AFC PREVIEW

1. BALTIMORE (12-4, 4-0)

- LAST SEASON: Coming off 8-8 season, allowed fewest points in modern NFL history (165). LB Ray Lewis, the regular-season Defensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl MVP, led team on 11-game winning streak, including playoffs.

- CHANGES: QB Elvis Grbac signed to replace Trent Dilfer and add spice to run-oriented attack. Lewis was lost for season with knee injury.

- PROSPECTS: Have talent to get back to Super Bowl -- but only if they can stay healthy, key facet last season. So far, so bad.

2. TENNESSEE (13-3, 0-1)

- LAST SEASON: Followed first-ever AFC championship with NFL's best regular-season record. Had league's top-rated defense and Eddie George ran for 1,509 yards. But home-field advantage couldn't overcome Al Del Greco's aging leg in playoffs.

- CHANGES: Kevin Carter replaces DE Kenny Holmes. Joe Nedney at kicker. FB William Floyd is in and Lorenzo Neal out.

- PROSPECTS: Still shooting for Super Bowl they lost two seasons ago.

3. OAKLAND (12-4, 1-1)

- LAST SEASON: Rode league's best rushing offense, and scampering quarterback Rich Gannon, to AFC title game.

- CHANGES: RB Napoleon Kaufman retired and TE Rickey Dudley was lost in free agency. Signed record-holding WR Jerry Rice and RB Charlie Garner from 49ers. Also added DE Trace Armstrong, who had 16.5 sacks with Miami last season.

- PROSPECTS: If defense is respectable and Gannon holds up, should battle Denver for AFC West title. Could go deep into playoffs.

4. MIAMI (11-5, 1-1)

- LAST SEASON: In Dan Marino's first year of retirement, mounted best running attack since 1984 and claimed AFC East title. Low-risk, ball-control offense complemented defense.

- CHANGES: Signed WRs James McKnight and Dedric Ward, drafted WR Chris Chambers and RB Travis Minor. OL Richmond Webb went to Cincinnati.

- PROSPECTS: Offense will make or break season.

5. DENVER (11-5, 0-1)

- LAST SEASON: Despite injuries to QB Brian Griese and RB Terrell Davis, made playoffs for fourth time under coach Mike Shanahan.

- CHANGES: Veteran DLs Leon Lett and Chester McGlockton, plus CB Denard Walker brought in to shore up defense. Eddie Kennison could be reliable third receiver missing since mid-1990s.

- PROSPECTS: Broncos could be Super Bowl threat. But only if defense improves.

6. INDIANAPOLIS (10-6, 0-1)

- LAST SEASON: Started strong, finished strong. In between, struggled to stop run or pass.

- CHANGES: Added DTs Christian Peter and Mike Wells, plus top two draft choices: WR Reggie Wayne, S Idrees Bashir. Let go much of defense.

- PROSPECTS: Will contend in AFC East, but defense really has to develop if they're to go deep into playoffs.

7. NEW YORK JETS (9-7)

- LAST SEASON: Won six of first seven games, but had two three-game slides and missed playoffs.

- CHANGES: New staff led by GM Terry Bradway and coach Herman Edwards, who previously never was even a coordinator. Installing 4-3 defense rather than 3-4 and West Coast offense.

- PROSPECTS: Happy group -- most of team disliked former coach Al Groh. Talent is capable of reaching playoffs.

8. PITTSBURGH (9-7)

- LAST SEASON: Rebounded from 6-10 in 1999, worst of Bill Cowher's nine seasons, but missed playoffs for third straight season. QB Kordell Stewart had mini-comeback.

- CHANGES: Heinz Field, first football-only stadium the Steelers have played in, except for a few seasons in Pitt Stadium in late 1960s.

- PROSPECTS: Schedule isn't a crusher and new stadium could provide lift. Another 9-7 finish could be in the offing.

9. BUFFALO (8-8)

- LAST SEASON: Injuries to key defensive players overshadowed Rob Johnson-Doug Flutie QB feud, and led to late-season collapse.

- CHANGES: Added free agent FB Larry Centers; drafted CB Nate Clements, RB Travis Henry, RT Jonas Jennings; LB Jay Foreman takes over for departed Sam Rogers. Lost Flutie, among others.

