At least members of the Green Bay Packers weren't trying to fool anyone with lines about this week's game against the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field being "just one game out of 16."

"It's a big one, make no mistake," cornerback Charles Woodson said after Sunday's 31-3 trouncing of the host Cleveland Browns.

The spotlight will be focused on Vikings quarterback Brett Favre, who will be making his return to Green Bay. Beyond that, though, the outcome could have huge ramifications for the NFC North title race and the playoff aspirations of both teams.

Minnesota's 27-17 loss at Pittsburgh Sunday, combined with Green Bay's blowout win, allowed the Packers (4-2) to pull within a game of the Vikings (6-1) in the loss column.

A win Sunday not only would draw Green Bay - which likely will be without injured tight end Jermichael Finley - even in the loss column, it would salvage a split of the season series. It also would prevent the Vikings from having that tiebreaker after Minnesota's 30-23 win in Week 4 in Minneapolis.

"This is an important division game," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "It is every year. I understand all the things that are added to it, but we feel like we're really improving as a football team."

That football team, though, will be shorthanded for the crucial game.

Finley, who had become one of the Packers' top offensive weapons in his second season, suffered a knee sprain early in Sunday's win and McCarthy told reporters in Green Bay during a news conference Monday afternoon that Finley will "be a long shot to go this week."

"We're going to give him the full week to take a shot at it," McCarthy said. "He'll be in a very limited fashion this week."

Finley ranks fourth on the team in catches (17) and third in yards (260), and had his best performance in the first game against the Vikings, catching six passes for 128 yards and a 62-yard touchdown.

To make matters worse, the knee injury suffered by receiver Brett Swain against the Browns turned out to be season-ending. Receiver Jordy Nelson sprained a knee the previous week against the Lions, and McCarthy said Monday that Nelson is "probably a couple weeks away."

That leaves the Packers with only three receivers (starters Greg Jennings and Donald Driver and No. 3 James Jones) and two tight ends (Donald Lee and Spencer Havner).

"We're going through an injury phase right now, which most teams in the league are," said McCarthy, who also announced backup safety Derrick Martin would likely miss practice time this week with a hamstring strain. "It's very normal coming up on the halfway point of the season."

McCarthy said the team planned on adding a receiver, with signing practice squad player Jake Allen being "a definite possibility."

"The personnel department is looking at their options, and we'll probably make a decision here in the next 24 hours," he said.

And it's still unclear whether left tackle Chad Clifton (ankle) will be back in time to face Minnesota. Rookie T.J. Lang started in his place against the Browns, but Clifton's presence would be a boost against the Vikings, who sacked quarterback Aaron Rodgers eight times in the first meeting.

"Just speaking with the medical staff, Chad made a lot of progress last week," McCarthy said. "We're probably going to take him through the rehab part of it Wednesday and Thursday and see if he can go on Friday. That's our plan for the week, and how he responds to that will obviously give us the path to try to get him ready for the game."

McCarthy said right tackle Mark Tauscher, who is recovering from ACL surgery, has been medically cleared and would be a full participant in practice this week.

"We'll evaluate Mark as far as how he fits into our plan," McCarthy said. "And the same will be true for (recently re-signed running back) Ahman Green."

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