How the 32 NFL teams rank in four categories, based on a scale of 1-4, with 5 the optimum ranking:
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Offense: 4. Tom Brady has some quality receivers now, and a young runner in Laurence Maroney.
Defense: 5. Playmakers galore, including new LB Adalius Thomas to go with holdovers DE Richard Seymour and CB Asante Samuel.
Coaching: 5. Bill Belichick might not know how to dress, but he sure can coach.
Intangibles: 5. Pats are angry and hungry after two non-title seasons.
Total: 19
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Offense: 5. Peyton, Marvin, Reggie, Dallas – who needs last names?
Defense: 3. It showed in postseason what it can do if S Bob Sanders plays.
Coaching: 5. Players love Dungy, management and fans now love his results. Dungy has perfect demeanor for this team.
Intangibles: 5. Staying on top is the ultimate challenge. But they have the confidence of champions.
Total: 18
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
Offense: 5. RB LaDainian Tomlinson is NFL’s biggest threat, TE Antonio Gates is a beast, line is first-rate.
Defense: 4. LBs Shawne Merriman and Shaun Phillips could be unstoppable, and DT Jamal Williams is All-Pro material.
Coaching: 3. Norv Turner, a superb offensive coordinator, has been a mediocre head coach.
Intangibles: 5. After early playoff flop last season, they are driven.
Total: 17
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Offense: 4. If the line is solid, this easily could be a 5. RB Reggie Bush might have breakout season.
Defense: 3. Excellent pass rush, overachieving LBs. But secondary is big question mark.
Coaching: 5. Sean Payton got team through rough period and all the way to NFC title game.
Intangibles: 5. Saints have done everything anyone could ask back home, and applied that success to the field.
Total: 17
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Offense: 4. Steelers simply need to put all the elements together. RB Willie Parker is a budding star.
Defense: 4. Depth will be tested, but S Troy Polamalu is a difference maker.
Coaching: 3. Mike Tomlin is an unknown and he replaces a great coach, Bill Cowher.
Intangibles: 5. Showing that last year’s flop was an aberration is driving team, as is proving Steelers can win for another coach.
Total: 16
BALTIMORE RAVENS
Offense: 3. RB Willis McGahee provides some versatility and TE Todd Heap is a star.
Defense: 5. Even without departed LB Adalius Thomas, this is a top-notch unit still led by LB Ray Lewis.
Coaching: 4. Brian Billick’s offensive acumen still hasn’t come to forefront.
Intangibles: 3. Could be a letdown after 13-3 season, but Lewis and QB Steve McNair won’t let them slip far.
Total: 15
CHICAGO BEARS
Offense: 3. QB Rex Grossman and RB Cedric Benson have so much to prove.
Defense: 5. Even with unhappy LB Lance Briggs (contract) and less depth than last year, it’s terrific, anchored by MLB Brian Urlacher.
Coaching: 4. Lovie Smith proved himself in last two years. Only blemish was allegiance to Tank Johnson.
Intangibles: 3. Losing Super Bowl often has deleterious effect on teams.
Total: 15
DENVER BRONCOS
Offense: 4. We’re presuming QB Jay Cutler progresses and RB Travis Henry is healthy.
Defense: 3. Champ Bailey is a shutdown cornerback and watch for LB D.J. Williams. But line is in flux.
Coaching: 4. Mike Shanahan’s offense will always be a threat.
Intangibles: 3. Tragic offseason, with deaths of Darrent Williams and Damien Nash, could have lasting impact.
Total: 14
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Offense: 4. QB Donovan McNabb was having All-Pro year when he got hurt in ’06, and Brian Westbrook is dynamic as runner and receiver.
Defense: 3. Would become a 4 if linebackers come through.
Coaching: 5. Andy Reid is one of the best and handles tough situations well.
Intangibles: 2. Release of defensive leader Jeremiah Trotter and problems in Reid’s family could be problematic.
Total: 14
DALLAS COWBOYS
Offense: 4. So much depends on continued development of QB Tony Romo and behavior of WR Terrell Owens.
Defense: 4. Concerns in secondary could drop this mark severely, especially if CB Terence Newman stays hobbled.
Coaching: 3. Wade Phillips has been good coordinator, so-so head coach.
Intangibles: 3. The T.O. factor always is in play.
