Kyler Murray’s exit barely had time to register before the Vikings had to turn to Carson Wentz, and that shift ended up steering Minnesota to a season-opening win over Green Bay.
After Murray beat J.J. McCarthy for the starting job, Kevin O’Connell made Wentz the No. 2 quarterback over the 23-year-old McCarthy.
That call mattered fast. Murray was out after just 11 plays against the Packers on Sunday, leaving Wentz to take over in a game that was still very much in doubt.
What followed was a fourth-quarter surge that flipped the script at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Minnesota erased a 12-point deficit in only 15:12 of game time and turned it into a 10-point lead, finishing off the Packers 39-22. It was the latest season-opening comeback win by a Vikings quarterback against an NFC North opponent, coming a year after McCarthy helped spark a rally over the Bears.
Wentz finished 12 of 19 for 133 yards and three touchdowns. His biggest throw came with 3:55 left, when he hit Justin Jefferson for his second touchdown of the day and Minnesota’s third score of the fourth quarter. That was also the Vikings’ fourth touchdown of the second half.
The second-quarter sequence that got Minnesota rolling started with a break in the Vikings’ favor. Wentz found Jefferson for a 39-yard touchdown on a free play after Lukas Van Ness jumped offside.
That cut the Packers’ lead to 12-10. Green Bay answered with a touchdown drive just before halftime, then added a Trey Smack field goal in the third quarter to go up 22-10.
Jordan Love gave Minnesota’s defense a different kind of problem. He completed only 50 percent of his 42 passes, but five of his completions went for at least 30 yards.
Early on, he repeatedly got rid of the ball just before the Vikings’ pressure arrived. Minnesota blitzed him often and hit him nine times before Levi Drake Rodriguez finally got the team’s first sack.
The pressure really took over late. Minnesota finished with three sacks in the fourth quarter, and one of them changed the game outright.
Andrew Van Ginkel got to Love and ripped the ball loose, giving the Vikings possession at the Packers’ 1 with 5:01 left. Jordan Mason scored on the next snap, pushing Minnesota ahead 32-22 and closing the door on Green Bay.
In Other News...
Kyler Murrays Vikings Debut Just Took A Frightening Turn
Kyler Murrays first appearance in a Vikings uniform took a harsh turn before it could really settle into a rhythm. The quarterback was struck helmet-to-helmet by Packers safety Javon Bullard, a hit that drew an unnecessary roughness penalty and quickly changed the feel of the game for Minnesota, especially with Murray then forced to leave and backup Carson Wentz stepping in.
For a team still trying to build any momentum around its new quarterback, the sight of Murray heading to the sideline was the biggest storyline of the day. Medical expert David J. Chao said the footage showed neurological signs consistent with a concussion, leaving the Vikings to sort through a debut that was supposed to answer questions and instead raised a much more unsettling one. [Read more 🡒]
Kyler Murrays First Vikings Snap Was Already Hard To Ignore
Kyler Murray arrived in Minnesota with plenty to prove, and he wasted no time making his presence felt in a quarterback battle that had been watched closely all summer. After signing a one-year deal following his release from Arizona, Murray went head-to-head with J.J. McCarthy in training camp and eventually earned the Week 1 nod from coach Kevin OConnell, a decision that signaled a fresh start for both player and team.
What makes Murrays fit more interesting is how openly he has embraced the Vikings as more than just his next stop. He has talked about strong personal ties to the franchise and the chance to reinvent his NFL career in Minnesota, which gives his first snaps an added layer of meaning beyond the usual camp competition. For a team looking to settle its quarterback picture, the early signs around Murray are already hard to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Locker Room Zeroed In On The Play That Flipped Week 1
The locker room kept circling back to the same sequence after Minnesotas comeback win over Green Bay: a third-quarter hole, a jolt of energy on special teams, and a group response that turned the game. Harrison Smith and Josh Metellus were among the Vikings players reacting to how quickly the mood changed, while Myles Prices 69-yard kickoff return and DeeJay Dallas block gave the sideline the kind of spark that can reset a game in a hurry.
Minnesota was staring at a 22-10 deficit in the third quarter before resilience and communication became more than just talking points. The players who spoke afterward emphasized how the comeback was built on collective effort, with the return game helping flip momentum and the defense and offense adjusting as the game wore on. For a Week 1 win, it was the kind of finish the Vikings will want to remember whenever they need a reminder of how quickly a game can swing. [Read more 🡒]