It's hard for football fans to imagine a more anticipated NFL season-opener than the Sept. 6 game in Indianapolis. True, everyone's waiting to see Peyton Manning's frenetic signal-calling as his defending Super Bowl champion Colts host the fun and formidable New Orleans Saints. But the real relief will come from the ending to the ugliest off-season in memory.

The fallout from Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick's federal dogfighting case will continue into the fall, while Tennessee Titan Pacman Jones sits out the year for violating the league's personal-conduct policy. (The most recent of his myriad off-field troubles involves being charged with two felonies thanks to his role in a February brawl/shooting at a Las Vegas strip club.) Meanwhile, strategic roster moves, draft choices and coaching changes may well point the way to Super Bowl XLII (in Phoenix, Feb. 3 on Fox). Here's a look at the season's most dramatic game-time shifts.

Calling the Shots

Seven new head coaches will patrol the sidelines this season. The biggest shake-up is in San Diego, where the Chargers — a team that went 14-2 last season — fired coach Marty Schottenheimer and lost both defensive coordinator (Wade Phillips, who takes over for Bill Parcells as Dallas Cowboys head coach) and offensive czar (new Dolphins head coach Cam Cameron). Moving into the top job is journeyman coach Norv Turner. Talk about pressure: "He's in the situation where, OK, any moron could get them to 14-2," says Cris Collinsworth, cohost of NBC's Football Night in America. "Basically, he has to go out now and win the championship." Having last season's NFL MVP, running back LaDainian Tomlinson, will certainly help make that a realistic goal.

Rookie Reckoning

Top draft pick JaMarcus Russell — still unsigned at press time — may one day help the Oakland Raiders, but it's the No. 2 selection, Detroit Lions wideout Calvin Johnson, who has made all the headlines. "One guy can't take you to the Super Bowl," says new ESPN analyst Keyshawn Johnson. "But I think he can give them one or two extra wins and help energize the football team as a whole."

Other big-name draft picks ready to make an impact include Washington Redskins safety LaRon Landry, Miami Dolphins receiver/return specialist Ted Ginn Jr. and Cleveland Browns quarterback Brady Quinn. CBS analyst Phil Simms takes notice of Minnesota Vikings runningback Adrian Peterson, the most explosive back in the draft and a product of the University of Oklahoma's pro-style system. "He could change the franchise tremendously in his first year," Simms says. "I think he's potentially that dynamic."

Old Faces in New Places

ESPN's Monday Night Football play-by-play man Mike Tirico thinks the moves of runningbacks Travis Henry (Tennessee to the Denver Broncos) and Thomas Jones (Chicago Bears to the New York Jets) will greatly benefit their new teams. "Both backs are good fits for the style of running each team does," he says.

But no team had bigger gains than the New England Patriots, which picked up Philadelphia Eagles receiver Donté Stallworth, Batimore Ravens linebacker Adalius Thomas and curmudgeonly receiver Randy Moss from Oakland. "Here's a guy who I think realizes this is the last bus stop," says ESPN analyst Mike Ditka of Moss. "He's proven he can play football. Now he has to prove he can play team football."

And the Winner Will Be…

In the NFC, look for surprises from the San Francisco 49ers, the Arizona Cardinals and the Cowboys. Questions remain whether New Orleans can repeat its storied run from last year, and if Chicago's Rex Grossman can shake his rep as the worst QB on a championship-caliber team.

"The AFC is clearly your better conference," says CBS analyst Boomer Esiason. Tirico agrees, predicting a Super Bowl title for New England, Indianapolis or San Diego. He calls the AFC Championship "Super Bowl 41½. The winner of that game will go into the Super Bowl as a one-touchdown favorite."

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