NFC preview capsules

WEST DIVISION

St. Louis

2010: 7-9, 2nd in West

Last year in playoffs: 2004

Rewind: Even though they didn’t make the playoffs, the Rams were one of the league’s big surprises last season, collecting more victories (seven) than in the previous three seasons combined (six). Rookie quarterback Sam Bradford, the No. 1 overall pick, was named the NFL’s offensive rookie of the year.

Play: Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur is gone, parlaying his tremendous tutelage of Bradford into the job as head coach of the Cleveland Browns. In comes former Denver coach Josh McDaniels to take the reins of the Rams’ offense. Much will depend on how quickly Bradford adapts to McDaniels’ West Coast system, no simple task because of the compressed off-season. The Rams were 4-0 in the preseason.

Fast-forward: The Rams have a tougher schedule than they did last season, as they play the NFC East and AFC North teams this season. The NFL clearly thinks they’ll be watchable, though, giving them two Monday night games.

Seattle

2010: 7-9, 1st in West

Last year in playoffs: 2010

Rewind: In beating St. Louis in their regular-season finale, the Seahawks became the first team in NFL history to win its division (and therefore make the playoffs) with a losing record. They followed that by stunning defending champion New Orleans in a first-round game.

Play: Much as they liked Texas Christian’s Andy Dalton, the Seahawks passed on a chance to take a quarterback in the first round, even though they knew they’d probably be losing Matt Hasselbeck, which they did. As a result, they’re moving ahead with Tarvaris Jackson and Charlie Whitehurst, a tandem that doesn’t strike a lot of fear in hearts around the league.

Fast-forward: The Seahawks will be tested right away. They open with two road games — at San Francisco and at Pittsburgh — and play four of six away from home. One of their two home games during that stretch is against the very good Atlanta Falcons.

Arizona

2010: 5-11, 4th in West

Last year in playoffs: 2009

Rewind: After finishing with their worst record since 2006 — in a so-so division, no less — the Cardinals needed to address their quarterback situation and aggressively look for someone who could come closer to filling the cleats of the retired Kurt Warner.

Play: The Cardinals traded for quarterback Kevin Kolb, whose concussion in Philadelphia’s first game last season opened the door for Michael Vick to take over. (As part of that deal, Arizona lost playmaking corner Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.) The Cardinals lost starting corner Greg Toler to a knee injury. Watch for Arizona to increasingly lean on running back Beanie Wells to give Kolb some breathing room.

Fast-forward: The good news for the Cardinals? They open at home against Carolina, a team coming off a 2-14 season. The bad news for the Cardinals? One of Carolina’s two victories came against them. Regardless, that game should be a confidence-builder for Kolb, who then hits the road for three of the next four.

San Francisco

2010: 6-10, 3rd in West

Last year in playoffs: 2002

Rewind: The 49ers haven’t been to the playoffs since the 2002 season, after which they fired Steve Mariucci. A succession of coaches followed — Dennis Erickson, Mike Nolan, Mike Singletary — before they grabbed Jim Harbaugh in January. After the turnaround job he did at Stanford, Harbaugh will be re-installing the West Coast offense in San Francisco.

Play: The 49ers have a promising offensive line, but it’s young. That line will be blocking for Alex Smith, who gets the nod at quarterback over rookie Colin Kaepernick. It will be the seventh offensive coordinator in seven seasons for the No. 1 pick of the 2005 draft.

Fast forward: The most interesting game on the 49ers’ schedule comes on Thanksgiving, and what happens on the field in that one is secondary to the sideline watching. It will be the Harbaugh Bowl between San Francisco and host Baltimore, when brothers/coaches Jim and John face each other.

NORTH DIVISION

Green Bay

2010: 10-6, 2nd in North

Last year in playoffs: 2010

Rewind: The Packers won the Super Bowl despite having a slew of players on injured reserve. Down the stretch in the playoffs, there was no sharper play caller than Mike McCarthy and no quarterback more on point than Aaron Rodgers.

Play: Green Bay lost running back Ryan Grant to a severe ankle injury in last season’s opener at Philadelphia, putting a sizable crimp in their running game. Now, Grant is back and, coupled with fellow running back James Starks, they can help take the heat off Rodgers.

Fast-forward: By virtue of winning the Lombardi Trophy, the Packers get to play host to the season opener against New Orleans. Since the NFL began those Thursday night debuts in 2004, the home teams have gone 7-0. In a twist that could play right into the Packers’ down-gloved hands, their final five weeks could all be cold-weather games.

Chicago

2010: 11-5, 1st in North

Last year in playoffs: 2010

Rewind: Their victories weren’t always pretty last season, but the Bears quietly strung them together and got to the brink of another Super Bowl appearance. It was an impressive performance for a club picked by many to finish in the bottom half of the division.