- PROSPECTS: New GM Tom Donahoe and rookie head coach Gregg Williams' commitment to build through youth, combined with tough first-half schedule, should make for rough start.

10. JACKSONVILLE (7-9)

- LAST SEASON: Injuries decimated team in training camp, Had first losing season since 1995, their expansion year.

- CHANGES: WR Sean Dawkins was only significant free-agent addition due to team's strapped salary-cap situation. First two draft picks, DT Marcus Stroud and T Maurice Williams, have to play.

- PROSPECTS: Jaguars believe they're a playoff contender so they juggled salary cap to keep core together.

11. KANSAS CITY (7-9)

- LAST SEASON: In Gunther Cunningham's second and final season as coach, Chiefs became undisciplined and full of whiners, missing playoffs for fifth straight year.

- CHANGES: Chiefs have newcomers in key spots. They'll have a different QB (Trent Green), RB (Priest Holmes), kick returner (Tony Horne), punter (Dan Stryzinski).

- PROSPECTS: Ten wins possible. Ten losses more likely. Depends on Green's health.

12. SEATTLE (6-10)

- LAST SEASON: Had league's worst defense and fell from AFC West champs to fourth in division.

- CHANGES:Added a slew of veterans on defense: DTs John Randle and Chad Eaton, MLB Levon Kirkland, FS Marcus Robertson. Plus QBs Matt Hasselbeck and Trent Dilfer.

- PROSPECTS: Seahawks are 15-17 in Holmgren's first two seasons and playoffs will be tough in AFC West, which they leave next season. They'd be satisfied to go 8-8.

13. NEW ENGLAND (5-11)

- LAST SEASON: Began 0-4 under first-year coach Bill Belichick and never were in race. Defense was decent, but only six teams scored fewer points than Pats.

- CHANGES: Added RB Antowain Smith; DL Richard Seymour; LBs Bryan Cox, Larry Izzo, Roman Phifer, Mike Vrabel; WRs Bert Emanuel, Charles Johnson, Torrance Small; CB Terrell Buckley; QB Damon Huard.

- PROSPECTS: Could better last year's record and challenge for playoffs if line develops for offense that has top QB Drew Bledsoe and seems better at WR and RB.

14. CINCINNATI (4-12)

- LAST SEASON: Coach Bruce Coslet quit three games into season. Defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau took over and emphasized running game. Corey Dillon set NFL record by rushing for 278 yards against Denver, and team record by rushing for 1,435 in season.

- CHANGES: Arrivals include QB Jon Kitna, FB Lorenzo Neal, LT Richmond Webb, DT Tony Williams, DE Kevin Henry. Rookie DE Justin Smith and WR Chad Johnson could start.

- PROSPECTS: Schedule is front-loaded with other downtrodden teams, so Bengals could get off to respectable start. Lack of passing game and pass defense will catch up with them.

15. CLEVELAND (3-13)

- LAST SEASON: A 2-1 start quickly vanished under pile of losses and injuries, leading to coach Chris Palmer's firing. Rookie DE Courtney Brown was best player.

- CHANGES: Butch Davis is in charge now. He straightened out University of Miami program, helped Jimmy Johnson rebuild Dallas, and now hopes to do same in Cleveland. FB Mike Sellers will help offense, as will TE Rickey Dudley if he can overcome dropsies.

- PROSPECTS: Six wins would be realistic target.

16. SAN DIEGO (1-15)

- LAST SEASON: Lost first 11, beat Kansas City 17-16, then lost last four. Five of losses were by three points or less. Coach Mike Riley survived, but GM John Butler was brought in from Buffalo.

- CHANGES: Biggest was at QB, where Doug Flutie was added and Ryan Leaf, one of biggest busts in NFL history, was subtracted.

- OUTLOOK: Certainly more than one win. With some luck, could reach .500.

NFC PREVIEW

1. N.Y. GIANTS (12-4) (2-1)

- LAST SEASON:Won final five regular-season games after coach Jim Fassel, with his job on line, "guaranteed" playoff berth. Giants did him two better, beating Philadelphia and Minnesota (41-0) to reach Super Bowl, where they lost to Ravens, 34-7.

