The longest work stoppage in league history (136 days) officially came to an end July 25, when the owners and players reached an agreement on a new, 10-year labor deal. The news conference to announce the new collective bargaining agreement provided a memorable image of Patriots owner Robert Kraft sharing an emotional embrace with Colts center Jeff Saturday.

After the lockout ended, the Philadelphia Eagles went on a free agency binge, acquiring a number of high-profile players, including Nnamdi Asomugha, Jason Babin, Cullen Jenkins, Ronnie Brown, Steve Smith and Vince Young. Philly also dealt Kevin Kolb to Arizona for coveted cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. In late July, Young declared this Eagles bunch a "Dream Team" -- words that would haunt the franchise throughout a highly disappointing 8-8 season.

Initially, it looked as though offseason neck surgery would only force Peyton Manning to miss the preseason. Then the opener. And then suddenly, the entire season was in jeopardy. In the end, Manning didn't play a snap in 2011, and the Colts completely fell apart, posting a league-worst 2-14 record. With the rights to the No. 1 overall pick and an aging roster, owner Jim Irsay has decided to undergo an extreme makeover, clearing out the front office and the coaching staff. By all indications, Peyton will be next to go, clearing the way for Andrew Luck -- the most-hyped quarterback prospect since Manning himself.

During the preseason, there was quite a buzz about the playmaking ability of Packers rookie Randall Cobb. And it certainly didn't take the nation long to see why. In the Thursday night opener between Green Bay and New Orleans, the electric receiver took a first-quarter pass over the middle 32 yards to the house. Then, in the third quarter, Cobb tied an NFL record with a thrilling 108-yard kick return that included a gravity-defying barrel roll over a Saints defender. Green Bay went on to win the exhilarating shootout 42-34.

No. 1 overall pick Cam Newton burst onto the scene with 422 yards passing and three touchdowns in his regular-season debut against Arizona, and he didn't really slow down the rest of the season. Newton set numerous rookie records in one of the greatest debut seasons ever, and broke the NFL record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback (14). Thanks to Newton's superhuman efforts, the Panthers have quickly become one of the league's most intriguing teams.

No player routinely evokes a more radical response -- both positive and negative -- than Cowboys QB Tony Romo. In Week 1 against the Jets, Romo played brilliantly for three quarters, but a disastrous fourth period with two turnovers cost Dallas the game. And Romo was deemed a goat. In Week 2, he overcame broken ribs and a punctured lung to guide the Cowboys to a thrilling overtime win in San Francisco. And Romo was a god. But it was back to goat in Week 4, when three second-half interceptions (two of which were returned for touchdowns) dealt Dallas an unforgivable loss to Detroit. And so it went all season long, the Romo Coaster chugging away.

The first few weeks of the season were marred by devastating knee injuries, and no one was more affected than the Chiefs. After losing Tony Moeaki in the preseason, Kansas City lost its best defensive player (Eric Berry) and offensive player (Jamaal Charles) in the first two weeks of the season -- all to ACL tears. Then in Week 3, emerging Titans star Kenny Britt suffered the same plight.

Michael Vick's return to Atlanta didn't quite go as planned for the Eagles quarterback (and former face of the Falcons). Vick was knocked out of the game in the third quarter, and Atlanta rallied from a 10-point deficit to pull off the win.

Dynamic return man Devin Hester made history in Chicago's Week 4 win over Carolina with the 11th punt-return touchdown of his career. Hester's 69-yard scamper off a line-drive kick moved him ahead of Eric Metcalf into sole possession of first place on the all-time list.

Raiders icon Al Davis, one of the game's true innovators, passed away from heart failure at age 82 on October 8. The following day, every NFL game featured a moment of silence in Davis' honor. Oakland donned "Al" helmet decals and earned an inspired 25-20 victory over the Texans. Tears flowed in the emotional aftermath of the game.

San Francisco dealt Detroit its first loss in Week 6, but the story of the day occurred after the final whistle. Rookie Niners coach Jim Harbaugh victoriously bounced to midfield for the postgame handshake, untucking his shirt to expose his bare chest and attempting to chest bump a player while pumping his fist. In mid-celebration, he quickly extended his hand to Jim Schwartz for a postgame handshake and proceeded to slap the Lions coach on the back. Schwartz took exception to the questionable gesture and chased Harbaugh toward the tunnel, creating a fracas. Despite the embarrassing display, neither coach was punished by the league.

After Jason Campbell broke his collarbone in a Week 6 win over Cleveland, the Raiders went out and acquired Carson Palmer, who had essentially retired from football due to grievances with Bengals management. Oakland stunned many by giving up a 2012 first-round pick and a conditional second-rounder in 2013. Raiders coach Hue Jackson, who had spent time with Palmer as a Bengals assistant, called it "the greatest trade in football." Not so much. Palmer threw 16 touchdowns in 10 games, the Raiders missed the playoffs and Jackson was fired.

