#Vikings WR Justin Jefferson career stats against Green Bay:

-11 Games
-60 Receptions
-863 Yards
-5 TD’s

The Cheese Grater. 🧀🔪 pic.twitter.com/wXOPAb5jtr

— Vikes\/erified (@VikesVV) September 7, 2026

Ooooh snap! 🫰

"Minnesota is just the first test. It's going to be good to put that on tape and let the league know what the Green Bay #Packers defense is all about."
Packers captain Zaire Franklin wants the defense to set the tone against the Vikings. pic.twitter.com/lWC0Y2Ziqu

— Dominique Yates (@RealDYates) September 7, 2026

These two are going to FEAST on Sunday 😈 pic.twitter.com/jhbNlHFkfQ

— SleeperVikings (@SleeperVikings) September 8, 2026

Was just comparing units for the Vikings and Packers.

QB—Packers—Love is inconsistent and overrated. Still he's proven in this offense and we don't yet know how Kyler and KOC will connect.

OL—Vikings easy—I don't know why more people aren't talking about how bad the the Packers OL has the potential to be. 

RB—Vikings—With Jacobs, Packers would win this.

WR—Vikings easy—Packers WR room is solid. Still, WR1 in Green Bay would be WR3 in Minnesota

TE—Vikings—Tucker Kraft is better than anyone we’ve got, but he'll be on a snap count week one recovering from ACL.

DL—Packers—It’s close. Devonte Wyatt, Hargrave and a rookie isn't that awesome, but outside of Jalen Redmond, the Vikings are likely going to use a heavy rotation. A lot of youth and upside, but still a lot of unanswered questions and potential mistakes.

OLB—Vikings—Without Parsons, Vikings win here. Van Ness has turned from bust to quality player, but Sorrell is just a guy. We might see some of their OLB3, the “dentist,” Dani Dennis-Sutton (DDS)

ILB—Vikings—Edgerrin Cooper is good, but Zaire Franklin isn’t. Cashman and Wilson by a length

DB—Packers—Both secondaries are average, but I’d say their secondary is a degree better than ours

ST—Vikings—Packers drafted their own Reichard in the 6th round this year. Smack hasn’t missed in the preseason. Skyy Moore ranked 6th in returns last year. Price ranked 3rd.

MaroonBells wrote:

Was just comparing units for the Vikings and Packers.
QB—Packers—Love is inconsistent and overrated. Still he's proven in this offense and we don't yet know how Kyler and KOC will connect.
OL—Vikings easy—I don't know why more people aren't talking about how bad the the Packers OL has the potential to be. 
RB—Vikings—With Jacobs, Packers would win this.
WR—Vikings easy—Packers WR room is solid. Still, WR1 in Green Bay would be WR3 in Minnesota
TE—Vikings—Tucker Kraft is better than anyone we’ve got, but he'll be on a snap count week one recovering from ACL.
DL—Packers—It’s close. Devonte Wyatt, Hargrave and a rookie isn't that awesome, but outside of Jalen Redmond, the Vikings are likely going to use a heavy rotation. A lot of youth and upside, but still a lot of unanswered questions and potential mistakes.
OLB—Vikings—Without Parsons, Vikings win here. Van Ness has turned from bust to quality player, but Sorrell is just a guy. We might see some of their OLB3, the “dentist,” Dani Dennis-Sutton (DDS)
ILB—Vikings—Edgerrin Cooper is good, but Zaire Franklin isn’t. Cashman and Wilson by a length
DB—Packers—Both secondaries are average, but I’d say their secondary is a degree better than ours
ST—Vikings—Packers drafted their own Reichard in the 6th round this year. Smack hasn’t missed in the preseason. Skyy Moore ranked 6th in returns last year. Price ranked 3rd.

Well done!

Like I posted earlier, across the entire history of the matchup, games are decided by an average of just 1.35 points per game. I suspect we'll all be glued to our sets and seats come 4th qtr.

Divisional game + blow-outs between these 2 teams has been rare.