- CHANGES: DE Kenny Holmes, signed from Tennessee, gives Giants one of NFL's top front fours. Lost DLs Cedric Jones and Christian Peter, LB Ryan Phillips, PK Brad Daluiso and P Brad Maynard.

- PROSPECTS: Assumption is that they got hot against weak schedule and were exposed in Super Bowl. Still, should contend with Philadelphia for NFC East title.

2. MINNESOTA (11-5) (1-1)

- LAST SEASON: Went into season with new QB and rebuilt OL, yet exceeded expectations by winning first seven games and 11 of 13. Suspect defense caught up with them as they lost four of last five.

- CHANGES: Death of OT Korey Stringer far overshadows retirement of Robert Smith and loss of free agents DT John Randle, OT Todd Steussie and LB Dwayne Rudd.

- PROSPECTS: After surprising start and collapse in 2000, Vikings seem capable of anything. Stringer's death initially seems to have had a unifying effect, but OL that has lost four Pro Bowl linemen in past two seasons might have reached its limit. Will be dangerous as always.

3. NEW ORLEANS (10-6) (1-1)

- LAST SEASON: Under rookie head coach Jim Haslett, rebounded from 3-13 to win NFC West and first playoff game ever. Haslett won Coach of the Year as everything went right. Untested QB Aaron Brooks stepped in when Jeff Blake went down.

- CHANGES: Drafted RB Deuce McAllister in first round. But after training camp holdout, McAllister failed to unseat Williams as starter.

- PROSPECTS: Roster is deeper, faster, and more talented. Several injured players are back. Look for Saints to make another run in playoffs.

4. PHILADELPHIA (11-5) (1-1)

- LAST SEASON: After winning eight games in previous two seasons, went 11-5 and won playoff game before losing to Giants.

- CHANGES: Free agents WR James Thrash, DE Ndukwe Kalu and first-round pick WR Freddie Mitchell. Released WRs Charles Johnson and Torrance Small, DE Mike Mamula.

- PROSPECTS: Tough schedule. Won't surprise teams anymore, but should compete for NFC East title.

5. TAMPA BAY (10-6) (0-1)

- LAST SEASON: Inconsistency on offense undermined Super Bowl aspirations, leading to firing of offensive coordinator Les Steckel and signing of free agent QB Brad Johnson.

- CHANGES: With Johnson, DE Simeon Rice and rookie LT Kenyatta Walker, no team did more to bolster championship hopes. Waived DE Chidi Ahanotu; lost FS Damien Robinson and RG Frank Middleton to free agency.

- PROSPECTS: Anything short of Super Bowl berth will be disappointing in what could be make-or-break season for coach Tony Dungy.

6. ST. LOUIS (10-6) (0-1)

- LAST SEASON: Horrible defense, worst ever by playoff team, and Kurt Warner's broken hand knocked Rams from Super Bowl champs to wild-card playoff losers.

- CHANGES: Could be eight new starters on defense. FS Kim Herring and CB Aeneas Williams are top additions. First-round picks Damione Lewis at DT and SS Adam Archuleta are instant starters.

- PROSPECTS: A lot of people think Super Bowl. Only if they stay healthy (Warner and Faulk) and defense comes together quickly.

7. DETROIT (9-7)

- LAST SEASON: Good enough to tease. Coach Bobby Ross quit with a 5-4 record and Gary Moeller was fired after last-second loss to Chicago at home in final game kept Lions from playoffs.

- CHANGES: Coach Marty Mornhinweg and West Coast offense, CB Todd Lyght, G Brenden Stai, DE Alonzo Spellman. Lost G Jeff Hartings and C Mike Compton.

- PROSPECTS: If Batch and CB Bryant Westbrook come back from injuries, have shot at playoffs.

8. GREEN BAY (9-7)

- LAST SEASON: Despite worst injury epidemic in franchise history, won last four games to finish 9-7 in coach Mike Sherman's first season.

- CHANGES: Added DT Jim Flanigan and brought back run-stuffer Gilbert Brown, who lost 70 pounds. Also was able to keep S Darren Sharper and K Ryan Longwell by making them highest-paid players at their positions.

