NFL Buy or Sell: Investing in Each NFC Team's Playoff Hopes

(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Six teams from each conference make the playoffs each year, and about half of them miss out the following year.

Last season, only five playoff participants, and only one from the NFC, were also in the playoffs in 2007.

I'm taking a look around the NFL and gauging each team's playoff hopes.  Today, I'm judging the NFC.

NFC North

Chicago Bears

2008 Result: 9-7, missed playoffs

Offensive ranks: 14th in points, 26th in yards

Defensive ranks: 16th in points, 21st in yards

Biggest offseason gain: QB Jay Cutler, obviously.

Biggest offseason loss: The draft picks traded away to get Cutler included two first round selections and a third round selection.

Buyer Beware: Cutler doesn't have nearly the weapons in Chicago as he had in Denver.  RB Matt Forte led the Bears in receptions last year.

Buy or Sell: BUY

Detroit Lions

2008 Result: 0-16, worst. Record. Ever.

Offensive ranks: 27th in points, 30th in yards

Defensive ranks: Last in points, last in yards

Biggest offseason gain: QB Matthew Stafford

Biggest offseason loss: CB Leigh Bodden

Buyer Beware: There is nowhere to go but up for this franchise, but it will be a long time before they are playoff-worthy. Don't expect Stafford to have a rookie season like Matt Ryan's or Joe Flacco's. Their successes were aberrations in a league that's generally cruel to rookie quarterbacks.

Buy or Sell: SELL

Green Bay Packers

2008 Result: 6-10, missed playoffs

Offensive ranks: Fifth in points, eighth in yards

Defensive ranks: 22nd in points, 20th in yards

Biggest offseason gain: Defensive coordinator Dom Capers is converting the Packers from a 4-3 alignment to a 3-4 look.

Biggest offseason loss: DT Colin Cole.  While just an average starter, Cole's girth would have allowed him to sufficiently hold down the nose tackle spot while rookie B.J. Raji prepares for life in the NFL.

Buyer Beware: Just because some of the elite defenses like New England and Pittsburgh run a 3-4, that doesn't mean that it will work immediately for all teams.  I expect the transition for the Packers' defense to take a full year because they are relying on two rookies, Raji and Clay Matthews, to assume major roles.

Buy or Sell: SELL, but watch out for 2010.

Minnesota Vikings

2008 Result: 10-6, division champs, lost in wild card round

Offensive ranks: 12th in points, 17th in yards

Defensive ranks: 13th in points, sixth in yards

Biggest offseason gain: WR Percy Harvin.  Of course, we all know that another person's name could be in this spot soon.

Biggest offseason loss: C Matt Birk

Buyer Beware: RB Adrian Peterson is a workhorse back with a punishing running style. He may not be able to make it through the season without missing a game or two or more.

Buy or Sell: BUY

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons

2008 Result: 11-5, lost in wild card round

Offensive ranks: 10th in points, sixth in yards

Defensive ranks: 11th in points, 24th in yards

Biggest offseason gain: TE Tony Gonzalez

Biggest offseason loss: A collection of five defensive veterans, including linebackers Keith Brooking and Michael Boley.

Buyer Beware: The Falcons have never had consecutive winning seasons.  The defense has a lot of room for improvement with the loss of five major contributors.

Buy or Sell: BUY

Carolina Panthers

2008 Result: 12-4, division champs, lost in divisional round

Offensive ranks: Seventh in points, 10th in yards

Defensive ranks: 12th in points, 18th in yards

Biggest offseason gain: DE Everette Brown

Biggest offseason loss: Now that CB Ken Lucas is gone, who is Steve Smith going to punch and be forgiven by in an effort to unite the team?

Buyer Beware: No rest for the weary down the stretch thanks to a Week Four bye.  They have three straight December games against the Patriots, Vikings, and Giants.

Buy or Sell: BUY

New Orleans Saints

2008 Result: 8-8, missed playoffs

Offensive ranks: First in points, first in yards

Defensive ranks: 26th in points, 23rd in yards

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