NFC Preview

East New York Giants

Best crummy team in football last year, but to prove it was no fluke, Danny Kanell is going to have to make like Y.A. Tittle again.

* Coach: Jim Fassel (10-5-1).

* 1997 record: 10-5-1.

* Newcomer to make impact: Running back Gary Brown.

* Little-known fact: Kanell, at 7-2, has the best winning percentage among all starting quarterbacks going into this season--.778.

* Stat that must change: The Giants went to the playoffs, but punted more than any team in the league--16 times more than their closest pursuer.

Washington Redskins

All they have to do is show up to finish first in the weakest division in football, but that might be asking too much of quarterback Gus Frerotte.

* Coach: Norv Turner (26-37-1).

* 1997 record: 8-7-1.

* Newcomer to make impact: Defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson.

* Little-known fact: Norv Turner can’t coach.

* Stat that must change: The Redskins ranked No. 28 against the run last year, which is why they brought in Wilkinson and Dana Stubblefield.

Philadelphia Eagles

They let Ricky Watters leave for Seattle, and although he might have been a handful, bad teams can’t let good players go.

* Coach: Ray Rhodes (26-21-1).

* 1997 record: 6-9-1.

* Newcomer to make impact: Defensive player Hugh Douglas.

* Little-known fact: The Eagles had more first downs than anyone, including Green Bay in the NFC, but they scored 105 fewer points than the Packers.

* Stat that must change: Owner Jeff Lurie’s bank account, because if it doesn’t grow, the Eagles have no chance of signing better free agents.

Dallas Cowboys

Does Emmitt Smith have anything left? Can Michael Irvin stay out of jail? Will Troy Aikman embrace the shotgun formation? Who’s Chan Gailey?

* Coach: Chan Gailey (0-0).

* 1997 record: 6-10.

* Newcomer to make impact: Rookie defensive end Greg Ellis.

* Little-known fact: The Cowboys’ offense struggled last year, but their defense held the opposition to the lowest average gain on first down--4.2 yards.

* Stat that must change: Dallas was perfect, scoring all 17 times it advanced inside the 10-yard line of its opponent, but nine times it settled for field goals.

Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals are flush with excitement and potential. Now, if they had an offensive line, it might mean something.

* Coach: Vince Tobin (11-21).

* 1997 record: 4-12.

* Newcomer to make impact: Running back Adrian Murrell.

* Little-known fact: Arizona has the easiest schedule in the NFL this season, playing only four teams that were in the playoffs a year ago, and teams with a combined record of 113-137-6.

* Stat that must change: The Cardinals averaged only 78 yards a game on the ground, the worst mark in the NFL.

CENTRAL

Green Bay Packers

Defections are beginning to mount, while everyone else in the division (with the exception of the Bears) is closing fast.

* Coach: Mike Holmgren (64-32).

* 1997 record: 13-3.

* Newcomer to make impact: Running back Raymont Harris.

* Little-known fact: The Packers need to win their first five home games to set an NFL record for consecutive home wins at 28--besting the Dolphins’ mark in 1971-1974.

* Stat that must change: The Packers gave up 4.2 yards a carry during the season and 157 to Denver’s Terrell Davis in the Super Bowl.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tony Dungy might already be the most popular coach in the league from a player’s point of view, but let’s see how he handles the task of taking his team to the next level.

* Coach: Dungy (16-16).

* 1997 record: 10-6.

* Newcomer to make impact: Wide receiver Bert Emanuel.

* Little-known fact: Only the Packers and Giants gave up fewer touchdown passes than Dungy’s crew--13.

* Stat that must change: The Buccaneers averaged only 152 yards a game throwing the ball, the lowest mark in the NFL.

Detroit Lions

Scott Mitchell, Scott Mitchell, Scott Mitchell. How he goes determines how far the Lions go.

* Coach: Bobby Ross (56-40).

* 1997 record: 9-7.