- PROSPECTS: If Favre stays healthy, expect double-digit victories and return to playoffs after two-year drought. Have the talent to go far, but difficult schedule could make three December games at Lambeau Field crucial.

9. WASHINGTON (8-8)

- LAST SEASON: Too many stars, most of them falling, made for bad chemistry and not enough work. Injuries to OL and poor special teams hurt. Coach Norv Turner was fired with three games left. Interim Terry Robiskie finished season as owner Dan Snyder recruited Marty Schottenheimer.

- CHANGES: Schottenheimer replaced all assistants but one. Free agent signees WR Kevin Lockett, FB Donnell Bennett, G Dave Szott, G Matt Campbell, G Ben Coleman, LB Robert Jones and TE Walter Rasby will vie for playing time. Salary cap cuts and overhaul make for incredible list of departees including CB Deion Sanders and QB Brad Johnson.

- PROSPECTS: Schottenheimer will have to coach his head off to compensate for massive talent drain. Offensively, it all rests with George.

10. CAROLINA (7-9)

- LAST SEASON: Imported veterans Reggie White, Eric Swann and Chuck Smith for defensive line, but they never produced. Devastated by early injuries.

- CHANGES: Added OLs Todd Steussie, Kevin Donnalley, and Jeff Mitchell, rookie QB Chris Weinke. Lost QB Steve Beuerlein.

- PROSPECTS: Without a QB, could be a rocky season.

11. SAN FRANCISCO (6-10)

- LAST SEASON: Missed playoffs in consecutive years for first time since 1979-80 and hit full rebuilding mode. But team with five rookies on defense, showed promise.

- CHANGES: T Dana Stubblefield (re-addition), rookie DE Andre Carter, LB Derek Smith, LB Jamie Winborn were added. WR Jerry Rice was forced by salary cap to end Hall of Fame career across Bay in Oakland.

- PROSPECTS: If Hearst returns to 1998 form and defense holds up, 49ers have playoff shot.

12. CHICAGO (5-11)

- LAST SEASON: Started 1-7 and never recovered. No stability at quarterback, no consistent pass rush and used spread-the-field offense rest of league quickly figured out. James Allen rushed for 1,000 yards; LB Brian Urlacher made Pro Bowl as rookie.

- CHANGES: Added free agent DTs Ted Washington and Keith Traylor, S Larry Whigham, RB Skip Hicks. Traded QB Cade McNown to Miami. John Shoop takes over as offensive coordinator.

- PROSPECTS: Another dreary season and housecleaning afterward as Angelo, who had big hand in Tampa Bay's improvement, brings in his own coaches and players.

13. DALLAS (5-11)

- LAST SEASON: Jerry Jones built house of cards around Troy Aikman and Joey Galloway and it collapsed. Galloway was lost to knee injury in opener, Aikman was battered and defense allowed most yards rushing in the NFL.

- CHANGES: Aikman retired; added, then subtracted Tony Banks to replace him. Handed QB job to rookie Quincy Carter, second-round pick.

- PROSPECTS: Jones sees 10-6 with solid QB. Three wins more realistic; 0-16 possible.

14. ATLANTA (4-12)

- LAST SEASON: Continued slide from Super Bowl season of 1998 by going 4-12. QB Chris Chandler hurt much of season and RB Jamal Anderson so-so after coming back from major knee injury.

- CHANGES: Biggest long-term addition was QB Michael Vick, obtained by trading up for No. 1 overall draft pick. That cost Falcons WR-KR Tim Dwight among others.

- PROSPECTS: There's enough talent to make run at .500. But veteran usually means injury prone and if any key players get hurt, it's more of the same. That could mean end of the line for Reeves.

15. ARIZONA (3-13)

- LAST SEASON: Tailspin following 9-7 season in 1998 accelerated to worst record since move to Arizona in 1988. Six games into season, after 48-7 loss at Dallas, coach Vince Tobin was fired and replaced by defensive coordinator Dave McGinnis. Team that was bad to begin with was depleted by injuries.

- CHANGES: G Leonard Davis will start on offensive line that is foundation of McGinnis' rebuilding effort. G Pete Kendall was most significant free-agent acquisition.

- PROSPECTS: McGinnis has authority and an emotional attitude that could eventually build a winner, if owner Bill Bidwill stays out of the way.