Total: 14
NEW YORK JETS
Offense: 3. But only if RB Thomas Jones and QB Chad Pennington stay healthy.
Defense: 3. Watch for S Kerry Rhodes and rookie CB Darrelle Revis.
Coaching: 4. “Mr. Personality,” Eric Mangini, is Belichick clone. He’s been labeled “Man-genius” in New York.
Intangibles: 4. Jets want to prove 10-6 last year was no fluke.
Total: 14
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Offense: 4. Watch what a difference a healthy RB Shaun Alexander and QB Matt Hasselbeck make.
Defense: 3. Linebacking, with Lofa Tatupu and Julian Peterson, is the strength.
Coaching: 4. Mike Holmgren is among the league’s best and players respect him.
Intangibles: 3. Seahawks felt they should have beaten Chicago in January and played Saints for another Super Bowl trip.
Total: 14
CAROLINA PANTHERS
Offense: 3. Carolina needs more playmakers to complement brilliant WR Steve Smith.
Defense: 3. Could slip lower if LB Dan Morgan gets hurt again and pass rush isn’t powerful.
Coaching: 4. John Fox knows how to get his team to rebound from poor season.
Intangibles: 4. Panthers believe they are better than injury-ravaged results of 2006.
Total: 14
ST. LOUIS RAMS
Offense: 4. If the line holds up, RB Steven Jackson, WR Torry Holt and company will revive memories of Greatest Show on Turf.
Defense: 2. Rookie DL Adam Carriker and young DBs must make immediate contributions.
Coaching: 4. Scott Linehan is developing something in St. Loo.
Intangibles: 3. Rams love their draft and think Jackson will be an All-Pro for years.
Total: 13
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Offense: 3. Jags will sink or roll with RBs Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew. Who can catch the ball?
Defense: 4. Would become a 5 if DBs excel.
Coaching: 3. Jack Del Rio’s teams have faded late in the season.
Intangibles: 3. Too much uncertainty about quarterbacking and receiving.
Total: 13
GREEN BAY PACKERS
Offense: 2. QB Brett Favre needs to have some magic left.
Defense: 4. Vastly improved recently, with DE Aaron Kampman and LB A.J. Hawk the leaders.
Coaching: 3. Mike McCarthy got 8-8 season out of mediocre roster last year.
Intangibles: 4. Pack badly wants to do something special for Favre.
Total: 13
TENNESSEE TITANS
Offense: 3. Only this high because they have Vince Young’s creativity.
Defense: 3. LBs, led by Keith Bulluck, could be special.
Coaching: 5. Jeff Fisher gets everything he can from everyone.
Intangibles: 2. Pacman Jones situation, loss of key free agents hurt.
Total: 13
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Offense: 2. Larry Johnson and Tony Gonzalez equals a 2.
Defense: 3. LB Derrick Johnson and DE Tamba Hali must come into their own. Veteran CB Ty Law still makes big plays.
Coaching: 4. Herm Edwards gets his team to playoffs most of the time.
Intangibles: 3. A few too many distractions, including LJ’s preseason holdout.
Total: 12
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Offense: 3. If the wideouts come through, it could go higher because RB Frank Gore is superb.
Defense: 3. Players believe in coach Mike Nolan’s system, and new CB Nate Clements could solidify secondary.
Coaching: 4. Nolan has made huge strides in two seasons, could make more this year.
Intangibles: 2. Loss of offensive coordinator Norv Turner could hurt QB Alex Smith’s development.
Total: 12
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Offense: 3. QB Jeff Garcia adds some oomph, and RB Carnell Williams is a stud when healthy.
Defense: 3. Not nearly as dynamic as in recent years, but LB Derrick Brooks and CB Ronde Barber remain standouts.
Coaching: 3. Jon Gruden’s teams have been too inconsistent in past few seasons.
Intangibles: 3. Plenty of leaders here, but how much talent?
Total: 12
ARIZONA CARDINALS
Offense: 4. QB Matt Leinart throwing to WRs Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald, and versatile RB Edgerrin James form excellent foundation.
Defense: 2. Other than S Adrian Wilson and CB Antrel Rolle, not much proven talent.
Coaching: 3. New head man Ken Whisenhunt was highly sought and has strong leadership skills.
Intangibles: 3. Whisenhunt’s staff brings a breath of fresh air to the desert.
