cowboys allowed 436 points and 5,628 yards, the most points and yards given up in franchise history. Ryan will build around one of the league’s top pass-rushers, DeMarcus Ware, who has led the NFL in sacks in two of the past three seasons.
Big names Albert Haynesworth and Donovan McNabb are no longer in the capitol, as Redskins coach Mike Shanahan enters the second year of his building project. It figures to be another season of a work-in-progress including who will be the quarterback – Rex Grossman or John Beck.
NORTH
The Green Bay Packers have the experience, coaching and talent to repeat as Super Bowl champions. Aaron Rodgers is a prime time quarterback who was brilliant down the stretch last year (122.1 passer rating during his final seven regular-season starts and four playoff games capped by a stunning Super Bowl MVP performance). He has a reliable running-back-by-committee behind him and a productive receiver corps including Donald Driver, Jordy Nelson and tight end Jermichael Finley.
Defensively the Pack swarm focusing on stopping the run, pressuring the quarterback and forcing turnovers. And they do it well led by talented third-year nose tackle B.J. Raji, outside linebacker Clay Matthews and cornerback Charles Woodson. Matthews and Raji combined for 20 sacks last season, with 13 ½ coming from Matthews alone. 
In Chicago, with the offense still learning heading into the second season under coordinator Mike Martz’s system, the Bears will go as far as their defense can keep their team in games. The Monsters of the Midway are led by Urlacher and Briggs still one of the premiere 1-2 linebacker duos in the league. Add in Julius Peppers and you have a playoff-level D, but then you also have an offensive line that allowed an NFL-worst 56 sacks.
Detroit Lion quarterback Matthew Stafford has shown he can produce, but he needs his line to step it up and keep him healthy. Defensively the additions of veteran end Kyle Vanden Bosch and rookie tackle Ndamukong Suh give some hope to fans as the team has improved on both sides of the ball. Detroit scored 100 more points in 2010 than they did in 2009, and they allowed 125 fewer points than they did in ’09.
The Vikings have some power on offense with Donovan McNabb trying to prolong his career at the helm and by passing to the likes of Percy Harvin and handing off to Adrian Peterson that can be a healthy combo to keep him in the game. Florida State’s Christian Ponder is Minnesota’s quarterback of the future and may see playing time early with new offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave pushing the buttons.
SOUTH
Despite being picked apart by Aaron Rodgers in a playoff that ended their 2010 season, Atlanta Falcon fans have good reason to believe their team will go deep in 2011. Rookie receiver Julio Jones joins a truly explosive offense. 
QB Matt Ryan is hoping the rookie provides another effective outlet in addition to Pro Bowl wide receiver Roddy White. Running back Michael Turner is a human bowling ball with power and balance. Future hall-of-famer Tony Gonzalez is still a productive tight end. IF the defense can improve their 3rd down play and find ways to put more pressure on the passer, Atlanta, with a solid kicking game, can reach the Super Bowl.
Former Super Bowl champions the New Orleans Saints helped themselves with the signing of multipurpose back Darren Sproles from San Diego after Reggie Bush left for Miami. But the question isn’t Drew Brees hitting his bevy of receiver options, it is a simply porous defense that makes Saints games often a track meet. Like Atlanta, New Orleans’ will have to improve it’s defense.
The youngsters in Tampa Bay will impress. Josh Freeman, a 23-year-old quarterback, threw 25 touchdowns with only six interceptions in his first full season as a starter. Mike Williams a fourth-rounder from Syracuse, led all rookies with 65 catches for 964 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Ron Rivera, the fourth coach in Carolina’s history, has a tough schedule with nine games against teams that won at least 10 games. Lot to ask for No.1 pick quarterback Cam Newton to face.
WEST
St. Louis Rams’ sophomore quarterback Sam Bradford comes off a Rookie of the Year season. However, he will face a tougher schedule and at the same time has to pick up former Denver coach Josh McDaniels’ complex system as the team’s new offensive coordinator. With an emerging defense that includes first-round draft pick Robert Quinn of North Carolina at end, where he joins veteran James Hall and the emerging Chris Long, as well veteran Na’il Diggs a cagey strong-side linebacker, a smart, young middle linebacker in James Laurinaitis, the team leader in tackles each of his first two NFL seasons, look for the Rams to make the playoffs for the first time since 2004.
Three years removed from a Super Bowl, in a big off-season move Arizona has laid the current regime on the line in a huge deal that seems a bit pricy. Deciding to trade cornerback Dominique Cromartie and a second-round pick for quarterback Kevin Kolb — and then pay Kolb $63 million over five years, coach Ken Whisenhunt is rolling the dice…especially with a weak offensive line. 
The first team in NFL history to win its division with a losing record, Seattle made up for it by knocking off defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints in a first-round game. Neither will happen this time ‘round.
Former NFL quarterback Jim Harbaugh begins his campaign as the 49ers head coach and though it has a young, promising offensive line Alex Smith has had ample time to prove he’s the leader at quarterback regardless of how many coaches or systems he’s had to learn. Could be that Wisconsin Badger quarterback Scott Tolzien who looked good in pre-season for the San Diego Chargers might be a super pick up. Still the 49er offense runs through one man, Frank Gore. Gore has rushed for over 1,000 yards four times but missed the final five games last season after fracturing a hip. Not enough firepower for a playoff run.
Look for Green Bay to defeat Atlanta to advance to the Super Bowl February 5th in Indianapolis.
NFC Champions 