I just checked Vegas line and Viking are only a -1.5

Monday Night Football on October 5, 2009.

This game was insane. I don’t think anyone sat down all night. https://t.co/CXRg5HYNX3

— Vikeologist™ (@Vikeologist) September 8, 2026

This #Vikings interior is loaded with UPSIDE 🚀 #SKOL pic.twitter.com/tEYuKdc3Cq

— Vikes\/erified (@VikesVV) September 8, 2026

Cricket wrote:

Monday Night Football on October 5, 2009.
https://x.com/Vikeologist/status/2097145158357643685?s=20

I was there at this one; one of my favorite memories of all time at Metrodome.

This game and then when we played Dallas at home in the Divisional playoffs that year;

• 34/3 Vikings over Cowboys

• Favre threw 4 td's that game.

#Packers HC Matt LaFleur says #Vikings S Harrison Smith is the “straw that stirs the drink” for Minnesota defensively.

“His ability to get them in and out of calls, it shows up all over tape.” pic.twitter.com/F0UNYMaLW7

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) September 8, 2026

#Packers WR Christian Watson on Harrison Smith coming back:

“I respect everything that he’s done in his career… he will bring a different vibe to that defense for sure. I think regardless of who was out there, we’re gonna approach it the same way.” https://t.co/pSKKEhFYNm pic.twitter.com/JjBkXqFTH6

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) September 8, 2026

"Now they have Kyler Murray in to lead an offense with a ton of talent in the prime of their careers, with a veteran defense capable of maximizing Brian Flores’ scheme" -@SInow's Albert Breer on the #Vikings in his assessment of each team heading into the 2026 season

📰:… pic.twitter.com/jSFZC7HQ3k

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 8, 2026

https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/onsi/vikings-have-advantages-over-packers-in-3-key-areas-ahead-of-week-1-01m1t666gw17

Vikings Have Advantages Over Packers in 3 Key Areas Ahead of Week 1

The Vikings have the matchup advantage in three spots, which should help them against their divisional rivals.

Whenever the Minnesota Vikings take on the Green Bay Packers, the game feels important. That is no different this season, even though the purple and gold are facing their division rivals in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season.

Winning this game is essential for setting the tone for the season. For the Vikings, it is hard to know how they will look on the field with a new starting quarterback, a reworked defensive line, and several new faces on the roster. A solid performance against Green Bay would signal that Minnesota will be a competitive team this season.

This game will feature a contrast of styles. Minnesota's blend of smothering defense and methodical offense is a peculiar matchup against Green Bay's passing attack, which features quarterback Jordan Love and a lot of young talent on the roster.

That said, we'll take a look at the three key areas where the Vikings have an edge over their divisional rivals heading into the regular season opener.

1. Wide receivers and running backs

The Packers have a lot of good players at their skill positions, but they don't have a wide receiver like Justin Jefferson. As it currently stands, it looks like Jefferson will be matched up against rookie Brandon Cisse, who is an insanely difficult player to face in your first NFL game. Then you have Keisean Nixon, who will likely go against Jordan Addison after a season allowing a passer rating of 105.2 when targeted.

Unless something changes by kickoff, Green Bay will be without starting running back Josh Jacobs, who is currently on the commissioner-exempt list pending the result of legal issues. In his place, MarShawn Lloyd is in line to get the start. It would be surprising to see him run the ball more than 20 times against Minnesota.

Meanwhile, the Vikings have three running backs ready to go. The combination of Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason is a good one-two punch of receiving out of the backfield and power running, while RB3 Demond Claiborne will provide plenty of speed and elusiveness if needed.

2. Pass rush

Packers star edge rusher Micah Parsons is starting this season on injured reserve and will not be available in Week 1. That means it will be up to Lukas Van Ness and Barryn Sorrell to generate pressure on the edges.

Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores is known for being aggressive when getting after quarterbacks. Edge rushers Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner should be able to feast on a Green Bay offensive line that has its own issues.

