Favre facing the Packers in Green Bay will be compelling theater. The winless Rams at the one-win Lions could be theater of the absurd.

Detroit became the first team in 26 years to endure a winless NFL season last year, and would like nothing better than to point the Rams in the same direction on Sunday.

And looking at the Rams' remaining schedule _ New Orleans, Arizona, Seattle, Chicago, Tennessee, Houston, Arizona and San Francisco _ they have a strong chance. While there are opportunities for St. Louis to win in the second half of the season, particularly against struggling Seattle and Tennessee, the Lions will provide the best opportunity.

"We don't talk about streaks," Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo said. "It doesn't matter whether you're 7-0 or 0-7 when Wednesday rolls around, especially Wednesday and it's time to play another team. That's the only team you're focused on."

The team the Rams are thinking about has lost three straight since ending a 19-game losing string in Week 3 against Washington. Like the Rams, the Lions cleaned house in the offseason, bringing in an accomplished defensive coordinator, Jim Schwartz, as coach. Unlike Spagnuolo, the defensive mastermind behind the New York Giants' championship in 2007, Schwartz has tasted victory in his new job.

Not that it's necessarily an advantage for Detroit, according to linebacker Julian Peterson.

"The teams with no victories are the scariest," Peterson said.

The Lions hope to have top draft pick Matthew Stafford back at quarterback, and they certainly could use a boost for an offense that has managed 103 points in achieving a 1-5 win-loss record. Still, that's 43 more points than the Rams have scored playing one more game.

Despite the emotional first return of Favre to the stadium where he starred for 16 years, his Minnesota Vikings and the Packers are playing for high stakes. With a victory, the Vikings take a huge step toward putting the NFC North division out of reach. A Packers win makes the division race tight.

Minnesota's Adrian Peterson leads the NFC in rushing and has scored eight touchdowns. The Vikings lead the league with 24 sacks, and Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers is vulnerable, having been taken down 25 times.

But all that seems to matter at Lambeau Field this weekend is that Brett's back in rival purple, and nobody's sure how Packers fans will react.

"What I was a part of there in the past will never be taken away, and I'm very proud of that career, and the fact that it was with Green Bay," Favre said. "This is a totally different year, and I have no idea how this will unfold. But there's no sentiments, really, one way or the other. We need to win this football game."

The Denver Broncos are one of three remaining unbeaten teams, along with the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints. It's the deepest into a season that many teams have been spotless. Coming off a bye, the Broncos bring a load of confidence along with their premier defense into slumping Baltimore. A win will give Josh McDaniels the best start by a rookie head coach since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger.

No team has displayed more balance than Indianapolis, which has scored 179 points and yielded 77. Peyton Manning is having as good a season as any in his three-MVP career, and early season injuries have not slowed the Colts. A win will give coach Jim Caldwell the same distinction as McDaniels.

Into their Lucas Oil Stadium lair come the San Francisco 49ers, who are switching starting quarterbacks from Shaun Hill to Alex Smith and rank 21st in pass defense. Yes, that's Manning sporting a wide grin.

Also on Sunday, it's the New York Giants at Philadelphia; Miami at the New York Jets; Seattle at Dallas; Carolina at Arizona; Cleveland at Chicago; Houston at Buffalo; Oakland at San Diego; and Jacksonville at Tennessee.

Atlanta is at New Orleans on Monday in a key NFC South matchup.

Off this week are New England, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Washington and winless Tampa Bay.