SPORTS EXTRA / FOOTBALL ‘99: NFL PREVIEW : NFC TOP TO BOTTOM: CAPSULES BY FERNANDO DOMINGUEZ

1. MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Still dejected over the championship that should have been, the Vikings have their sights on Atlanta in more ways than one--getting past the Falcons in the playoffs and reaching the Super Bowl.

Coach: Dennis Green (71-41).

1998 record: 15-1.

Newcomer to make impact: End John Burrough, who made 21 tackles for Atlanta last season.

Little-known fact: The Vikings are the only 15-victory team not to reach the Super Bowl.

Stat that must change: Minnesota lived by the pass and died by the pass, giving up 317 yards passing and three touchdowns through the air in the 30-27 NFC championship game loss to Atlanta. The Vikings ranked 19th in pass defense during the regular season.

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2. GREEN BAY PACKERS

To overtake Minnesota in the division, the Packers have to stop resting on their laurels.

Coach: Ray Rhodes (29-34-1).

1998 record: 11-5.

Newcomer to make impact: Rookie cornerback Mike McKenzie, from Memphis, gives the Packers added help in containing the likes of Minnesota’s Randy Moss.

Little-known fact: The Packers have won 44 of their last 46 games at Lambeau Field.

Stat that must change: Brett Favre had 23 passes intercepted, an NFC high.

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3. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Their high-powered offense directed by aging quarterback Steve Young can’t make up for the shortcomings on defense, but nobody is writing off the 49ers.

Coach: Steve Mariucci (25-7).

1998 record: 12-4.

Newcomer to make impact: Running back Lawrence Phillips, the well-chronicled bust in St. Louis and Miami who can redeem himself by replacing all-pro Garrison Hearst, sidelined by a broken ankle.

Little-known fact: Young and Co. manhandled opponents in the second quarter, outscoring them, 163-70.

Stat that must change: The 49ers ranked 29th in pass defense, giving up 233.3 yards per game.

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4. ATLANTA FALCONS

Even with a tougher schedule than last year, the Falcons are too talented not to give Minnesota a run for NFC supremacy.

Coach: Dan Reeves (162-117-1).

1998 record: 14-2.

Newcomer to make impact: Safety Marty Carter. The eight-year veteran made 159 tackles last season with Chicago, including 18 against the Falcons.

Little-known fact: The Falcons are looking to put together winning seasons for the first time.

Stat that must change: Better coverage by the secondary. Of the 22 touchdowns through the air given up by the Falcons, eight covered 50 yards or more.

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5. DALLAS COWBOYS

If free of injury and turmoil, the Cowboys should cruise in the NFL’s weakest division.

Coach: Chan Gailey (10-6).

1998 record: 10-6.

Newcomer to make impact: Wide receiver Raghib Ismail, the “Rocket,” whose deep-threat ability should fit in Gailey’s wide-open scheme.

Little-known fact: Gailey and Atlanta Coach Dan Reeves were football standouts at Americus (Ga.) High.

Stat that must change: The Cowboys gave up 12.99 yards per completion, fifth-highest in the league.

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6. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

The Buccaneers are giving quarterback Trent Dilfer one more chance to show what he can do, or show him the door.

Coach: Tony Dungy (24-24).

1998 record: 8-8.

Newcomer to make impact: Rookie defensive tackle Anthony McFarland from Louisiana State. The Buccaneers plan to rotate him at the position with veterans Warren Sapp and Brad Culpepper.

Little-known fact: The Buccaneers have only four winning seasons since joining the NFL in 1976.

Stat that must change: Tampa Bay averaged 162.9 yards passing, fourth-lowest in the league.

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7. WASHINGTON REDSKINS

New team owner Daniel Snyder wants big improvements or pink slips will abound. The line will form behind Coach Norv Turner.

Coach: Turner (32-47-1).

1998 record: 6-10.

Newcomer to make impact: Quarterback Brad Johnson, a legitimate starter relegated to back up Randall Cunningham at Minnesota. Johnson completed 64.4% of his passes last season, tops among quarterbacks with 100 or more attempts.

Little-known fact: Snyder is erasing the last vestiges of Jack Kent Cooke’s ego. The home field, for one, is now Redskins Stadium.

Stat that must change: The Redskins need to win a game before Halloween, unlike last year, when they started 0-7.

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8. ARIZONA CARDINALS

Because of a suspect defense, third-year quarterback Jake Plummer will probably have to add to his eight comeback victories in 26 games for the Cardinals to win.