Last season, Turner recorded 15 quarterback hits, 11 tackles for loss, and eight sacks. Three of those sacks came against the Packers. Meanwhile, Van Ginkel produced 13 quarterback hits, 11 tackles for loss, and seven sacks.

That doesn't even account for Minnesota rotating in a new arrival, veteran pass rusher Kyle Van Noy, who has 57 career sacks.

3. Offensive line

Zach Bako-Bewele is expected to start at right tackle for the Green Bay offense, but he is still struggling during his recovery from a partial patellar tendon tear he sustained in Week 15 of the 2026 NFL season.

Bako-Bewele didn't play at all during the preseason. When asked whether he'd be ready for the regular season opener against Minnesota on August 26, he said he would, but his answer didn't sound confident.

Meanwhile, Packers starting left guard Aaron Banks is dealing with a lingering knee issue caused by tendonitis. There is no telling whether the injury will hold him out of the game against Minnesota or if he will be able to play on a play-by-play basis in the season opener. Having two question marks on the offensive line is not a good thing for Green Bay.

The biggest issue for the Vikings on the offensive line is that Blake Brandel is entering his first year as Minnesota's starting center and has struggled to deliver the ball to the quarterback accurately out of shotgun formation. He has worked on that part of his game during training camp and at practices, so hopefully that will be ironed out by the time he is on the field in Week 1.

https://packerswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/2026/09/06/packers-vikings-7-things-to-know-about-minnesota-before-week-1/91641905007/

Week 1: 7 things to know about Vikings ahead of Packers opener

The Green Bay Packers take on the Minnesota Vikings in the 2026 regular season opener at U.S. Bank Stadium, here are seven things for Packers fans to know about Kevin O'Connell's team entering 2026:

1. Vikings have a new QB

Unlike last season, the Packers won't be facing J.J. McCarthy or Max Brosmer in the season opener. The Vikings are turning a new page at quarterback, starting former No. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray to open the 2026 season. Murray is 0-2 as a starter in his career against the Packers. At his best, Murray is a playmaker at quarterback who can extend plays or create explosive gains with his legs. But Murray hasn't led a team to a winning record as a starter since 2021, and his career passer rating is 92.2. Last season, Murray played in only five games, and he hasn't appeared in a regular season game since Oct. 5 of 2025. Can he provide a higher baseline of play at quarterback in Minnesota, and is he more than just another stopgap?

2. Harrison Smith is back

A bit of a surprise before Week 1: Harrison Smith is coming out of retirement to re-join the Vikings for a 15th NFL season. A versatile veteran who knows Brian Flores' system inside and out, Smith provides an experienced veteran who can get everyone on the same page pre-snap and play from multiple alignments post-snap. While he wasn't in Minnesota for training camp, it's likely Smith will be ready to contribute right away in Week 1. The Packers will have to wait another year to face the post-Smith Vikings.

3. Gone is a top pass-rusher

The Vikings traded away top pass-rusher Jonathan Greenard, leaving a hole on the edge of Brian Flores' defense. He was a menacing rusher who made the Pro Bowl in 2024, but Greenard dealt with lingering injuries in 2025 and is now playing for the Eagles. Who will take over his role? Dallas Turner, a 2024 first-round pick, is now expected to be the go-to pass-rusher in Minnesota. Expect to see plenty of battles between Turner and 2024 first-round pick Jordan Morgan next Sunday. Last season, Turner produced 8.0 sacks and 15 quarterback hits. Is he ready for a breakout season in Year 3? Andrew Van Ginkel is another productive player on the edge, and the Vikings also added veteran Kyle Van Noy to the practice squad. In a Flores defense, pressure can be manufactured via exotic blitzes.

