NFC capsules

A look at each NFC team for the 2015 season.

NFC EAST

Dallas Cowboys

Last season: 12-4 (lost to Green Bay in a divisional playoff game).

Coach: Jason Garrett (41-31, 6th season).

Missing Murray? With the NFL’s leading rusher DeMarco Murray now on the Eagles, Tony Romo, who had an NFL-leading 113.2 passer rating, may have to throw more, which might cut down on his effectiveness.

Outlook: The Cowboys have to prove they can run the ball in Murray’s absence and they are still below average defensively. There hasn’t been a repeat NFC East champ since the Eagles won four in a row from 2001-2004, so recent history isn’t on the Cowboys’ side.

Philadelphia Eagles

Last season: 10-6

Coach: Chip Kelly (20-12, 3rd season).

Secondary concerns: The Eagles gave up 72 pass plays of 20 or more yards, worst in the NFL, so signing defensive backs Byron Maxwell and Walter Thurmond and drafting Eric Rowe in the second round, should signal improvement.

Outlook: So much depends on quarterback Sam Bradford staying healthy. His last regular-season NFL game was Oct. 20, 2013. The Eagles were third in the NFL in scoring (29.6 ppg.) with below average quarterbacking and if Bradford can remain upright, they should win the division and be a major Super Bowl contender.

New York Giants

Last season: 6-10

Coach: Tom Coughlin (96-80, 12th season with the Giants; 164-140 overall in 19 seasons).

Grounded: Led by Odell Beckham Jr. (91 receptions, 1,305 yards, 12 TDs) the Giants have formidable receivers, but the running game, which was 23rd in the NFL (100.2 yards per game) must show improvement.

Outlook: The Giants are considered division contenders but have major questions on their offensive and defensive lines and secondary. Eli Manning (4,410 yards passing, 30 TDs, 14 interceptions) gives the Giants a chance to win any game so consider them an outside division contender, but one with plenty of holes.

Washington Redskins

Last season: 4-12

Coach: Jay Gruden (4-12, 2nd season).

Differential issues: The Redskins point differential of minus-137 was the worst in the NFC.

Outlook: Kirk Cousins has been named the starting quarterback, but how much does it matter? Staying upright with that weak offensive line will be a challenge. The one universal choice in the NFC East is that the Redskins once again should finish in the basement.

NFC NORTH

Green Bay Packers

Last season: 12-4 (lost to Seattle in the NFC championship).

Coach: Mike McCarthy (94-49-1, 10th season).

Calling receivers: The Packers led the NFL in scoring (30.4 ppg.) but suffered a major blow when receiver Jordy Nelson suffered a season-ending ACL injury during the preseason. Randall Cobb hurt his shoulder in the preseason loss to the Eagles, and the Packers will need him back and effective.

Outlook: Aaron Rodgers (4,381 passing yards, 38 TDs, 5 interceptions) is the best in the game. That alone should keep the Packers as the division favorites, but replacing the production of Nelson is a major concern.

Detroit Lions

Last season: 11-5 (lost to Dallas in the wild card game).

Coach: Jim Caldwell (11-5, 2nd season with Lions; 37-27 overall in four seasons).

Cutting down picks: In his fifth full season a year ago, quarterback Matthew Stafford threw 12 interceptions, four fewer than his previous low of 16.

Outlook: The offense should continue to prosper but the Lions’ playoff chances depend on the defense, which last year was the NFL’s best against the run (69.3 yards per game). The defensive line, once a major strength, is now a question and the Lions have to hope that former Raven Haloti Ngata has something left.

Minnesota Vikings

Last season: 7-9

Coach: Mike Zimmer (7-9, 2nd season).

He’s back: Even with Adrian Peterson limited to one game due to suspension, the Vikings were 14th in the NFL in rushing, averaging 112.8 yards per game and 11th in yards per carry (4.4). With a motivated Peterson, the Vikings should be a top running team.

Outlook: The Vikings are a potential playoff contender and much depends on the second-year development of quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (14 TDs, 12 interceptions).

Chicago Bears

Last season: 5-11

Coach: John Fox (1st season with Bears; 119-89 overall in 13 seasons).

Tough break: First-round pick Kevin White, a wide receiver from West Virginia, will start the season on the physically unable to perform list after surgery for a stress fracture in his left shin.

Outlook: The Bears were 31st in scoring defense, allowing 27.6 points per game and quarterback Jay Cutler tied for the NFL lead with 18 interceptions. That is not a good combo and the outlook doesn’t look much better in Fox’s first season.

