Nfc Capsules

A look at the NFC in order of potential. (Last season’s record in parenthesis):

Green Bay (13-3)

Last season: Clearly the best team in the NFL. Cruised through regular season despite the loss of receivers to injury, beat New England 35-21 for first title in 29 years.

Strengths: Passing game, featuring Brett Favre, the NFL’s MVP two straight years, WRs Robert Brooks and Antonio Freeman, and TE Mark Chmura. Overall defense, particularly line and secondary.

Weaknesses: Depth at running back with injury to Edgar Bennett; linebacker, where George Koonce is out for at least six games.

Keys to the season: Performance of RB Dorsey Levens, plus Travis Jervey and Chris Darkins, who must provide running back depth. Keeping Favre healthy.

Newcomers to watch: LB Seth Joyner, signed as a free agent to fill in for Koonce; DB Darren Sharper, second-round draft pick; K Brett Conway, third-rounder.

Outlook: No reason to think the Packers can’t repeat. Coach Mike Holmgren, who was assistant on ‘88-89 49ers, knows what it takes to motivate a winner.

Dallas (10-6)

Last season: Won NFC East, lost in conference semifinals at Carolina. A subpar season all-around - Emmitt Smith was hurt, Michael Irvin and Leon Lett suspended, and more action in court than on the field.

Strengths: The unmatchable “triplets” - QB Troy Aikman, RB Smith and WR Irvin. Massive offensive line; perhaps the NFL’s best secondary (IF Deion Sanders plays at top form).

Weaknesses: With Lett suspended until December, defensive front seven, especially linebacker.

Keys to the season: Getting enough defense to avoid too many 35-28 games.

Newcomers to watch: Rookie LB Dexter Coakley, 5-9, a 215-pounder with great speed. TE Greg LaFleur, the No. 1 draft choice.

Outlook: Training camp was far less chaotic this year until coach Barry Switzer got caught with a handgun in an airport. But that was a distraction for a team that should bounce back - the sixth straight NFC East title is probably a given, and if things break right, the Cowboys could win fourth Super Bowl in six seasons.

San Francisco (12-4)

Last season: Only San Francisco would panic after a 12-4 season and a second-round playoff loss in Green Bay. But the 49ers finished second to Carolina in NFC West, coach George Seifert “retired” with the highest winning percentage in NFL history, and was replaced by Steve Mariucci, with one season as a head coach at Cal behind him.

Strengths: Same old thing - Steve Young to Jerry Rice, with free agent RB Garrison Hearst the best pure running back since Ricky Watters left after the 1994 season. Defense anchored by DTs Bryant Young and Dana Stubblefield.

Weaknesses: Aging and banged-up offensive line. Lack of depth behind Rice and Young; Jeff Brohm is the backup quarterback.

Keys to the season: Offensive line must keep Young healthy, young WRs J.J. Stokes and Terrell Owens must take pressure off Rice and TE Brent Jones has to stay healthy.

Newcomers to watch: Free agent CB Rod Woodson; Hearst; free agent G Kevin Gogan.

Outlook: A dying dynasty. Mariucci may give the 49ers a lift the way Seifert did when he took over for Bill Walsh in 1989. They have to avoid injury to win their sixth Super Bowl since 1981.

Carolina (12-4)

Last season: Won the NFC West in its second season, beating the 49ers twice. Beat the Cowboys in their first playoff game and reached the NFC title game, losing in Green Bay 30-13.

Strengths: Coach Dom Capers’ 3-4 defense. Running back, where Tshimanga Biakabutuka is back after an injury his rookie year and Anthony Johnson blossomed in Biakabutuka’s place.

Weaknesses: Offensive line; perhaps outside linebacker, where Kevin Greene was a holdout and two rookies, Matt Finkes and Tarik Saleh, were filling in.

Keys to the season: The recovery of QB Kerry Collins, who probably will be out until the fourth game with a broken jaw; the continued performance of a defense that last season started eight players over 30.

Newcomers to watch: LB Micheal Barrow, signed as a free agent to play inside, but moving outside until Greene shows up; WR Muhsin Muhammad, second-year man who was hurt most of last season; first-round pick Rae Carruth, deep threat the Panthers have never had.

Outlook: Should compete with 49ers for division title, but could backslide a bit.

Detroit (5-11)

Last season: Lost nine of last 10 games and Wayne Fontes era mercifully ended. Fontes was dismissed after the season and Bobby Ross was brought in from San Diego.

Strengths: Explosive offense featuring Barry Sanders in two-back set for the first time and WR Herman Moore.

Weaknesses: Overall defense, which may lead to a lot of 41-38 games.

Keys to the season: QB Scott Mitchell, who had little use for Fontes. Development of two defensive linemen - Robert Porcher and Luther Elliss, who have considerable untapped potential.

Newcomers to watch: LB Matt Russell, fourth-round draft choice. DB Bryant Westbrook the first-rounder, should help, but late signing sets him back.

