Tom Brady was a man in charge in 2007 for the New England Patriots, setting an NFL record with 50 touchdown passes. Brady has been dealing with a lingering foot injury since January. (Elsa/Getty Images) It seems hard to believe, but by the time the 2009 Super Bowl rolls around on Feb. 1 in Tampa Bay, it will have been four years since New England's last championship. The Patriots have taken more than their portion of NFL mindshare since their last of three Super Bowl wins.
In the last 12 months the Patriots put together an unprecedented undefeated season — complete with gaudy individual records for Tom Brady and Randy Moss — and dealt with the charges that they violated the sport's ethics in the Spygate videotaping scandal.
The Patriots were stunned in February in the Super Bowl by the New York Giants, but of the two teams, New England seems the more likely to go back to the championship game.
Here's a look at the Patriots, Giants and several other teams of note this season:
AFC Contenders
New England Patriots
2007 record: 16-0
Guess which team got off easiest in 2008 in terms of strength of schedule? Yep, the team that went an unprecedented 16-0 last season. Don't be surprised if the Patriots go 8-0, but it might be too much to ask them to beat Indianapolis, San Diego and Pittsburgh again. Tom Brady's aerial show to Randy Moss and Wes Welker is impressive, but they couldn't keep the Giants honest in the Super Bowl with their running game. It remains to be seen whether Lamont Jordan can effectively spell Laurence Maroney, who is impressive but often banged up. Defensive leaders Mike Vrabel, Tedy Bruschi and Rodney Harrison are all over 33, and Adalius Thomas isn't much younger, making rookie linebacker Jared Mayo's development key.
On the spot: Safety Brandon Meriweather. The Pats are talking him up as an emerging star and he'd better be for a secondary that lost key players and was perceived as the least of the team's units. New England picked up veterans like Fernando Bryant and Jason Webster in the off-season, but eventually released them.
Jacksonville Jaguars
2007 record: 11-5
It's unreasonable to expect David Garrard to throw just three interceptions again, but it also seems unlikely that he'd throw, say, 16 or more. The Jaguars are so deep at running back that the capable Greg Jones is often limited to short-yardage situations. The receiver position has been upgraded with quantity, if not the highest quality. The Jaguars are a strong, physical team on both sides of the line and boast a linebacker corps that doesn't get the ink that those of a lot of other teams do, but is very good.
On the spot: Wide receiver Jerry Porter was unhappy and often injured in recent years in Oakland but he's the No. 1 receiver almost by default with the Jaguars. He should be able to catch at least 60 balls, which is fine for a team that has both Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew in the backfield.
San Diego Chargers
2007 record: 11-5
Pittsburgh has a tough schedule and some questions on both lines, while Indianapolis has several critical players dealing with injuries in various states, the latest being centre Jeff Saturday. San Diego has some too (Philip Rivers, Shawne Merriman, Antonio Gates), but they also have a lot of depth to overcome a nick or two. Everything is predicated on LaDainian Tomlinson remaining durable. Antonio Cromartie and Eric Weddle were upgrades to the secondary and the team added solid linebacker Derek Smith, which will help, given Stephen Cooper's four-game suspension and the uncertainty surrounding Merriman's knee. 
The San Diego Chargers have another weapon with Chris Chambers at wide receiver. (Chris Park/Associated Press)
On the spot: Wide receiver Chris Chambers will have his first full season with the Chargers and if he's past his prime, he's not far from it. Good production from Chambers can help lessen the reliance on Gates and Tomlinson and keep that duo fresher for the playoffs.
Rising
New York Jets
2007 record: 4-12
The Jets suffered a six-game drop in 2007 but have retooled.
Brett Favre's teams have won less than eight games only once in his career and that stat won't change. Where he will help is with red zone offence — the Jets were second-last in the NFL and Lavaranues Coles and Jerrico Crotchery combined for 137 catches but just eight touchdowns. The addition of ex-Steeler Alan Faneca to the critical left side of the line can only help D'Brickashaw Ferguson. The Jets also added nose tackle Kris Jenkins, while at linebacker they acquired Calvin Pace and drafted Ohio State stud Vernon Gholston, complementing some impressive young defenders in the secondary (Kerry Rhodes, Darrelle Revis).
On the spot: Running backs Leon Washington and Thomas Jones. Washington inexplicably got less than half as many carries last season than in his rookie campaign, while Jones saw his rushing average decrease by a half-yard. The OL changes should help both.
Sliding
Tennessee Titans
2007 record: 10-6
The Titans have ridden a great defence and special teams to the edges of the AFC playoff picture the last two seasons, not to mention the athleticism, if not passing numbers, of quarterback Vince Young. It may be sound counter-intuitive, but it's possible Young's individual passing stats could be better this season while the team's win total dips. The reason the Titans might fall back a bit this season isn't so much about talent — although the receivers and running backs aren't awe-inspiring — as much as the fact that the AFC South is stacked with Jacksonville, Indy and the emerging Houston Texans.
On the spot: Young. The team feeds off the big plays of their leader, and it's hard to imagine they can stay at 10 wins or greater if their quarterback can't throw much greater than 10 touchdown passes.
Intriguing
Denver Broncos
2007 record: 7-9
With Oakland and Kansas City in rebuilding mode, there's an opportunity in the AFC West, but what to make of Denver? Quarterback Jay Cutler is the focus of a lot of attention but he's not among the biggest question marks on this team. There is a lack of depth behind receiver Brandon Marshall, questions at running back, and the team will have its third defensive co-ordinator in as many seasons. Silver lining? After enduring the deaths of two players and the end of Rod Smith's career, Denver went 7-9 in a season where only St. Louis lost more games to injury, so you'd figure this season should involve much less of an emotional toll.
