Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings
U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN
September 13, 2026 – 9:25 p.m. BST
The day is finally here, the return of competitive football is upon us, and we couldn’t ask for a better fixture to start the 2026 season. This Sunday, the Vikings host the Green Bay Packers to kick off what could be a pivotal year for the Norsemen.
Kyler Murray will be hoping to stamp his mark on the Minnesota offense, coming in as a fourth different week-one starter in the last four seasons, while on defense, Harrison Smith is back for a 15th year with the team; after a tearful end to the last campaign, he’ll want to go out on a high this time around, and what better way to start than at home to the Packers?
For all the latest team news ahead of Sunday evening’s game, as well as how to watch it in the UK and Ireland, read on…
How to watch Packers vs. Vikings
- Packers vs. Vikings date: Sunday, September 13th
- Packers vs. Vikings kickoff time: 9:25 p.m. BST
- Packers vs. Vikings UK channel: Channel 5 / Sky Sports + / NFL Game Pass on DAZN (stream)
- Packers vs. Vikings IRE channel: Virgin Media Two
This game has been selected by Channel 5 for their 9pm broadcast window, headlining the retooled NFL on 5 show hosted by Dermot O’Leary, Sam Quek and Osi Umeniyora. Sky Sports subscribers can watch the game on Sky Sports +, and because it’s not involved in the weekly blackouts, the game will also be available to watch live and in full via NFL Game Pass on DAZN.
What uniforms are the Vikings wearing against the Packers?
As the home team, the Vikings have first choice of uniforms to face the Packers, and have chosen to wear their classic alternate uniforms, consisting of purple jerseys, white pants and purple socks, patterned after Vikings uniforms of yesteryear. The Packers are expected to wear their road uniforms of white jerseys, yellow pants and white socks.
Ones to watch
In his first regular season start for the Vikings, all eyes will obviously be on quarterback Kyler Murray. The former number 1 overall pick had a disappointing end to his time in Arizona, playing just five games before injury saw him replaced by Jacoby Brissett.
He’s had four seasons with at least 3,700 passing yards; with weapons like Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison to throw to, he’ll be hoping to add to that number starting with week 1 in Green Bay.
On defense, there’s only one talking point and that’s the hotly anticipated return of safety Harrison Smith for a 15th season in purple and gold. He brings talent and experience to a defensive backfield that was sorely missing those elements going into week 1.
Last season ended with Smith one interception shy of joining the 40-20 Club (40 career interceptions, 20 career sacks) – can he hit that landmark against Green Bay?
Previous meetings
The Vikings open the 2026 season where they left off in 2025, with a home game against their closest rivals, the Green Bay Packers. That last meeting finished in a 16–3 win, with fullback C. J. Ham ploughing in for the only touchdown on his last appearance for the Vikings.
This will be the 130th regular-season meeting between the two sides, and while Green Bay leads the overall series 67–61–3, the Vikings have the edge in games played at home, with 33 wins to the Packers’ 31.
This will be the ninth time the Vikings have opened the season against the Packers, but only the third time they’ve done so at home. The last time that happened was Kevin O’Connell’s first game in charge in 2022, when Justin Jefferson picked up 184 receiving yards and two touchdowns on the way to a 23–7 win.
Vikings team news
The Vikings are relatively unaffected by injuries this week. Aside from the long-term casualties on injured reserve, only rookie safeties Jacob and Jakobe Thomas, and tackle Caleb Tiernan were listed on the injury report. Tiernan and Jacob Thomas (both ankle) were limited on Wednesday and Thursday, while Jakobe Thomas returned to practice on Thursday after missing Wednesday with illness.
Packers team news
The most notable absentees for the Packers are EDGE Micah Parsons – who was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list before training camp after tearing his ACL in week 15 of last season – and RB Josh Jacobs – who was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list in late August after being charged with misdemeanour battery.
Both absences will be keenly felt; Parsons sacked J. J. McCarthy twice in the reverse fixture in Green Bay last season, while only three players have notched more rushing TDs than Jacobs in the past two seasons: Derrick Henry, Jonathan Taylor and Jahmyr Gibbs.
DL Javon Hargrave is the only notable former Viking on the Packers roster. He joined Minnesota as part of a record free agency spending spree last year, but failed to live up to expectations and was released when free agency began in March. Hargrave appeared on the Packers’ injury report during the week, limited with a knee injury.
Hargrave’s fellow starting tackle Devonte Wyatt (limited, ankle) also appeared on the list, as did backup Warren Brinson (DNP, calf) and edge rusher Barryn Sorrell (limited, foot), while three of Green Bay’s starting offensive line – LT Jordan Morgan, LG Aaron Banks and RT Zach Bako-Bewele – were all limited to some extent. The only other player listed was LB Ty’Ron Hopper (Achilles), who did not practice.
Score predictions
- Rich: Packers 17, Vikings 28
- Reece: Packers 16, Vikings 23
- Aaron: Packers 17, Vikings 27
- Darren: Packers 10, Vikings 17
- TPJ: Packers 13, Vikings 20
Let us know your score predictions. Send us an email at UKVikingsFanClub@gmail.com or get in touch via any of our social media channels.