To be sure, the 2011 NFL season will be unlike any other. A lockout that lasted from March all the way to the opening of training camp wiped out just about the entire offseason, setting up a frantic preseason as the league had to conduct all its business in just a few short weeks.

The biggest losers from the 132-day lockout have to be the rookies - rookie quarterbacks and rookie coaches in particular. None of them got the usual amount of time to acquaint themselves with their new surroundings and now must make do after a short crash course. Another casualty is perhaps commissioner Roger Goodell's reputation, as he must repair his relationship with players who now view him as nothing but a mouthpiece and front man for the owners.

Beyond the compressed preseason and changes wrought by the new collective bargaining agreement, there are other intriguing plots. Players changed teams, the kickoff has been moved up in an effort to reduce collisions, and much is made about the newly-minted $100 million man, perhaps the most surreal redemption story in the annals of sports history. But what might bring about the biggest seismic shift for the league's competitive balance is the pain in the neck - for Colts quarterback Peyton Manning.

As the last two Super Bowl champions get ready to clash on Thursday night in the season opener at Lambeau Field, we quickly catch you up on what to look for on and off the field in our Top 10 Storylines for the 2011 NFL Season: