NFC North play gets underway from the jump as the Minnesota Vikings host the Green Bay Packers in Week 1. After their tight race for the No. 2 spot in the division (and a wild card berth in the postseason) last year, these fierce rivals could again be in lockstep in 2026. Player availability is already a concern for the Packers, who could be down multiple offensive linemen in addition to star running back Josh Jacobs and perennial All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons.
Green Bay also enters 2026 with a new defensive coordinator and a lighter wide receiver room. Despite all the moving parts, though, this is a team with aspirations of winning the division, and it is only a slight underdog on the road in its season opener. On the other side of the matchup, Kyler Murray makes his Minnesota debut on Sunday.
His arrival could bring desperately needed consistency to the quarterback position, but there is no guarantee that he will elevate the offense, given his injury history and the struggles that defined the latter stages of his time with the Arizona Cardinals. After Sunday, one of these squads will have a leg up on the other in what appears to be the most wide-open division in the NFL. The Vikings break in a new starting quarterback this year in Murray, whom they signed this offseason on a minimum contract.
If the low-cost bet on Murray rekindling his career pays off, Minnesota has all the weapons around him necessary to be a playoff team. Perhaps the upgrade in supporting cast going from the Cardinals to a squad that boasts Justin Jefferson will be enough to spark a bounce-back season. Meanwhile, Carson Wentz will back Murray up as J.J.
McCarthy was relegated to the No. 3 role. It is unclear when the Packers' No. 1 running back will be available -- if he is available at all in 2026. Jacobs has been on the commissioner's exempt list since August due to the investigation into his May arrest, and a suspension could be coming soon for the veteran ballcarrier after he pleaded no contest on Thursday to misdemeanor battery and criminal damage to property charges.
MarShawn Lloyd will serve as Green Bay's primary running back against the Vikings with Chris Brooks and Kaleb Johnson rounding out the available backfield options. Minnesota already figured to field a vicious defense in 2026. Now that the former All-Pro safety is back on the squad, the Packers could be in for an even longer day against that unit.
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