4. Rookies on the DL

The Vikings beefed up the defensive line via the draft, taking Florida's Caleb Banks in the first round and Iowa State's Domonique Orange in the third round. Banks is loaded with talent but has dealt with injuries and inconsistency through his football career, while Orange was a favorite of Packers fans during the pre-draft process. Green Bay ended up signing former Vikings defensive lineman Javon Hargrave and taking Chris McClellan with Orange on the board in the third round. Will Banks and Orange impact the game in Week 1? They are not projected starters, but expect both to play snaps right away.

5. WR group adds a physical presence

Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison are a difficult duo to cover, and now the Vikings have a physical third option in Jauan Jennings, the former 49er who caught nine touchdown passes last season. Jefferson, Addison and Jennings might be the top 1-2-3 in the league, or close to it. And Jennings gives the Vikings a different flavor, given his size, blocking ability and red-zone physicality. Can the Packers' rebuilt cornerback room handle the challenge? Top pick Brandon Cisse and free agent addition Benjamin St-Juste will have their hands full in the opener.

6. Aaron Jones is still in Minnesota

Former Packers running back Aaron Jones is coming off a disappointing 2025 season (548 rushing yards over 12 games), but the 31-year-old playmaker is back in Minnesota for a third season, and he's currently expected to play a leading role at running back, along with Jordan Mason. While Jones has been productive in his three career games against the Packers, he's never scored against his former team. And the Packers held him to only 41 rushing yards in their last meeting. Stopping the run and forcing the game into Kyler Murray's hands will be a top priority for Jonathan Gannon's defense in Week 1. Another former Packer, Eric Wilson, is still an important player at linebacker for Brian Flores.

7. Watch the offensive line

The Packers weren't the only team to deal with offensive line injuries last season. The Vikings were forced to shuffle through multiple groupings up front due to injuries, and pass protection for the carousel at quarterback suffered for it. Will Minnesota rebound in 2025? At the very least, the starting group is healthy. Christian Darrisaw and Brian O'Neil are excellent tackles, but the interior could be a weak spot. Watch how the Packers attack left guard Donovan Jackson, center Blake Brandel and right guard Will Fries in the opener. Green Bay's pass-rushers (see: Devonte Wyatt, Javon Hargrave) must win battles inside because Darrisaw and O'Neil are tough to get around consistently. Brandel is the new starter at center after Ryan Kelly retired. View him like the Vikings' version of Sean Rhyan, a player who moved to center last season and is now the new starter entering 2026.

Cricket wrote:

Monday Night Football on October 5, 2009.
https://x.com/Vikeologist/status/2097145158357643685?s=20

https://packerswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/2026/09/08/5-big-questions-facing-the-packers-before-week-1-opener-vs-vikings/91656657007/

5 big questions facing the Packers before Week 1 opener vs. Vikings

After weeks of training camp and the preseason, the Green Bay Packers will finally open the 2026 season on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. The months of July and August can only provide so much info. Now, the Packers will play real games, and the learning truly begins.

Here are five questions the Packers can start answering on Sunday in Minneapolis:

1. Who will be the starting five offensive linemen?

As of Monday, the Packers weren't ready to publicly commit to Aaron Banks and Zach Bako-Bewele being fully available in Week 1 -- leaving the Packers right where they left off in 2025, with injury question marks along the offensive line. It's possible the Packers will need Anthony Belton to start (or play snaps) at right tackle and rookie Jager Burton to start (or play snaps) at left guard. So much for building continuity to start 2026. Banks and Bako-Bewele both missed time throughout training camp. And a Week 1 matchup with the blitz-happy Brian Flores awaits.

2. Can the Packers rush the quarterback without Micah Parsons?

The Packers won't have Micah Parsons for at least the first month of the season, putting the pass-rush in the spotlight. A group led by edge rusher Lukas Van Ness and veteran interior rushers Javon Hargrave and Devonte Wyatt must find ways to disrupt the quarterback consistently, especially with a difficult Week 1 matchup against Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and Jauan Jennings approaching for the secondary. Kyler Murray is an elusive quarterback, complicating the task, but a pressured quarterback is almost always a less effective quarterback. The season opener is a chance for the Packers to show they can handle the challenge of rushing the quarterback without Parsons. Like Brian Flores, expect Jonathan Gannon to help the defensive line with plenty of blitzes from linebackers and even the secondary. Corner blitzes were a common sight in training camp.