Play: Jay Cutler is looking more comfortable in the second year of Mike Martz’s offense, as is receiver Devin Hester, who could develop into a player who’s more three-dimensional and not simply a field-stretching burner. The real questions are along the young, less-than-seasoned offensive line. Pro Bowl linebacker Lance Briggs wants to be traded. The team’s hope for success starts there.

Fast-forward: For the first time, the Bears play all three of their division foes in prime time. They visit Detroit in a Monday night game Oct. 10, play host to Minnesota the following Sunday night, and play the Packers at Lambeau Field on Christmas night.

Detroit

2010: 6-10, 3rd in North

Last year in playoffs: 1999

Rewind: Even though the Lions didn’t reach the postseason, their 2010 team showed flashes of real promise, particularly with the way rookie defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh played, winning defensive-rookie-of-the-year honors. But can Matthew Stafford stay healthy?

Play: It will be hard to keep the oft-injured Stafford upright if the Lions can’t block, and they’re having real problems on the offensive line. Left tackle Jeff Backus is recovering from a torn chest muscle, and right tackle Gosder Cherilus is coming off microfracture knee surgery. What’s more, the team’s top draft pick, defensive tackle Nick Fairley (13th overall), is dealing with a broken foot. The Lions were unbeaten in the preseason.This vogue Super Bowl dark horse is off to a rough start.

Fast-forward: Finishing last season with four consecutive wins has paid off for the Lions, who will be on “Monday Night Football” for the first time in a decade when they play host to the Bears.

Minnesota

2010: 6-10, 4th in North

Last year in playoffs: 2009

Rewind: A season after coming within an overtime field goal of the Super Bowl, the Vikings never really got off the ground last fall. Brett Favre showed his age, and Tarvaris Jackson turned out to be a less-than-inspired understudy. In the end, the Vikings’ season went the way of the ill-fated Metrodome — pop!

Play: Going from one aging quarterback to another, the Vikings acquired Donovan McNabb from Washington and are pinning their hopes on him. Behind him stands their future: quarterback Christian Ponder from Florida State. Defensive tackle Kevin Williams was suspended two games when the long-running StarCaps (diuretic pills) case that has been pending since 2008 was finalized Friday. One familiar player who won’t be in purple is longtime tackle Bryant McKinnie, who got the boot after showing up at camp weighing nearly 400 pounds.

Fast-forward: A year after the NFL booked them for four prime-time games (including the season opener at New Orleans), the Vikings have half as many this season.

SOUTH DIVISION

Atlanta

2010: 13-3, 1st in South

Last year in playoffs: 2010

Rewind: Heading into the 2010 playoffs, the Falcons had high hopes — and for good reason — having nearly run the table at the Georgia Dome. They ran into a red-hot Packers team, though, and Aaron Rodgers picked them apart with three touchdowns passing and one rushing.

Play: How much did the Falcons want Alabama receiver Julio Jones? They gave up five draft picks to Cleveland to move up from 27th to sixth and grab him. That’s big for a team that was tied for last in the league in 2010 with only 44 plays of 20 yards or longer. The Falcons will go to the air. In an exhibition game against Pittsburgh, fourth-year quarterback Matt Ryan threw 42 passes in the first half. Coupled with Roddy White, that gives Atlanta two big-play receiving threats to go with Canton-bound tight end Tony Gonzalez.

Fast-forward: The Falcons have two early home games to circle. Their home opener is against Michael Vick and the Eagles, and three weeks later they play host to the Packers.

New Orleans

2010: 11-5, 2nd in South

Last year in playoffs: 2010

Rewind: The Saints’ 2010 season came to an abrupt end with a stunning loss at seven-win Seattle. Drew Brees threw for 404 yards and two touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough to rescue a franchise widely considered among the three best in the conference.

Play: Reggie Bush is gone, but the Saints expect to more than make up for that with the addition of rookie Mark Ingram and former San Diego speedster Darren Sproles. On the other side of the ball, two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Shaun Rogers gives them a much-needed disruptive presence. Kicker John Kasay will step in for Garrett Hartley (hip).

Fast-forward: In a matchup of the last two Super Bowl champions, the Saints open at Green Bay on Thursday. Visiting teams are 0-7 in those Thursday night openers. New Orleans has a favorable schedule down the stretch, with four of its final six at home.

Tampa Bay

2010: 10-6, 3rd in South

Last year in playoffs: 2007

Rewind: There was talk all season that the Buccaneers couldn’t beat an elite team. That was put to rest in the finale, when they thumped New Orleans. Disappointed as they were to miss the playoffs with 10 wins — especially considering that Seattle made them with seven — the Buccaneers had to be happy they had momentum heading into this season.

