Vikings vs. Falcons 2015 live stream: Start time, TV schedule and how to watch online

The Minnesota Vikings and Atlanta Falcons are both playing well on the season, but both now trail in their respective divisions. One of them will be in a better position on Sunday, while the other will go back to the drawing board as they're set to meet at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta for a Week 12 matchup.

Aside from a Week 1 loss to the struggling San Francisco 49ers, the Vikings have looked great this season. Going into Week 11, they had first place in the NFC North, but they dropped their game against the Green Bay Packers and fell to 7-3 on the season.

Fortunately for them, the Packers lost to the Chicago Bears on Thursday and they are again tied with Green Bay in the division, though the Packers hold that tiebreak at this point. Prior to the loss against Green Bay, the Vikings had won five consecutive games coming off their bye week.

With a remaining schedule that includes a rematch at Lambeau Field in Week 17 and the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday Night Football in Week 14, the Vikings can't afford any more losses if they're hoping to win the NFC North over the Packers.

For the Falcons, things couldn't be going worse. They started the season at 6-1, but since then they have lost three consecutive games. They fell to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Indianapolis Colts and 49ers. They also had their bye week between the 49ers and Colts games, but looked flat against Indianapolis in the 24-21 loss.

Atlanta looked playoff-bound before its losing streak, but its defense is struggling big time this season. With both games against the undefeated Carolina Panthers still on the schedule, the Falcons can't afford a loss either. They also face the high-powered offense of the New Orleans Saints and will take on the surging Jacksonville Jaguars, if in fact they are still surging by Week 15.

The Falcons actually rank ninth in the league in total defense, but the pass defense ranks 17th. They are first in the league against the rush, which is why their total defense ranking is so high. But the Falcons will be up against Adrian Peterson, the top back in the NFL this season.

Peterson has put up 1,006 yards and six touchdowns this season. He has a per-carry average of 4.8 yards on the season. He's coming off a disappointing game against the Packers, but the week before, he rushed for 7.8 yards per carry and had 203 total yards in a dominant win over the Oakland Raiders. Peterson will be the biggest test Atlanta's run defense has faced this season. Part of the reason he's so successful is the fact that Teddy Bridgewater has so much speed of his own, opposing defenses have to account for him and can't stack against Peterson.

Online: NFL Game Pass