No single player received more attention during the 2011 campaign than Tim Tebow. The polarizing Broncos quarterback started the year on the bench, but after a 1-4 start, John Fox ditched Kyle Orton and handed the reins to Tebow. In his first start at Miami -- which just so happened to be honoring Tebow's 2008 Florida Gators national championship team -- Tebow played horrendously through the first 57 minutes of play, and the Dolphins held a 15-0 lead late in the fourth quarter. But in the final 2:44, Tebow miraculously threw a pair of touchdown passes and notched a two-point conversion with his legs to send the game into overtime. Denver eventually won, giving rise to "Tebow Time." The Broncos were blown out the following week at Detroit, but then won six straight games -- thanks in large part to Tebow's late-game heroics -- and eventually took the AFC West crown.

Through the first five games of his NFL career, Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray played sparingly and totaled 71 yards rushing. Then on his first carry of the game against the Rams, Murray scampered 91 yards to the end zone. A star was born. On the unbelievable day, Murray finished with a staggering 253 yards rushing. He continued to excel until Week 14, when his season ended with a broken ankle against the rival Giants.

Philip Rivers and the Chargers struggled throughout an upsetting 2011 season, and the low point came on Halloween night. With the game tied at 20-20 late in the fourth quarter, San Diego drove deep into Kansas City territory, setting up a chip-shot field goal with under a minute left. But then, Rivers inexplicably fumbled a first-down snap, and the Chiefs pounced on the ball. Kansas City went on to win the game in overtime.

Cardinals rookie Patrick Peterson tied an NFL record with four punt-return touchdowns, including an overtime game-winner against St. Louis in Week 9. Peterson actually committed a major no-no by fielding the punt at the 1-yard line, but then he proceeded to cut and spin his way to an unbelievable 99-yard walk-off score.

The Texans overcame a series of early injuries -- including a season-ender to Pro Bowler Mario Williams -- and emerged as the AFC's most well-rounded team by November. But then star QB Matt Schaub suffered a season-ending Lisfranc injury during a 37-9 whooping of Tampa Bay in Week 10. Backup quarterback Matt Leinart went down in the Texans' next game, and suddenly fifth-round rookie T.J. Yates was forced to take over behind center. Although Houston admirably went on to win the AFC South and win the franchise's first ever playoff game, Yates' three interceptions cost the Texans a divisional-round game against Baltimore. And Houston fans were left to ponder what could've been.

After receiving multiple flags and fines for his rough play, Lions star Ndamukong Suh met with Commissioner Roger Goodell to gain a better understanding of the game's rules at the outset of November. A few weeks later, in front of a national audience on Thanksgiving Day, Suh stomped on Evan Dietrich-Smith's right arm and was ejected from the game. Although he initially denied the intentional action, Suh eventually admitted his fault and served a two-game suspension. This incident has significantly damaged Suh's image.

For the first time in NFL history, two brothers faced off as head coaches in the NFL. And the family affair came on Thanksgiving, no less! John Harbaugh got the best of his younger brother, Jim, as the Ravens won 16-6 behind a stifling defensive effort.

Twitter was abuzz after Steve Johnson's second-quarter touchdown celebration against the Jets in Week 12. It was a two-part act: First, Johnson pantomimed shooting himself in the leg -- an obvious mockery of Jets receiver Plaxico Burress -- and then he mimicked the Jets' "Flight Boys" celebration before intentionally crashing to the ground. Johnson was assessed a 15-yard penalty for going to the ground, and the Jets took advantage of a short field by scoring just before halftime. New York eventually won the game 28-24, thanks in part to a pivotal fourth-quarter drop by Johnson. Twitter was once again abuzz later that evening, when Bob Costas ranted about Johnson's celebration during halftime of Sunday Night Football.

Ten weeks into the season, the Bears were 7-3 with a five-game winning streak and had the look of a serious contender in the NFC. But shortly following a 31-20 win over San Diego, news broke that Jay Cutler had broken his thumb. Caleb Hanie took over behind center and the Bears immediately dive-bombed, losing five straight games and falling out of playoff contention altogether. Hanie threw 10 interceptions to just three touchdown passes, and infamously botched a spike attempt against the Raiders, leading to an intentional-grounding call and game-ending 10-second runoff.

After a loss to the Texans dropped Jacksonville to 3-8, Jack Del Rio became the first head coach to get the axe. On the same day, Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver revealed he would be selling the team to Illinois businessman Shahid Khan. Jacksonville eventually settled on Mike Mularkey. Six other NFL teams also changed coaches: Kansas City (Todd Haley to Romeo Crennel), Indianapolis (Jim Caldwell to Chuck Pagano), Miami (Tony Sparano to Joe Philbin), Oakland (Hue Jackson to Dennis Allen), St. Louis (Steve Spagnuolo to Jeff Fisher) and Tampa Bay (Raheem Morris to Greg Schiano).

