EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Having nine wins with three games left in the regular season used to be almost a guaranteed ticket to the NFL playoffs.Its not for the Detroit Lions and New York Giants as they head into Sundays game at MetLife Stadium.Both are 9-4, in good position, and either team can make the postseason with a win and a combination of other results.The Lions are riding a five-game winning streak that has given them a two-game lead over Minnesota and Green Bay in the NFC North. The Giants are two games behind Dallas (11-2) in the NFC East but they hold a one-game lead in the wild-card race after winning seven of eight.The problem for the loser will be the schedule. After the Giants, the Lions close at Dallas and then return home to face the Packers, who have are playing much better after a midseason slump.The Giants close with road games against division rivals. They have a quick turnaround for a Thursday night game against the Eagles (5-8) and finish at Washington (7-5-1), which beat them earlier this season.Theyre playing for a lot, were playing for a lot, said Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford , who will be playing with an injured middle finger on his throwing hand. Its an NFC game, its going to be a big one. Were excited about the opportunity, obviously, great to be in this type of a position. Just got to go out there and play well.The Lions, who made the playoffs as a wild card in coach Jim Caldwells first season in 2014 with an 11-5 record, are looking to get back to the postseason after going 7-9 last year. The Giants are looking to end a four-year playoff drought in Ben McAdoos first season as coach.For us to be here where we are, standing at 9-4 with playoff contention right there on the horizon, it is definitely fun to be here and to understand that the offense hasnt reached that top pinnacle of where we want to be, and we know it is coming, said receiver Victor Cruz, a member of New Yorks Super Bowl-winning team in February 2012. We know it is only a matter of time and hopefully it is this week.The defense has been the strength of both teams, with New Yorks group preserving probably all nine wins. The Giants offense has yet to score 30 points. The Lions offense has played well in the fourth quarter, posting comeback wins eight times.Some things to consider for Sundays game:MATCHING MANNINGS: Caldwell is close with Peyton Manning, dating to their years with the Indianapolis Colts. While he has watched Eli Manning from afar, he sees a lot of similarities.He has the same sort of mental makeup and youd have to certainly attribute that to Archie and Olivia, Caldwell said of the quarterbacks parents. Theyve had some young guys in that family, or the men in that family, that have performed very, very well under pressure. Theyve been built for it. Hes had maybe some of the best tutelage that one can have watching his older brother play, and then obviously both of them watching their dad play.ELI WOES: The Giants offense has been horrible in recent weeks, and so has Eli Manning. His passing yards have been in the 190s in the last three games and he has thrown three interceptions and lost two fumbles. He has not had a 300-yard game since throwing for 403 against Baltimore on Oct. 16.I got to play better, Manning said. Got to find completions, got to protect the football better. Thats whats got to happen in these type of games, and you get into December, you got to protect the football. Thats the most important thing right now.LEANING ON THE OL: Detroit desperately needs its offensive line to keep the Giants line off Stafford, who hurt the middle finger on his right hand early in last weeks win over Chicago . The line, which includes first-round pick Taylor Decker at left tackle and third-round pick Graham Glasgow at center, will have to block 350-pound defensive tackle Damon Harrison and defensive end Oliver Vernon.The Giants have 26 sacks since mid-October, second best in the league in that span.FIELD POSITION: Giants punter Brad Wing has placed 10 of his last 22 punts inside the oppositions 20. He was the NFC special teams player of the week for netting 42.9 yards in the win over the Cowboys. Watch New York long snapper Zak DeOssie; he is dealing with a hamstring issue.NO RUNNING: The Lions and Giants are among the NFLs worst rushing teams. Detroit is ranked No. 29, averaging 83.7 yards. The Giants are No. 31, averaging 78.7 yards. Theo Riddick leads the Lions with 357 yards on 92 carries, a 3.9 yard average, but is a major threat as a receiver. Rashad Jennings has 459 yards on 136 carries for New York, a 3.4 yard average.---AP Sports Writer Larry Lage in Allen Park, Michigan contributed to this report.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and -http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic . The 28-year-old from Calgary matched his career best after missing just one shot in his two rounds of shooting in the mens 10-kilometre sprint competition. Smith finished in 23 minutes 15. Cheap NHL Jerseys China .Y. - Rob Manfred was promoted Monday to Major League Baseballs chief operating officer, which may make him a candidate to succeed Bud Selig as commissioner. http://www.cheapnhljerseysusa.com/ . LOUIS -- Theres no telling how these wacky World Series games will end. Discount Hockey Jerseys . 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CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Carolina Panthers partners have presented team owner Jerry Richardson and his family with a sculpture outside of the north gate of the teams downtown stadium.The sculpture, designed by California artist Todd Andrews in honor of Richardsons 80th birthday, depicts Richardson presenting the gift of NFL football to the people of the Carolinas flanked by two roaring panthers.Panthers partners Steve and Jerry Woodsworth said in a release the statue is a symbol of heartfelt apprreciation and gratitude to the Richardson family for everything they have done for us as partners, fans and the community.ddddddddddddRichardson realized his dream of bringing an NFL team to the Carolinas on Oct. 26, 1993, when the Panthers were awarded with an expansion team.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '