Josh Metellus reflects on playing under Brian Flores pic.twitter.com/GARuKwx2gc

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 10, 2026

"We see stuff the same way" - @NoExcuses_23 on his relationship with @harrismith22 pic.twitter.com/OP6dE3dt4f

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 10, 2026

THURSDAY INJURY REPORT

PLAYER.......................INJURY...........WED...........THURS............FRI.........GAME

Jacob Thomas.............Ankle..........Limited.......Limited

Jakobe Thomas...........Illness.........DNP.............Limited

Caleb Tiernan..............Ankle..........Limited.......Limited

Jakobe Thomas returned to #Vikings practice in a limited capacity today; it was a second consecutive day of full practice for Harrison Smith. pic.twitter.com/6tiKNHJm2u

— Ben Goessling (@BenGoessling) September 10, 2026

Kyler Murray’s first start for the #Vikings will come against his former head coach Jonathan Gannon, now the Packers’ defensive coordinator. “He’s one of my favorite coaches I’ve ever had,” Murray said. “He just kept it real at all times. He was transparent, and believed in his… pic.twitter.com/a1YUxMaV4Y

— Ben Goessling (@BenGoessling) September 10, 2026

FLVike wrote:

Green Bay @ Minnesota         CBS   4:25 et
Announcers: Jim Nantz, J.J. Watt
Official: Shawn Hochuli

Vikings are 5-1 with him as the Official

https://t.co/BQaE8Aitkv

— SleeperVikings (@SleeperVikings) September 11, 2026

Packers DC Jonathan Gannon: Kyler Murray can wreck games if you're not coordinated. https://t.co/G4gaYdRMRG

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) September 11, 2026

Scoggins: The Vikings have what it takes to make the playoffs — even with questions at QB

There’s too much at stake for Kyler Murray and Kevin O’Connell for the Vikings not to reach the postseason. Here’s why you should believe in this team.

Scoggins: The Vikings have what it takes to make the playoffs — even with questions at QB https://t.co/RtQMUgCQDa

— Star Tribune Sports (@StribSports) September 11, 2026

Opinions are split as the #Vikings start their season Sunday against Green Bay.

📰: https://t.co/x2Eu8z4Exa pic.twitter.com/DL8UcNU5Tp

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 11, 2026

NFL Expert Picks: Opinions Divided for Vikings 2026 Season Opener Against Packers

There is an inherent brutality to the way the NFC North resets every autumn. Long before the leaves change or the weather turns, the division establishes itself as an ecosystem where comfort does not exist and regression or progression happens at a dizzying pace.

The NFL's schedule makers handed the Vikings and Packers a tremendous litmus test to begin the 2026 season at 3:25 p.m. (CT) Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium.

When you start the year against a division rival, you aren't just kicking off the schedule. And in a division as competitive as the North is expected, a September slip-up doesn't just put a loss in the standings — it instantly creates a division deficit that will need to be closed.

While Sunday's contest marks the 21st time the Vikings have opened the season against a division opponent (since 1967 when the NFC Central division was formed), it's just the ninth time Minnesota has started its schedule against Green Bay. The Vikings are 4-4 in the eight previous instances, which are detailed below (home matchups are in bold):

– 1962: L 34-7

– 1974: W 32-17

– 1992: W 23-20 (OT)

– 1994: L 16-10

– 2003: W 30-25

– 2008: L 24-19 on Monday Night Football

– 2020: L 43-34

– 2022: W 23-7

That 1992 season opener stands out in particular; Sunday will be just the second time in franchise history the Vikings have faced the same opponent in the regular season to bridge two consecutive seasons. Minnesota fell to Green Bay 27-7 to close the 1991 regular-season schedule and earned a 16-3 victory to wrap up last year's slate of games.

The Vikings and Packers have met 131 times in their history, including twice in the postseason, with Green Bay possessing a 67-61-3 advantage in the series. The Border Battle season series has been split 28 times, including five of the past six years.

Let's see who the experts are picking to win the game:

Packers 26, Vikings 24 – Pete Prisco, CBS Sports

This will come down to how well the Packers handle all those Brian Flores pressure looks on defense for Minnesota. That's a challenge on the road. But Jordan Love has been good against the blitz in his career. That matters. The Green Bay defense will manufacture enough pressure — without Micah Parsons — to slow down Kyler Murray. Packers win it.

Packers 29, Vikings 28 – Bill Bender, Sporting News

The Packers have lost four of the last five meetings in Minnesota, and Kyler Murray is making his debut as the Vikings starting quarterback. Green Bay will not have Micah Parsons or Josh Jacobs. It's Jordan Love's time to shine – and a late TD pass to Tucker Kraft is the difference.

Vikings 23, Packers 20 – Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News

The Packers have high hopes for Jordan Love, now with more expensive No. 1 receiver Christian Watson. But the running game is going through a shakeup with the off-field issues for Josh Jacobs, and the defense won't have Jeff Hafley long-term or a healthy Micah Parsons short-term. The Vikings D remains loaded for Brian Flores, while Kevin O'Connell will help call the right plays for Kyler Murray in the QB's winning debut.

