EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) -- Players on the Lions and Vikings say they're approaching Sunday as if it were a playoff game.

Good idea, because a week from now, Detroit (8-7) and Minnesota (9-6) could be preparing to meet again in the first round of the playoffs.

The winner of Sunday's game will likely be home against the loser on Jan. 8 or 9, although it's conceivable with Vikings could play Dallas, or be NFC Central champs and gain a first-round bye if Chicago beats Tampa Bay.

"We know if we win our game, then we have a home playoff game. And it's been that way for the last few weeks. It's been a playoff-type mentality," said Vikings running back Robert Smith.

Lions safety Mark Carrier, Detroit's defensive leader, said it would be foolish to look beyond Sunday and worry about the postseason. But he said the implications of the game are on everyone's mind.

"We're both trying to jockey for better position," Carrier said.

Momentum appears to be on Minnesota's side. The Vikings have won two in a row following a two-game slide and are 7-2 since starting the season 2-4. The Lions have lost three in a row and five of seven since starting 6-2.

"We'd love to finish the season with three consecutive wins. If we win, we'll be playing at home, so this is a very crucial game for us," said Vikings coach Dennis Green.

The Lions had a defensive breakdown in a 17-7 loss to Denver last week, as Olandis Gary rushed for 185 yards. Detroit coach Bobby Ross said he knows his team has to contain Smith and Leroy Hoard.

"We've always had a lot of respect for their running game," Ross said. "They have a Mr. Outside and a Mr. Inside. Smith can go both inside and outside and then they've got Leroy Hoard who can pound you on the inside, so they have the versatility in the running game."

Smith, fully recovered from hernia surgery that cost him three games in October and November, has rushed for 918 yards in 12 games. He scored his first touchdown last week against the Giants on a 70-yard run.

"I felt as effective last week as I had since the surgery," Smith said. "I knew pretty much in warmups last week that it would be as good as it had been."

With Smith and receiver Cris Carter fully healthy and Randy Moss playing with zest again after throwing a touchdown pass last week, Jeff George said the Vikings offense is executing as well as can be expected.

"Whenever you get the running game going as well as the passing game, it makes it a lot easier on everybody," George said.

"When a defense is playing well and the special teams is scoring touchdowns, it makes it that much easier."

Minnesota's defense has come on strong lately, but it hasn't done well for most of the year, ranking 27th in the NFL.

The Vikings figure to have little trouble handling the run against the Lions, who managed just 32 yards rushing last week.

After Barry Sanders' sudden retirement before the season, Greg Hill, Ron Rivers and rookie Sedrick Irvin have split time in the backfield.

"We've just had no continuity at the position," Ross said.

But Green said the recent return of Lions receiver Herman Moore after he missed most of the first 10 games with injuries should lead to a more balanced attack.

"If they can run the ball and then have Herman Moore, it makes it that much more difficult," Green said.

Ross picked Charlie Batch as the starting quarterback, even though he was ineffective against Denver in his first game since fracturing his right thumb Nov. 7.

The Vikings claim it won't matter whether Batch or Gus Frerotte plays, because Frerotte led the Lions on a game-winning drive against the Vikings when the teams last met Oct. 17.

"We've played against them both and they're both very capable quarterbacks," Green said.

DETROIT Season schedule and results

MINNESOTA Season schedule and results

September 12 @Seattle W 28-20 September 19 Green Bay W 23-15 September 26 @Kansas City L 21-31 October 10 San Diego L 10-20 October 17 Minnesota W 25-23 October 24 @Carolina W 24-9 October 31 Tampa Bay W 20-3 November 7 St. Louis W 31-27 November 14 @Arizona L 19-23 November 21 @Green Bay L 17-26 November 25 Chicago W 21-17 December 5 Washington W 33-17 December 12 @Tampa Bay L 16-23 December 19 @Chicago L 10-28 December 25 Denver L 7-17 January 2 @Minnesota 1:00pm ET

September 12 @Atlanta W 17-14 September 19 Oakland L 17-22 September 26 @Green Bay L 20-23 October 3 Tampa Bay W 21-14 October 10 Chicago L 22-24 October 17 @Detroit L 23-25 October 24 San Francisco W 40-16 October 31 @Denver W 23-20 November 8 Dallas W 27-17 November 14 @Chicago W 27-24 November 28 San Diego W 35-27 December 6 @Tampa Bay L 17-24 December 12 @Kansas City L 28-31 December 20 Green Bay W 24-20 December 26 @NY Giants W 34-17 January 2 Detroit 1:00pm ET

Records source: STATS, Inc.

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