Matt Stafford Injury Designation Could Have Major Impact on Packers NFC North Hopes

You'd think with an 11-3 record, and the No. 1 position in the NFL's NFC North race, the Green Bay Packers would be feeling the quote Aaron Rodgers made so famous a few years back: R-E-L-A-X-E-D.

Quite the contrary. Not only is their own division far from secured (they are just one game ahead of Minnesota in the standings) they're contending with the Seahawks, 49ers and Saints for the top spot in the NFC. Why does that matter?

Well, staying in the top-two of the conference makes for a first-round bye. Furthermore, a top-two seed solidifies home-field advantage for Green Bay in the divisional round and perhaps beyond, which would make it that much harder for an opposing team to come in and steal a win in the frigid icebox that is Lambeau Field.

To secure both, they'll have to win out at the very least, which places ample importance on what would normally be a meaningless matchup against a lowly 3-10-1 Lions squad. It also heightens Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford's injury status heading into the matchup, with Stafford being a known giant-slayer despite Detroit's generally porous record.

Thankfully for the Packers, the former first-overall pick has been placed on season-ending injury reserve by the Lions after starting just eight games this year. He was out with two injuries -- fractured bones in his back as well as a hip injury. Stafford could have returned this season were it worth the risk, but Detroit's record is far too dismal for that.

Stafford's absence for the game spells good news for the Packers no doubt, but they'll need to do their job Sunday, and get more good news in the form of other team's performances before they can truly relax as the race for No. 1 in the NFC continues to heat up.