3. Can the Packers run the football without Josh Jacobs?

With Josh Jacobs on the exempt list, the Packers will go into Week 1 with MarShawn Lloyd, Chris Brooks and newcomer Kaleb Johnson as the three running backs. The offensive line isn't settled, and now the Packers don't have their veteran Pro Bowl runner. Can Lloyd provide a Week 1 surprise? He is athletic and explosive, with big-play potential, but getting a feel for running in the regular season might take time after all the time he's missed. Expect to see plenty of Brooks, the team's best blocking running back, in an effort to counter any blitzes from Brian Flores. Johnson could contribute, but it's also possible the Packers will elevate Pierre Strong Jr. from the practice squad for extra help. Last season, the Packers took down the Vikings at Lambeau Field with backup running back Emanuel Wilson leading the way. Can Matt LaFleur's team repeat the feat to open 2026?

4. Can the Packers cover good receivers?

The end of the 2025 season showed how the pass-rush and coverage units of a defense have a symbiotic relationship. Without Micah Parsons, the Packers struggled to cover opponent passing games, as teams were willing to send more pass-catchers into routes and call longer-developing plays without the threat of Parsons wrecking the game. The same idea applies to Sunday's opener. Entering 2026, the Packers beefed up the corner position, adding top draft pick Brandon Cisse and veteran Benjamin St-Juste to the mix. But a big test awaits in the Vikings receiver trio. There's a good chance the Packers pass-rush won't be a dominant force on Sunday. If so, can the Packers survive on the backend?

5. Can rookie kicker Trey Smack make big kicks in real games?

Smack, a sixth-round pick, eased concerns over the Packers kicking game during a perfect preseason that featured multiple field goals over 50 yards. But kicking in the preseason doesn't compare to the pressure of kicks in the regular season, especially on the road in a difficult environment. Games so often come down to a few points here and there, especially between division foes. Can Smack convert all his point-scoring opportunities in his NFL debut? You can bet U.S. Bank Stadium will make every kick a loud, nerve-wracking one for the rookie.

https://packerstalk.com/2026/09/08/5-pivotal-matchups-in-packers-vs-vikings/

5 pivotal matchups in Packers vs. Viking

Green Bay Packers football is finally here! I am so so happy that we made it through this past offseason. It feels so incredibly long ago that we watched this team piss away a lead in the wild card round. Only a few more days and we will get a fresh taste of Green Bay Packers football! Also thankful for the bonus that we get to start the season off with a massive divisional matchup. The Vikings will present a strong test, especially in Minnesota, and I’d like to spend a few minutes breaking down what I’ll be watching on Sunday.

These are the 5 matchups I think will be the keys to watch for when the teams take the field on Sunday.

1. Jordan Morgan vs. Dallas Turner

In my opinion, the biggest loss for the Vikings this past offseason was Jonathan Greenard. For as long as I can remember, the Vikings have consistently had at least one top notch edge rusher. Guys like Jared Allen or Danielle Hunter come to mind quickly. Those are the types of players that keep opposing coaches up at night and singlehandedly change game plans. Greenard, while somewhat inconsistent and not quite to the level of Allen or Hunter, was next in that line for Minnesota. And now sadly for the Vikings, they will be moving through this season without Greenard after having to trade him for salary cap reasons.

This sets up a huge matchup between Jordan Morgan and Dallas Turner. Morgan was the Packers 1st round pick in 2024, and now heading into his 3rd season will finally get a chance to play his most natural position, left tackle.

Dallas Turner, also a 1st round pick in 2024, now gets his first chance to enter a season as the team’s top pass rusher.

Turner is a very good pass rusher, and one the Green Bay Packers will have to constantly be aware of. He’s not the strongest player, but he’s got one of the fastest first steps in the game. As a speed rusher, he can be especially dangerous when playing at home in the noise and on the turf.

