NFC team-by-team capsules

NFC WEST

Arizona Cardinals

Coach: Ken Whisenhunt (third season, 17-15).

Key additions: TE Anthony Becht, FB Dan Kreider, CB Bryant McFadden, RB Jason Wright.

Key losses: RB J.J. Arrington, LB Monty Beisel, DB Eric Green, DB Rod Hood, RB Edgerrin James, DE Travis LaBoy, DE Antonio Smith, RB Terrelle Smith.

Of note: Seven of the past eight teams to lose the Super Bowl failed to make the playoffs the following year.

Outlook: They have a solid defense, especially if Calais Campbell and McFadden bolster the defensive line and secondary, respectively.

Last playoff appearance: 2008.

San Francisco 49ers

Coach: Mike Singletary (second season, 5-4).

Key additions: DE Demetric Evans, QB Damon Huard, WR Brandon Jones, FB Moran Norris, OT Marvel Smith.

Key losses: TE Billy Bajema, LB Tully Banta-Cain, DT Ronald Fields, WR Bryant Johnson, QB J.T. O'Sullivan, CB Donald Strickland.

Of note: Frank Gore has touched the ball an average of 21.5 times a game in the past three years.

Outlook: By talent, the 49ers should have no shot to make the playoffs, but in the NFC West, it's definitely possible. But an improved passing game is vital.

Last playoff appearance: 2002.

Seattle Seahawks

Coach: Jim Mora (first season).

Key additions: DT Colin Cole, FB Justin Griffith, WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, RB Edgerrin James, CB Ken Lucas, TE John Owens, DT Cory Redding, LB Shane Simmons.

Key losses: DT Rocky Bernard, WR Bobby Engram, RB Maurice Morris, LB Julian Peterson, FB Leonard Weaver, G Floyd Womack.

Of note: The linebacking corps could be the strong point. Aaron Curry was the fourth overall pick and has the tools to be a star.

Outlook: Roster full of fading, injury-prone veterans doesn't help.

Last playoff appearance: 2007.

St. Louis Rams

Coach: Steve Spagnuolo (first season).

Key additions: TE Billy Bajema, QB Kyle Boller, C Jason Brown, S James Butler, FB Mike Karney, WR Laurent Robinson.

Key losses: CB Fakhir Brown, S Corey Chavous, DT La'Roi Glover, WR Torry Holt, C Nick Leckey, LT Orlando Pace, C Brett Romberg, LB Pisa Tinoisamoa.

Of note: With the dumping of Torry Holt, the Greatest Show on Turf is done. Rams must rely on Donnie Avery, Keenan Burton.

Outlook: If Steve Spagnuolo can work his magic with the defense, the Rams don't have far to go to make noise in the West.

Last playoff appearance: 2004.

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons

Coach: Mike Smith (second season, 11-5).

Key additions: TE Tony Gonzalez, RB Verron Haynes, LB Mike Peterson, C Brett Romberg, OT Will Svitek.

Key losses: LB Michael Boley, LB Keith Brooking, CB Domonique Foxworth, DT Grady Jackson, SS Lawyer Milloy, OT Todd Weiner.

Of note: The Falcons used five of their seven draft picks on defense because they are so comfortable with their balanced offense. Tony Gonzalez gives second-year quarterback Matt Ryan a security blanket.

Outlook: If they can hide their holes in the defensive backfield, playoffs are possible.

Last playoff appearance: 2008.

Carolina Panthers

Coach: John Fox (eighth season, 63-49)

Key additions: OL Justin Geisinger.

Key losses: C Geoff Hangartner, KR Mark Jones, CB Ken Lucas, OT Frank Omiyale, LB Adam Seward.

Of note: If the Dolphins don't have the NFL's toughest schedule, the Panthers do. Fifteen of their 16 games will played against teams that had at least an 8-8 record in 2008.

Outlook: The Panthers have a ferocious defense, a great 1-2 punch of a running game and the dynamic Steve Smith as a receiver. What they don't have is the assurance that Jake Delhomme won't have another six-turnover clunker in the playoffs.

Last playoff appearance: 2008.

New Orleans Saints

Coach: Sean Payton (fourth season, 25-23).

Key additions: TE Dan Campbell, DT Rod Coleman, TE Darnell Dinkins, FB Heath Evans, CB Jabari Greer, Nick Leckey, S Darren Sharper, OT Jon Stinchcomb, DE Paul Spicer, LB Anthony Waters.

Key losses: S Josh Bullocks, FB Mike Karney, OL Matt Lehr, RB Deuce McAllister, CB Mike McKenzie, WR David Patten, RB Aaron Stecker, DT Brian Young.

Of note: The Saints had the league's top-ranked offense last season.

Outlook: The offense is explosive, and the defense was blown up to start over.

Last playoff appearance: 2006.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Coach: Raheem Morris (first season).

Key additions: LB Angelo Crowell, QB Byron Leftwich, K Mike Nugent, RB Derrick Ward.

Key losses: LB Derrick Brooks, RB Warrick Dunn, WR Joey Galloway, WR Ike Hilliard, LB Cato June, TE Alex Smith.

Of note: The Bucs have a long history of great defense, but they have only averaged 30.8 sacks since 2004. Last year's best pass-rusher was Gaines Adams (6.5 sacks).

Outlook: The Bucs lack depth on defense and a top-flight quarterback on offense. They will have to win a lot of 17-13 games to make the playoffs.

Last playoff appearance: 2007

NFC EAST

Dallas Cowboys

Coach: Wade Phillips (third season, 22-10).