Play: Tampa Bay wasn’t very active in free agency, focusing instead on keeping its own players. Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, coming back from a torn biceps, has looked good so far. Second-year running back LeGarrette Blount was one of the league’s more exciting (and surprising) young players last season. Receiver Mike Williams guarantees the Buccaneers will make the playoffs.

Fast-forward: The Bucs have two prime-time home games — against Indianapolis and Dallas — which is a testament to how surprisingly good they were last season. Tampa Bay was the only team to have all 10 of its home games blacked out.

Carolina

2010: 2-14, 4th in South

Last year in playoffs: 2008

Rewind: In hiring Ron Rivera as the fourth head coach in franchise history, the Panthers didn’t stray from their pattern of picking someone who had previously led a top defense. Their previous coaches were Dom Capers (Pittsburgh), George Seifert (San Francisco) and John Fox (New York Giants). Rivera’s Chargers defense gave up the fewest yards in the NFL last season.

Play: After a good August, No. 1 pick Cam Newton will step right in as the starting quarterback, and receiver Steve Smith seems very encouraged. The two worked together a bit during the off-season, and now they’re trying to absorb the 40-50 new plays installed per day in Rob Chudzinski’s offense.

Fast-forward: Six of the Panthers’ first nine games are at home, but that might be the best thing you can say about their very tough schedule. Nine of their games are against teams that won at least 10 games last season.

EAST DIVISION

Philadelphia

2010: 10-6, 1st in East

Last year in playoffs: 2010

Rewind: The Eagles’ 2010 season ended the way it started, with a home loss to the Packers. Michael Vick established himself as the team’s quarterback of the present and future, and Kevin Kolb — the onetime heir apparent to Donovan McNabb — became expendable. Kolb was traded to Arizona.

Play: Will this really be the “Dream Team,” as new backup quarterback Vince Young coined it? The Eagles certainly plunged wallet-first into free agency, picking up cornerbacks Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (in the Kolb trade), running back Ronnie Brown, and defensive linemen Cullen Jenkins and Jason Babin, among others.

Fast-forward: Six of the Eagles’ first nine games are against teams coming off losing seasons, and, of their five games against 2010 playoff teams, only one of those (Atlanta) comes in the first eight weeks. So the season figures to get tougher for them from Thanksgiving forward.

Dallas

2010: 6-10, 3rd in East

Last year in playoffs: 2009

Rewind: Despite all the Super Bowl talk surrounding the Cowboys, they had their first 10-loss season since 2004. The season did end on an encouraging note for them, though, with a 14-13 victory over Philadelphia in an otherwise meaningless game for the Eagles. That was probably the clinching moment for interim Coach Jason Garrett, who was ultimately made the team’s permanent leader.

Play: Garrett is all about being smart and disciplined, and his team hasn’t shown a lot of that through the first few weeks of training camp. The coach said the mental mistakes were “exposed” in a 20-7 exhibition loss to San Diego that included three Cowboys turnovers. Dallas cut long-time center Andre Gurode, reasoning they could go cheaper. Maybe it’s better for them, though, that they’re heading more humbly into this season.

Fast-forward: For the first time since 1997, the Cowboys will open the season with consecutive road games: at the New York Jets and San Francisco.

N.Y. Giants

2010: 10-6, 2nd in East

Last year in playoffs: 2008

Rewind: The Giants missed the playoffs for the second year in a row and were especially dejected because their season held so much promise only a few weeks before the end. Consecutive losses to Philadelphia and Green Bay down the stretch doomed them, and beating Washington in the finale wasn’t enough to clinch them a wild-card berth.

Play: Although they looked great in their exhibition victory over Chicago, the Giants suffered a huge loss in their secondary. Cornerback Terrell Thomas, possibly heading for a Pro Bowl season, collided with teammate Jason Pierre-Paul and sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. That leaves a gaping vacancy at corner, a spot Injury-prone nickel back Aaron Ross will fill in.

Fast-forward: Maybe the most emotional game of the season will be the Giants’ first one, when they play at Washington on Sept. 11, the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

Washington

2010: 6-10, 4th in East

Last year in playoffs: 2007

Rewind: The Redskins thought Donovan McNabb would be the answer at quarterback, but Mike Shanahan wanted to move on, trading him to Minnesota. The team jettisoned defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth too, trading their $100-million headache for a fifth-round pick.

Play: The starting quarterback job was up for grabs in this training camp, with John Beck and Rex Grossman competing for that spot. Grossman started the last three games of the 2010 season, whereas Beck — who has bounced from Miami to Baltimore to Washington — looks as if he’s starting to get career traction. Grossman didn’t play in the exhibition finale.

Fast-forward: For the third time in four seasons, the Redskins will open against the Giants. Washington was swept by them last season — including a three-point home loss to Eli Manning and Co. in the season finale. Washington’s final five games are very tough: the Jets, Patriots, at the Giants, Vikings, and at the Eagles.