4 of 5 experts pick the Vikings, NFL.com

Jeremy Bergman: Vikings 21-20

Brooke Cersosimo: Vikings 28-24

Bobby Kownack: Vikings 27-26

Dan Parr: Vikings 23-21

Gennaro Filice: Packers 27-20

Analysis from NFL.com's Brooke Cersosimo: How will Kyler Murray look under Kevin O'Connell's tutelage? We're about to find out in what will be a rocking U.S. Bank Stadium full of Vikings fans ready to forget the QB conundrum of 2025. These NFC North matchups are always competitive, but this particular one feels more about what the Packers lost this offseason than what the Vikings gained. Green Bay begins the 2026 campaign without superstar pass rusher Micah Parsons and RB Josh Jacobs, an instrumental part of Matt LaFleur's offense in recent seasons who's currently on the commissioner's exempt list. That backfield will now feature MarShawn Lloyd, Kaleb Johnson and Chris Brooks (the only one with more than 100 career rush yards), meaning Brian Flores' defense should expect a heavy dose of Jordan Love's arm. Ultimately, missing two big-time starters will be too much to overcome for the road team.

2 of 7 experts pick the Vikings, Bleacher Report

Bleacher Report analysis Gary Davenport: Neither of these teams are especially easy to trust in the early-going this year — the Vikings have a new quarterback in Kyler Murray, and the Packers have significant questions on defense, especially where the pass rush is concerned. I'll take the points — with exactly zero confidence.

Bleacher Report analysis Brad Gagnon: I don't know how I feel about the Packers opening the season on the road against a sneaky-good division rival without Josh Jacobs and Micah Parsons. Throw in the unpredictability factor with Kyler Murray, and I think Green Bay is in a tough situation here.

4 of 8 experts pick the Vikings, The MMQB

• Albert Breer: Packers

• Eva Geitheim: Vikings

• Mitch Goldich: Vikings

• Mike Kadlick: Packers

• Gilberto Manzano: Vikings

• Conor Orr: Packers

• John Pluym: Vikings

• Matt Verderame: Packers

4 of 11 experts pick the Vikings, ESPN

• Bowen: Vikings

• Maldanado: Vikings

• Solak: Vikings

• Wickersham: Vikings

3 of 7 experts pick the Vikings, The Athletic

Grew up a Vikings fan, named the starter of his favorite team, premiering at home against their biggest rival.

Let’s get it done @K1 😈 pic.twitter.com/5LBi607YUC

— SleeperVikings (@SleeperVikings) September 11, 2026

Gut feeling: Vikings beat the Packers by double digits on Sunday.

Green Bay's O-line is shaky. The run game without Jacobs isn't scary. Jordan Love is really good, but it's all going to be on his shoulders against an elite defense. On the other side, not sure how the Packers…

— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) September 11, 2026

Gut feeling: Vikings beat the Packers by double digits on Sunday.

Green Bay's O-line is shaky. The run game without Jacobs isn't scary. Jordan Love is really good, but it's all going to be on his shoulders against an elite defense. On the other side, not sure how the Packers generate much pressure without Parsons.

Vikings have the advantage in the trenches on both O and D. That tends to determine a lot.

Its wild that the Vegas odds favor the Vikings, but the "experts" don't

FTP…!!! 🤮

medaille wrote:

Its wild that the Vegas odds favor the Vikings, but the "experts" don't

Their job is to create clicks, not be correct.

The Vikings’ keys to victory over the Packers are live @AtoZSportsNFL https://t.co/ZkGX2HUKtT

— Tyler Forness (@TheRealForno) September 11, 2026

“My concern is the Vikings offensive line, specifically the middle. Interior blocking is crucial for undersized quarterbacks like the 5-10 Murray. It’s also where Minnesota ranked last in pressure rate allowed last season.”

- @TheAthletic’s Jacob Robinson on listens the Vikings… pic.twitter.com/1Qk3xW60VD

— SleeperVikings (@SleeperVikings) September 11, 2026

Jordan Love is 4-5 against the Vikings throughout his career. pic.twitter.com/o8CihSgrHr

— SleeperVikings (@SleeperVikings) September 11, 2026

Keep an eye on these 3! 👀https://t.co/lQKzRJXHKC

— Vikes\/erified (@VikesVV) September 11, 2026

3 X Factors In The Border Battle

The wait is finally over. The Minnesota Vikings will open the 2026 regular season Sunday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium against the Green Bay Packers, and there is no shortage of storylines heading into the first NFC North battle of the year. With a new quarterback under center, a revamped defense, and plenty of expectations surrounding this Vikings team, several players will have a major say in how the season begins.

OLB Dallas Turner

QB Kyler Murray

S Xavier McKinney

While Kyler will be making his Vikings debut, he'll have to be especially careful about where Xavier McKinney is on the field.

The Packers safety has established himself as one of the NFL's premier ballhawks. McKinney exploded for eight INT's in Green Bay in 2024 and followed that up with two interceptions last season.

That doesn't mean Minnesota should be afraid to attack the Packers' secondary though, quite the opposite. The Vikings need to identify the areas of the defense they can exploit and make McKinney pay if he gets overly aggressive looking for another takeaway.

Murray cannot afford to give Green Bay's defense short fields or allow McKinney to swing the momentum with a big interception.

LIVE: Head Coach O’Connell talks to the media https://t.co/A65cWUNl0m

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 11, 2026