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In this installment of Third and Short, our experts weigh in on teams that could take a tumble this season, the team poised for the biggest turnaround and which team could be this year's Giants.

Mike Sando: Which teams could take a tumble this season?

Let's start with teams that vastly exceeded expectations in 2007. Green Bay, Cleveland and the New York Giants come to mind immediately.

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The Packers could have a hard time winning 13 games again while breaking in a new quarterback. Strong coaching and defensive depth should help Green Bay remain respectable, but it's an upset if Aaron Rodgers racks up double-digit victories in his first season as the starter. It was an upset when Brett Favre did it last season.

The Browns behaved this offseason like a team on the verge of winning a championship. They acquired veterans at the expense of draft choices, a strategy that could make sense if Derek Anderson becomes more than a one-year wonder. All bets are off if Anderson falters and the Browns suddenly find themselves breaking in Brady Quinn. The Browns won't surprise anyone this season, and defenses will make adjustments based on what Anderson did well in 2007.

The Giants won their championship, creating a relatively pressure-free environment for this season. They have the talent to contend again now that Eli Manning has arrived as a top-tier quarterback. But has Manning arrived? Has he truly shed three-plus years of inconsistent play for a spot among the elite passers in the game? The Giants should be playoff contenders regardless, but they will fall from the elite ranks if Manning reverts to previous form.

Pat Yasinskas: Which team is poised to make the biggest turnaround?

The New Orleans Saints were the best 7-9 team in the league last season. That's nothing to be proud of, but it's something to build on. That's why the Saints will be in the playoffs and go deep into the postseason.

They got off to a disastrous start last year and had some devastating injuries. But running back Deuce McAllister is expected to be back and healthy, and the Saints just might have the best collection of offensive skill-position players in the league. They have the NFC's smartest quarterback in Drew Brees, but all that's not really anything new.

The big reason the Saints will fare a lot better than last year is their defense. They jumped up in the draft to get USC defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis, and that's going to turn out to be one of the biggest moves of the offseason. Ellis is going to jam the middle, giving the Saints a chance to have some defensive playmakers for the first time in coach Sean Payton's tenure.

Ellis' presence will allow linebackers Jonathan Vilma and Dan Morgan to jump-start careers that had stalled elsewhere because they'll be able to roam untouched from sideline to sideline. That's going to jump-start the defense and make the Saints one of the league's best teams.

Matt Mosley: Which team will be this year's Giants?

I realize the Jacksonville Jaguars would be the logical choice if you have them ranked behind the Colts in the AFC South, but let's go with something a little less obvious. The Eagles' season was doomed from the start last season because of the uncertainty of how starting quarterback Donovan McNabb would respond from ACL surgery and because of the family issues that plagued head coach Andy Reid.

But something funny happened over the last month of the season. The Eagles could have packed it in, but instead they started playing their best football. They should automatically be better on defense with the addition of All-Pro cornerback Asante Samuel. And the release of veteran Takeo Spikes will actually make them more athletic. Jeremiah Trotter's replacement, Omar Gaither, grew into his role as the season went on and I think he'll be a much more consistent player.

McNabb started to look like himself down the stretch. He desperately needed someone to stretch the field, and rookie DeSean Jackson has a chance to be that type of player. Kevin Curtis is a nice receiver, but he's better in the No. 3 role. If Jackson can quickly emerge as a consistent deep threat, it will take pressure off McNabb and All-Pro running back Brian Westbrook.

You can make the argument that the Cowboys and Giants have more talent than the Eagles, but I just sense a bounce-back season about to happen. The Eagles won't win the division, but they could still be this year's version of the Giants and win a Super Bowl title.