NFC EAST
(3) Philadelphia: The curious case of DeSean Jackson may never truly be solved, and it remains to be seen how much his departure will hurt Nick Foles' development. The idea here seems to be that this team is counting on its young players to take some big steps forward, especially on a defense that was lacking at times last year.
Washington: Jackson ended up here, as unceremoniously cast-off Eagles tend to do. This offense could be explosive, but a new coach, a quarterback who seems to be fighting himself and a defense that wasn't good last year and didn't get any better all make it hard for me to consider them a serious challenger.
N.Y. Giants: I'd normally trust the G-Men to figure it out after a disastrous season like last year's, but their free-agent spending spree only highlighted the fact that they've had some truly terrible drafts over the last four to five years. Their current inability to adapt to their new offense has them facing some of the same questions Washington is.
Dallas: Tony Romo continues to simultaneously not be the Cowboys' biggest problem and also not be the solution. Here's their biggest problem: One of the worst defenses of all time lost its three best players. How do you think that movie's gonna end?
NFC NORTH
(4) Green Bay: Even despite losing Aaron Rodgers for a period down the stretch last year, the Packers still won the division. If he and everyone else can stay healthy -- and that's been an... issue the last few years -- a repeat, at minimum, is highly likely.
(5) Chicago: Meanwhile, the Bears lost the division despite Josh McCown playing the best football a McCown has ever played while replacing an injured Jay Cutler. There are few better offenses in the league, and the defense got some badly-needed reinforcements.
Detroit: And the Lions absolutely lost the division with a disastrous collapse that led to a coaching change. Of course, they then ignored their defensive needs in the draft and picked a tight end instead to add to an already explosive offense.
Minnesota: Another new coach here as a bad (and badly handled) quarterback situation doomed Leslie Frazier and this team. Matt Cassel finally emerged as the starter, and he does have an 11-win season under his belt, so there's that.
NFC SOUTH
(2) New Orleans: You already know about the offense. But this defense turning into a bloodthirsty mob was the best coaching job Rob Ryan's ever done. And since nobody's ever won this division in back-to-back years...
(6) Atlanta: First, they'll all be healthy this year. (Well, except Sam Baker, but he's not very good anyway.) Second, I feel like people are forgetting how good they were in previous recent years before everyone got hurt. Third, they can make some hay early with the way the schedule falls.
Tampa Bay: The short national nightmare is over as Lovie Smith takes over for the overmatched and detested Greg Schiano. The Bucs have talent, but if you're picking them as a deep playoff run candidate, you're asking me to accept that what Josh McCown did last season is sustainable, and I just can't drink that Kool-Aid.
Carolina: Poor Cam Newton. He finally breaks through with a division title and playoff appearance and he loses his left tackle and all of his receivers. And since nobody's ever won this division in back-to-back years...
NFC WEST
(1) Seattle: The champs are young and ferocious, and Pete Carroll will keep them hungry. They may not have the depth they had last year, but the offense has room to improve and evolve, and they play in a damn sonic fortress.
San Francisco: I... I don't have a good feeling about this. Sure they added needed depth at receiver, but a tough schedule and a defense decimated by injuries and absences for... other reasons is giving me pause. And God help them if anything happens to Kaepernick.
Arizona: This defense has also taken some hits, losing Darnell Dockett to injury and Daryl Washington to suspension. Carson Palmer secretly had a good year last year. But how long can he hold up?
St. Louis: The Rams' pass rush should be terrifying again this season. But any shot they had to make waves in the NFL's toughest division went down when Sam Bradford did. Another concern is their receiving corps, which they have invested a lot of resources in and gotten little out of.
AFC EAST
(3) New England: Still the class of this division by far, the Pats have two major questions to answer: One, has Revis Island truly relocated to Foxborough? And two, if so, can he elevate the defense to where it needs to be to get back to the Super Bowl?
N.Y. Jets: Rex Ryan did God's work getting eight wins out of a badly outmanned Jets team. They made some offensive upgrades, but can Geno Smith get better? And can they get anything out of their cornerbacks?
Buffalo: It seems like no matter how much promising young talent the Bills bring in, they can't get any traction. Rookie WR Sammy Watkins appears to be the real deal, but E.J. Manuel needs to stay healthy and contribute.
Miami: The Dolphins made headlines for all the wrong reasons last year, so much so that their collapse in the last two weeks that cost them a playoff berth was all but forgotten. A few things were blown up to repair the damage, but what's this roster's true potential?
AFC NORTH
(4) Cincinnati: There are very few things wrong with the Bengals in the regular season. Their offense is balanced and can be explosive, the defense is stout, and they're far and away the most talented team in this division. Then the playoffs come, and...
Baltimore: Two years removed from a Super Bowl win, the Ravens seem better equipped for success now than after last season's gutting of the roster led to a pretty bad hangover. Lots of issues remain, however, including who's going to run the ball.
Pittsburgh: The Steelers seem to be having an identity crisis. They don't have a No. 2 receiver, their offensive line is a patchwork of young and old and hits and misses, and their defense is a year older across the board and possibly also a year worse. This season feels like somebody's last stand, but I'm not sure whose.
Cleveland: The Browns knew their best player could be facing a year-long suspension and not only didn't draft a replacement, but traded down to select a cornerback they didn't need. They downgraded at safety from T.J. Ward to Donte Whitner. They drafted Johnny Manziel, who was so not the least bit better than Brian Hoyer that they signed Rex Grossman. Can these guys do anything right?
AFC SOUTH
(2) Indianapolis: I mean, I'd take the Colts over everyone in the AFC North. This won't even be close, and yet it's a team that hasn't reached its full potential yet. Andrew Luck can get better. The defense can get better. And if they get anything even remotely resembling a running game from anyone, look out.
Tennessee: Jake Locker was on his way to his best season when he got hurt last year. Ken Whisenhunt takes over as head coach, but he's clashed with quarterbacks in the past -- is he the guy who can help Locker become the guy?
Houston: I'd feel better about this team's chances for a rebound after a disastrous 2013 season if the quarterback situation wasn't the worst in the league. Whatever gains they make will be led by the defense, where the combination of J.J Watt and Jadaveon Clowney up front could be downright terrifying for opponents.
Jacksonville: Is Blake Bortles the next Blaine Gabbert? The Jags had better hope not. Chad Henne will hold down this poorly-constructed fort in the interim. A lot more talent is needed here.
AFC WEST
(1) Denver: On offense, the Broncos swapped out parts (Emmanuel Sanders for Eric Decker; Montee Ball for Knowshon Moreno). On defense, they went big, adding Ward and Aquib Talib to help their secondary, and snapping up DeMarcus Ware for a pass-rush boost. Plus they've still got that Peyton Manning guy.
(5) San Diego: A late-season surge and a Philip Rivers revival got the Chargers into the playoffs.
Keeping their progress going forward will depend on the defense's improvement. Keep anal eye on TE Ladarius Green, Antonio Gates's heir apparent.
(6) Kansas City: The Chiefs seemed to wear down as the season went on and teams figured out how to slow down their pass rush. They have a blend of minor issues (CB depth, WR depth) but nothing that should cost them dearly in a down AFC.
Oakland: Pray that Derek Carr avoids the fate of his older brother, who also started as a rookie and got beaten up so badly he never really recovered. A relatively sever overhaul will lead to continuity issues, which will lead to another disappointing year.
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