While the Packers look like the better team on paper, Week 1 brings a real challenge.
Minnesota doesn’t need a roster loaded with stars to make life difficult. Brian Flores is still steering the defense, and that alone means Green Bay has to be ready for chaos at any snap. The Vikings may not have elite overall talent on that side of the ball, but they can still be dangerous if the Packers are sloppy or slow to adjust.
The threat gets even more obvious on offense. Minnesota has strong receiver talent, a solid tight end, and a quarterback who should at least be an upgrade from what they had a year ago.
If that quarterback play gets them to even a basic NFL level, the Vikings can cause problems fast. Justin Jefferson, in particular, is the kind of player who can flip a game instantly.
That makes this a useful early test for Green Bay. If the first couple of weeks are basically an extended preseason, then facing a defense that demands execution is about as good a way as any to find out where you stand. The Vikings can expose mistakes, and if the Packers aren’t sharp, they’ll pay for it.
Even so, the expectation remains that Green Bay wins. A loss would not be shocking, though, and that says plenty about how difficult division games can be. The Packers may have a strong case as the best team in the NFC North, but nothing inside the division is going to come easy this year.
Jordan Love was already asked about the kind of pressure Flores can bring, and the answer fits the scouting report: “You can get it whenever”
The Packers are also trying to keep Love protected up front, and MarShawn Lloyd is expected to be part of that effort. On the right side of the line, Zach Bako-Bewele is expected to start in Week 1 against Minnesota, which should ease some of the concern about the tackle situation.
Elsewhere around the league, the usual offseason chatter about coaching names is still hanging around, including the question “Do you know Sean McVay?” as a way teams use to identify head-coaching candidates.
In CBS Sports’ Week 1 quarterback power rankings, the familiar names are near the top, though Drake Maye’s place could take a hit after last night’s performance.
And in Packers discussion, the backfield is going to draw plenty of attention early in the season. Newly acquired Kaleb Johnson is part of that conversation, and Tyler Brooke has an in-depth breakdown of what he might bring.
In Other News...
Romeo Doubs Just Sparked A New Packers Debate
Romeo Doubs first game with the Patriots gave New England a quick look at why the former Packers receiver remains such an interesting player to track. Signed to a four-year deal in the 2026 offseason, Doubs was on the field in a recent game and saw three targets, with his night including one drop and an interception. For a Patriots offense dealing with injuries, even a modest debut carried extra weight because every available receiver is being asked to do a little more.
For Green Bay, the performance only adds another layer to the long-running conversation about why the Packers chose to move on from him. Doubs has already shown enough in his career to keep both sides of the argument alive, and a debut like this does not settle much either way. It does, though, remind everyone that once a player leaves, the debate usually turns less on what he did in one game and more on what the team thought it was giving up. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Fans Still Appreciate What Mark Tauscher Became In Green Bay
When Packers fans look back at jersey No. 65, Mark Tauscher still stands out as the standard bearer. Drafted in the seventh round in 2000, he went on to carve out an 11-season career in Green Bay almost entirely at right tackle, becoming one of those steady, dependable linemen who rarely made headlines but always seemed to matter when the games got serious. He appeared in 142 games and eventually earned a place in the Packers Hall of Fame in 2018, which feels about right for a player whose value was built on consistency and toughness.
Tauschers story also carries a small bit of what-ifs, since injury kept him from taking part in the Packers Super Bowl 45 victory even though he still received a championship ring. For a franchise that has seen plenty of players pass through the No. 65 jersey, his legacy remains the one fans remember first, not just for how long he lasted, but for how well he fit in Green Bay once he got there. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Week 1 Depth Chart Hints At Whos Winning Key Job Battles
Following the roster cutdowns to 53 players, the Packers gave a clearer look at how some of their biggest training camp battles may have shaken out by releasing an unofficial Week 1 depth chart. It is not an official declaration, but it does offer a useful snapshot of where things stood coming out of camp and the preseason, with a few notable names showing up in spots that will matter once the games count.
Jacob Monk is projected to start at right guard, Barryn Sorrell is listed opposite Lukas Van Ness at edge rusher, and Keisean Nixon is still holding a starting cornerback role despite competition from newer draft picks and free-agent additions. For a Packers roster that kept several jobs open deep into August, those placements suggest some battles have tilted in certain directions, even if nothing is final yet. [Read more 🡒]