On the spot: Running backs Selvin Young and Andre Hall. At some point the Broncos need to stop plugging in any old guy as a running back and get some stability at the position.
NFC Contenders
Dallas Cowboys
2007 record: 13-3
The challenge in Dallas is not a lack of talent but balancing egos, which is bemusing considering the franchise hasn't won a playoff game in 12 years and counting. The team addressed their secondary issues to some extent. Last season was the first time Zach Thomas played less than 10 games in a season and the ageing ex-Dolphin doesn't figure to be overworked given the depth Dallas has in their front seven. The assumption is that rookie back Felix Jones will be an upgrade over Julius Jones. This team could be slightly less explosive on offence this season, but even more impressive defensively.
On the spot: Wide receiver Patrick Crayton made some progress last year but needs to be consistent both for the team and for himself, with the young trio of Isaiah Stanback, Miles Austin and Sam Hurd behind him on the depth chart. The latter trio are all injured for the team's season opener.
New York Giants
2007 record: 10-6
Many football observers have already written off the New York Giants due to the retirement of Michael Strahan and the season-ending injury Osi Umenyiora suffered in the pre-season, but that's being a little hasty. The Giants have a brilliant defensive co-ordinator who will likely be an NFL head coach this time next season, Steve Spagnuolo, and a lot of depth on D, with the likes of Antonio Pierce, Justin Tuck, Matt Kiwanuka, Corey Webster and Aaron Ross.
If anything, it's the offence that may be the bigger issue. A lot of Ahmad Bradshaw's effectiveness late last season came because he was fresh as a daisy, making his speed a huge headache for worn-down defences. Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs will need to prove that their complementary tandem wasn't just a one-season deal. Super Bowl receiving hero David Tyree is hurt and behind Plaxico Burress there's only so long that Amani Toomer, 34, can keep it up. Michigan rookie Mario Manningham has been dogged by maturity questions, but much will be forgiven if he can catch more than a few Eli Manning passes.
On the spot: Justin Tuck was among the NFL leaders with 10 sacks but he won't be able to sneak in under the radar without Strahan and Umenyiora. 
The pressure is on Minnesota Vikings quarterback Tavaris Jackson. (Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
Minnesota Vikings
2007 record: 8-8
Minnesota is going for the brass ring, evident by using three draft picks to add NFL sack leader Jared Allen to an already impressive defensive line. Behind them, linebacker E.J. Henderson and Chad Greenway impressed last season, and there is depth in the secondary. If there's any hint of a sophomore slump for runner Adrian Peterson, Chester Taylor is more than adequate.
On the spot: Tavaris Jackson. The Vikings will ask the quarterback to do what Garrard did with the Jaguars last season: make a few plays, make few dumb ones, and let his talented teammates do most of the heavy lifting.
Rising
New Orleans Saints
2007 record: 7-9
The Saints will come marching back under coach Sean Payton. For all the criticism running back Reggie Bush has received over two seasons, 161 pass receptions is nothing to sneeze at. If Deuce McAllister is healthy, that can only help Bush. Marques Colston has caught more passes at the two-year mark than any other man in NFL history. Colston's numbers may dip slightly with tight end Jeremy Shockey in the fold, but the offence will be the better for it. The Saints defence isn't anywhere near greatness but picking up linebacker Jonathan Vilma and drafting run stuffer Sedrick Ellis out of USC can only help make the unit better. This team is a solid NFC Super Bowl contender.
On the spot: McAllister. Quarterback Drew Brees attempted 652 passes, the third highest in league history, and that rate can't continue. If McAllister can't fairly resemble his old self, Pierre Thomas is on the depth chart to ensure Brees and Bush get some relief.
Sliding
Green Bay Packers
2007 record: 13-3
The focus will be on Aaron Rodgers as he tries to fill the massive shoes of all-time NFL passing leader Favre. While you have to like the fact that Ryan Grant gained more yards on the road than at home last season, there have been too many sophomore running back busts to consider his continued production a given.
Led by iron man Favre, the Packers were fairly charmed on the injury front last season, and it's always a question how long such a spell can continue. Green Bay's situation this season is not unlike that of Denver in 2006, who were coming off a 13-3 season and appeared contenders but had a choice to make between Jake Plummer and green but promising Jay Cutler. The Broncos turned to Cutler late in the season and went 9-7 to narrowly miss the playoffs. Green Bay hopes that with Rodgers year long they'll ride out the bumps early rather than later. They may well get in the playoffs as a wild card, but between them and the New York Giants, they seem the less likely to re-appear in the NFC championship game this season.
On the spot: Aaron Rodgers. Once upon a time, Rob Johnson looked pretty darned good in spot relief.
Intriguing
Arizona Cardinals
2007 record: 8-8
The Cardinals seemed to buy into Ken Whisenhunt's system and fought hard for a .500 record despite the third-most games lost to injury. There are plenty of talented players on both sides of the ball and they improved their depth on some units, but receiver Anquan Boldin is unhappy and it might be in their best interest to limit veteran Edgerrin James to 275 carries. Who knows how the Kurt Warner/Matt Leinart situation at quarterback will play out? Arizona's first eight games appear favourable, however, so if they're not 5-3 or better they may be in trouble, as the last three games of the season are Minnesota, New England and Seattle.
On the spot: The quarterback. Barring injuries, the Cardinals need to establish a direction at the position, whether it's taking the lumps with Matt Leinart or giving vet Kurt Warner one more season and then retooling the position in the off-season.