Total: 12
CINCINNATI BENGALS
Offense: 5. Carson Palmer throwing to Chad Johnson is worth price of admission.
Defense: 1. Watch for lots of shootouts, with Bengals on wrong end of a few.
Coaching: 3. Marvin Lewis has lost some of his luster with player arrests mounting.
Intangibles: 2. Lots of talent, but too many miscreants.
Total: 11
MIAMI DOLPHINS
Offense: 2. Could be higher if OL improves and QB Trent Green stays healthy.
Defense: 4. DE Jason Taylor is among NFL’s elite players. So is LB Zach Thomas.
Coaching: 2. Cam Cameron has a lot to prove in head coaching debut.
Intangibles: 3. Departure of Nick Saban as coach was popular in South Florida, inside Dolphins and outside.
Total: 11
DETROIT LIONS
Offense: 4. Lions should be explosive with coordinator Mike Martz’s schemes and several playmakers.
Defense: 1. Except for LB Ernie Sims and DT Cory Redding, this could be ugly.
Coaching: 3. Rod Marinelli is trying, and the talent level has risen a bit.
Intangibles: 3. Detroit is desperate to show it’s no longer abysmal – mediocre will do.
Total: 11
NEW YORK GIANTS
Offense: 3. Things could go haywire if RB Brandon Jacobs doesn’t effectively replace Tiki Barber and wideouts aren’t healthy.
Defense: 2. Michael Strahan, where are you?
Coaching: 3. Tom Coughlin is coaching for his job, but do players want him back?
Intangibles: 2. Barber’s sniping from afar, Strahan’s holdout, injuries also plaguing Giants.
Total: 10
WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Offense: 2. Young QB Jason Campbell must develop to complement good runners and receivers.
Defense: 3. Lots of potential, but secondary that hits a ton can’t cover.
Coaching: 3. Joe Gibbs’ second regime has not been what he or owner Dan Snyder envisioned.
Intangibles: 2. Players have to wonder if Gibbs will stick around beyond this year.
Total: 10
HOUSTON TEXANS
Offense: 2. WR Andre Johnson is only standout, unless RB Ahman Green has revival.
Defense: 2. LB DeMeco Ryans earns some points. What will DE Mario Williams do in second season?
Coaching: 3. Gary Kubiak is gathering players he wants, which takes time.
Intangibles: 3. New QB Matt Schaub, other promising additions.
Total: 10
BUFFALO BILLS
Offense: 3. WR Lee Evans is a gamebreaker.
Defense: 2. Losses at LB (Takeo Spikes, London Fletcher) and in leadership will hurt.
Coaching: 3. Dick Jauron is solid, but doesn’t have the horses.
Intangibles: 2. A retooling year in Western New York.
Total: 10
CLEVELAND BROWNS
Offense: 2. RB Jamal Lewis might boost run game, but who can pass the ball effectively?
Defense: 2. Romeo Crennel has not made expected mark on this unit.
Coaching: 2. Crennel needs team to show progress now.
Intangibles: 2. Players like Crennel, but division and schedule could be killers.
Total: 8
OAKLAND RAIDERS
Offense: 1. Only because nobody deserves a 0.
Defense: 3. Could be a 4, but they will be too overworked and might break down.
Coaching: 2. Lane Kiffin, at 32 the league’s youngest head man, is an unknown quantity but has to be an improvement over Art Shell’s tenure.
Intangibles: 2. Inability to sign top overall draft pick JaMarcus Russell says it all.
Total: 8
ATLANTA FALCONS
Offense: 2. If Falcons don’t have a running game with Jerious Norwood and Warrick Dunn, they are done.
Defense: 2. Unless DE John Abraham becomes a pass-rushing fiend again, Atlanta will yield many points.
Coaching: 3. Bobby Petrino was a major success story at Louisville, but he will struggle early in his NFL career.
Intangibles: 1. The Michael Vick fiasco figures to have a lasting negative effect.
Total: 8
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Offense: 2. Strong blockers in Steve Hutchinson and Matt Birk, good runners. Nothing else.
Defense: 3. Opponents can’t run on Vikes, but certainly can pass on them.
Coaching: 2. Brad Childress has some serious challenges ahead of him.
Intangibles: 1. It’s obvious to almost everyone that this is rebuilding year.
Total: 8