With seven seconds left in a 13-13 tie, rookie kicker Dan Bailey nailed a 49-yard field goal to lift Dallas past Arizona in Week 13. Unfortunately, Cowboys coach Jason Garrett had called a timeout. Bailey missed the redo, and Dallas lost in overtime. After the game, Garrett said the timeout was called because the play clock was winding down and he didn't want Bailey to feel hurried.

Carolina employed the most unique scoring strategy of the season, with a perfectly executed fumblerooski against the Texans in Week 15. After the game, it was revealed that the trickery was loosely adapted from a play called "The Annexation of Puerto Rico" featured in the 1994 movie "Little Giants." Rick Moranis' influence on the NFL has never been stronger.

The Packers' bid for perfection came to an end in Week 15, with a 19-14 loss at Kansas City. The stunning defeat ended a 19-game winning streak for the defending Super Bowl champs, dating back to a loss to the Patriots in December of 2010.

2011 was a roller coaster year for Jerome Simpson. In September, the Bengals receiver was caught up in a marijuana trafficking operation (and was indicted on drug charges in January). In late November, he gained infamy on the field for an epic flop against the Browns. But a month later, he scored one of the most unbelievable touchdowns in football history, performing a front flip over Cardinals linebacker Daryl Washington -- and sticking the landing, to boot! The mind-bending play is sure to wear out highlight reels for decades to come.

With a staggering 5,476 passing yards in 2011, Drew Brees eclipsed Dan Marino's single-season mark of 5,084 set in 1984. Brees actually set the record in Week 16, and added to it with 389 yards passing in the season finale. New England QB Tom Brady also passed Marino with 5,235 yards, while Detroit's Matthew Stafford fell just short (5,038). Truly the Year of the Quarterback ...

Nobody gave the Broncos much of a chance in their wild-card matchup against Pittsburgh, with the Steelers boasting the top-ranked defense in football. But a 20-point explosion in the second quarter -- the period that haunted Denver all season -- gave the Broncos a shocking 14-point lead at the half. Pittsburgh stormed back after the break and sent the game into overtime. On the very first play of the extra period, Tebow hit Demaryius Thomas in stride across the middle of the field, and the second-year wideout did the rest of the work. Thomas stiff-armed Ike Taylor and raced 80 yards to the end zone for a walk-off touchdown that sent Denver fans into a frenzy. Tebow passed for 316 yards and two touchdowns, while running for 50 yards and an additional score.

Like clockwork, Rex Ryan issued yet another Super Bowl guarantee prior to the 2011 season. Of course, the Jets fell far short of this goal, missing the playoffs at 8-8. And the drama ran thick during a dysfunctional season, culminating with Santonio Holmes' benching in the fourth quarter of the season-ending loss at Miami. In January, the New York Daily News printed a story with unnamed Jets ripping quarterback Mark Sanchez for being lazy. Shortly thereafter, LaDainian Tomlinson described a cancerous Jets locker room during a candid interview on Showtime's "Inside the NFL," placing much of the blame on Ryan and GM Mike Tannenbaum.

The 49ers' magical season continued with a shootout victory over the favored Saints in one of the most entertaining playoff games ever. The Saturday evening thriller featured four lead changes in the final four minutes of play, culminating in Alex Smith's 14-yard touchdown strike to Vernon Davis with nine seconds remaining. In an amazing display of emotion, Davis shed tears of joy on the sideline after his game-winning score. Smith, who had been an amazing draft bust as a former No. 1 overall pick entering this season, enjoyed the game of his life, throwing for 299 yards and three touchdowns.

Both conference title games were marred by mistakes. On the AFC side, Ravens wideout Lee Evans couldn't hold on to a potential game-winning touchdown with 24 seconds left in the game. Two plays later, Billy Cundiff shanked a 32-yard field goal that would have sent the game into overtime. Then in the NFC title game, 49ers return man Kyle Williams had a pair of costly fumbles: one in the fourth quarter when a bouncing ball glanced off his leg, and another in overtime when he was stripped, setting up New York's game-winning field goal. These miscues helped set up a Giants-Patriots Super Bowl rematch.

The Giants were left for dead after an uninspired 23-10 loss to Washington dropped them to 7-7. Tom Coughlin's seat seamed as hot as ever. And then suddenly, it all came together. As the Giants returned to good health, they won their final two regular season games. In the playoffs, New York hit the ground running, piling up 172 yards rushing in a dominant 24-2 win vs. Atlanta. The next week, the Giants overwhelmed the mighty Packers, 37-20. That victory was keyed by a Hail Mary TD from Eli Manning to Hakeem Nicks at the end of the first half. New York eked out a 20-17 OT win in the NFC Championship Game in San Francisco. And four years after the Giants beat the 18-0 Patriots in Super Bowl XLII, New York upset New England once again on the final Sunday of the season. In a month and a half, Coughlin went from the hot seat to Hall consideration. And Eli, who raised eyebrows nationwide back in August when he referred to himself as an elite QB, has silenced even his harshest critics.