Outlook: Far below the top four, but could be the next best if Ross can bring many of the disparate elements together.

Minnesota (9-7)

Last season: Made the playoffs, lost wild-card game in Dallas 40-15, good measure of dropoff in conference.

Strengths: Coach Dennis Green, who always manages to make playoffs; WRs Cris Carter and Jake Reed; offensive and defensive lines.

Weaknesses: Secondary, running back and perhaps quarterback, where Brad Johnson signed a $15 million, four-year contract last year after just eight starts. Lack of depth, particularly on defense.

Keys to the season: Johnson and RB Robert Smith, who rarely stays healthy.

Newcomers to watch: LB Dwayne Rudd, No. 1 draft pick, who could be an instant starter; QB Randall Cunningham, signed as a backup before the season, but good insurance in case Johnson has setback.

Outlook: A lot depends on Smith’s health and Johnson’s development. If they’re solid, the Vikings probably become the best team in the conference after top four.

Philadelphia (10-6)

Last season: Tied Dallas for NFC East title, losing in a tiebreaker, then lost in San Francisco in wild-card round.

Strengths: Coach Ray Rhodes, one of few in NFL who seems to be able to lift a team with mediocre personnel. CBs Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor. RB Ricky Watters.

Weaknesses: Offensive line, which has been in flux all decade. Quarterback, where neither Ty Detmer nor Rodney Peete has demonstrated he can be more than an effective backup.

Keys to the season: Quarterback, where Rhodes may have to go with hot hand - Peete or Detmer, rather than establishing a No. 1. The return to form of Andy Harmon, a first rate DT who missed most of last season with a serious knee injury.

Newcomers to watch: Free-agent C Steve Everitt, whom Eagles hope will solidify offensive line; LB Darrin Smith, signed from Cowboys as free agent along with K Chris Boniol. DE Jon Harris, the first-round draft pick the Eagles hope can take over for the departed William Fuller.

Outlook: A mediocre team in a mediocre division that Rhodes could get to the playoffs for the third straight year.

Washington (9-7)

Last season: Started 7-1, then lost seven of nine and missed playoffs, largely because of a defense that ranked 28th in the league.

Strengths: Offense, where Gus Frerotte has emerged as one of the NFL’s up-and-coming young quarterbacks; venerable CB Darrell Green, who at 36 had one of his best seasons.

Weaknesses: That defense.

Keys to the season: Health of offensive line, which has had to be shuffled in preseason because of a series of injuries and health of RB Terry Allen, who faded in second half last season. Development of defense under new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan.

Newcomers to watch: Aging CB Cris Dishman, signed as a free agent; DE Kenard Lang, the first-round pick, who is expected to be an instant starter; WR Alvin Harper, a bust in Tampa.

Outlook: Head coach Norv Turner, an offensive mind, has brought the offense up to playoff level. If Nolan can do the same with the defense, the Redskins could contend for a playoff spot.

New York Giants (6-10)

Last season: Had the NFL’s worst offense, couldn’t score touchdowns, but occasionally surprised, beating Minnesota and Dallas, both playoff teams.

Strengths: A solid if unspectacular defense with very good cornerback depth. The ability of new coach Jim Fassel to bring out the best in quarterbacks, a quality badly needed. Running back depth.

Weaknesses: Overall offense, where quarterback Dave Brown regressed in Dan Reeves’ last two seasons as head coach.

Keys to the season: Development of Brown in Fassel’s new California offense - if he fails early, look for second-year man Danny Kanell to move in.

Newcomers to watch: WR Ike Hilliard, the first-round pick, could be best Giants have had at his position in three decades; RB Tiki Barber, second-round choice, seems to be the versatile back to fit Fassel’s system; DT Christian Peter, whose off-field problems got him released by New England last year right after he was drafted.

Outlook: A team with some solid players, but few who can turn a game. May start slowly and come on under Fassel, particularly if Hilliard and Barber live up to promise.

Tampa Bay (6-10)

Last season: Started 1-7 in Tony Dungy’s first season as coach and finished 5-3. Defense was solid, offense sputtered.

Strengths: Overall defense, with LB Hardy Nickerson re-signed and young DLs like Regan Upshaw, Warren Sapp and Marcus Jones. Versatility and depth at RB with Errict Rhett, Mike Alstott and rookie Warrick Dunn.

Weaknesses: Quarterback, unless Trent Dilfer continues to develop and wide receiver, where the Bucs are counting on Reidel Anthony, like Dunn a first-round pick, to produce immediately.

Keys to the season: Continued progress of Dilfer and quick development of rookies like Anthony, Dunn and DB Ronde Barber.

Newcomers to watch: Anthony, Dunn and Barber (Tiki Barber’s twin brother).

Outlook: The Bucs, who have lost 10 or more games in 12 of their last 13 seasons, have changed their approach to drafting. The results won’t show right away, but there’s finally a future.

