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As Week 17 games approach, some of our NFC North teams will have different agendas than what we're accustomed to. And so, as it turns out, will the NFC North blogger.

I'm going to hole up at Blog Headquarters Sunday rather than venture out to cover games that will have minimal impact on, uh, anything. That should put me in the best position to monitor the Detroit Lions' postseason seeding and possible opponent, the Green Bay Packers' health, the Minnesota Vikings' quest to avoid an 0-for in the division and the Chicago Bears' continued tryout of a 32-year-old quarterback.

It's possible we won't know the Lions' wild-card matchup until late Sunday night, following the conclusion of the Dallas Cowboys-New York Giants showdown. Whenever it's locked in, I'll post a quick take of my thoughts.

In the interim, I hope everyone has a fun -- AND SAFE -- New Years' weekend.

Four-fectas don't get much easier than this.

(Fingers crossed/jinx tonic consumed.)

The geography of our Week 10 matchups all but required me to see each NFC North team in action. My plan is to cover Sunday's game at Soldier Field and then drive up to Lambeau Field in time for Monday Night Football.

By the time I return to NFC North blog headquarters Tuesday morning, we'll know if the Detroit Lions have a two-game lead over the Chicago Bears in the NFC wild-card race or if the Bears have pulled even. We'll also know if the Green Bay Packers are still undefeated, or if the Minnesota Vikings followed up on their plan to end talk of a 16-0 season.

They're all fun, but I think we can agree that Week 10 will be a bit more than that.

Lessee. What to do on a November weekend in the Midwest?

OK, if you insist.

I'll go to San Diego.

Yep, it's time to jump on the Green Bay Packers' bandwagon as we move into the second half of the season. I'll be at the NFC North's only game Sunday, when the Packers will take on the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium.

It's physically possible, but not physically advisable, for me to make it to Philadelphia for Monday night's game between the Eagles and Chicago Bears. So we'll leave that one in the capable hands of our ESPNChicago.com crew, and then we'll all reconvene Tuesday at full division strength.

Ian of Cincinnati wrote to the mailbag:

I feel like you are almost completely ignoring the Green Bay Packers … the undefeated Packers. But I am being totally honest, PLEASE keep ignoring them, I will gladly take a season with little media coverage and thus have less pressure. Please keep covering the unproven teams in our division and leave the Packers alone! Thanks so much!

Sorry, Ian. It's on now. So on.

I'll be in attendance Sunday at the Metrodome, where your undefeated Packers are looking to extend their unbeaten streak to 13 games, dating to last December. And I don't mind telling you that I'm feeling pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty good about getting to their post-bye game at the San Diego Chargers as well.

By the end of Sunday, we'll have posts up about that game as well as the Detroit Lions' matchup with the Atlanta Falcons and the Chicago Bears' game in London against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. (Courtesy ESPNChicago.com, of course.) Off into the wild (green and gold) yonder we go....

A few years ago, Time Magazine declared: "Teleportation is Real."

Unfortunately, it hasn't been made available for mass consumption. I'm afraid that's the only way I could do this weekend justice in the NFC North.

Absent the ability to jump from the Metrodome to Soldier Field in a matter of seconds, I'm forced to choose one Black and Blue matchup this weekend. In the end, it really wasn't much of a choice. The Green Bay Packers-Chicago Bears rivalry still beats Detroit Lions-Minnesota Vikings, no matter how many people are predicting an historic outcome Sunday at the Metrodome.

So my plan is to arrive at Soldier Field late Sunday morning, watch the Lions and Vikings battle it out on television and then turn my attention to the loose grass/painted dirt/playing field. If all goes well, I'll have a Lions-Vikings wrap-up posted before the Packers and Bears kick off. If not, I trust you'll be patient. (Riiiiiiiiiiiiight.)

I'll continue our new tradition of pregame chats, although this one will probably start during the Lions-Vikings game. Let's meet at, say, 1:30 p.m. ET or so. I'll provide the post. You provide the comments.

And do me this favor as well: Make sure you join our NFL Countdown Live chat for Packers-Bears starting at about 4 p.m. ET. You'll find a formal module right here on the blog. I'll be in there all game long, bringing insight that will include, but won't be limited to, letting you know when a big play has occurred. In all sincerity, we have a lot of fun in there and you would/will, too. See you there.

September is the time for establishing a strong foundation for our year-long coverage, and I try to make sure I see every NFC North team at least once in the first month of the season. We'll get 75 percent of the way there Sunday when I saddle up at the Metrodome for the Minnesota Vikings' home opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

(Yes, it isn't lost on me that I'll see the Bucs for the second time this season. Such is life.)

Once again, I plan to set up a Sunday morning post for a pregame chat in the comments section. Look for it around 10:30 a.m. ET. We'll go at it for 45 minutes or so before I have to step away for important business.

By the end of the day, we'll have thoughts on all four NFC North games posted to the blog, and while I won't spell it out for you, let's just say we'll accomplish our September goal by the end of Week 3.

By my count, I've been privileged enough to pull two four-fectas and one trifecta in the long and winding history of the NFC North blog. Twice, I've managed to see all four division teams play in person during the same week. Once, we've seen three of the four.

This weekend, however, we'll have the rarest of opportunities: Seeing two Black and Blue teams in the playoffs.

