NFC: Strong arms

Armed with franchise quarterbacks, Packers, Falcons and Seahawks figure to be on conference’s short list of favorites

Quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers, Matt Ryan and Russell Wilson lead the way.

NORTH GREEN BAY PACKERS

Aaron Rodgers is back, and that has seemed to be enough. He has a new tight end in Martellus Bennett and returns his top receivers in Jordy Nelson and Davante Adams. Who plays running back remains a question but that hasn’t matter too much of late. Safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix is becoming the face of the defense.

DETROIT LIONS

The Lions made the playoffs last season but can they do it again? This is QB Matthew Stafford’s ninth season and he has questions again in the offensive line (Taylor Decker is hurt) and at running back along with a mixand-match set of receivers who aren’t Calvin Johnson although Golden Tate had his moments.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

The post-Adrian Peterson era begins although the Vikings are used to it given his injuries in recent years. The team drafted RB Dalvin Cook and signed Latavius Murray in the offseason. Sam Bradford is back at QB as Terry Bridgewater remains out. The defense is still one of the league’s best.

CHICAGO BEARS

The Bears won’t be able to blame Jay Cutler anymore, but that means they will have to find a winning QB between either Mike Glennon, signed as a free agent, or Mitchell Trubisky, drafted with the No. 2 pick overall. How they fare will likely determine the fate of third-year head coach John Fox.

SOUTH ATLANTA FALCONS

The Falcons were good enough to have a 28-3 lead in the Super Bowl against the Patriots, and most of the pieces are back. One question will be how much QB Matt Ryan misses offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, who left to coach the 49ers. Ryan still has WR Julio Jones and RB Devonta Freeman on his side.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

The Bucs were on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” this season so we’ll see how well new receiver DeSean Jackson fits in with WR Mike Evans as QB Jameis Winston’s options. The Bucs will need to find a running back (Houston high schoolers Charles Sims and Jacquizz Rodgers perhaps) for the first three weeks while Doug Martin is suspended.

CAROLINA PANTHERS

QB Cam Newton took a beating last season and had offseason surgery on his throwing shoulder. The Panthers added some help on offense in versatile RB Christian McCaffrey from Stanford but it likely will still come down to keeping Newton healthy. To that end, they signed LT Matt Kalil from the Vikings.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Forget Tom Brady at 40, Drew Brees is 38. The Saints QB lost one of his receivers in Brandin Cooks (traded to the Patriots) but gets more help in the backfield after the team signed Adrian Peterson to share time with Mark Ingram. The secondary added Marshon Lattimore in the draft as the defense looks to find playmakers.

WEST SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

The Seahawks added former Packers RB Eddie Lacy and are hopeful that TE Jimmy Graham is at full speed. The defense is still one of the best around. The front line is anchored by Michael Bennett (Alief Taylor) and safety Earl Thomas (West Orange-Stark) is back from injury.

ARIZONA CARDINALS

The Cardinals stumbled to 7-8-1 last season but veteran WR Larry Fitzgerald is back to give it one more try along with QB Carson Palmer and RB David Johnson. The defense will have to replace Calais Campbell on the front line. Rookie Haason Reddick is being penciled in as a starter at linebacker.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Brian Hoyer is the starting QB, and that may all you need to know about the 49ers’ chances. After leaving the Texans, he did have his moments in Chicago last season before getting hurt. New coach Kyle Shanahan and GM John Lynch know it is long-term process to get the 49ers back on top.

LOS ANGELES RAMS

The fancy new stadium is still a year away, and so, too, may be the team. New coach Sean McVay will see if he can get second-year QB Jared Goff going and if RB Todd Gurley can bounce back. Wade Phillips takes over the defense, which will be solid again and built around DE Aaron Donald.