Morgan, another player who wins with speed and foot quickness will have to be on his game right out of the gate. I expect Morgan to do well enough, but also to get a fair amount of chip help throughout this game. Whoever wins this matchup could go a long way towards determining the winner of the game.

• Chris Brooks and the Packers RB’s vs. Brian Flores

The big weak link on the Packers offense right now is the running backs. It will likely cause problems in the run game for Green Bay, but it could also show up in the passing game.

With the blitz happy Brian Flores calling plays on the other side of the field I am getting increasingly nervous about these running backs’ abilities to pass protect. Expect Flores to send all sorts of blitzing linebackers/safeties/corners just to force Marshawn Lloyd and co. to prove that they can be assignment sound and pick up those blitzers.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Chris Brooks gets a lot of playing time for this reason. He’s their best pass protecting back by a country mile, and Lafleur may turn to him if this matchup starts to get out of hand.

• Brandon Cisse vs. maybe the best WR room in the league

Training camp hype is such a wonderful drug and we’ve all been high on it for months with Brandon Cisse. Now I am in no way saying that I am worried about Cisse as a player long term. I think it is incredibly impressive that Cisse came in and so quickly won the CB1 job outright. All signs point towards him being a real NFL player.

But what I am saying is that he’s a rookie who is 21 years old, and he will now be tasked with covering who I still think is the best receiver in the NFL. Expect some up and downs in his performance on Sunday!

• Javon Hargrave and Devonte Wyatt vs. Vikings IOL

This is a spot that I feel Jonathan Gannon can pick at. The interior of the Green Bay Packers defensive line is much improved from a year ago, and you might say the opposite of the Viking’s IOL.

That’s the recipe for a juicy matchup that tilts in the Packers’ favor.

The Vikings don’t have a true center on their roster, and there’s been consistent camp reports of botched snap exchanges and poor play from the center position. Look for the interior of this Packers defensive line to do some heavy lifting and help make up for the absence of Micah.

• Lukas Van Ness vs. Darrisaw and O’neill

This tackle tandem is another clear strength of the Vikings roster. Outside of Micah, previous Packers pass rushers have not had much success against them. This has to change on Sunday and Lukas Van Ness is the main player to keep an eye on.

If the Green Bay Packers have any hopes of surviving against this Vikings skill position group, they must generate at least a fair amount of pressure. We already touched on the potential for interior pressures, but with a mobile quarterback like Kyler back there, it’s essential to set the edges on the pocket as well.

Whether it’s simply setting the edge to contain Kyler Murray or creating pressure from the edge, LVN simply must make plays in a few of the big moments on Sunday afternoon. We all ragged on Rashan Gary for how rarely he stepped up after Micah went down. Let’s hope that LVN, unlike Gary in 2025, shows a different level he can go to.

Final Thoughts:

This game could truly go either way. I see it being a close contest and would be surprised if it turns into a blowout either way. The Vikings may have the upper hand in some of these matchups I listed, but the Green Bay Packers have the better quarterback. I expect that to make the ultimate difference.

Packers win 23-21

The #Texans have signed C Gavin Gerhardt, who was the #Vikings 7th round pick from 2026. pic.twitter.com/Ws0eIjYgOx

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) September 8, 2026

https://www.dailynorseman.com/minnesota-vikings-news/98804/week-1-preview-fast-start-needed-green-bay-packers-minnesota-vikings

Week 1 Preview: Fast Start Needed

In This Game and For the Season

Training camp is over, the preseason is in the rearview mirror, Kyle Van Noy is signed, and future Hall of Fame inductee Harrison Smith is returning for a 15th season. After eight long months, the Minnesota Vikings will finally play a regular-season game.