Coach: Vince Tobin (20-28).

1998 record: 9-7.

Newcomer to make impact: Linebacker Rob Fredrickson, an excellent pass defender who made 86 tackles for Detroit last season.

Little-known fact: The Cardinals have not won an opener since 1991.

Stat that must change: Although they couldn’t outrun a centipede, the Cardinals called for only seven fair catches in 43 punts, averaging 6.9 yards per return.

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9. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Who but Coach Mike Ditka would conceive of trading all of the team’s draft choices to land one player, even if it is Ricky Williams, the Heisman Trophy winner from Texas?

Coach: Ditka (118-82)

1998 record: 6-10.

Newcomer to make impact: Williams. He better, or, pity couch potatoes, Ditka goes back to blabbering on TV.

Little-known fact: New Orleans’ last 1,000-yard rusher was Dalton Hilliard in 1989.

Stat that must change: The Saints ranked last in the league in rushing at 82.8 yards per game, scoring a measly six touchdowns on the ground.

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10. NEW YORK GIANTS

Putting his faith, and perhaps his future employment, in the hands of quarterbacks Kent Graham and Kerry Collins might be Coach Jim Fassel’s worst move yet.

Coach: Fassel (18-13-1).

1998 record: 8-8.

Newcomer to make impact: Tight end Pete Mitchell, a much-needed pass-catching threat at the position. He had 38 receptions for Jacksonville in 1998.

Little-known fact: As head coach at Utah, Fassel recruited and tutored quarterback Scott Mitchell, now of the Baltimore Ravens. Now you know who to blame.

Stat that must change: Graham needs to improve on his 70.8 quarterback rating or, pity the Giants, Collins gets to play.

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11. ST. LOUIS RAMS

By keeping Dick Vermeil as coach, the underachieving Rams can absorb more pearls of wisdom from their leader, such as, “They can fire me any time they want.... I didn’t ask for this job.”

Coach: Vermeil (63-70).

1998 record: 4-12.

Newcomer to make impact: Running back Marshall Faulk, a double threat who led Indianapolis with 1,319 yards rushing and 908 yards receiving.

Little-known fact: Vermeil was designated the first special teams coach in the NFL, with the Los Angeles Rams in 1969.

Stat that must change: The Rams fumbled 32 times, most in the NFC except for Carolina (39).

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12. DETROIT LIONS

After a few more miserable weeks, most of the Lions will wish they could join Barry Sanders on his European vacation.

Coach: Bobby Ross (61-51).

1998 record: 5-11.

Newcomer to make impact: Rookie linebacker Chris Claiborne, who led USC with 120 tackles in 1998.

Little-known fact: The Lions have won one of six playoff games this decade.

Stat that must change: Only five teams in the league last year gave up more yards rushing per game than the Lions (131.4).

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13. CAROLINA PANTHERS

By hiring George Seifert as coach, the underachieving Panthers are guaranteed a first-rate football education, if not a few more victories.

Coach: Seifert (98-30).

1998 record: 4-12.

Newcomer to make impact: Offensive tackle Clarence Jones, a key starter at New Orleans.

Little-known fact: Seifert has a degree in zoology, which might come in handy when trying to eradicate the three-ring circus the Panthers became last year.

Stat that must change: The Panthers hit rock bottom on defense, ranking last at 365.1 yards given up per game.

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14. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Woefully weak everywhere, the Eagles are in line for another disaster.

Coach: Andy Reid (first year.)

1998 record: 3-13.

Newcomer to make impact: Rookie quarterback Donovan McNabb from Syracuse, the No. 2 pick in the draft who last season passed for 2,134 yards and 22 touchdowns.

Little-known fact: Philadelphia hasn’t won on the road since 1996, a streak of 16 games.

Stat that must change: The Eagles scored 161 points, worst in the NFL and their lowest total since producing 145 points in 14 games in 1972.

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15. CHICAGO BEARS

The Bears cleaned house from the front office to the coaching staff and morale is reportedly improved, but these guys still are headed nowhere.

Coach: Dick Jauron (first year).

1998 record: 4-12.

Newcomer to make impact: Rookie quarterback Cade McNown, the left-hander from UCLA, where he was the all-time passing leader with 10,708 yards.

Little-known fact: The Bears have not had a Pro Bowl player since 1993.

Stat that must change: Chicago recorded only 28 sacks, tying with Cincinnati for the fewest in the league.