That's right. My itinerary calls for me to cover Saturday night's divisional playoff game at the Georgia Dome, where the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons will kick off about 8 p.m. ET. Then, through the magic of early morning flight schedules, I'm planning to arrive at Soldier Field in time for Sunday's 1 p.m. ET kickoff for the Chicago Bears and Seattle Seahawks.

I don't know if any grandchildren will ever want to hear the story, but I can think of worse ways to spend a weekend. Let's do this.

The choice is easy this weekend.

I'll join NFC East colleague Matt Mosley at Lincoln Financial Field this Sunday to see the only NFC North team in action. The Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles will kick off their wild-card playoff game at 4:30 p.m. ET.

It could get tricky in the division round if the Packers win Sunday. In that case, they would advance to play next Saturday night (Jan. 15) against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome. That game would kick off at 8 p.m. ET, or 17 hours before the Chicago Bears will kick off their divisional round game against a yet-to-be determined opponent.

Anyone want to lend out a private plane? (And a pilot?) Hit the mailbag.

Ha. We'll worry about that one next week. For now, it's full steam ahead to Philly.

I had so much fun at Lambeau Field last week that I'm headed back for an encore.

I'll be bellied up to the press box table in time for Sunday's 4:15 p.m. ET kickoff, watching to see if the Green Bay Packers can punch their playoff ticket. I'll also be interested to see if the Chicago Bears have a chance to clinch the NFC's No. 1 overall seed.

If all goes well, I'll have some thoughts on the division's third-place game by mid-afternoon. The Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions are scheduled to kick off at 1 p.m. ET at Ford Field.

Let's make Week 17 the best yet!

I know what game I'll be at this weekend. I can only assume where I'll be, of course.

The Chicago Bears' prime-time matchup with the Minnesota Vikings will be televised Monday night on ESPN, presumably from TCF Bank Stadium. I'll be in the press box and laughing at -- I mean, watching --- the stampede for seats and the subsequently frozen fans at a game that could end with the Bears crowned NFC North champions.

Remember, the Bears can clinch the division with a victory if the Green Bay Packers lose Sunday night to the red-hot New England Patriots. Along the way, we'll get the unique (if not entertaining) spectacle of the NFL's first outdoor game in Minnesota since 1981. (Latest weather forecast for Monday: A low of 17 degrees with a 30 percent chance of snow. Wind chills of 7 degrees.)

On Sunday, I'll also post some timely reaction to the Packers' game at Gillette Stadium, as well as the Detroit Lions' matchup at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Week 15 could prove decisive for the NFC North.

I don't want to talk about it.

It's not for me to tell you what the biggest game in the NFC North is this weekend.

I don't feel like revealing what city is on the Week 14 travel itinerary laying on my desk.

You'll have to wait until Sunday to find out where I will be.

Some things are best kept behind closed doors.

Later.

I'm headed to Detroit as the December playoff push begins.

That's right. I'll be at Ford Field this Sunday to see if the Chicago Bears can maintain their one-game lead in the NFC North. Or will the Detroit Lions derail them? Tune in to the blog Sunday afternoon to find out.

By early evening, I'll have some thoughts posted on the Green Bay Packers' matchup with the San Francisco 49ers as well as the Minnesota Vikings' game against the Buffalo Bills. Come on, NFC North blog community. Let's get two of our teams to the playoffs for the second consecutive year!

There's nothing better than Washington, D.C., on Thanksgiving weekend. I look forward to arriving in our nation's cap....

Screeeeeeeech!

Whoops. I had to slam on the brakes and "re-evaluate."

The Minnesota Vikings are in fact playing at the Washington Redskins on Sunday. I'll be at the Georgia Dome, taking in what should be one of the best games of the NFL's regular season, pitting the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons.

Week 12 was a tough choice because it also offered the Soldier Field matchup between the Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles. Fortunately, our ESPNChicago.com crew will be on site to help us with that one.

By the end of Sunday, we'll have reaction to all three games posted to the blog. I'm expecting a fun and dramatic day. Do we ever have anything else here in the NFC North?

If there were any doubt, let it be known that I'll be at the Metrodome on Sunday to chronicle the latest Green Bay Packers-Minnesota Vikings rivalry game.

In news destined to send shock waves throughout cyberspace, it will be my last Vikings game for at least one week.

Stay tuned for further details next week. I've already said too much.

By the end of this Sunday, we'll know if the Packers have kept pace with the Chicago Bears or if the Vikings have extended the competitive portion of their season. We'll also know if the Detroit Lions have ended their 25-game road losing streak. The drama! The drama!

Daggone it. GBChic has me figured out.

When I re-scheduled our Tuesday SportsNation chat to work on a "top secret and highly explosive project," GBChic saw right through it: "Please, the top-secret project is the article he's writing about going to the Bears game this weekend to prove once and for all he's capable of impartial blogging. Sneaky Mr. Seifert! Very sneaky!"

Ah, yes. In this week's programming note, I was planning to use the old "I'm headed to Soldier Field this weekend to cover the Chicago Bears" trick. But yes, I'll now acknowledge they are playing the Minnesota Vikings. Along with my ESPNChicago.com colleagues, we'll find out if the Bears can pull into the NFC North lead or if the Vikings will get new life in the division race.

I'll also have some thoughts on the Detroit Lions' trip to Buffalo by early Sunday evening. Until then ...