New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees talks with Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers at the end of a game in 2008. The Saints and the Packers open the 2011 NFL football season on Thursday. (AP)

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Look past the towering rock concert stage that engulfs part of the Lambeau Field parking lot and there’s a pair of massive banners depicting Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees hanging off the arena across the street.

Hotels will be full. Schools will close early. Coolers will be stocked and grills will be sizzling as a presidential speech goes largely ignored. As Kid Rock warms up for a pregame concert, there will be no doubt that a bigger-than-big game is hitting the NFL’s smallest market.

Rodgers and Brees are the last two Super Bowl MVPs, leading the last two Super Bowl winners into tonight’s opener. For the league, it’s a chance to finally put away any lingering resentment from an offseason filled with ugly and tense — and ultimately successful — labor negotiations. For the Saints and Packers, it’s a chance to send an early message that they intend to contend again.

Greg Jennings said it feels kind of like a “mini Super Bowl,” but Rodgers wasn’t quite willing to go that far.

“It’s a similar feel to a big game, a playoff game,” Rodgers said. “I don’t want to say the Super Bowl. There’s a big atmosphere outside the stadium. But the only thing that matters is taking care of business on the field.”

After last year’s stunning playoff loss to Seattle prevented New Orleans from repeating, Brees knows firsthand about the scrutiny that comes after winning the Super Bowl.

“You lose a game or something like that, it’s like people are just waiting for something bad to happen to your team so they can say, ‘I told you so,’ ” Brees said. “There’s pressure with that, and obviously the expectation level after winning the Super Bowl, the thought being that, ‘Hey, there’s no reason why we can’t go do it again.’ You just have to be careful that there’s not a sense of entitlement there. It almost becomes even harder the next year because everybody’s gunning for you.”

The Saints are recommitting to the running game and have some new faces to make it happen. Reggie Bush is gone, but Pierre Thomas returns after being slowed by an ankle injury last season. He’ll be joined by free agent addition Darren Sproles and first-round rookie Mark Ingram. But they will be without wide receiver Lance Moore, who has a nagging groin injury.

The Packers also are getting at least three likely starters back from season-ending injuries: tight end Jermichael Finley, safety Morgan Burnett and running back Ryan Grant, who will split carries with James Starks. A fourth potential starter returning from injury, defensive lineman Mike Neal, has a nagging knee injury and his status for tonight is unclear.