NFC EAST
Philadelphia Eagles
In the splashiest move of the off-season, the Eagles traded for the league’s leading rusher, DeMarco Murray, from the rival Dallas Cowboys. Thus, coach Chip Kelly’s hurry-up, spread attack meets its oft-overlooked prime objective: run them silly.
Difference maker: Sam Bradford. Kelly’s other big addition must stay healthy, for a change, and make better snap decisions than departed quarterback Nick Foles.
Projected record 10-6
Dallas Cowboys
Tony Romo’s 69.9 per cent completion mark led the league last year, his 34 touchdown passes dwarfed the nine interceptions, and Murray was spectacular. But the offence had to be stellar because the secondary was not and still isn’t.
Difference maker: Joseph Randle. Murray’s replacement will let us know whether it was Murray or the offensive line responsible for those 2,261 rushing yards.
Projected record 10-6
New York Giants
When coach Tom Coughlin wins, it is the old-fashioned way, with steady offence and dominating defence. This team will flip it around with quarterback Eli Manning constantly going deep, trying to make up for the team’s shoddy defence.
Difference maker: Odell Beckham Jr. His 2104 play of the year, that one-handed, over-the-head catch, may have to be repeated over and over.
Projected record 8-8
Washington Redskins
Robert Griffin III is out and Kirk Cousins is in – for now – meaning the quarterback drama continues. So will the team’s troubles. What might be a decent defence will be on the field too much.
Difference maker: Junior Galette. How many sacks will this talented pass rusher need to keep his team competitive? Too many.
Projected record 4-12
NFC NORTH
Green Bay Packers
Key injuries, including the loss of Jordy Nelson, may tamp down Super Bowl dreams, but the Packers have several months to find a new, dependable prime target for Aaron Rodgers. They are still the class of the division.
Difference maker: BJ Raji. The nose tackle returns from injury, presumably to shore up a defence that was vulnerable to the run.
Projected record 11-5
Minnesota Vikings
They invested heavily in young defenders in recent drafts and should see some dividends this year. Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater had a quietly solid rookie season. There is reason to believe.
Difference maker: Adrian Peterson. The one-time star returns from suspension – renewed and refreshed, or just an aging running back?
Projected record 10-6
Detroit Lions
Quarterback Matthew Stafford, receivers Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate, and rookie running back Ameer Abdullah will fire a dynamic offence. But stalwarts Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley are gone, and so is the stifling defence.
Difference maker: Haloti Ngata. Brought in to replace Suh. The Lions hope the ageing star will be the new defensive anchor.
Projected record 9-7
Chicago Bears
It is a long way from the bottom of this division to even the middle for the Bears. Their young defence appears to be on the rise but will need more time together. Is that Matt Forte, 29, still serving as the backfield workhorse?
Difference maker: Jay Cutler. Big-armed, quirky-headed, mistake-prone quarterback could make things much better with a mature performance.
Projected record 5-11
NFC SOUTH
Carolina Panthers
The face of the franchise is quarterback Cam Newton, but its heart is the running game and its soul is the defence, which should be rock-solid again. Ageing running back Jonathan Stewart will need assistance.
Difference maker: Luke Kuechly. The NFL’s best tackler would be a national sensation if he played in a large TV market. He is getting there anyway.
Projected record 9-7
New Orleans Saints
With gunslinging Drew Brees at quarterback, the Saints should not have trouble putting up points again, even without favourite target Jimmy Graham. But their defence does not look any better than last year’s leaky bucket.
Difference maker: Brandin Cooks. Brees needs to find a replacement for Graham’s 90-plus catches, and the second-year wide receiver could be it.
Projected record 7-9
Atlanta Falcons
New coach Dan Quinn has a reputation for building first-rate defences. It will take more than one season to whip the Falcons’ worst-in-the-league unit into shape. There is a feeble offensive line that needs major help, too.
Difference maker: Vic Beasley. The linebacker was the eighth pick in the draft. Atlanta’s defensive makeover begins now, with him.
