Sam Farmer’s NFC preview

In predicted order of finish:

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys

Big questions: Will the Cowboys be the first team to play in a Super Bowl in their home stadium? Can Tony Romo keep progressing after a big season? How will Doug Free do at left tackle in place of longtime starter Flozell Adams? How will they divide the carries between Felix Jones and Marion Barber? Will Dez Bryant push Roy Williams out of the receiving picture?

Big moves: Expectations are lofty for Bryant, a first-round pick who looked outstanding right away in camp before suffering a high ankle sprain. The team signed free agent Alex Barron, who is a capable right tackle and can hold down that spot while Marc Colombo recovers from knee surgery. Gone is left tackle Adams, who held that job for 12 seasons.

Bottom line: The Cowboys are coming off their first playoff victory in 13 years, and Romo has rounded into a reliable, top-shelf quarterback. This could be their year.

New York Giants

Big questions: Can a switch to Perry Fewell as defensive coordinator help the Giants return to their familiar attacking style? Can Eli Manning assemble another strong season (one that was wasted last year)? Now that he’s had knee surgery, will Brandon Jacobs be the power runner that he should be? Are these no-name linebackers ready to form what has always been a position of strength for the franchise? Has Tom Coughlin run his course as coach, or can he get the club back on the playoff track?

Big moves: Defensive leader Antonio Pierce is gone, but the Giants picked up a couple of respectable veterans — safeties Antrel Rolle and Deon Grant — who can help on and off the field. Punter Jeff Feagles retired after 22 seasons.

Bottom line: This Giants season hinges on defense. If the team can come around in that department, it can write off last season’s collapse as a hiccup.

Washington Redskins

Big questions: For years, the Redskins have sold promise. Can Donovan McNabb make good on that? Will Mike Shanahan be able to turn around a team that has won two playoff games in Dan Snyder’s 11 years of ownership? What kind of contribution will Albert Haynesworth make after a tumultuous camp of fighting with Shanahan? Will rookie tackle Trent Williams help provide McNabb with the protection seldom afforded to Jason Campbell?

Big moves: The McNabb trade was monumental, especially considering it was within the division Also noteworthy were the additions of cornerback Phillip Buchanon, and receivers Joey Galloway and Bobby Wade. The club parted ways with receiver Antwaan Randle El, tackle Chris Samuels and cornerback Fred Smoot.

Bottom line: The Redskins have not made a lot of great moves over the last decade, but at least they don’t sit still. These could pay off.

Philadelphia Eagles

Big questions: Is Kevin Kolb better suited than six-time Pro Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb for the Eagles’ version of the West Coast offense? Will this group of receivers emerge as the NFL’s best? Can rookie Nate Allen round into the type of impact safety the Eagles need? How will the return of middle linebacker Stewart Bradley help pull together the defense? Will the team blitz less, considering it wasn’t reliably effective last season?

Big moves: Trading McNabb is as big as any move in team history, and it shows that Coach Andy Reid simply thinks Kolb is better. The addition of linebacker Ernie Sims should help in coverage of tight ends. The team said goodbye to cornerback Sheldon Brown, among others.

Bottom line: It’s sink or swim for Kolb, who has had the luxury of being able to sit back and absorb the offense for three seasons. The Eagles play six 2009 playoff teams, but five of them at home.

NFC North

Green Bay

Big questions: Is Aaron Rodgers headed for a career year? Clay Matthews had a terrific rookie season, but is there somebody else who will step up and bolster those sack numbers for the team? Charles Woodson was the NFL’s defensive player of the year last season; can he continue that pace in his 13th year? How will cornerback Al Harris recover from reconstructive knee surgery at age 35? Have the Packers finally solidified their offensive line?

Big moves: The window of opportunity is wide open for the Packers, who didn’t do a lot of shuffling in the off-season. They used their top draft pick on tackle Bryan Bulaga, slated to ultimately take over for Chad Clifton on the left side, and got an eventual Atari Bigby replacement in safety Morgan Burnett.

Bottom line: The Packers showed last season that they have as much offensive firepower as anyone else. One key will be generating a better pass rush.

Minnesota Vikings

Big questions: Does Brett Favre have another season like 2009 in him, and how much will his surgically repaired ankle bother him? Will Percy Harvin’s migraines hamper him? Can the team make up for the loss of Sidney Rice? Can the team turn around its tendency to turn over the ball? How much of an impact can linebacker E.J. Henderson and cornerback Cedric Griffin make in returning from leg injuries? Will rookie running back Toby Gerhart lighten the load for Adrian Peterson?

