Set to waltz into the most brutal stretch of their 2012 schedule, the Detroit Lions will welcome the Green Bay Packers to Ford Field on Sunday afternoon for a pivotal NFC North rivalry game.

The Lions are 0-3 against NFC North opponents so far this season, and enter after dropping a frustrating game to Minnesota, 34-24, in Week 10 on the road. Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford has been able to bounce back from a poor start to the year to record four consecutive games with a completion percentage above 60%, and will be eager to build on his improbable 520-yard, five-touchdown performance against the Packers on Jan. 1 last season.

Despite suffering three losses in the first five weeks of the year, the Packers have rebounded to move just one game out of first place in the division at 6-3 overall. Star quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been able to adjust on the fly as receivers Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson have continued to battle injuries, and the 28-year-old signal caller has already amassed 25 touchdown passes through just nine games to tie for first in the NFL.

Where: Ford Field, Detroit, MI

Game time: 1 p.m. ET

TV channel: FOX

Spread: Detroit +3.5