ATLANTA FALCONS

Coach: Mike Smith (first season).
Key players added: RB Michael Turner, TE Ben Hartsock, TE Jason Rader, C Alex Stepanovich, K Jason Elam, S Erik Coleman, DE Simon Fraser, DT Grady Jacson. DT Rashard Moore, DT Kindal Moorehead.
Key players lost: WR Joe Horn, RB Warrick Dunn, TE Alge Crumpler, OT Wayne Gandy, LB Demorrio Williams, CB DeAngelo Hall.
Draft picks who should help: QB Matt Ryan (third overall), Boston College; OT Sam Baker (21), Southern Cal, LB Curtis Lofton (37), Oklahoma; DB Chevis Jackson (68), Louisiana State; DB Thomas DeCoud (98), Cal.
Of note: No Falcons quarterback has led the league in passing yards, and only one (Steve Bartkowski in 1983) has led the league in passer rating.
Outlook: The Falcons had a great offseason, with Turner and Elam topping a solid crop of acquisitions, and Ryan and Baker headlining an exceptional draft. A quick turnaround is not out of the question.
Last playoff appearance: 2004.

CAROLINA PANTHERS

Coach: John Fox (seventh season, 51-45).
Key players added: WR Muhsin Muhammad, D.J. Hackett, G Keydrick Vincent, G Milford Brown, DE Tyler Brayton, LB Landon Johnson, S Terence Holt, DT Darwin Walker, DT Ian Scott.
Key players lost: QB David Carr, C Justin Hartwig, DT Kris Jenkins, DE Mike Rucker.
Draft picks who should help: RB Jonathan Stewart (13th overall), Oregon; OT Jeff Otah (19), Pitt; DB Charles Godfrey (67), Iowa; LB Dan Connor (74), Penn State; DT Nick Hayden (181), Wisconsin.
Of note: It is no wonder the Panthers finished last in 2007: they were 29th in the NFL in total offense and passing offense, their worst showings since 2002, the last time they finished in last place in the NFC South.
Outlook: Jake Delhomme is trying to come back from elbow-ligament replacement surgery. His ability to rebound will be key to the Panthers' success. They can't win with Matt Moore behind center.
Last playoff appearance: 2005.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Coach: Sean Payton (third season, 17-15).
Key players added: QB Mark Brunell, TE Jeremy Shockey, LB Jonathan Wilma, CB Randall Gay, CB Aaron Glenn, DE Bobby McCray.
Key players lost: K Olindo Mare, C Jeff Faine, LB Brian Simmons, DE Renaldo Wynn.
Draft picks who should help: DT Sedrick Ellis (seventh overall), Southern Cal; DB Tracy Porter (40), Indiana; DT DeMario Pressley (144), North Carolina State; WR Adrian Arrington (237), Michigan.
Of note: Shockey has averaged 62 catches a season in his career. Only three times in the Saints' history has a tight end had more than 50 in a season.
Outlook: The trade for Shockey was the most talked about move, but the Saints did a lot through the draft and offseason acquisitions to shore up a defense that ranked 30th in the league in yards allowed, 31st in touchdowns allowed and 28th in interceptions.
Last playoff appearance: 2006.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Coach: Jon Gruden (seventh season, 48-48).
Key players added: QB Brian Griese, RB Warrick Dunn, WR Antonio Bryant, TE John Gilmore, C Jeff Faine, DE Jimmy Wilkerson, DE Marques Douglas, CB Eugene Wilson.
Key players lost: RB Michael Pittman, G Matt Lehr, DE Greg Spires, S Dwight Smith, CB Brian Kelly.
Draft picks who should help: DB Aqib Talib (20th overall), Kansas; WR Dexter Jackson (58), Appalachian State; G Jeremy Zuttah (63), Rutgers; LB Geno Hayes (175), Florida State.
Of note: Tampa Bay became the fifth consecutive team to win the South Division the year after finishing in last place.
Outlook: The Buccaneers lost out on the Brett Favre sweepstakes. It is too bad because they could have used him. Jeff Garcia did an admirable job guiding Tampa Bay to the playoffs last season, but how much does he have left? Brian Griese and Luke McCown are not reliable backups.
Last playoff appearance: 2007.

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