• In 1998, the year before Donovan McNabb arrived in Philadelphia, three quarterbacks threw at least 100 passes for the Eagles.

You're a real Eagles fans if you remember those three quarterbacks were Bobby Hoying, Ty Detmer and Rodney Peete.

Coincidentally, the three quarterbacks produced a total of three victories, spelling the end of Ray Rhodes' four-year tenure and the beginning of the Andy Reid era.

The Eagles made the postseason in eight of McNabb's 11 seasons with the club. Will they make the playoffs in Kevin Kolb's first season as the starter?

I don't think so. But I do see them finishing ahead of McNabb and the Redskins, if that's any consolation.

Things look brighter for the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers, who should finish 1-2 in the AFC North and make the postseason.

Here's how I see the season playing out:

NFC East: 1. Dallas Cowboys (11-5); 2. New York Giants (9-7); 3. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8); 4. Washington Redskins (6-10).

NFC North: 1. Green Bay Packers (12-4); 2. Minnesota Vikings (9-7); 3. Chicago Bears (7-9); 4. Detroit Lions (4-12).

NFC South: 1. New Orleans Saints (11-5); 2. Atlanta Falcons (10-6); 3. Carolina Panthers (6-10); 4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12).

NFC West: 1. San Francisco 49ers (10-6); 2. Arizona Cardinals (7-9); 3. Seattle Seahawks (6-10); 4. St. Louis Rams (4-12).

AFC East: 1. New England Patriots (11-5); 2. New York Jets (10-6); 3. Miami Dolphins (6-10); 4. Buffalo Bills (5-11).

AFC North: 1. Baltimore Ravens (11-5); 2. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7); 3. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7); 4. Cleveland Browns (5-11).

AFC South: 1. Indianapolis Colts (12-4); 2. Tennessee Titans (8-8); 3. Houston Texans (8-8); 4. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-10).

AFC West: 1. San Diego Chargers (12-4); 2. Denver Broncos (8-8); 3. Kansas City Chiefs (7-9); 4. Oakland Raiders (5-11).

NFC Wild-Card Playoffs: Falcons over 49ers; Saints over Vikings.

AFC Wild-Card Playoffs: Patriots over Steelers; Ravens over Jets.

NFC Divisional Playoffs: Cowboys over Saints; Packers over Falcons.

AFC Divisional Playoffs: Chargers over Patriots; Ravens over Colts.

NFC Championship Game: Cowboys over Packers.

AFC Championship Game: Chargers over Ravens.

Super Bowl XLV: Cowboys over Chargers.

Adding to the misery of Eagles fan, if the Cowboys do win the Super Bowl, they'll win it at Cowboys Stadium.

• Nick Schmalhofer (Lancaster Catholic), a redshirt freshman, is a backup offensive tackle for New Hampshire, which is ranked ninth in the Football Championship Subdivision coaches' poll.

New Hampshire opened its season Saturday with a 33-3 win over Central Connecticut State. UNH will play at Pittsburgh at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11.

• Entering Saturday's start against the Brewers, Phillies ace Roy Halladay (16-10) had started 28 games this season and earned a decision in 26 of them. The Phils were 1-1 in Hallday's other two starts.

Cole Hamels (9-10) has nine no-decisions, Kyle Kendrick (9-7) has 10 and Joe Blanton (6-6) has 11.

Jim Hersh is sports editor of the Sunday News. E-mail him at jhersh@lnpnews.com.