Key additions: LB Keith Brooking, QB Jon Kitna, DE Igor Olshansky, S Gerald Sensabaugh.

Key losses: QB Brooks Bollinger, LB Kevin Burnett, DE Chris Canty, S Keith Davis, LB Greg Ellis, QB Brad Johnson, DT Tank Johnson, CB Pacman Jones, WR Terrell Owens, LB Zach Thomas, S Roy Williams.

Of note: Roy Williams was traded to Dallas and struggled — 19 receptions. But with Terrell Owens released, he could No. 1.

Outlook: If you believe in chemistry, the Cowboys should be better after dumping Tank Johnson, Pacman Jones and Owens.

Last playoff appearance: 2007

New York Giants

Coach: Tom Coughlin (sixth season, 47-33).

Key additions: OT Rocky Bernard, LB Michael Boley, S C.C. Brown, DT Chris Canty.

Key losses: WR Plaxico Burress, S James Butler, K John Carney, S Sammy Knight, DB R.W. McQuarters, WR Amani Toomer, RB Derrick Ward.

Of note: The key to the Giants' defense is the relentless pressure provided by their front four. Osi Umenyiora is back and should join Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka to increase that total.

Outlook: It seems like a long time since the Giants' 11-1 start, doesn't it?

Last playoff appearance: 2008.

Philadelphia Eagles

Coach: Andy Reid (11th year, 97-62-1).

Key additions: DE Jason Babin, DT Rocky Bernard, LB Michael Boley, S C.C. Brown, DT, QB Michael Vick.

Key losses: RB Correll Buckhalter, S Brian Dawkins, OT Jon Runyan, CB Lito Sheppard, TE L.J. Smith, T Tra Thomas.

Of note: Drafting LeSean McCoy was a wise move. Brian Westbrook is one of the top running backs in the NFL, but he is coming off a poor second half in which he was slowed by a hamstring injury.

Outlook: The Eagles gave quarterback Donovan McNabb more weapons for the offense in the offseason.

Last playoff appearance: 2008.

Washington Redskins

Coach: Jim Zorn (Second year, 8-8).

Key additions: G Derrick Dockery, DT Albert Haynesworth, P Hunter Smith, DT Renaldo Wynn.

Key losses: DE Demetric Evans, G Pete Kendall, CB Shawn Springs, DE Jason Taylor, LB Marcus Washington.

Of note: It's now or never for Jason Campbell. He endured an offseason in which ownership openly lobbied for the team to draft Mark Sanchez or trade for Jay Cutler.

Outlook: The Redskins need everything to click to pass the Giants and Cowboys and make a playoff push. Haynesworth has a $100 million contract and back problems.

Last playoff appearance: 2007.

NFC NORTH

Chicago Bears

Coach: Lovie Smith (sixth season, 45-35).

Key additions: S Josh Bullocks, QB Jay Cutler, S Glenn Earl, OL Frank Omiyale, OT Orlando Pace, OL Kevin Shaffer.

Key losses: WR Marty Booker, S Mike Brown, QB Rex Grossman, WR Brandon Lloyd, LB Darrell McClover, S Brandon McGowan, QB Kyle Orton, OL John St. Clair, OT John Tait.

Of note: There's lots of optimism since the offseason trade for Jay Cutler, but Bears fans should expect growing pains.

Outlook: The defense is showing signs of age, but still has teeth. The Bears will only go as far as the offense will take them.

Last playoff appearance: 2006.

Detroit Lions

Coach: Jim Schwartz (first year).

Key additions: CB Phillip Buchanon, WR Ronald Curry, LB Larry Foote, CB Anthony Henry, DT Grady Jackson, WR Bryant Johnson, CB Eric King, OL Daniel Loper, RB Maurice Morris, WR Dennis Northcutt, LB Julian Peterson, OL Eprhraim Salaam.

Key losses: CB Leigh Bodden, CB Travis Fisher, OG Toniu Fonoti, TE Michael Gaines, QB Jon Kitna, Shaun McDonald, G Edwin Mulitalo, DL Corey Redding, S Dwight Smith.

Of note: The Lions have the makings of a decent offense.

Outlook: They have to be better this year.

Last playoff appearance: 1999.

Green Bay Packers

Coach: Mike McCarthy (fourth season, 27-21).

Key additions: C Duke Preston, S Anthony Smith

Key losses: DL Colin Cole, OT Mark Tauscher.

Of note: Defensive coordinator Dom Capers and his attacking 3-4 scheme could be the biggest addition in the offseason. The exhibition results have been positive, but they're still looking for that Joey Porter-type pass-rushing specialist.

Outlook: If Aaron Rodgers can win some games late, they can contend. The Packers were within striking distance or tied with the ball and less than five minutes remaining and went 0-7 in those games.

Last playoff appearance: 2007.

Minnesota Vikings

Coach: Brad Childress (fourth season, 24-24).

Key additions: QB Brett Favre, WR/KR Glenn Holt, CB Karl Payman, QB Sage Rosenfels.

Key losses: C Matt Birk, S Darren Sharper.

Of note: Only the Brett Favre saga could overshadow the fact that Adrian Peterson led the league in rushing with 1,760 yards. The addition of Favre could open the running lanes for Peterson.

Outlook: The Vikings have a legitimate shot at a Super Bowl run if they get the Favre who went 8-3 with the Jets, not the old, injured QB who went 1-4 in the final five games.

Last playoff appearance: 2008.