2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Quietly, Jeff Garcia had a very solid season throwing (2,440 yards, 14 TDs). But if the Bucs are to truly pose a threat to Carolina and New Orleans this year, Warrick Dunn and Earnest Graham have to do more from the backfield.

3. New Orleans Saints - For a Saints offense considered to be so potent, the group only scored the ninth-most receiving TDs a year ago. Having tight end Jeremy Shockey and receiver Marques Colston out for the next couple of Sundays won’t help. An overworked Reggie Bush gets more work.

• Contributor’s Note: “I think that New Orleans has added some good pieces with Jonathan Vilma and Shockey to go along with an already-strong nucleus that will help them get back to the NFC Championship game.” – Calvin Pace.

4. Atlanta Falcons - The 2-1 start is respectable. If this crew of overachieving birds is to gain respect across the league, however, the Michael Turner ground attack and the prolific Matt Ryan-to-Roddy White aerial assault must take its show on the road.

Playoff team: Carolina Panthers.

NFC North

1. Green Bay Packers - The Pack won’t win 13 games and make it to the NFC title game like they did in ’07. They can blame Brett Favre’s Big Apple defection for that. The Pack won’t lose 13 games and make it to the NFC basement either. They can thank heady new QB Aaron Rodgers for that.

2. Minnesota Vikings - With Gus Frerotte, a cat who’s played with seven different squads (and the Vikes twice), as the leader, we’re not really feeling Minnesota as much as we did in the pre-season. Nonetheless, our love for Adrian Peterson has never swayed.

3. Chicago Bears - Picking between Kyle Orton and Rex Grossman for the QB slot is like deciding between a marathon of The Hills and a matinee showing of The Women. You don’t really want either. But we’ll watch Matt Forte or that suffocating defense all day.

• Contributor’s Note: “Chicago looked good in their first game, too, with the rookie Matt Forte coming in and putting up good numbers against a good Colts team. Everybody knows that their defense has all the pieces with Lance Briggs, Tommie Harris and Brian Urlacher to rack up some wins.” – Calvin Pace.

4. Detroit Lions - Jon Kitna’s gotta feel good knowing that he can toss the ball 40 yards down either side of the field and Calvin Johnson or Roy Williams will grab it. Jon Kitna’s gotta feel crappy knowing the Lions are grooming Drew Stanton for his job.

Playoff team: Green Bay Packers.

NFC Championship: Dallas Cowboys over Green Bay Packers.

Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009 in Tampa: Dallas Cowboys over San Diego Chargers.