* Newcomer to make impact: Linebacker Allen Aldridge.

* Little-known fact: Running back Barry Sanders has played Tampa Bay 17 times, averages 117.5 yards a game and has scored 14 times.

* Stat that must change: Sanders ran with the ball 335 times and averaged 5.5 yards a carry, raising the question: Why let Mitchell ever throw it?

Minnesota Vikings

Rookie wide receiver Randy Moss looks like the real deal, and if the Vikings get any kind of defense, Tampa Bay and Green Bay will be tested.

* Coach: Dennis Green (56-40).

* 1997 record: 9-7.

* Newcomer to make impact: Moss.

* Little-known fact: Minnesota scored more points in the fourth quarter--132--than any other team in the league last year.

* Stat that must change: The Vikings ranked No. 29 on defense, No. 29 against the pass in a pass-happy NFC Central Division.

Chicago Bears

The only thing wrong with the Bears’ season is that it’s 16 games too long. This team has nothing going for it.

* Coach: Dave Wannstedt (36-44).

* 1997 record: 4-12.

* Newcomer to make impact: Running back Curtis Enis.

* Little-known fact: The Bears have the second-toughest schedule in the NFL, facing more playoff teams from last year than any other team.

* Stat that must change: The Bears allowed the opposition to average a little more than 26 points a game.

WEST

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers look a step slower, no longer pack the Steve Young-Jerry Rice super firepower, but they automatically get eight wins because of the division they are in.

* Coach: Steve Mariucci (13-3).

* 1997 record: 13-3.

* Newcomer to make impact: Cornerback Antonio Langham.

* Little-known fact: The 49ers have the best record in the ‘90s, 97-31.

* Stat that must change: San Francisco had the No. 1 defense in the league but let the opposition score more than 27 points a game in its final three outings.

Carolina Panthers

The Panthers have beefed up their defense with Sean Gilbert and Kevin Greene, but rejuvenation depends on the play of quarterback Kerry Collins.

* Coach: Dom Capers (26-22).

* 1997 record: 7-9.

* Newcomer to make impact: Defensive tackle Gilbert.

* Little-known fact: Only woeful Chicago and New Orleans scored fewer points than Carolina.

* Stat that must change: Collins had more interceptions--21--than any other quarterback last year--and his 55.7 rating was almost 50 points behind Steve Young’s.

Atlanta Fslcons

The Falcons went 6-2 down the stretch, but that was against the likes of San Diego, St. Louis and New Orleans. Let’s see if they win their opener in Carolina.

* Coach: Dan Reeves (148-115-1).

* 1997 record: 7-9.

* Newcomer to make impact: Wide receiver Tony Martin.

* Little-known fact: Quarterback Chris Chandler led the NFL in passing on third downs.

* Stat that must change: The Falcons have lost to San Francisco seven times in their last eight meetings, with the 49ers averaging more than 39 points a game in those wins.

New Orleans Saints

Mike Ditka doesn’t have a clue. He can’t pick quarterbacks, and after yelling at a free-agent linebacker in front of the world, how many free agents are going to join the Saints next year?

* Coach: Ditka (112-72).

* 1997 record: 6-10.

* Newcomer to make impact: Running back Lamar Smith.

* Little-known fact: The Saints averaged a league-low 14.8 points a game last season.

* Stat that must change: The Saints, featuring an offense that goes nowhere, lost 22 fumbles and had 33 passes intercepted.

St. Louis Rams

If you’re a personal seat license-holder--for life--in St. Louis, you’ve been given the death penalty.

* Coach: Dick Vermeil (59-58).

* 1997 record: 5-11.

4* Newcomer to make impact: Running back Robert Holcombe.

* Little-known fact: Tony Banks holds the NFL record with 21 fumbles in 1996. He had only 15 last season--to lead the NFC.

* Stat that must change: The Rams have not had a winning record in home games since 1989, when they went 6-2 in Anaheim Stadium.