National Football Conference

EAST

Dallas Cowboys

Last year: Won East at 12-4, won third Super Bowl in four years, 27-17 over Pittsburgh.

Strengths: Offense - Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and eventually Michael Irvin.

Weaknesses: Cornerback while Deion Sanders fills in for suspended Irvin on offense; depth on offensive and defensive lines; age, injuries to key players like Smith, TE Jay Novacek, T Mark Tuinei.

Emerging veteran: TE Eric Bjornson.

Key newcomers: Free-agent LBs Fred Strickland and Broderick Thomas; WR Stepfret Williams, third-round draft pick.

Key stat: Since first Super Bowl in 1992, Cowboys have lost 22 free agents.

Predicted record: 10-6.

Philadelphia Eagles

Last year: Surprised with 10-6 record and playoff win over Detroit as Ray Rhodes was coach of the year in first season. One win was over Dallas, which later knocked Eagles out of playoffs.

Strengths: Rhodes, who wills team to win; running back Ricky Watters; defensive line; unsung outside linebacker William Thomas; cornerbacks Bobby Taylor and Troy Vincent.

Weaknesses: Linebackers, inconsistent quarterbacking, offensive line.

Emerging veteran: WR Chris T. Jones.

Key newcomers: QB Ty Detmer, competing with Rodney Peete for starting job; free agents Vincent and WR Irvin Fryar, both signed from Miami.

Key stat: In the last three seasons, seven different players have started at left tackle.

Predicted record: 9-7.

Washington Redskins

Last year: Doubled wins from three to six and beat Dallas twice as Norv Turner continued to rebuild.

Strengths: Quarterback, where Gus Frerotte and Heath Shuler both have been impressive; WRs Michael Westbrook and Henry Ellard.

Weaknesses: Overall defense.

Emerging veteran: G Tre Johnson.

Key newcomers: DE Sean Gilbert, obtained in trade from St. Louis; T Andre Johnson, No. 1 draft choice.

Key stat: Since Joe Gibbs retired in ‘92 with 140-65 record, Redskins are 13-35.

Predicted record: 9-7.

New York Giants

Last year: Coach Dan Reeves predicted 11-5 finish; they finished 5-11.

Strengths: RBs Rodney Hampton, Tyrone Wheatley and Keith Elias; CB Phillippi Sparks; Offensive line.

Weaknesses: Overall defense, with perhaps the NFL’s worst front seven.

Emerging veteran: CB Jason Sehorn.

Key newcomers: Free agent G Ron Stone; WR Amani Toomer, No. 2 draft choice.

Key stat: Last season, the Giants lost five games in which they led or were tied in the fourth quarter.

Predicted record: 6-10.

Arizona Cardinals

Last year: Finished 4-12 in Buddy Ryan’s second year. Ryan was fired and replaced by Vince Tobin, Colts’ defensive coordinator.

Strengths: Potential on defense anchored by DT Eric Swann, MLB Eric Hill and CB Aeneas Williams; FB Larry Centers.

Weaknesses: Overall offense, where Boomer Esiason is the latest QB; front office, which is without general manager.

Emerging veteran: WR Frank Sanders.

Key newcomers: QB Boomer Esiason and OT Lomas Brown, signed as free agents; DE Simeon Rice, top draft choice; RB Leeland McElroy, second-round pick.

Key stat: Esiason’s the eighth QB in eight years, replacing Dave Krieg, Steve Beuerlein, Jay Schroeder, Chris Chandler, Tom Tupa, Timm Rosenbach and Gary Hogeboom.

Predicted record: 5-11.

CENTRAL

Green Bay Packers

Last year: Won Central at 11-5, lost 38-27 to Dallas in NFC title game.

Strengths: Quarterback Brett Favre and receiving corps led by Robert Brooks and tight ends Mark Chmura, Keith Jackson. Overall defense led by Reggie White, LeRoy Butler.

Weaknesses: Left side of offensive line.

Emerging veteran: DT Gilbert Brown.

Key newcomers: First-round pick John Michels, who must step in immediately at left tackle; rookie WR Derrick Mayes; S Eugene Robinson, obtained in trade with Seattle; free agents DT Santana Dotson and LB Ron Cox.

Key stat: In the last two seasons, Favre has 71 TD passes and just 27 interceptions.

Predicted record: 12-4.

Detroit Lions

Last year: Won final seven games to make playoffs at 10-6 and save Wayne Fontes’ job. Nearly cost Fontes his job with first-round 58-37 playoff loss at Philadelphia.

Strengths: Offense - Barry Sanders running, Scott Mitchell throwing to Herman Moore, Brett Perriman and Johnnie Morton.

Weaknesses: Overall defense, shuffled offensive line, front office.

Emerging veteran: DT Luther Elliss.

Key newcomers: Free agent OT Ray Roberts, free agent LB Michael Brooks.

Key stat: Lions were first in offense, 23rd in defense last year.

Predicted record: 10-6.

Chicago Bears

Last year: Went 9-7 for second consecutive year, but missed playoffs after making them in 1995.

