A little over a week until we hear the BEST CHANT IN SPORTS! #SKOL pic.twitter.com/pzosGHMSJ5

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) September 4, 2026

The #Vikings are the favorites over the #Packers in week 1 according to the NFL picks crew. pic.twitter.com/LgipckzYGi

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) September 2, 2026

In their eight-game stretch from 11/1-12/20 the Vikings will play three divisional games, four primetime games, five playoff teams, and one Super Bowl participant.

A hot start in September and October is CRUCIAL.

— Jason Harmon (@JasonHarmonNFL) September 4, 2026

It’s crazy this was Kevin O’Connell’s FIRST game as an offensive playcaller and he was absolutely in his bag. https://t.co/itXpnlYRPS

— Jason Harmon (@JasonHarmonNFL) September 4, 2026

The Minnesota Vikings are 11-8-1 against the Green Bay Packers since 2016.

The next chapter begins one week from tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/lha7rHzeOR

— Jason Harmon (@JasonHarmonNFL) September 5, 2026

The #Vikings might have the best special teams unit in the NFL

Will Reichard: 2025 1st Team All-Pro
Brett Thorson: 2025 Ray Guy Award Winner (best punter in the nation)
Andrew DePaola: 2025 2nd Team All-Pro pic.twitter.com/K4ISmu0IJW

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) September 5, 2026

https://t.co/PMrkwhZbEK

— Vikes\/erified (@VikesVV) September 3, 2026

Week 1 Keys To Victory Vs. The Green Bay Packers

We get a hot start to the season this year- hosting our biggest rival, the Green Bay Packers. This is the first test of the season to see how our offseason adjustments pan out. Every season comes with a breath of fresh air and excitement, this year is no different with the addition of QB1 Kyler Murray. The Vikings are currently -1.5 favorites going into the game with the O/U set at 46.5.

As for the opposition, the Packers are short staffed, most notably Micah Parsons, who begins the season on the PUP list as he continues his recovery from a torn ACL. In addition, Josh Jacobs is on the commissioner exempt list as the league investigates his domestic abuse case. This presents an opportunity for us to take advantage of their unavailability and start the season in the win column.

Keys To Victory

1. Win On The Ground

Last season the Vikings finished 23rd in rushing yards as a team. This year, we bring back all 5 starters on the offensive line, and 9 out of 11 starters on this side of the ball overall. The addition of Kyler Murray only helps here. He is one of the premier dual threat quarterbacks in terms of rushing yards at his position league wide and figures to help in this category both directly and indirectly.

We showcased a rushing priority in the sole possession of the preseason where the entire starting unit shared the field. The 9 play, 5 minute and 29 second drive produced:

• 6 runs

• 44 rushing yards (7.33 YPC)

• 2 15+ yard runs (Mason 15, Jones 18)

• 3 Points (FG)

The addition of Frank Smith is sure to bring more focus to the overall balance between pass and run for our team this season. Last year, this was an issue in games, where we would entirely abandon the run- this hurts more than you would think in terms of controlling the time of possession and the overall control of how we win football games. For reference, last season we passed on 61.3% of plays and ran the ball on just 38.7% of plays. The league average sits at a 56/44 split. If you look behind the curtain, you notice a direct correlation between more running and winning football games. The 3 most run heavy teams last season were the Ravens, Bills and the Super Bowl winning Seahawks. Establishing the run has massive implications for winning football games.

Read more on the addition of Frank Smith here.

2. Win The Turnover Battle

This is a broken record- but needs to be a focus for us off the jump this season. Last year, we had the most giveaways out of all teams in the NFL (21 INT, 9 Fumbles Lost). Our turnover differential was tied for 29th in the NFL at -9.

Our defense did its part, generating 21 takeaways last year (8 INT, 13 Fumble Recoveries). We led the NFL in fumble recoveries and were in the middle of the pack on interceptions. The Packers were positive in turnover differential at +1.

Turnovers are one of the most pivotal deciding factors in game outcome, and winning this battle is a key to victory for us in not only week 1, but also for positive momentum as we roll through the season.

3. Prevent Big Time Throw % For Jordan Love

Jordan Love finished 2nd in the NFL in BTT% last season (Big Time Throw Percentage) behind only MVP Matthew Stafford.

