The Vikings opened the 2026 season in a mess, then somehow walked out of U.S. Bank Stadium with a 39-22 win over the Packers.
That’s the kind of game that can fool you if you only look at the first half. Minnesota looked stuck early, then completely changed the feel of the afternoon after halftime and turned what seemed like a loss into a statement win.
For the offense, the biggest storyline was the quarterback situation. Kyler Murray was making his first appearance for Minnesota, but his day ended early after a hit knocked him out and kept him from returning.
He was facing Packers defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, his former head coach, and the familiarity showed. Murray finished 3 of 5 for 18 yards and an interception before leaving.
That forced Carson Wentz into the game, and the whole shape of the offense shifted with him. The threat of Murray’s mobility was gone, so Minnesota leaned into a more traditional pocket approach. Green Bay’s pressure bothered Wentz at first, but he settled in and finished 12 of 19 for 133 yards and three touchdowns.
The big concern now is Murray’s status. The fear is that he could spend time in the concussion protocol.
Still, Wentz gave the Vikings a reason to feel comfortable if they need him against the Bears in Week 2. If Murray is back, great.
If not, Minnesota at least showed it has a quarterback who can steady the ship.
The run game was a different story. Aaron Jones Sr. got the start and carried 12 times for 40 yards and a touchdown, which is respectable without exactly jumping off the page.
Jordan Mason handled more touches overall, but the production wasn’t there for most of the afternoon. He had only 24 yards on 11 carries before breaking loose for a 28-yard run, and then he finished the job with a one-yard touchdown less than five minutes later.
Even with both backs finding the end zone, the ground game never really popped. Jones and Mason combined for 27 carries and 99 yards, which works out to 3.7 yards per carry.
That’s fine, but it doesn’t suggest Minnesota is ready to bully teams on the ground. The Vikings also finished with just eight rushing first downs, and that’s a clear area that still needs work.
Justin Jefferson, though, looked like Justin Jefferson. He scored once, then added another touchdown before the day was done, matching his total from all of last season. After a quieter 2025 in which he barely topped 1,000 receiving yards, this was the version of Jefferson Vikings fans expected to see.
The rest of the receiver group didn’t do much. Jordan Addison and Jauan Jennings were shut out completely, and that lack of involvement played a big part in why the offense felt uneven for stretches. If Minnesota wants this passing game to keep moving, it needs more from anyone not named Jefferson.
T.J. Hockenson also gave the offense a lift.
He caught four of five targets for 36 yards and a touchdown, while Josh Oliver added two catches on four targets for 22 yards. Oliver’s 23.3 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus was ugly, but his 62.7 run-blocking grade ranked third on the team.
With the tight ends, the Vikings need steadiness, and right now the group looks like it can provide that if the blocking sharpens up.
This wasn’t a fireworks show, and the yardage totals leave plenty of room for improvement. But Minnesota still put up 39 points, converted more than half of its third downs, and scored five touchdowns. Wentz’s 133 passing yards won’t win every week, but he didn’t throw an interception, and avoiding turnovers matters more than piling up empty yards.
So the offense leaves Week 1 with a mixed but mostly encouraging feel. There’s work to do, especially on the ground and in the lower half of the passing game. But after the way this one started, the Vikings gave themselves plenty to build on.
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Kevin OConnell May Be Making The Change Vikings Fans Needed
Kevin OConnell kept the focus squarely on wins after the Vikings comeback against the Packers, and that approach matters for a team that has spent enough time getting talked into the wrong priorities. Minnesotas head coach has long been known for his offensive background, but the message coming out of this one was less about style points and more about sticking with what can actually travel in a tight game. Even with the run game not always looking smooth early, the Vikings still handed it off 27 times, a sign OConnell was willing to stay patient rather than abandon the plan at the first sign of trouble.
For Vikings fans, that kind of steadiness is part of the appeal as the 2025 season takes shape around J.J. McCarthy. OConnell has already shown a willingness to adjust the offense for his quarterback, and the bigger question is whether he keeps leaning into the practical side of coaching instead of chasing appearances. If this is the version of OConnell Minnesota gets more often, the Vikings may be set up for a more grounded and sustainable stretch than the one fans have seen in the past. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Fans Are Melting Down After Vikings Win For One Reason
The Vikings comeback against Green Bay had plenty of football reasons behind it, starting with a second-half rally after the Packers had pushed out to a 12-point lead. Minnesota kept hanging around, the Packers kept giving away ground with their own mistakes, and the game turned into the kind of late mess that can flip a divisional result in a hurry.
Even so, it was the fourth quarter sequence that had Packers fans grinding their teeth after the final whistle. Several penalties from Shawn Hochulis crew helped set up Minnesotas go-ahead drive, adding another layer of frustration to a loss already defined by Green Bays late offensive line collapse and the self-inflicted errors that let the Vikings back in. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Head Into Bears Showdown With One Huge Problem
The Vikings head to Chicago for a Week 2 NFC North test with plenty already hanging over the matchup. They got through their opener with Carson Wentz at quarterback after Kyler Murray went down, but Murrays availability this week is still unresolved, leaving Minnesota to sort out its plan on the fly while trying to stay on schedule early in the season.
Chicago enters the divisional game with a real buzz after Caleb Williams delivered a strong Week 1 showing and helped move the betting market in the Bears direction. Minnesota now faces the kind of road game that can reveal a lot quickly, especially with the Bears favored and the Vikings still waiting on clarity at the most important position on the field. [Read more 🡒]