NFC SOUTH

Carolina Panthers

Last season: 7-8-1 (lost to Seattle in a divisional playoff game).

Coach: Ron Rivers (32-31-1, 5th season).

Tackling machine: Linebacker Luke Kuechly led the NFL with 153 tackles, according to NFL.com statistics and he has 473 tackles in three seasons.

Outlook: Since the NFC South formed in 2002, Carolina last year became the first repeat champion. The Panthers could defend their title but losing receiver Kelvin Benjamin with a season-ending torn ACL is a crushing blow. Quarterback Cam Newton, whose 82.1 passer rating was a career low, must be more consistent.

New Orleans Saints

Last season: 7-9

Coach: Sean Payton (80-48, 9th season).

Unsung acquisition: Even though it cost tight end Jimmy Graham who the Saints traded to Seattle to shed his salary, acquiring center Max Unger will be a major upgrade on New Orleans’ offensive line.

Outlook: Drew Brees might be slowing down but he was still tied for fifth in the NFL with 33 TD passes and has enough weapons to make the offense dangerous and make the team a playoff contender. The key will be on the other side of the ball, where the Saints were 28th in scoring defense (26.5 ppg.).

Atlanta Falcons

Last season: 6-10

Coach: Dan Quinn (1st season).

Sackless group: After finishing 30th in sacks with 22, Atlanta hopes first-round linebacker Vic Beasley of Clemson can pump life into the sagging pass rush.

Outlook: Under Quinn the Falcons are being picked by many to turn it around. Led by Matt Ryan, (28 TD passes, 14 interceptions) and receiver Julio Jones (104 receptions, 1,593 yards, six TDs) the offense should be strong, but there are many defensive questions. At the least, the Falcons, who open with the Eagles, should be improved.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Last season: 2-14

Coach: Lovie Smith (2-14, 2nd season with Bucs; 83-77 overall in 10 seasons).

Instant pressure: No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston will face plenty of pressure, joining a team that threw 20 interceptions, the second most in the NFL behind the Eagles (21).

Outlook: The Bucs should be improved but aren’t likely to come close to finishing .500. Besides their offensive woes, they were 25th in scoring defense, allowing 25.6 points per game.

NFC WEST

Seattle Seahawks

Last season: 12-4 (lost in the Super Bowl to New England).

Coach: Pete Carroll (50-30, 6th season in Seattle: 83-61 overall in nine seasons).

Super hangover: Can the Seahawks get over that terrible play call and pass that led to Russell Wilson’s interception and blew a chance at winning a second straight Super Bowl?

Outlook: The lack of a breakaway receiver still exists and replacing current Eagle corner Byron Maxwell will be challenging. Still, with Wilson and linebacker Bobby Wagner armed with new contracts and tight end Jimmy Graham adding another weapon, the Seahawks appear ready to make another serious run at the Super Bowl.

Arizona Cardinals

Last season: 11-5 (lost to Carolina in a wild card game).

Coach: Bruce Arians (21-11, 3rd season).

Quarterback woes: The Cardinals were 6-1 when Carson Palmer suffered a season-ending knee injury, and struggled mightily without him. Their success hinges on the health of the 35-year-old Palmer.

Outlook: This should be a playoff team, especially with an underrated unit that was fifth in the NFL in scoring defense (18.7 ppg.). Keeping Palmer healthy and improving the running game will be the key.

San Francisco 49ers

Last season: 8-8.

Coach: Jim Tomsula (1st season).

Kap rebound: For San Francisco to even improve on last year’s record, Colin Kaepernick must reverse last year’s decline, when he had an 86.1 passer rating and he seemed to play tentatively.

Outlook: Nobody is giving the 49ers much chance for the postseason. There are simply too many new faces and Kaepernick’s inconsistency remains a concern.

St. Louis Rams

Last season: 6-10.

Coach: Jeff Fisher (20-27-1, 4th season with Rams; 162-147-1 overall in 20 seasons).

Foles watch: Rams quarterback Nick Foles had his moments with the Eagles, but not enough of them. He also had trouble staying healthy and last year passed for 13 touchdowns but 10 interceptions in eight games.

Outlook: With a defensive line that ranks among the best in the NFL, the Rams should put plenty of heat on opposing quarterbacks. This is a team that many feel can make the next step, but much of it revolves around whether Foles can stay healthy and regain his effectiveness from a 27/2 TD-to-INT season in 2013 with the Eagles.

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