Strengths: Overall offense, if Erik Kramer repeats 1995 season at quarterback and Rashaan Salaam holds on to ball; WR Curtis Conway.

Weaknesses: Defensive line, secondary.

Emerging veteran: G Todd Perry.

Key newcomers: Free-agent LB Bryan Cox from Miami; CB Walt Harris, first-round draft choice and instant starter.

Key stat: Dave Wannstedt is 25-23 as head coach, not quite what was expected of Mike Ditka’s successor.

Predicted record: 7-9.

Minnesota Vikings

Last year: Finished 8-8, first time in four years as head coach that Dennis Green failed to make playoffs.

Strengths: Passing offense, led by Warren Moon, who seems almost as good as ever at age 40, plus receivers Jake Reed and Cris Carter. Run defense led by John Randle.

Weaknesses: Running game, pass defense.

Emerging veteran: S Orlando Thomas.

Key newcomers: Free-agent LB Dixon Edwards, CB Rod Smith; DE Duane Clemons, No. 1 draft pick.

Key stat: Moon, at age 39, threw for 4,228 yards with 33 TDs and 14 interceptions.

Predicted record: 7-9.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Last year: Finished 7-9, the first time in 13 seasons they had fewer than 10 losses, but lost final game to cost coach Sam Wyche his job.

Strengths: Solid defense anchored by LB Hardy Nickerson, running game if RB Errict Rhett shows up.

Weaknesses: Quarterback, where Wyche left Trent Dilfer confused; offensive line.

Emerging veteran: S John Lynch.

Key newcomers: DE Regan Upshaw, No. 1 pick; RB Mike Allstot, No. 2 pick; free-agent OT Doug Riesenberg.

Key stat: Most points Bucs scored in a game last year was 24. They were under 20 points in 11 of their 16 games.

Predicted record: 6-10.

WEST

San Francisco 49ers

Last year: Won West at 11-5, was upset 27-17 at home by Green Bay in first playoff game.

Strengths: Same old thing - Steve Young throwing to Jerry Rice; strong defensive front seven and safeties.

Weaknesses: Kicking, running game, reshuffled offensive line, cornerback.

Emerging veteran: WR J.J. Stokes.

Key newcomers: Bill Walsh, coaching consultant; free-agent RB Tommy Vardell and G Ray Brown; WR Terrell Owens, third-round draft choice.

Key stat: Two years ago, with Ricky Watters, 49ers were sixth in NFL in rushing. Without Watters last year, they were 23rd.

Predicted record: 10-6.

Atlanta Falcons

Last year: Made playoffs at 9-7, largely on heroics of kicker Morten Andersen, without whom they might have been 6-10.

Strengths: Andersen, overall offense.

Weaknesses: Overall defense - quick but very small by today’s standards.

Emerging veteran: S Patrick Bates.

Key newcomer: LB Cornelius Bennett, signed as a free agent.

Key stat: Since 1991, Falcons are 38-42.

Predicted record: 8-8.

St. Louis Rams

Last year: Began 4-0 under new coach Rich Brooks, lost nine of last 12 to finish 7-9.

Strengths: Defensive line depth; Isaac Bruce, one of game’s unknown stars at wide receiver.

Weaknesses: No proven quarterback; offensive line.

Emerging veteran: DT D’Marco Farr.

Key newcomers: RB Lawrence Phillips, first-round draft pick; WR Eddie Kennison, first-round pick; Tony Banks, second-round pick; free-agent QB Steve Walsh.

Key stat: In first four weeks last year, Rams had a plus-14 turnover ratio. In final 12 games, it was minus-17.

Predicted record: 6-10.

Carolina Panthers

Last year: After losing first five games, Panthers finished 7-9, best record of any first-year expansion team.

Strengths: Linebacking, with Kevin Greene added from Pittsburgh to provide pass rush; overall defense.

Weaknesses: Offense, where second-year quarterback Kerry Collins is learning on the job.

Emerging veteran: CB Tyrone Poole.

Key newcomers: CB Eric Davis, TE Wesley Walls, LB Kevin Greene, all free agents; RB Tshimanga Biakabutuka, No. 1 draft choice; WR Muhsin Muhammad, No. 2 draft choice; RB Marquette Smith, No. 5 pick.

Key stat: Collins’ 61.9 QB rating was second worst in NFL, but he was 7-6 as a starter.

Predicted record: 6-10.

New Orleans Saints

Last year: Started 0-5, finished 7-9, losing twice to Atlanta on field goals by Morten Andersen, whom Saints released before the season.

Strengths: Overall offense led by Jim Everett, who believes at 31 he’ll finally fulfill the promise he showed in Los Angeles at 24; two Pro Bowl players, DT Wayne Martin and OT William Roaf.

Weaknesses: Overall defense, particularly injury-hit front seven.

Emerging veteran: RB Mario Bates.

Key newcomers: Free-agent DBs Greg Jackson and Mark McMillian from Philadelphia; CB Alex Molden, No. 1 pick; DE Brady Smith, No. 3.

Key stat: Defense was 22nd in yardage allowed in 1995. In 1991 and 1992 it was second and in 1993 it was seventh.

Predicted record: 6-10.