THE OVERRIDING FOOTBALL ISSUES

1) How much will the absence of offseason training and OTAs, the revamped training camp schedule and the lack of preseason games affect the quality of play, especially in the first few weeks?

2) With no preseason games, how much of an edge do teams with continuity in the coaching staff and quarterback rooms have?

3) Will a team suffer a virus outbreak significant enough for the league to shut it down and postpone games?

4) The playoff field is expanding by one additional team in each conference, and only the first overall seed in each conference will get a first-round bye. Coaches' decisions about resting players down the stretch will surely be impacted.

THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

5) Farewell, replay review for pass interference. Will we miss it?

6) Keep an eye on penalties early -- because of COVID-19 restrictions, teams couldn't have officials at training camps to tutor them on what rules will be emphasized this season.

7) With the NFL embracing the social justice movement, how wide-ranging will player protests be?

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8) There won't be fans there to appreciate it, but after decades spent in faded stadiums, the Rams and Chargers become uncomfortable roommates in the NFL's newest showstopper, SoFi Stadium.

9) And the long-anticipated marriage of Las Vegas and the NFL is finally complete, with the Raiders playing in Allegiant Stadium.

10) With only some teams allowing a small percentage of fans, will home-field advantage lose all meaning?

11) Is a postseason bubble really a possibility?

12) Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs | Week 1, Sept. 10 (Kickoff Game): OK, we'll start with the Chiefs. What this game really means, though, is that the NFL passed its first test and made it to the season opener.

13) Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots | Week 1, Sept. 13: We're probably not going to see Tua Tagovailoa for the Dolphins, as Brian Flores announced on Monday that Ryan Fitzpatrick will be Miami's Week 1 starter, but we are going to see Cam Newton playing quarterback for the Patriots. And this will not even be the strangest sight of the weekend.

14) Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints | Week 1, Sept. 13: This will be the strangest sight of the weekend: Tom Brady in another uniform. You still have to rub your eyes to believe it's true, but don't take too long to focus, or you'll miss Brady's debut in Bruce Arians' offense against Drew Brees.

15) Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Rams | Week 1, Sept. 13 (Sunday night): It's the debut of a new stadium, sure, but also the debut of the Cowboys under Mike McCarthy.

16) Las Vegas Raiders at New England Patriots | Week 3, Sept. 27: A very good litmus test for the Raiders.

17) Kansas City Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens | Week 3, Sept. 28 (Monday night): The AFC Championship Game we all thought we'd get last season, and maybe a preview of the one we'll get this season.

18) Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers | Week 9, Nov. 5 (Thursday night): The 49ers blew out the Packers in the NFC title game last season. This meeting closes out a brutal four-game stretch for Green Bay.

19) Baltimore Ravens at Indianapolis Colts | Week 9, Nov. 8: The first game of what will be a telling five-game stretch for the Colts, dark-horse contenders whose addition of DeForest Buckner should help them try to contain Lamar Jackson.

20) Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers | Week 12, Nov. 26 (Thanksgiving): If Ben Roethlisberger is healthy, the Steelers could threaten the Ravens' grip on the AFC North.

21) Kansas City Chiefs at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Week 12, Nov. 29: Now that they are in opposite conferences, is this the last time we get Mahomes versus Brady, or can we hope for a Super Bowl rematch?

22) Kansas City Chiefs at New Orleans Saints | Week 15, Dec. 20: We would also take this as a Super Bowl matchup.

23) Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints | Week 16, Dec. 25 (Friday): Remember last season's playoff stunner? The Saints assuredly do. A Christmas Day present for us all.

24) Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers | Week 17, Jan. 3: There is no chance this game has no playoff implications.

QUESTIONS FOR THE SEASON

25) Which one of the players who opted out of the season will be the biggest loss?

26) Who from a historically great rookie class of wide receivers makes the biggest impact?

27) There is a complete overhaul taking place in Washington -- will Dwayne Haskins play well enough this season to be a long-term part of the future?

28) Does Alex Smith even have to take a snap in Washington to be the Comeback Player of the Year?

29) How does Teddy Bridgewater's second chance as a starter go in Carolina?

30) How do the Patriots plug the defensive holes created by the losses of Dont'a Hightower, Jamie Collins, Kyle Van Noy and Patrick Chung, among others?

31) Will Cam Newton -- and the offense Josh McDaniels creates for him -- be more than a one-year fix in New England?

32) And what about Philip Rivers in Indianapolis? Jadeveon Clowney in Tennessee?

33) What does defensive coordinator Gregg Williams cook up for the Jets' defense without C.J. Mosley and Jamal Adams?

34) Rob Gronkowski has unretired, but can his body hold up for an entire season in Tampa?

35) How much will the Dallas Cowboys regret not already giving Dak Prescott a long-term deal?

36) How much will the Texans' offense miss DeAndre Hopkins?

37) Will Frank Gore and Adrian Peterson run forever?

38) Whither Earl Thomas?

39) Did the Ravens fix the run defense that was gashed by Derrick Henry in the playoffs?

40) Do Joe Judge's physical practices pay off for the Giants?

41) Is this finally the year Carson Wentz wins Most Valuable Player?

42) And if Wentz stays healthy, what role will Jalen Hurts have?