Following a 6-0 start to the NFL season, the Green Bay Packers have lost four out of five and will try to get back on track on Thursday against a Detroit Lions team that beat them two weeks ahop

The Packers (7-4) have had all sorts of problems with an inconsistent offense that has struggled to effectively run the ball and convert third downs. Packers receivers have had difficulty creating any separation and, when they do get open, have been prone to drops — especially second-year wideout Davante Adams. 

The Lions snapped a dubious 24-game road losing streak to the Packers last month and get the four-time division champions at Ford Field, where Detroit has won the last two meetings.

Detroit's win over the Packers at Lambeau Field sparked a three-game winning streak, including a 45-14 demolition of the Philadelphia Eagles. Lions receiver Calvin Johnson had a record-breaking game last Thursday and can have success against a Packers secondary that has had recent issues on third down. 

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers questioned his team's preparation during their current skid. If the Packers are going to beat the Lions, they need to establish running back Eddie Lacy, who didn't play in the earlier matchup, so Rodgers won't have to throw 61 times again. Lacy has gone over 100 yards the last two weeks, but the Packers offensive line is banged up with tackle Bryan Bulaga out with an ankle injury.

The Lions have won three straight thanks to their defense, which has 10 sacks and allowed just 43 total points in the three wins. Defensive end Ziggy Ansah is having a breakout year in his third season with an NFC-leading 11 1/2 sacks. 

The Packers have fallen out of first place in the NFC North and need a win to keep pace with the Vikings, who play host to the Seahawks in another game with playoff implications.

Seattle Seahawks (6-5) at Minnesota Vikings (8-3), Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

The Vikings rebounded from their loss to the Packers by shutting down the struggling Falcons. The Seahawks got a much-needed win over the Pittsburgh Steelers with quarterback Russell Wilson having a career day with five touchdown passes on his 27th birthday.

The Vikings have the NFL's top rush offense and will have to get Adrian Peterson going against a sometimes overly aggressive Seahawks front. Seattle's secondary is its strength, and Vikings have the second-worst pass offense with quarterback Teddy Bridgewater throwing for 2,280 yards with only eight touchdowns and seven interceptions this season. 

The Vikings offense ranks near the bottom of the league on both total offense and points, but their defense is stout, meaning there may not be a lot of points scored at TCF Bank Stadium.

Kansas City Chiefs (6-5) at Oakland Raiders (5-6), Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

The Chiefs will look for their sixth straight win against the AFC West-rival Raiders in the first of two remaining matchups between the teams. Things are shaping up nicely for the Chiefs, who do not face a team with a winning record for the remainder of the season. Running the table is a real possibility for the Chiefs, whose defense has been lights out in wins over the Buffalo Bills, San Diego Chargers, division-leading Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers. 

That defence, which ranks 10th overall, will be tested by a potent Raiders offense led by second-year quarterback Derek Carr, who has thrown for 2,895 yards with 24 touchdowns and just six interceptions. Carr has plenty of weapons with Michael Crabtree enjoying a resurgent season and Amari Cooper in contention for rookie of the year honors. Crabtree leads the team with 61 catches and six touchdowns, but Cooper is the team leader with 851 receiving yards on 58 receptions. Undrafted receiver Seth Roberts is coming off a six-catch, 113-yard game with two scores against the Titans.

The Chiefs are tied for fifth in the NFL with 30 sacks, 17 of which have come during the five-game winning streak. They'll have to keep that run going by getting pressure on Carr to extend their winning streak.

Carolina Panthers (11-0) at New Orleans Saints (4-7), Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

As the NFL's lone unbeaten, the pressure could be mounting for the Panthers. The questions of 16-0 have been coming, but coach Ron Rivera has been trying to block all of that out.

The Panthers have their focus on going 12-0 first, and that means beating the Saints at the Superdome. The Saints have inexplicably struggled at home over the last two seasons, but still have the ability to put up points. The problem has been the defense, which will face an enormous challenge Sunday in Cam Newton. 

The Panthers quarterback is having an MVP season despite losing top receiver Kelvin Benjamin during training camp. Newton has thrown for 2,466 yards with 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions to go with another 427 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. He's also been clutch down the stretch, delivering game-winning drives at Seattle and against the Indianapolis Colts. 

Saints quarterback Drew Brees will be looking for a bounce-back game after being held without a touchdown by the Houston Texans for the first time in 45 games. The Texans, who have a pivotal AFC matchup with the Bills on Sunday, held the Saints without a touchdown for the first time since 2006. Scores won't be easy to come by against a Panthers defense that ranks second overall. Saints coach Sean Payton said this week that no other cornerback is having a better season than Carolina's Josh Norman, who has emerged as a shutdown corner and Defensive Player of the Year candidate.

The Panthers can clinch the NFC South with a victory, which is likely against a Saints defense that hasn't been able to stop anybody. 

Indianapolis Colts (6-5) at Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5), Sunday, 8:30 p.m. ET

Sunday night's game at Heinz Field could essentially be a playoff elimination game in the crowded AFC field. The Colts are still battling with the Texans atop the AFC South, but the Steelers are three games back of the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC North. Pittsburgh's only route to the postseason is as a wild-card team, which is why the Steelers need the win more than the Colts.

The Steelers should have quarterback Ben Roethlisberger at the helm after he left last weekend's game with a head injury. Despite losing starting running back Le'Veon Bell earlier in the year, and having to use three starting quarterbacks this season, the Steelers still have the NFL's fourth-best offense because they have a plethora of weapons.

Veteran running back DeAngelo Williams has filled in nicely for Bell with 563 rushing yards and six touchdowns. Wide receiver Antonio Brown leads the AFC with 85 catches for 1,192 yards and five touchdowns. Brown, Martavis Bryant and Markus Wheaton, who caught nine passes for 201 yards against the Seahawks, all have receptions of 50 yards or more. 

The Colts will again be without quarterback Andrew Luck, but that doesn't mean the Steelers can play with insouciance. Matt Hasselbeck has won all four of his starts while filling in for the injured Luck and the 40-year-old has turned the ball over just twice — both in a win over the Falcons.

The Colts will have to find some way to run the ball to win time of possession and keep the Steelers offense on the sideline. The problem is that starter Frank Gore is "beat to crap," as coach Chuck Pagano put it, and top backup Ahmad Bradshaw had season-ending wrist surgery. That means Boom Herron and little-used second-year player Zurlon Tipton could get the majority of carries against the Steelers.