LINEUP

NFL 2012

FEATURES

32 The Sky's The Limit

An aerial explosion is forcing us to rethink what's possible

BY PETER KING

40 Detroit's Pass-Catch Combo

No pair is more prolific than Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson

BY MICHAEL ROSENBERG

48 Justin Smith

He's tough, intense, dominant—everything a defender should be

BY JIM TROTTER

54 Rob Gronkowski

The Pats' tight end is the league's best hope and worst nightmare

BY CHRIS BALLARD

66 Scouting Reports

Analysis, lineups, stats and projected finishes for all 32 teams

DEPARTMENTS

2 SI DIGITAL

4 LEADING OFF

10 THE MAIL

14 SCORECARD

Why Lance Armstrong, the ultimate fighter, finally threw in the towel

22 JUST MY TYPE

Andrew Luck on replacing Peyton and singing "Country Roads"

BY DAN PATRICK

30 FACES IN THE CROWD

150 POINT AFTER

The NFL has yet to catch on in the U.K. Sending the Jags to London won't help

BY PHIL TAYLOR

SI HAS TWO COVERS THIS WEEK

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ON THE COVER: PHOTOGRAPHS BY WALTER IOOSS JR.

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PHOTO

TOM DIPACE

ARMS RACE The Saints' Drew Brees is one of three quarterbacks who threw for 5,000 yards in 2011—a list that's likely to grow longer this season.

TWO PHOTOS