Carolina Panthers

NFL flexes Vikings-Packers NFC North tilt to season's final game

Published Dec. 27, 2015 11:41 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Green Bay Packers better not repeat Sunday’s performance in Week 17 … a whole lot more people will be watching a game with a whole lot more on the line.

After the Cardinals hammered the Packers 38-8 on Sunday afternoon and the Minnesota Vikings followed that up with a 49-17 beatdown of the New York Giants, the Vikings’ game at Green Bay next Sunday has been flexed to Sunday night on NBC.

What’s more, the final game of the NFL regular season will also be for the NFC North championship. The Panthers and Vikings both stand at 10-5, both have clinched a playoff spot, and neither can earn a first-round bye. But the winner will get a home game in the first weekend of the playoffs, the loser will be on the road, possibly in a rematch of the Sunday night game.

Ten games are set for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff, with the New York Jets at Buffalo, and Pittsburgh at Cleveland involving a potential AFC wild card. Houston, which will win the AFC South by beating Jacksonville at home, also is at 1.

Among the five 4:25 p.m. ET matchups are Oakland at Kansas City, and San Diego at Denver, which will play a role in deciding the AFC West title. Seattle at Arizona, and Tampa Bay at Carolina -- the Cardinals and Panthers are chasing the top overall NFC seed -- also will be at 4:25.

-- The Associated Press contributed to this report