Projected record 5-11
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Jameis Winston era begins. It likely will not take more than a season to find out if that is a good thing or a bad thing. What the Bucs need is a step forward for coach Lovie Smith’s perhaps passe Cover 2 defence.
Difference maker: Alterraun Verner. The undersized cornerback has stood up well in the Brees-Newton-Matt Ryan division. Now he has to do it some more.
Projected record 3-13.
NFC WEST
Seattle Seahawks
There is no reason to think they will regress from their Super Bowl form of the past two seasons, and their 1-yard shortfall of a loss should stave off any malaise. Any NFC title run still goes through Seattle.
Difference maker: Richard Sherman. The personable, and also exasperatingly annoying, cornerback can keep talking it as long as he keeps walking it.
Projected record 12-4
Arizona Cardinals
Quarterback Carson Palmer returns, which puts their points machine in more stable hands. On the down side, their formidable defence lost key pieces in Sam Acho and Antonio Cromartie. On the whole, still a season of possibilities.
Difference maker: Tyrann Mathieu. The self-destruction of his college career scared away everyone except the Cardinals. Now the free safety is a big-time playmaker.
Projected record 10-6
San Francisco 49ers
Jim Harbaugh’s wearying intensity has left the building and will now plague the University of Michigan, so the Colin Kaepernick-led Niners can start fresh. Now if the police could just quit arresting their defensive players.
Difference maker: Carlos Hyde. He is the new Frank Gore, which means plenty of touches and a chance to shine. Unless it turns out to be Australia’s surprise package Jarryd Hayne.
Projected record 9-7
St Louis Rams
The prospect of the team moving to Los Angeles might make home games feel like they are being played on the moon. Nick Foles is the new quarterback, which will not make fans want to come, either.
Difference maker: Chris Long. Once the most solid anchor on the defensive line – the one Rams strength – Long has something to prove after missing most of 2014.
Projected record 5-11
AFC EAST
New England Patriots
Now that quarterback Tom Brady has side-stepped Roger Goodell’s clumsy sack attempt and avoided suspension, the Pats should be ready to do their usual thing. Defensive turnover could hurt them, but it usually doesn’t.
Difference maker: Rob Gronkowski. As long as his tight end is healthy, Brady could turn One Direction into an acceptable receiving corps.
Projected record 11-5
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins have the look of a play-off contender. Their quarterback-terrorising defence got exponentially better by pairing newcomer Ndamukong Suh with pass-rusher deluxe Cameron Wake. More sacks, plus a run-stuffing defence? Yikes.
Difference maker: Ryan Tannehill. The former first-round draft pick is inching towards elite quarterback status, which could vault Miami over the Patriots.
Projected record 10-6
Buffalo Bills
Coach Rex Ryan’s bravado may be just what this young team need if they want to build on an energising, 9-7 season in 2014. Unfortunately for them, the offence has been handed to unknown, unheralded quarterback Tyrod Taylor.
Difference maker: Mario Williams. The defensive end leads the charge for a unit that sacked the quarterback an NFL-best 54 times last year.
Projected record 9-7
New York Jets
Most telling fact: when an angry teammate broke the jaw of quarterback Geno Smith, no one knew whether his loss would be a help or a hindrance. A moribund offence takes this decent defence down with the ship.
Difference maker: Darrelle Revis. The celebrated travelling cornerback takes his Super Bowl ring back to New York for show-and-tell.
Projected record 5-11
AFC NORTH
Pittsburgh Steelers
History tells us the Steelers win with intimidating defence and just enough offence. Switch that around now. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger leads a potent attack that will provide cover as they mint a fresh defence.
Difference maker: Antonio Brown. The dynamic wide receiver is a fantasy-league dream, leading the NFL in receptions and yards last year.
Projected record 10-6
Cincinnati Bengals
Getting to the play-offs has not been a problem for the Bengals; advancing in them is the problem. Tandem running backs Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard, and a mean-minded defence will give them another chance.