SETTING THE STAGE

The Green Bay Packers arrive at U.S. Bank Stadium in a strange situation. They’ve been the 7th seed in the NFC playoffs for three straight seasons. They’re in that 8- to 11-win “good, perennial playoff contender, but there’s a definite ceiling to the whole thing” zone under Matt LaFleur in the post-prime Aaron Rodgers era. I previously likened it to the 1992-97 Denny Green Vikings, and that’s a fair comparison. As I also noted, there is no Randy Moss on the horizon for the Packers.

But more immediate problems are facing the Cheeseheads. It was already known that the 3-time First-team All-Pro Micah Parsons was out for this one, but now they’ll (likely) be without their star running back, Josh Jacobs.

VIKINGS ON OFFENSE

There are a lot of unknowns here as Kyler Murray takes over as the fourth opening-week starting quarterback in Kevin O’Connell’s five seasons as head coach. It is what it is. Will Murray end up being the elusive long-term answer at quarterback? Well, the answer to that question begins.

Murray and the Vikings offense will face a Packers defense with many question marks. Aside from the enormous Parsons issue, it’s a unit that saw turnover in the offseason. EDGE Rashan Gary, LB Quay Walker, and CB Nate Hobbs are all gone, with DT Javon Hargrave, LB Zaire Franklin, and CB Benjamin St-Juste coming in as the primary reinforcements.

The Packers also have a new defensive coordinator, Jonathan Gannon, for whom Kevin O’Connell has had some trouble as the Vikings’ head coach. After an initial impressive showing in his debut as the Vikings’ coach in 2022 against… drumroll… the Green Bay Packers, the following week in Philadelphia, against Gannon as the Eagles’ defensive coordinator, was ugly. The Vikings were held to a putrid 264 total yards and just 7 points. Kirk Cousins threw 3 interceptions, while Justin Jefferson was limited to 6 catches for 48 yards.

They faced off again at U.S. Bank Stadium in 2024, this time with Gannon as the Arizona Cardinals’ head coach. The Vikings secured a 23-22 victory, but they were quite fortunate. I’d argue they were lucky. We trailed 19-6 late in the third quarter and 22–16 with 3:20 remaining. We were outgained 406-273 in total yards. The Cardinals also committed 10 penalties.

The key for Gannon in 2026 will be generating pressure in Parsons’ absence. Despite going down in Week 15 last season, he still accounted for 12.5 of the Packers’ 36 total sacks. Their sack rate plummeted from 6.8% to 2.3% in the final three games of the season. Gannon is a big Cover 4 and Cover 3 guy who has historically been a low-to-moderate blitzer. The preference has been to get home with four by incorporating stunts and simulated pressure looks. This may have to change this season out of necessity, especially early on.

The good news? With Parsons injured, Gannon will not have nearly the talent at his disposal that the stacked 2022 Eagles unit had. And KOC will have that 2024 game on film to make advantageous adjustments this time around. The bad news? He didn’t do much to improve the Vikings’ offensive output the first time around. Even against an average Cardinals defense, it was a slog.

While I think Kyler Murray will have a strong season, it will be his first start in KOC’s system after playing only one preseason series. Expecting him to hit the ground running on all cylinders may be too much. One can be hopeful, I guess.

VIKINGS ON DEFENSE

Brian Flores had the Vikings rolling on defense at the end of the 2025 season, highlighted by an absolutely dominant Week 17 performance against the high-flying Detroit Lions, with everything on the line. Training camp performances, along with late roster additions, do not indicate a letup. Dallas Turner appears ready to take the next step, while the Kyle Van Noy signing and Harrison Smith’s return calm the nerves a bit. Concerns remain along the defensive line, but overall, this unit looks poised to stay elite.

That doesn’t mean LaFleur and company haven’t had some success against Flores. Jordan Love has been largely feast-or-famine in his five outings, with two strong performances averaging 323 yards, 3.5 passing TDs to 1.5 INTs, and three weak ones, with a high of 229 yards passing (two under 200) and a combined 2 TDs and an INT.