Chicago (7-9)

Last season: Started 2-5 and never got momentum as QB Erik Kramer was injured and replaced by aged journeyman Dave Krieg. Decimated by injuries at running back, defensive line and linebacker, where high-priced free agent Bryan Cox went down early.

Strengths: Defensive toughness, a hallmark of Dave Wannstedt-coached teams. Solid nucleus on the offensive and defensive lines, special teams.

Weaknesses: Offense, where there’s a lot of potential but little achievement.

Keys to the season: The Bears have a lot of high draft picks who haven’t achieved, led by newly acquired QB Rick Mirer, the second overall pick in 1993 by Seattle, but a disappointment there. Others include WR Curtis Conway - out for about eight weeks with shoulder injury - DEs Alonzo Spellman and John Thierry, and RB Rashaan Salaam, the Heisman Trophy winner who’s had problems with fumbles.

Newcomers to watch: Mirer; free agent CB Tom Carter; and three rookies - TE John Allred, a second-rounder; G Bob Sapp (third); and RB Darnell Autry (fourth).

Outlook: A pedestrian team. A lot depends on whether the QBs produce.

St. Louis (6-10)

Last season: Four of the six wins came over New Orleans and Atlanta. Allowed 409 points, second-worst in the conference and coach Rick Brooks was fired and replaced by Dick Vermeil.

Strengths: Achievers at WR in Isaac Bruce and second-year man Eddie Kennison, and potential at RB in the troubled Lawrence Phillips and Ironhead Heyward.

Weaknesses: Offensive line and overall defense.

Keys to the season: The ability of the 60-year-old Vermeil and a staff of five former head coaches to motivate a young team, particularly QB Tony Banks.

Newcomers to watch: OT Orlando Pace, the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, whose long preseason holdout will set him back; second-rounder Dexter McCleon, an instant starter at CB; Heyward and K Jeff Wilkins, signed as free agents.

Outlook: Vermeil seems to have instilled organization into a young team that should get better. Still, third place is probably the best the Rams can do in their division and the playoffs are a long shot.

New Orleans (3-13)

Last season: A disaster. Jim Mora, the only winning coach in Saints history, quit in disgust at midseason, the stands in the Superdome remained empty and the team played horribly. Mike Ditka was brought in as the new head coach after the season.

Strengths: Ditka’s no-nonsense attitude; respectable defensive line; OT William Roaf, perhaps the game’s best at his position.

Weaknesses: Quarterback, running back, linebacker, wide receiver.

Keys to the season: Heath Shuler, a bust at QB in Washington after being the third overall pick in 1994, must produce immediately. Behind him are career backup Doug Nussmeier and Danny Wuerffel, the Heisman Trophy winner and a fourth-round pick. But the running game is almost nonexistent - third-round pick Troy Davis may be the starter.

Newcomers to watch: Shuler, Wuerffel, Davis and free agent WR Andre Hastings from Pittsburgh.

Outlook: Ditka has instilled discipline, but mediocre players, disciplined or not, don’t win many games.

Arizona (7-9)

Last season: Up when Cards got a good game from their quarterback - the departed Boomer Esiason and Kent Graham. Down when they didn’t.

Strengths: Defensive line featuring Simeon Rice and Eric Swann; fullback Larry Centers, one of the premier pass-catchers among running backs.

Weaknesses: Quarterback, running back, offensive line and secondary, where two rookies could start.

Keys to the season: Someone must play quarterback - Graham is a career backup; Stoney Case has thrown four passes in two NFL seasons; and Jake Plummer is a rookie. If Graham stumbles early, there will be a lot of pressure on Vince Tobin to play Plummer.

Newcomers to watch: Plummer; CB Tom Knight, the No. 1 pick, who will start immediately; TE Chris Gedney.

Outlook: This is a franchise that has made the playoffs only once in 22 years and that in 1982, when there were extra qualifiers because of a strike. There’s little chance it will happen this year, either.

Atlanta (3-13)

Last season: Fell apart early when QB Jeff George was suspended and cut after a sideline altercation with June Jones. Jones was fired after the season and Dan Reeves brought in to run the entire football operation.

Strengths: Reeves’ sense of discipline on a team that’s lacked it. Some offensive talent, like RB Jamal Anderson.

Weaknesses: Defense, which allowed the most points in the NFL (461) last season. Problem of retooling from Jones’ run-and-shoot offense to Reeves’ grind-it-out style.

Keys to the season: QB Chris Chandler, an oft-injured journeyman must stay healthy. He also must operate with an offensive line schooled on finesse blocking when Reeves’ offense demands power. More important, can Reeves find bigger defensive linemen and faster defensive backs?

Newcomers to watch: Chandler and CB Ray Buchanan, signed as free agents; CB Michael Booker, who should be an instant starter at cornerback opposite Buchanan.

Outlook: Reeves brings professionalism, but he still lacks players.