NEW YORK -- The NFC North title showdown between Green Bay and Detroit has been moved to Sunday night on New Year's Day.
The NFL announced the switch on Christmas Day, and also moved two afternoon games back from 1 p.m. ET to 4:25 p.m. ET: New Orleans at Atlanta and the New York Giants at Washington.
Green Bay (9-6) has won five straight games. Detroit (9-5) plays at Dallas on Monday night before hosting the Packers. Regardless of the outcome of Lions-Cowboys, the game with the Packers will decide the NFC North.
A first-round playoff bye also could be available for the Packers-Lions winner.
Stafford comes home, looking to clinch playoffs for Lions
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Matthew Stafford doesn't dwell on Detroit's loss to his hometown Dallas Cowboys in the playoffs two years ago.
The Lions quarterback focuses on the good memories as he prepares for another homecoming Monday night, knowing his team can clinch a postseason berth with a victory.
"I really like coming home and playing in Dallas," Stafford said. "It's where I grew up. I played a lot of football in the state of Texas and in Dallas in my life. It's a lot of fun going home, seeing friends and family, but at the same time just trying to win a ballgame against a really good team."
NFL
The Cowboys (12-2) have clinched the NFC East title and home-field advantage in the playoffs. Dallas did it without playing thanks to Philadelphia beating the New York Giants on Thursday.
Detroit (9-5) got a similar boost on Christmas Eve with Tampa Bay's loss to New Orleans.
The Lions can't clinch the NFC North. That will have to wait until the finale at home against Green Bay. But they're in the playoffs for the second time in three seasons under coach Jim Caldwell if they beat Dallas for the third straight time in the regular season (see full story).
Houston's Savage looks to improve before playoffs
HOUSTON -- Houston's Tom Savage wasn't great in his first career start in place of Brock Osweiler.
But he didn't make any major mistakes, and the Texans got a 12-10 win over Cincinnati on Saturday night thanks to a missed field goal as time expired.
Houston clinched a second straight AFC South title. Savage and the Texans know he'll need to improve if they hope to make a run this postseason.
"I think we can build, and obviously I think it's a good thing that we protected the ball -- not put the defense in a tough situation," Savage said. "I think just going out there and ... and keep executing what we need to do, and it's good to go out there and get some experience for sure."
Savage threw for 260 yards last week to help Houston rally for a 21-20 win over Jacksonville in his first regular-season action since 2014. Osweiler was benched that game after throwing interceptions on consecutive possessions in the second quarter. Coach Bill O'Brien decided to leave Osweiler on the bench and stick with Savage this week, and early on against the Bengals it looked like a mistake (see full story).