NFL preview | Tom Robinson makes his picks

NFC East

*1. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) Glitzy offseason signings, great cornerbacks, but serious O-line issues threaten Michael Vick’s health, Birds’ postseason potential.

*2. Dallas Cowboys (9-7) Tony Romo’s return, D coordinator Rob Ryan’s plan featuring scary LB DeMarcus Ware have to be worth few more Ws than last year.

3. New York Giants (7-9) Usually more bullish here on the G Men, but there are too many questions about O-line, receiver corps and, especially, secondary.

4. Washington Redskins (6-10) How is this team going to score? Not sold on O-line, RB Tim Hightower; really not sold on QB Rex Grossman.

____

NFC North

*1. Green Bay Packers (12-4) Too easy to take defending champs to go back to SB, but sorry. Aaron Rodgers. Everybody back from injury. Love this team.

2. Minnesota Vikings (8-8) Not as sour on Vikes as some. Drama-free sans Brett Favre, and being wanted spurs Donovan McNabb. But Percy Harvin’s migraines?

3. Detroit Lions (7-9) DT Ndamukong Suh is a baaad man. Lions are waking, but I can’t fully climb aboard when QB Matt Stafford keeps getting hurt.

4. Chicago Bears (7-9) First to worst for reigning North champs. Good D; still-spotty O-line yielded league-high 56 sacks of flaky Jay Cutler.

____

NFC SOUTH

*1. New Orleans Saints (11-5) The ’09 champs, so fun to watch, will get back to forcing TOs and win at least 11 for third straight season.

*2. Atlanta Falcons (10-6) Selling the draft-pick farm for dropsy WR Julio Jones – man, I don’t know. QB Matt Ryan is excellent, though, for this real title threat.

3. Tampa Bay Bucs (8-8) Promising QB Josh Freeman and 10-win group from last year take a step back largely because of strength of top South teams.

4. Carolina Panthers (5-11) QB Cam Newton must be spoon-fed because of lockout. But their running game makes Panthers better than many suspect.

____

NFC WEST

*1. Arizona Cardinals (8-8) A horrific division, and with Cards O-line, I admit I might be overbuying into Kevin Kolb-to-Larry Fitzgerald potential.

2. St. Louis Rams (7-9) Better WRs for QB Sam Bradford this time, but also a legit chance to go 1-6 out of the gate before playing a division game.

3. San Francisco 49ers (6-10) Defense will win some games, and I like new coach Jim Harbaugh to finally get production from ex-No. 1 pick QB Alex Smith.

4. Seattle Seahawks (5-11) Another first to worst. Tavaris Jackson at QB, line and pass defense issues foretell cloudy days in the Emerald City.

____

AFC EAST

*1. New England Patriots (12-4) Best coach and QB, better D-line – when Albert Haynesworth wants to play, he’s a load. Jets won’t abuse them in playoffs this time.

*2. New York Jets (11-5) Two straight AFC title losses and a third is possible; at least three teams are better, though. Fragile Plaxico Burress won’t play a full season.

3. Buffalo Bills (7-9) Improving defensively, but not enough yet to post their second winning season since ’99.

4. Miami Dolphins (5-11) LB Cameron Wake is a sack master, and Reggie Bush is here now, for whatever that’s worth, with underachieving QB Chad Henne.

____

AFC North

*1. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5) Only internal caution against Pittsburgh reappearing in SB is injury in aging D. But Steelers get help with easy schedule.

*2. Baltimore Ravens (10-6) Even easier schedule, but I can’t see how Ravens got better in offseason. Opener against Steelers will give a good status check.

3. Cleveland Browns (7-9) Brutish RB Peyton Hillis will burn clock for young QB Colt McCoy. Speaking of brutish, four of last five games are against Ravens and Steelers.

4. Cincinnati Bengals (3-13) If they’re league’s worst, they win sweepstakes for Stanford QB Andrew Luck, even though TCU’s Andy Dalton is a rookie.

____

AFC South

*1. Houston Texans (10-6) Sucking me in again! But no way offensively potent Texans are as bad defensively; plus, the fates are aligned for Colts to fade.

2. Indianapolis Colts (9-7) Nine wins might be generous. Sad truth, because I love Peyton Manning, is waning Colts miss playoffs for the first time in a decade.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars (7-9) Jags always seem gritty, just talent-shy. D desperately needs to force more turnovers; they tied for last a year ago.

4. Tennessee Titans (6-10) Expect QB Matt Hasselbeck to get hurt as usual and No. 2, rookie Jake Locker, to struggle even with RB Chris Johnson around.

____

AFC West

*1. San Diego Chargers (12-4) Two keys here: With improved special teams and a decent start, Bolts, No. 1 in O and D last year, roll into postseason.

2. Kansas City Chiefs (8-8) Defending West champs ate up weak schedule that’s harder this time. QB Matt Cassell, RB Jamaal Charles can move ball, though.

3. Oakland Raiders (7-9) Swept division last year, still finished 8-8. Were dominant at times in second half, so new coach Hue Jackson has some talent.

4. Denver Broncos (4-12) New coach John Fox needs time after the Josh McDaniels debacle, which featured the NFL’s worst defense in ’10. the playoffs

____

Playoffs

NFC Wildcard round

No. 3. Eagles over 6 Cowboys

No. 5 Falcons over 4 Cardinals

AFC Wildcard round

No. 3 Steelers over 6 Ravens

No. 5 Jets over 4 Texans

AFC Divisional round

No. 3 Steelers over 2 Chargers

No 1 Patriots over 5 Jets

NFC Divisional round

No. 2 Saints over 3 Eagles

No. 1 Packers over 5 Falcons

Conference championship

No. 1 Packers over 2 Saints

No. 1 Patriots over 3 Steelers

Super Bowl XLVI

Patriots over Packers