Week 1 Rollercoaster Ride

Despite a shaky start, the Minnesota Vikings came back to beat the Green Bay Packers 39 to 22 at US Bank Stadium in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season.

We can admit it, at halftime of the Minnesota Vikings' Week 1 game against NFC North rival the Green Bay Packers, we were not feeling hopeful. In fact, I would go so far as to say I was wondering if Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell would be the first NFL head coach fired this season. That's saying a lot in Week 1, but it was not unwarranted with what we were seeing on the field.

Fans expected an extended look at Kyler Murray making his first regular season start for the Vikings. Instead we got a concerning glimpse before Murray suffered a concussion on a reckless hit from edge rusher Lukas Van Ness and safety Javon Bullard when Murray had already gone to the turf in a slide. The hit drew an unnecessary roughness penalty and Murray was quickly ruled out, ending his Minnesota debut 3/5 for 18 and an interception.

With Murray out, Carson Wentz stepped in at quarterback for the Vikings and he looked exactly like a quarterback who'd had very limited reps and was struggling to connect with his receivers. That would have been a great time to lean on the running game, but the running game also looked inert. And the offensive line, this unit that we all had such hope for, stumbled through the drives looking as porous as ever.

Defense and special teams, also looked like they were competing to rip out those last shreds of hope from Minnesota fans' hearts. The Vikings' defensive backs looked out of position, giving up gashing plays to Jordan Love and the Packers' receiving corps. Will Reichard continues to be automatic, but the coverage teams allowed Green Bay hefty returns for good field position.

It isn't that the Packers were looking like a juggernaut, but they were not floundering like Minnesota was for the better part of three quarters. But football is a weird, wonderful, and very stupid game. And weird, wonderful, and exceedingly stupid things happen that can turn a game on its head.

First the weird thing that happened was that the Vikings' electric returner Myles Price broke a return lose for 68 yards, giving Minnesota the ball deep in Green Bay territory late in the third quarter. After looking so blah and shellshocked for the better part of the game, that return shook up not only the Vikings but also their fans. US Bank Stadium roared back to life and the Wentz-led offense capitalized on the field position, driving into the end zone with 16-yard pass to tightend TJ Hockenson.

Suddenly Minnesota was trailing by only 5 points and that's when the wonderful things started happening. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores dialed up the pressure and the rush began to get home. In the second half his defense sacked Jordan Love four times, they forced a turnover on downs, they had a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, they even had an interception. In the entire second half the Packers scored only 3 points.

Green Bay was suddenly forced back onto their heels as the Vikings scored a whopping 29 unanswered points from the end of the third quarter to the end of the fourth--and Green Bay helped them do it. A defensive holding penalty on the Packers early in the fourth quarter negated an interception that would have cut the Minnesota rally short. Instead, the penalty gave Minnesota a fresh set of downs. Running back Aaron Jones ran in a touchdown on the next play and Jusin Jefferson caught the 2-point conversion pass to give Minnesota a three-point lead.

Now, playing with a lead, Flores' defense smelled the blood on the water and went to work completely discombobulating Love. In particular, outside linebacker Dallas Turner should haunt Love's dreams because he racked up 10 quarterback pressures, a sack, seven quarterback hits, and a forced fumble.

The Vikings scored two more touchdowns to put the game away, finishing with a respectable, if tardy, showing. Wentz ended the day 12/16 for 133 yards and three touchdowns. Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason combined for 99 yards rushing a a touchdown each. Justin Jefferson capped his day off with 8 receptions for 92 yards, two touchdowns, and a conversion.

Nothing about this Week 1 game went to plan except the Vikings winning. They kept everyone, including themselves, guessing and some how they won. Next week they travel to face the Chicago Bears and they can't afford a slow start against a team that put up 59 points this week against the Carolina Panthers.