PACKERVILLE, U.S.A.: 2026 NFL Week 1

GREEN BAY (0-0) AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (0-0)

DAY/TIME/TV: Sunday, 3:25 p.m. CDT, FOX

WHERE: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN

LAST MEETING: Vikings beat Packers 16-3 on Jan. 4, 2026, in Minneapolis.

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COACHES CAPSULES

• Matt LaFleur: 76-40-1, .654; (3-6 postseason); 8th NFL season

• Kevin O’Connell: 43-25, .632; (0-2 postseason); 5th NFL season

• Head to Head: LaFleur 3-5 vs. O’Connell vs. Opponent: LaFleur 7-7 vs. Vikings; O’Connell 5-3 vs. Packers

THE PACKERS-VIKINGS SERIES

• The all-time series began in 1961 with the Packers rattling

off six wins in a row (1961-63) before the Vikings

took 22 of the next 32 contests from 1964-79.

• From 1979 to 1990, Green Bay had a run of its own, winning 16 of 21 games. Since 2000, the Packers are 29-21-2 (.577) in regular-season games against the Vikings.

• Green Bay and Minnesota have met twice in the playoffs. Both times were in an NFC Wild Card game with the Vikings winning the first matchup in 2004 before the Packers returned the favor in 2012.

TEAM OUTLOOK & KEY STORYLINES

Minnesota Vikings: Kyler Murray makes his debut as the Vikings' starting quarterback, leading an offense that looks to feature star wide receiver Justin Jefferson heavily. Brian Flores returns to coordinate a defense known for heavy blitz packages and exotic pressure.

Green Bay Packers: Jordan Love leads the offense but will have to navigate a shorthanded roster. The Packers enter the matchup missing running back Josh Jacobs and edge rusher Micah Parsons, alongside several offensive line injuries affecting key starters.

MATCHUP TO WATCH

Green Bay’s running game vs. Minnesota’s defensive front. The Packers will play without three-time Pro Bowl running back Josh Jacobs, who’s on hiatus while a case of alleged domestic violence moves through the court system and the league discipline process. Everyone else on the roster is unproven, with MarShawn Lloyd atop the depth chart for now. The Vikings have a young defensive line led by Jalen Redmond, after dumping veterans Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave in favor of Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins and Levi Drake Rodriguez. The interior trio has just 20 career starts combined, with Redmond accounting for 17.

KEY INJURIES

GREEN BAY: DT Warren Brinson (calf). QUESTIONABLE: OL Zach Bako-Bewele (knee), G Aaron Banks (knee), LB Ty’Ron Hopper (Achilles). LIMITED: DT Javon Hargrave (knee), DE Barryn Sorrell (foot), DT Devonte Wyatt (ankle). FULL: OL Jordan Morgan (knee). MINNESOTA: DNP: T Christian Darrisaw (NIR/rest). LIMITED: S Harrison Smith (NIR/rest). FULL: S Jacob Thomas (ankle), S Jakobe Thomas (illness), OL Caleb Tiernan (ankle).

THE PACKERS-VIKINGS SERIES

• The all-time series began in 1961 with the Packers rattling off six wins in a row (1961-63) before the Vikings took 22 of the next 32 contests from 1964-79.

• From 1979 to 1990, Green Bay had a run of its own, winning 16 of 21 games. Since 2000, the Packers are 29-21-2 (.577) in regular-season games against the

Vikings.

• Green Bay and Minnesota have met twice in the playoffs. Both times were in an NFC Wild Card game with the Vikings winning the first matchup in 2004 before the Packers returned the favor in 2012.

STATS AND STUFF

— The Packers are opening against an NFC North opponent for the fourth time in five years, including 2022 at Minnesota. They’re on a five-game losing streak, including the wild-card round playoff loss at Chicago.

— Packers quarterback Jordan Love is 1-1 as a starter in his career at U.S. Bank Stadium, totaling four touchdowns and no interceptions on 43-for-63 passing for 441 yards. The Packers won in 2023 and lost in 2024 on the road against the Vikings.

— Green Bay must also play without All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons, whose knee surgery recovery will keep him out at least four games. The Packers went 9-3-1 with Parsons on the field last season and were winning at Denver in the second half when he went down on Dec. 14.

