When I worked as a scout for the in the mid-2000s, then-coach would break up the season into quarters and set a goal to achieve a 3-1 record in each to ensure a playoff berth.While it's probably surprising to hear lo ses factored into a year-long equation, Fox had the perspective to understand that a 12-4 mark would get any team into the postseason. In fact, he frequently suggested that hitting our marks at each checkpoint also would put us in prime position to secure home-field advantage as the top seed in the conference.Of course, there are a variety of factors that contribute to achieving such goals, but Fox would focus on winning the division, owning our home field (finishing with a home mark of 7-1 or better) and knocking off the top teams in the other divisions. He believed the confidence gained from defeating the heavyweights in the league would pay huge dividends in the playoffs.To prepare for some of the challenges on the schedule, Fox routinely would have the team face the schemes of unfamiliar opponents during the offseason. Since we were in the NFC South, we were extremely familiar with Atlanta, New Orleans and Tampa Bay, but we didn't consistently face opponents in other divisions/conferences. Thus, we needed to spend extra time catching up on the playing styles that prevailed elsewhere.With the 2014 regular season on the horizon, teams acro s the league are diligently studying their non-division opponents during training camp, looking to become better acquainted with the schemes and tactics that could present challenges.With that in mind, I thought it'd be a great time to get Ryan Shazier Jersey a general feel for how the different divisions stack up -- offensively and defensively -- this season. In this file, I provide a division-by-division offensive pecking order; my , of course, shook out quite a bit differently.Without further ado, here's the offensive countdown, which I formulated by reviewing rosters and studying :8) AFC SouthStellar quarterback play is the common denominator for the most explosive offenses in today's NFL. Therefore, it's no surprise to see the AFC South holding up the rear in these rankings. Outside of Indianapolis (where wunderkind signal-caller resides), this division is fraught with QB question marks. The are looking to tread water with while breaking in No. 3 overall pick , the are still trying to figure out what they have in injury-prone 26-year-old Le'Veon Bell Jersey , and the are planning to open the season with journeyman under center. Despite the presence of quality runners on each of those teams, the lack of consistency at quarterback makes it hard to imagine this division producing multiple top-10 offenses in 2014.7) AFC EastThe ' vise grip on the division -- New England has taken the AFC East crown in 10 of the past 11 seasons -- stems from the excellent play of . The two-time league MVP is one of the few NFL quarterbacks capable of single-handedly carrying an offense while enduring a host of changes to this supporting cast. The Pats' division rivals, however, are waiting on their young quarterbacks to emerge as difference makers in the profe sional game. The and both po se s the weapons to field top-10 units, but they need and , respectively, to make major strides. Meanwhile, the clearly want second-year pro to be the guy, but continues to compete, . If this actually evolves into a true quarterback controversy, Gang Green's offense could pay the price.6) AFC NorthThe AFC North's reputation for dominant defense frequently overshadows the presence of three quality starting quarterbacks within the division. While each QB has his own i sues -- 's spotty pocket discipline, 's inconsistency and 's big-game woes -- the , and all have the potential to boast a top offensive unit in 2014 because of positive quarterback play. This is particularly true in Baltimore and Cincinnati, where new offensive coordinators ( John Stallworth Jersey and , respectively) are revamping the offensive structure to maximize the talent on the roster. In Cleveland, the arrival of should give the offense a boost, but optimism remains tempered by the potential that will be handed to All-Pro receiver .5) NFC WestThe wild, wild West has produced the NFC's two most recent reps (San Francisco and Seattle), but those teams got there with stifling defenses carrying the load. Now, I know traditionalists will point out that the and both po se s potent running games, but the pa s-centric nature of today's NFL during the regular season makes it hard to rank "ground and pound" attacks highly when discu sing the most explosive offenses in the league. Granted, both teams have the pieces to field a more dynamic throwing offense this season, but it's hard to imagine their old-school coaches completely deviating from succe sful blueprints. In Arizona, has the makings of a strong unit, with to sing bombs to and , but the team needs to emerge as a steady factor in the run game. If returns to health, the ' offense could surge up the board.Debate: Most prolific offense in 2014?Can DrewBrees' displace the atop the NFL's offensive pile? Or will someone else rise up? Let's debate! 4) NFC SouthNot a bad QB division, eh? New Orleans (), Atlanta () and Carolina () all have proven franchise quarterbacks, giving each team the opportunity to field an imposing offense. Of course, I would rank New Orleans and Atlanta significantly ahead of Carolina, due to their spectacular receiver groups and fearle s play callers. While I believe Tampa Bay certainly has the potential to create problems for opponents with a collection of big, imposing pa s catchers and a rugged running game, I'm not sold on the experiment at quarterback. If the cagey veteran can extend last season's hot streak into this fall, though, the will have a balanced offense that could spark a playoff run in 's debut season.3) AFC WestThe division houses two of the most efficient quarterbacks in NFL history ( and ) and a wide array of prolific pa s catchers (, , , and ). With the and boasting that collection of talent, Cameron Heyward Jersey it's no surprise they rate as two of the top offenses in the NFL. ( in 2013, while San Diego finished at No. 5.) The are not as explosive as their division rivals, but the emergence of as arguably the most complete back in football makes them a threat to top the 30-point mark in any contest. If and make enough home-run plays on the perimeter and help excel from the pocket, the will be a sneaky offensive outfit with intriguing potential. The definitely field the division's most underwhelming offense, but the / combo gives them enough firepower to pose problems for opponents with a hard-nosed running game.2) NFC NorthThe best offenses in football have a set of triplets (quarterback, running back, wide receiver) that strikes Tyson Alualu Jersey fear in the hearts of opponents. The NFC North features some of the best trios in football, with Green Bay (, , ), Chicago (, , /) and Detroit (, and ) boasting spectacular groups. While the currently lack the quarterback to join the conversation, the presence of the top running back in football () and the most dynamic young playmaker in the game () could help / play at a level that produces a number of W's in Minnesota this season.1) NFC EastThe NFC East has been pegged for mediocrity by some observers, but there's no denying the offensive firepower that currently resides within this division. The NFC East houses four talented quarterbacks: (two-time MVP), (three-time er), (2013 er) and (2012 Offensive Rookie of the Year). Yet, the division also features three spectacular runners (, and ) capable of single-handedly taking over games. Not to mention, the division now has , as well as a number of individual pa s catchers who make it hard for defensive coordinators to sleep at night (see: and ). Factor in coach 's innovative offensive scheme -- which seems to be inspiring the rest of the division to push the pace -- and it's clear the NFC East is the epicenter of offensive football in 2014.Follow Bucky Brooks on Twitter .