Big moves: Favre’s decision to come back dwarfs everything. The drafting of Gerhart was big because of the loss of Chester Taylor. Otherwise, the Vikings return all 22 starters from a team that almost got to the Super Bowl.

Bottom line: If Favre plays the way he did last season, the Vikings are among the favorites to win it all. They dominated almost every statistic against the Saints — including five turnovers.

Chicago Bears

Big questions: How will Jay Cutler work with offensive coordinator Mike Martz, and can Martz take advantage of the quarterback’s strong but occasionally erratic arm? How will center Olin Kreutz recover from off-season Achilles’ tendon surgery? Will tackle Chris Williams live up to the expectations that Mike Tice has? Back from a dislocated wrist that ended his 2009 season almost before it started, is Brian Urlacher going to return to form? Does the acquisition of Julius Peppers mean Tommie Harris will be double-teamed less?

Big moves: Peppers could be close to a $100-million man, and the Bears are hoping he will help restore their defensive tradition. Running back Chester Taylor was a good acquisition. The team said goodbye to defensive ends Alex Brown and Adewale Ogunleye.

Bottom line: The Bears haven’t been back to the playoffs since their Super Bowl in trip in ’06 season. It’s now or never for Lovie Smith.

Detroit Lions

Big questions: Will Matthew Stafford take a step forward, or is he headed for a sophomore slump? Is Nate Burleson the receiver who can draw double teams away from Calvin Johnson? Alongside rookie Ndamukong Suh, can defensive linemen Kyle Vanden Bosch and Corey Williams play the way they did a few years ago? Did the Lions indeed have the best Day 1 of the draft, and will it show on the field?

Big moves: Vanden Bosch was a dominant force on the defensive line when playing for Jim Schwartz, then the Titans’ defensive coordinator. Can the two rediscover that success in Detroit? Much is expected from rookie running back Jahvid Best, especially with Kevin Smith coming off a severe knee injury.

Bottom line: The Lions are gradually recovering from their lost decade and could wind up being the NFL’s most improved team. Still, that might not be enough to pull them out of last.

NFC South

New Orleans Saints

Big questions: With virtually all of their offensive weapons in place, are the Saints positioned to repeat their magical season? What kind of numbers can Drew Brees assemble with his top playmakers healthy? Is Reggie Bush a too-expensive luxury, or does he have a long-term future with the franchise? Will losing linebacker Scott Fujita hurt the defense more than the team anticipated? How long can big-play safety Darren Sharper (14th season) maintain his level of play?

Big moves: The addition of defensive end Alex Brown fills the void left by Charles Grant and gives the Saints a quicker bookend to Will Smith. The departed Fujita might have had the best Super Bowl on that defense. Gone are running back Mike Bell and quarterback Mark Brunell.

Bottom line: Before they clear space for another Lombardi Trophy, the Saints can focus on another goal: becoming the first NFC South team to win consecutive division titles.

Carolina Panthers

Big questions: Can the Panthers establish an effective passing game, something they sorely lacked last season? Who will emerge as the better quarterback, Matt Moore or Jimmy Clausen, and how much of an issue will Clausen’s injured toe be? Who will step into the defensive void left by Julius Peppers?

Big moves: Finally cutting ties with quarterback Jake Delhomme was huge because he and the Panthers needed a fresh start. Losing Peppers, now that will take some real adjusting. The team also parted ways with longtime fullback Brad Hoover, linebacker Na’il Diggs, defensive tackle Damione Lewis, and safety Chris Harris.

Bottom line: Under Coach John Fox, the Panthers have typically rebounded from a so-so year with a strong one. After going 7-9 in 2002, 2004 and 2007 they bounced back with 11, 11 and 12 wins. They could respond the same way from their 8-8 showing last year.

Atlanta Falcons

Big questions: With an even better grasp of the offense, is Matt Ryan poised for a breakout year? How much can cornerback Dunta Robinson help a defense ranked 28th against the pass in 2009? Will the return of defensive tackle Peria Jerry help free the defensive ends who struggled last season? Will Michael Turner reemerge as one of the top running backs?