BTT% was developed by PFF

, which measures a QB's specific traits beyond basic box scores. It measures the following:

• Throw Difficulty- Passes sent far down the field or threaded into tight windows against heavy coverage

• Execution Under Pressure- Accurate, well-timed balls delivered while the quarterback faces a collapsing pocket or immediate pass rush

• Anticipation and Value- Plays where exceptional arm talent and decision-making create major offensive gains, regardless of whether the receiver ultimately catches or drops the pass

Jordan Love will be throwing the rock week 1 with Jacobs out. This offense is not short of weapons, and the scary part of this group is they look to only get better and gain more confidence together. He gets one of his top targets back in the rotation in Tucker Kraft, who can present nightmares for defensive coordinators. 2nd year WR Matthew Golden broke out towards the end of the season after a very underwhelming start and their top receiver is healthier coming into the season than years past in Christian Watson.

There will be no shortage of threat here- DC Brian Flores is among the best in the business at disrupting opposing QB's. Limiting this statistic and getting stops will be paramount to our chances of securing a victory to start the season in the win column.

SKOL

This Vikings defense, which has finished top-3 in EPA/play two seasons in a row, looked awesome throughout training camp. Now Harrison Smith and Kyle Van Noy are aboard as the finishing touches, bringing all kinds of experience.

Look out.

— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) September 5, 2026

Its pretty good from an injury perspective for the Vikings heading into next Sunday's Packer game. Hopefully the doors will be open at U.S. Bank.

StickierBuns wrote:

Its pretty good from an injury perspective for the Vikings heading into next Sunday's Packer game. Hopefully the doors will be open at U.S. Bank.

After a July/Aug here that would rival Jax, the temp is forecasted to be mid/upper 60's on game day.

Not that it matters much in a dome - but glad mother nature is making things more tolerable here, finally.

Week 1 - 1992

OTD 1992#Vikings #Packers
Dennis Green becomes the second Black head coach in #NFL history.@RichGannon12 21-44-266-2-1
Allen 12-140 5-53
Reveiz gives Green his first win, 23-20. https://t.co/mg5N7CXMSB

— Old Time Football 🏈 (@Ol_TimeFootball) September 6, 2026

September 6, 1992, at Lambeau Field, marking the debut game for both rookie head coaches Dennis Green of the Vikings and Mike Holmgren of the Packers. Minnesota won 23–20 in overtime after running back Terry Allen bounced back from an earlier fumble with a 45-yard run, setting up a game-winning 25-yard field goal by Fuad Reveiz

@ CHI in week 2 is the tougher game I think. Would love to see the Vikes pull this one out.

There’s a real chance we make Not Josh Jacobs look like Barry Sanders I think, but if we can contain the run I think the Vikes will take it. Predicting a win despite also predicting a Kyler turnover or two.

FTP !

Border Battle week begins now 😈

The Vikings-Packers rivalry is just different. pic.twitter.com/TU5z6ys0vM

— SleeperVikings (@SleeperVikings) September 6, 2026

One week is all that's left until Vikings-Packers. I can't wait. With seven days to go, here are seven storylines to keep in mind as game week begins.https://t.co/lrvyhazPdB

— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) September 6, 2026

https://bringmethesports.com/7-days-until-vikings-packers-7-key-storylines-to-know-before-week-1

7 days until Vikings-Packers: 7 key storylines to know before Week 1

It doesn’t get much better than a border battle at U.S. Bank Stadium to kick off the season.

One week. That’s all that’s left until the 2026 Minnesota Vikings begin the regular season in perhaps the most exciting way possible: Facing their bitter rival, the Green Bay Packers, at U.S. Bank Stadium. It’s a big game getting big-game treatment, with the top CBS crew of Jim Nantz, J.J. Watt, and Tracy Wolfson on the call at 3:25 p.m. central next Sunday.

With seven days left until Vikings football, here are seven storylines to keep in mind as the first game week of the year begins.

1. Kyler’s Vikings debut…against his old head coach

No player will be under a greater spotlight next Sunday in Minneapolis than Kyler Murray, the Vikings’ new starting quarterback. In juicy fashion, his first opponent will be a Packers defense led by new coordinator Jonathan Gannon, who was Murray’s head coach with the Cardinals for the last three seasons.

By all accounts, the two had a good relationship during their time in Arizona. Still, one would imagine that there will be some real competitive fire between two men who know each other well and are looking to make strong first impressions in their NFC North homes. Murray has plenty to prove after an injury-marred 2025 season led to his release.

2. Jacobs isn’t playing, right?

We know the Packers will be without arguably their best player in edge rusher Micah Parsons, who is starting this season on the PUP list while he finishes his recovery from last year’s ACL tear. It also seems very likely that Green Bay will be without star running back Josh Jacobs, who was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list after being charged with misdemeanor battery and criminal destruction of property. However, it’s at least somewhat notable that Jacobs’ initial court appearance was recently moved up from mid-November to Sept. 10, three days before the season opener.