— Hargrave signed with Green Bay after his release by the Vikings and will start inside along with Karl Brooks and Devonte Wyatt. Hargrave had two of his 3½ sacks last season in the opener at Chicago.

— Murray is 0-2 in his career against the Packers, losing at home in 2021 and at Green Bay in 2024. He totaled 488 yards on 44-for-65 passing with one touchdown and two interceptions.

— Running back Aaron Jones returns for his third season with the Vikings and his 10th in the NFL, listed as a co-starter with Jordan Mason. Jones played his first seven years with the Packers.

— Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman had a career-high 144 tackles last season and was one of two players in the league with four games of at least 15 tackles.

— Vikings safety Harrison Smith re-signed with the team this week for a 15th season.

EXPECTATIONS

The Packers believe they can make a Super Bowl run and end their recent history of playoff disappointment. They have reached the postseason in each of the three years since Jordan Love took over as the starting quarterback, but they’ve had the NFC’s seventh and final playoff seed each of those years and have back-to-back losses in the wild-card round. New Packers president/CEO Ed Policy showed his faith in coach Matt LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst by giving them contract extensions even after the team ended last season with five straight losses. There are new faces on the coaching staff, with former Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon taking over as defensive coordinator and Cam Achord arriving as special teams coordinator. The uncertainty surrounding two of Green Bay’s top players makes it tough to forecast how well the Packers will fare this year. All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons will miss the first part of the season after tearing his left anterior cruciate ligament last November. Parsons has indicated the earliest he could realistically return is for an Oct. 18 game with the Dallas Cowboys. Three-time Pro Bowl running back Josh Jacobs will open the season on the commissioner’s exempt list — making him unavailable to play -- as he faces misdemeanor charges of battery and criminal damage to property stemming from his May arrest.

NEW FACES

OG Jager Burton, CB Brandon Cisse, Edge Dani Dennis-Sutton, LB Zaire Franklin, DL Javon Hargrave, CB Domani Jackson, DT Chris McClellan, WR/KR Skyy Moore, K Trey Smack, OG CB Benjamin St-Juste, QB Tyrod Taylor

KEY LOSSES

WR Romeo Doubs, DL Kingsley Enagbare, DL Rashan Gary, CB Nate Hobbs, C Elgton Jenkins, K Brandon McManus, LB Quay Walker, OT Rasheed Walker, WR Dontayvion Wicks, QB Malik Willis, RB Emanuel Wilson, DL Colby Wooden

STRENGTHS

Green Bay is formidable at safety with Xavier McKinney, Evan Williams and Javon Bullard, who typically lines up at nickel. McKinney earned All-Pro honors in 2024 and was a second-team selection in voting last year. Williams and Bullard are third-year pros who have established themselves as key players. The 27-year-old Love is in his prime as he builds off a 2025 season in which he ranked sixth in the NFL in passer rating.

WEAKNESSES

Green Bay gained just 4.1 yards per carry last season for its lowest average since 2012. There’s reason to worry whether the Packers will run the ball any better this year, particularly now that Jacobs won’t be available for the start of the season. Jacobs’ absence creates opportunity for MarShawn Lloyd, a 2024 third-round pick who appeared in only one game the last two seasons due to a variety of injuries. Green Bay has plenty of questions on its offensive line. Jordan Morgan is the main starter at left tackle for the first time after playing primarily guard his first two seasons. Left guard Aaron Banks has been limited by a knee issue in training camp, and the right guard spot remains unsettled. Rushing the passer could prove difficult as long as Parsons is out. The Packers lost all four games Parsons didn’t play last season — three in the regular season and one in the playoffs. Special teams has been a major Green Bay weakness for several years.

CAMP DEVELOPMENTS

Green Bay lacks a clear-cut No. 1 cornerback, but Cisse showed signs that he eventually could grow into that role. The rookie second-round pick from South Carolina had an outstanding camp. Smack, a sixth-round pick from Florida, kicked a 58-yard field goal and a 59-yarder in Green Bay’s first two preseason games. With Jacobs limited by a groin injury for much of camp, Lloyd showed signs he could be a quality contributor if he can avoid injuries.