Kevin O'Connell suggested that Sunday's game between the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers would be a matchup between two "really good teams." O'Connell, the Vikings' coach, was being modest. More accurately,

The Minnesota Vikings have two pivotal games left in the regular season, and they both come against NFC North foes. They face the Green Bay Packers this Sunday and then will play the Detroit Lions in Week 18.

The Minnesota Vikings will look to keep the NFL's longest active winning streak alive on Sunday when they host the Green Bay Packers. A win over their divisional rivals would be the Vikings' ninth straight and keep them alive in the race for the NFC North and the No.

The Seahawks face the Bears in Chicago on Thursday. We break down what the game means for the NFL playoff picture.

Here is the current NFC playoff picture: The Lions, Eagles, Vikings and Packers are all assured playoffs spots as they have clinched their berths. The Seattle Seahawks (8-7) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7) are the only teams in contention but not in the playoffs.

Coach Dan Campbell stood at the podium after Detroit blew a 17-point lead to San Francisco in last season’s NFC title game and talked about how that might have been the Lions only shot at reaching the Super Bowl.

The last time the Detroit Lions played at Levi’s Stadium, they endured a heartbreaking 34-31 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC title game last season. When the teams meet again next Monday in the same venue,

The Detroit Lions will know how meaningful their matchup with the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night will carry before they step on the field. If Minnesota defeats Green Bay on Sunday, the Lions will still have to beat the Vikings in the regular-season finale to take the NFC North and gain the top seed in the NFC playoffs.