Regardless of the outcome of Jacobs’ legal situation, the NFL can decide to suspend him for violating their personal conduct policy. This situation remains in flux for now. Assuming Jacobs doesn’t play in Week 1, it’ll be a big opportunity for backup running back MarShawn Lloyd, who has just six career carries.

3. Vikings unveil revamped run game

On the other side of the ball, the Vikings will look to make life easier on Murray by leaning on their revamped, outside zone-heavy running game. That was a major focus of the offseason for Kevin O’Connell, who brought in former Dolphins OC Frank Smith as a lead assistant and promoted Keith Carter to offensive line coach. We saw in the one preseason drive with the Vikings’ starters that they are going to look to establish the ground game early and often with Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason. The Packers were a middling run defense last season, so the opportunities for success should be there.

4. The Hitman returns

The big news of this weekend in Vikings land is that Harrison Smith is back for a 15th season with Minnesota. The importance of his return is hard to overstate. Before every game at U.S. Bank Stadium, the Vikings announce either their offensive or defensive starters as they run out of the tunnel. You can be sure that this will be a defense day, with Smith’s name being called last. That’s going to be quite the moment.

Once the game begins, the Hitman will be leading the Vikings’ defensive communication and looking for the 40th interception of his remarkable career. Jordan Love isn’t one of the 31 quarterbacks Smith has intercepted in his 14 seasons.

5. Vikings debuting exciting rookie class

NFL debuts are always exciting (and no, preseason doesn’t count). The Vikings have 10 rookies on their 53-man roster this year, several of whom could see significant roles in Week 1. Expectations should perhaps be tempered for first-round pick Caleb Banks, who had a quiet preseason and might only be used in certain situations (if at all) to begin his career.

Third-rounder Domonique Orange will likely be a bigger part of the Vikings’ rotation at defensive tackle than Banks. Second-rounder Jake Golday could see some snaps at both inside and outside linebacker. Fullback Max Bredeson will definitely be playing meaningful offensive snaps, while undrafted rookie Brett Thorson will be doing the punting and holding. Other rookies we could see include Jakobe Thomas, Jacob Thomas, Charles Demmings, and Demond Claiborne. The only one I’d be truly surprised to see play is backup offensive lineman Caleb Tiernan.

6. A revenge game for Hargrave

The Vikings’ 2025 offseason didn’t exactly go to plan. Some of this offseason was spent reversing those decisions. That included cutting veteran defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave just a year into their big free agent deals. Hargrave quickly found a new home with the Packers, and his first game with Green Bay will be against the team that punted on him this spring. That should provide some added motivation. With Parsons out, the Packers may need guys like Hargrave, Devonte Wyatt, and Karl Brooks to provide interior pressure on Murray. The Vikings have two great offensive tackles but some questions in the middle, especially regarding center Blake Brandel.

7. LaFleur vs. Flores chess match

Obviously, there will be plenty of excitement and intrigue when Murray and the Vikings’ offense has the ball. I’m equally intrigued by what happens when the Packers are on offense. With Jacobs unlikely to play, Matt LaFleur’s best bet might be to lean into Love airing the ball out to Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, Tucker Kraft, and Matthew Golden. It won’t be easy against Brian Flores’ uniquely-complex, blitz-heavy defense.

The schematic chess match between LaFleur — whose offensive line is suspect — and Flores should be fun to watch. In addition to Smith, one Vikings defender to keep an eye on is third-year edge rusher Dallas Turner, who many believe is in for a breakout season.

Depth chart released soon, yes?

Headlines:
— The full NFL preview, looking at all angles https://t.co/zdbbx07xWw
— Five teams in win-now mode https://t.co/KJypJh9lf2
— “It's cool for us” https://t.co/YQAfUBF2nl
— Roger Goodell is extended https://t.co/p81dq2fXln
— Puka will play https://t.co/7ZMvGl9hav

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 7, 2026

Bold predictions for 2026 season: Brock Bowers is first TE to lead NFL in catches in over two decades, @JABergman writeshttps://t.co/7SOkKIDMbZ

— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) September 7, 2026

"Number 18 is coming. He will be a nightmare." 😈

Jettas is the OPOY pick for Manti @Vikings | #Skol pic.twitter.com/RvoPFANNyE

— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) September 7, 2026