Rams vs. Lions: Most Crucial Impact Players in Season Opener

Everything comes down to Sunday. The preseason no longer matters, nor do last year's heroics (or lack thereof).

The slate is cleared this weekend when the Rams take on the Lions and two relatively unproven quarterbacks get an opportunity to give us a glimpse of what 2012 will bring.

The Rams and the Lions appear to be on opposite trajectories. The Lions had a bounce-back year in 2011, led by Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson, while the Rams struggled once again with Sam Bradford under center. 

But maybe this is the year Bradford pulls a Stafford. You never know.

Here are the top players to watch in Sunday's showdown (1 p.m. ET, FOX).

Calvin Johnson

The reason the Lions went 10-6 last season wasn't all because of Stafford, and it wasn't all because of Johnson. It was because the two of them—together—clicked and managed to forge a top-five offense in order to turn this team around.

Once again, it will be up to the combination of the two of them to keep the Lions afloat in 2012. Johnson has consistently been an offensive weapon in all five years he's spent in the league, but last year was his best—and he'll need to keep up that kind of production in order for the Lions to compete once again in the NFC North.

And according to the Detroit Free Press' Carlos Monarrez, the most recent Madden cover star is ready for whatever trash talk the Rams could have in store for him:

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"I'll probably get a little Madden stuff from linebackers and linemen and stuff. They talk the most trash. Those are the ones who talk the most trash. You don't have to see them, so they talk trash all day."

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Steven Jackson

Jackson has often been heralded as the under-appreciated hero of the Rams, mostly because it's been difficult to call any player on the Rams a hero for the last seven years.

But even though this offense has been notoriously stagnant ever since the Kurt Warner days ended, Jackson has been the one bright spot since 2005. The Rams aren't starting from scratch as they attempt to compete in 2012; they're starting with a proven, veteran running back who is capable of carrying this offense with just a little bit of help.

Last year, Jackson finished with 1,478 total yards and six touchdowns. He can't fix this offense alone, but he's a solid foundation to build around.

Matthew Stafford

In one season, Stafford went from an underachieving former No. 1 draft pick to one of the hottest quarterbacks in the NFL. He offered hope that struggling young quarterbacks everywhere—even one like Bradford—are capable of turning things around and marching their teams toward the playoffs.

Before last season, the Lions hadn't been to the postseason since an 8-8 campaign in 1999. The team was almost entirely devoid of hope, and Stafford struggled mightily throughout his first two years in the league before figuring out how to put the pieces together in 2011.

Now, the only thing the Lions are missing is a solid defense. If Stafford can lead this offense the way he did last year, and if the defense can prove to be a little bit stronger, the Lions could be one of the primary teams to beat in the NFC.

But even though Stafford was so strong last year—he threw for 5,038 yards and 41 touchdowns—he's only been able to have one good season. He's far from a guarantee, and there are still plenty of ifs surrounding his game. Sunday should offer a good indication of whether he can pick up where he left off in 2011.