Big moves: The Falcons spent $22.5 million in guaranteed money to sign Robinson, the cover cornerback they have long sought. The summer has not gone smoothly, as he is recovering from a torn hamstring. Atlanta got rid of marginal cornerbacks Tye Hill and Chris Houston. The club also said goodbye to receiver Marty Booker, and running backs Verron Haynes and Aaron Stecker.

Bottom line: A year after having the league’s fourth-toughest schedule, the Falcons are 20th in that category. That should help a promising team coming off an injury-riddled year.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Big questions: Will quarterback Josh Freeman recover from his broken thumb in time for the opener? Can the Buccaneers regain their defensive prowess with Raheem Morris calling the shots? Will the team realize big dividends from its investment in rookie defensive tackles Gerald McCoy (first round) and Brian Price (second)? What type of production can the team expect from rookie receivers Arrelious Benn and Mike Williams?

Big moves: Tampa Bay has been looking for a dominant defensive tackle ever since Warren Sapp left, and the team thinks it could have one in McCoy. The team parted ways with receiver Antonio Bryant, defensive linemen Chris Hovan and Jimmy Wilkerson, and safety Will Allen.

Bottom line: Every year since the NFL realigned its divisions in 2002, the team that finished last in the NFC South made the playoffs the next year. It would be a shock if the Bucs continued that trend.

NFC West

San Francisco 49ers

Big questions: Will having the same offensive coordinator in consecutive years for the first time in his career make the difference for quarterback Alex Smith? Receiver Michael Crabtree was outstanding even after holding out the first half of his rookie season. What can he do with a full off-season of work under his belt?

Big moves: The 49ers did not do a lot of wheeling and dealing in free agency, although they did get a backup quarterback, David Carr, and a speedy receiver Ted Ginn Jr. The team used its two first-round draft picks on tackle Anthony Davis and guard Mike Iupati, and it’s trying to do what the Jets did in 2006: make the playoffs with two rookie first-rounders on the offensive line.

Bottom line: If the 49ers don’t make their move in the division now, will they ever? They were 5-1 in NFC West games last season and swept eventual champion Arizona.

Arizona Cardinals

Big questions: Is Derek Anderson up to the challenge of replacing Kurt Warner at quarterback? Will the Cardinals lean heavier on the running of Beanie Wells to become a Pittsburgh-style offense? With Steve Breaston starting, how will the injury-prone Early Doucet do in the No. 3 role? At 33, how much does Joey Porter have left, and is he the pass rusher the Cardinals have missed? Arizona won the division the last two years but was swept by San Francisco last season — is a power shift afoot?

Big moves: Alan Faneca was a fixture on the Jets’ offensive line last season, anchoring a group that helped New York to lead the league in rushing. He will be a stabilizing element on a reshuffled line. Porter helps the defense, but how much? Gone is playmaking linebacker Karlos Dansby.

Bottom line: San Francisco looks to be closing fast in the division, but overlooking Arizona is a dangerous game.

Seattle

Big questions: Here’s one that’s been around for most of a decade: Pete Carroll is a great college coach, sure, but can he get it done in the pros? Can the Seahawks provide better protection for often-injured Matt Hasselbeck? Where will the team find a true No. 1 receiver, seeing as T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Deion Branch and Nate Burleson failed to fill those shoes? Who is going to step up the pressure on passers?

Big moves: No one in the NFL has made more roster moves than Carroll. Rookies to watch are left tackle Russell Okung, who is recovering from a high ankle sprain, and safety Earl Thomas, a playmaker who was drafted over USC’s Taylor Mays.

Bottom line: Carroll has installed a new coaching staff and philosophy, and he has completely reshaped the roster. The club has won nine games in two seasons but is making strides toward being competitive.

St. Louis

Big questions: Sam Bradford won the starting quarterback job, but what type of protection will young tackles Rodger Saffold and Jason Smith provide? Running back Steven Jackson is a workhorse, playing the final six games of 2009 with a herniated disk, but he can’t be expected to shoulder the entire load; who is going to take some of those carries? Is this going to be a breakout year, sacks-wise, for right end Chris Long?

Big moves: Until Bradford, the Rams hadn’t taken a quarterback in the first round since 1964 (Bill Munson); expectations are high for the former Oklahoma quarterback. Before opening a new chapter by drafting Bradford, the Rams closed an old one by releasing Marc Bulger.

Bottom line: The Rams have won six games in three seasons. Few people, if any, are expecting miracles from Bradford. But it’s hard to imagine things getting much worse.