It’s also a good-news/bad-news scenario for the Packers offense. The good news is they’ll benefit from the return of tight end Tucker Kraft, who was on the verge of an All-Pro season before an ACL injury. Yeah, a lot is riding on Kraft not missing a beat after major knee surgery.

The bad news is that they have to be at the top of the list for vacated target share in the NFL this season. They’ve put a lot of faith (and money) in Christian Watson taking the next steps toward the elite WR1 category, and whether Jayden Reed and Matthew Golden can replace the reliable Romeo Doubs and the departing Dontayvion Wicks remains to be seen.

I’d expect Flores to try to get home early, using simulated pressures and stunts to exploit a shaky, uncertain Packers offensive line that has many questions after allowing one of the highest pressure rates in the NFL last season. A surely raucous crowd at U.S. Bank Stadium will undoubtedly assist in this effort. This, in turn, will make it easier to take Watson and Kraft out of the equation. Jacobs’ absence should also create more opportunities to focus on coverage.

PREDICTION

As much as I’d love a repeat of the comfortable 2022 season-opening win over the hated Packers, I see this one more like the 2024 games. In both, the Vikings came out strong, with leads of 28-0 and 20-3 (and 27-10), respectively, only to escape with two 2-point wins. We were especially fortunate at Lambeau, where it seemed we’d have taken a loss if there’d been a few more minutes on the clock.

Hopefully it won’t be that much of a nail-biter. With the Packers missing their best defensive player, Parsons (and arguably the best in the NFL), along with their most dangerous offensive weapon, Jacobs, they should struggle to keep pace if the Vikings’ offense can reach the mid-20s (which it should).

The importance of getting this win and a fast start to the season is clear. You have to beat the Packers at home when they’re this short-handed. Simple as that, folks. The next two weeks on the road at Chicago and Tampa Bay are tricky, and the middle stretch of the season (@Detroit, Buffalo, @Green Bay, @SF in Mexico) looks brutal. Entering that stretch at 5-1 or 4-2 may be necessary if we want to challenge for a playoff spot, let alone the division.

It won’t be easy, and some aspects of the offense will need time to gel, but I believe the Vikings will take an important first step on Sunday. I can see a key turnover and a short field helping the good guys win.

Minnesota Vikings: 24

Green Bay Packers: 20

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/packers-matt-lafleur-ready-whatever-233019259.html

Packers' Matt LaFleur Ready For Whatever Happens vs Vikings in Week 1

The Green Bay Packers will be taking on the Minnesota Vikings to open the new NFL season, giving both sides a shot to start on a high note.

For Green Bay, this season is an opportunity to put the past in the past, leaving the frustrations from last year behind. The Packers ended 2025 on a five-game losing streak, falling to the rival Chicago Bears in the wild-card round of the playoffs.

So, coming into this season, Green Bay is looking for much better results, and it all starts with this game against the Vikings. But Minnesota will look much different than they did last season, with veteran quarterback Kyler Murray taking over for them.

But the Packers have spent much of the offseason preparing for this game, hoping to put together a good showing. Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur opened up about the matchup.

"I think the early part of the season is always a big challenge," LaFleur said. "Hopefully we've done a good enough job in presenting our team, whether it's offense, defense or special teams, with a bunch of different looks to get them prepared for that moment."

The Packers will be relying on quarterback Jordan Love to set the tone in this game, giving his guys a boost. Love has seen a lot of success with the Packers over the years, but he hasn't been able to elevate the organization to the Super Bowl just yet.

LaFleur will put Love in position to find success this season, including in this game against Minnesota. But it will be up to the now veteran signal-caller to earn his keep on the field.

Like Green Bay, Minnesota is looking for a bounce-back year, setting up a fun Week 1 matchup between the two rivals in the NFC North. Each side understands how important this game is, especially when it comes to the division.

There is always some level of unknown coming into a new season. But these two teams do know each other very well from all the matchups over the years.

Even with new players coming into the mix, this rivalry is always a fun one, with each side taking the game personally. The NFC North could be one of the toughest divisions in football this season, making every game that much more important.