DALLAS COWBOYS

Coach: Wade Phillips (second season, 13-3).
Key players added: LB Zach Thomas, CB Adam ''Pacman'' Jones.
Key players lost: S Keith Davis, RB Julius Jones, WR Terry Glenn, CB Nathan Jones, CB Jacques Reeves, DT Jason Ferguson, LB Akin Ayodele.
Draft picks who should help: RB Felix Jones (22nd overall), Arkansas; CB Mike Jenkins (25), South Florida; TE Martellus Bennett (61), Texas A&Ml; Tashard Choice (122), Georgia Tech.
Of note: Marion Barber III led the Cowboys in carries (204), rushing yards (975) and rushing touchdowns (10), despite not starting a game in 2007.
Outlook: All the talent in the world has not helped the Cowboys win a playoff game the past two years, but they addressed needs on defense by drafting Jenkins, picking up Thomas and taking a flier on Pacman Jones. Whether Tony Romo can avoid another playoff meltdown is another story.
Last playoff appearance: 2007.

NEW YORK GIANTS

Coach: Tom Coughlin (fifth season, 35-29).
Key players added: QB David Carr, LB Danny Clark, DT Renaldo Wynn, S Sammy Knight.
Key players lost: TE Jeremy Shockey, DE Michael Strahan, LB Keith O'Neil, S Gibril Wilson.
Draft picks who should help: DB Kenny Phillips (31st overall), Miami; DB Thomas Terrell (63), Southern Cal; WR Mario Manningham (95), Michigan.
Of note: In 2007, Eli Manning had the most interceptions (20) of a Super Bowl-winning quarterback since the Giants' Phil Simms in the 1986 season. He had the lowest passer rating (73.9) of any Super Bowl-winning quarterback since Jim Plunkett (72.9) in the 1980 season.
Outlook: Manning isn't on the same talent plane as his brother, but he doesn't need to be. He proved a quarterback can be average during the regular season but turn it on when it is most needed: in the postseason. He can get New York to the promised land again.
Last playoff appearance: 2007.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Coach: Andy Reid (10th season, 88-56).
Key players added: RB Lorenzo Booker, TE Kris Wilson, CB Asante Samuel, DE Chris Clemons, DT Dan Klecko.
Key players lost: DE Jevone Kearse, LB Takeo Spikes.
Draft picks who should help: DT Trevor Laws (47th overall), Notre Dame; WR DeSean Jackson (49), Cal; DE Bryan Smith (80), McNeese State; G Mike McGlynn (109), Pitt; DB Quintin Demps (117), UTEP; OT King Dunlap (230), Auburn.
Of note: In 24 games with Terrell Owens, Donovan McNabb passed for 6,380 yards and 47 touchdowns with a .618 completion percentage. In 24 games since Owens left, McNabb has passed for 5,971 yards and 37 touchdowns with a .596 completion percentage.
Outlook: The Eagles lost five games by four points or less in 2007, which is why a team with such promise finished in the East cellar at 8-8. They can't afford to lose close games in a brutally tough division.
Last playoff appearance: 2006.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS

Coach: Jim Zorn (first season).
Key players added: DT Jason Taylor, DB Justin Hamilton.
Key players lost: WR Reche Caldwell, WR Brandon Lloyd; QB Mark Brunell, LB Randall Godfrey.
Draft picks who should help: WR Devin Thomas (34th overall), Michigan State; TE Fred Davis (48), Southern Cal; OT Chad Reinhart (96), Northern Iowa; CB Justin Tryon (124), Arizona State; QB Colt Brennan (186), Hawaii.
Of note: Being a first-year coach in Washington is no cakewalk. In fact, only two first-year coaches since the end of World War II have had winning records: Vince Lombardi (7-5) in 1969 and George Allen (9-4-1) in 1971.
Outlook: Getting Taylor from the Dolphins was a steal for the Redskins, and he and Andre Carter form one of the league's top pass-rushing duos. But is Jason Campbell a good enough quarterback to put the Redskins past the Giants and Cowboys?
Last playoff appearance: 2007.

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