Difference maker: AJ Green. Where would quarterback Andy Dalton be without his play-making wide receiver? Wearing a headset on the sidelines is one guess.
Projected record 10-6
Baltimore Ravens
Defined for years by intimidating defence, the Ravens have not needed much help from the offence to win games. But quarterback Joe Flacco’s big arm needs some targets, and a running game would be nice.
Difference maker: Terrell Suggs. His 12 sacks last year were almost as important as the swagger he brought. The Ravens need it more than ever.
Projected record 9-7
Cleveland Browns
Like most floundering NFL teams, the Browns cannot get their quarterback situation right. Josh McCown is this year’s stop-gap measure. Meanwhile, no one knows they have three Pro Bowlers in the secondary.
Difference maker: Joe Thomas. The veteran All-Pro left tackle is their best player. That is good news for McCown, who will need the added protection.
Projected record 5-11
AFC SOUTH
Indianapolis Colts
A franchise blessed with two kinds of luck – Andrew Luck, their talented young quarterback, and the good luck that put them in the same division with Houston, Jacksonville and Tampa Bay. Division title guaranteed.
Difference maker: TY Hilton. Every quarterback needs a dangerous, down-field threat and the Colts said “You’re it, TY!” with a five-year, US$65 million (Dh238.7m) deal.
Projected record 13-3
Houston Texans
Astounding imbalance. “First we’ll take 25 defensive players, then we’ll take 25 offensive players.” Adding to the discrepancy: star receiver Andre Johnson is gone, standout defensive tackle Vince Wilfork arrives.
Difference maker: JJ Watt. The versatile, one-man defensive wrecking crew has actually played some offence – and helped!
Projected record 6-10
Jacksonville Jaguars
One of the worst defences in the NFL should have improved with draft pick Dante Fowler Jr. A season-ending knee injury scuttled that plan. Maybe second-year quarterback Blake Bortles makes a big leap.
Difference maker: TJ Yeldon. There is always draft pick No 2. The rookie running back will have to take some pressure off Bortles.
Projected record 4-12
Tennessee Titans
Take a rookie quarterback, put him behind a suspect offensive line, give him a mediocre set of receivers, complement him with no one special at running back and turn him loose. Even an above-average defence will not ease the pain.
Difference maker: Marcus Mariota. The Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback could spark some hope if he performs well in this barren outpost.
Projected record 4-12
AFC WEST
Kansas City Chiefs
What is not to like? A terrific, attacking defence. A superb running back in Jamaal Charles. A veteran quarterback in Alex Smith who knows how to manage a game. Well, there is that. He’s a manager, still working on being a game-changer.
Difference maker: Justin Houston. King of the hard-charging Chiefs defence, the fifth-year linebacker’s 22 sacks led the league last year.
Projected record 10-6
Denver Broncos
The Broncos are not an automatic division champion anymore, even with still-effective quarterback Peyton Manning in charge. An enhanced running game is the new, iffy wrinkle. At least the stacked defence returns.
Difference maker: CJ Anderson. New coach Gary Kubiak wants make a transition away from being Manning-reliant, which means Anderson and back-ups are suddenly on stage.
Projected record 10-6
San Diego Chargers
After a winter of trade rumours, the Chargers stuck with quarterback Philip Rivers, whose big-play ability gives them a puncher’s chance. But their defence has languished and relocation (to Los Angeles) rumours will not help them win home games.
Difference maker: Eric Weddle. The Pro Bowl safety will have his hands and pads full, with the Chargers defence spending too much time on the field.
Projected record 6-10
Oakland Raiders
New coach Jack Del Rio has some pieces with which to start building a winner, especially in his defensive front seven. Draft pick Amari Cooper could be a needed big-play addition to the offence. Only the Chargers should worry.
Difference maker: Derek Carr. The second-year quarterback’s poise and skills impressed many last year, but the path to Aaron Rodgers-ville is a long one.
Projected record 6-10
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