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What a Year

The Green Bay Packers and St. Louis Rams both finished 8-8 last season, narrowly missing out on the final NFC playoff spot.

But this year, their seasons have turned out about as differently as possible, a contrast which will be on display when the Packers visit the Rams in St. Louis on Sunday.

Pushing For The Playoffs

At the beginning of October, the only thing the Cleveland Browns and the Buffalo Bills seemed to have in common was the likelihood of both picking in the top 10 of the 2008 NFL draft. The Bills couldn't score and the Browns couldn't stop anyone.

Now, in mid-December, they're fighting for a berth in the postseason.

Buffalo (7-6) travels to Cleveland (8-5) on Sunday, with the winner of this contest improving its chances of earning the final spot in the AFC playoffs.

The Nightmare Continues

Things couldn't possibly get any worse for the Atlanta Falcons.

After finding out their former star quarterback was sentenced to nearly two years in prison, the Falcons were soundly beaten on national television and then had their first-year coach abruptly resign to return to a college team.

On Sunday, the reeling team visits the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who can clinch the NFC South and are expecting starting quarterback Jeff Garcia to return.

Wild Card Push

The Arizona Cardinals and the New Orleans Saints are both still alive in the NFC's playoff race, but injuries to key players might prevent these clubs from qualifying for the postseason.

New Orleans will likely be without Reggie Bush again, while Arizona hopes its receivers are healthy enough to make an impact when the teams meet at the Superdome for the first time in 10 years Sunday.

Odds: Packers at Rams

The Green Bay Packers (11-2) will look to improve to 12-3 on the 2007-08 NFL Football regular season when they visit the St Louis Rams (3-10) in NFL Week 15. The playoffs are guaranteed for the division leading Packers. St Louis has no postseason hopes and is just looking to continue momentum for next season's campaign.