Few players in the history of football are as universally beloved as the late Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton. Enjoy the legendary skills and grace of the man called “Sweetness” in the premiere of “A Football Life: Walter Payton” Thursday at 10 p.m. ET on NFL Network, and click here for a sneak preview.

Here’s what else is on tap for Thursday:

• Tune into NFL Network’s “Total Access” Thursday at 7 p.m. ET and catch all-world Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson. And don’t miss Washington Redskins running back Tim Hightower on “NFL Fantasy Live” at 2 p.m. ET.

• When the schedule makers met, they probably didn’t see Sunday’s 49ers-Lions affair as a marquee game. Jason La Canfora analyzes that suddenly relevant showdown and the rest of Sunday’s matchups in his weekly column. Plus, get ready for all the Week 6 action at NFL.com’s exclusive Game Center.

• Pete Carroll and Carson Palmer are old friends. Could they be reunited in Seattle? That’s just one of the moves Gil Brandt suggests should happen before next week’s trade deadline.

• Mike McCarthy was one of two coaches to suffer from conversion confusion in Week 5. Michael Lombardi provides some insight into when teams should and shouldn’t go for two.

• The league is committed to growing the game overseas, but could an NFL franchise ever be based outside of the country? Our experts debate if and when it could happen.

• The shotgun formation has taken over the NFL, with more teams using it than ever before. But Pat Kirwan suggests that coaches are leaving something on the table with their reliance on the ‘gun.

• Tony Romo could be in for a big game Sunday when the Cowboys visit the Patriots, a matchup that gives you a great reason to start him on your fantasy team, Michael Fabiano writes.

• Don’t forget to log onto NFL.com to vote for the FedEx Air & Ground Players of the Week, the Pepsi Rookie of the Week, and the GMC Never Say Never Moment of the Week.

• Come up with names for the week’s most exciting plays, and tweet your way into the NFL history books. We’ll pick our favorites, and let users pick the final winner each week.

• Want to get NFL.com’s top 10 headlines sent to your inbox daily? Click here for details.

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