Seattle Seahawks: I expect a solid bounce-back season from the Seahawks and I think they'll challenge the Cardinals for the division title out west. Matt Hasselbeck should be 100 percent healthy and free agent acquisition T.J. Houshmandzadeh looks like a perfect possession receiver for Hasselbeck. While Houshmandzadeh doesn't possess breakaway speed, he's got great hands and will be able to get the teams first downs at critical points in games.

The running game should be solid yet unspectacular with Julius Jones carrying the bulk of the load and T.J. Duckett handling short-yardage and goal line duties. While the offense should move the ball, it remains to be seen what the defense will be able to do. The team landed arguably the best defensive player in the draft in linebacker Aaron Curry, whose versatility should help in all situations. If the defense can play well, this team should notch double-digit wins.

Arizona Cardinals: The defending NFC Champs enter the 2009 season with more question marks than you'd expect from a team fresh off a run to the Super Bowl. Kurt Warner still anchors a dangerous passing that attack that features arguably the best receiver in the league in Larry Fitzgerald, as well as Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston. The running game, though, is not as solid. Edgerrin James is out of town and the team drafted Ohio State product Chris "Beanie" Wells in the first round of the 2009 draft.

Wells, though, was injured in training camp and is a rookie, so stability at the position is in question. The team has second-year back Tim Hightower, but he proved much more effective as a short-yardage and goal line back than as a full-time runner last season. The defense played well during the playoff run last season, but they were not strong throughout the regular season last year. It remains to be seen whether the defense just got hot at the right time, or finally put things together late in the season.

San Francisco 49ers: Head coach Mike Singletary's style of play might not sell the most NFL tickets, but it should help the Niners to be a much-improved team in 2009. The club finished the season 4-2 and could be a sleeper in the division this season. Singletary preaches running the ball and playing defense. Running back Frank Gore will be heavily featured in the offense this season, both on the ground and through the air. Who will be handing and passing him the ball, though, is still in question. Former number one overall pick Alex Smith is battling Shaun Hill for the starting quarterback job. The defense should be a solid one on Singletary's watch, but they'll need something from the passing game to challenge for the division.

St. Louis Rams: The Rams are rebuilding and they've started doing so by building a new offensive line. I like what they're doing there, especially in drafting Baylor left tackle Jason Smith with the second overall pick to anchor that line. The team will need running back Steven Jackson to carry the team as they sort things out in the passing game and on defense.