NFL
By Trevor Gibbs
The Minnesota Vikings found themselves in a familiar position Sunday afternoon: trailing the Green Bay Packers and searching for answers.
This time, they found them.
Minnesota erased a 12-point deficit and scored 29 unanswered points to stun Green Bay 39-22 at U.S. Bank Stadium, opening the 2026 season with a statement win in the NFC North.
It certainly didn’t start that way.
The Vikings struggled to find any rhythm early, and things got even tougher when quarterback Kyler Murray left the game after suffering a concussion. Murray finished just 3-of-5 passing for 18 yards and an interception before Carson Wentz was forced into action.
That’s when the game started to change.
Wentz wasn’t spectacular in terms of yardage, but he was exactly what Minnesota needed. The veteran quarterback settled in, protected the football, and finished 12-of-19 for 133 yards and three touchdowns.
Most importantly, he kept the offense moving when the Vikings desperately needed it.
And, of course, having Justin Jefferson helps.
Jefferson looked like Jefferson, finishing with eight catches for 92 yards and two touchdowns. His 39-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter kept Minnesota within striking distance, while his late fourth-quarter score put the finishing touches on one of the biggest comebacks of the opening weekend.
The Vikings also got touchdowns from T.J. Hockenson, Aaron Jones Sr. and Jordan Mason as the offense finally found its footing.
But the biggest story may have been Minnesota’s ability to respond after Green Bay pushed its lead to 22-10 early in the third quarter.
From there, the Vikings flipped the game.
The defense began creating pressure, the offense became more aggressive and Green Bay suddenly couldn’t get out of its own way. The Packers turned the ball over twice, and Minnesota took advantage when it mattered most.
Green Bay actually finished with more total yards, and Jordan Love threw for 387 yards and two touchdowns. Christian Watson was especially dangerous, catching six passes for 147 yards and two scores.
None of it mattered once Minnesota’s defense and offense took control.
The Vikings scored 22 points in the fourth quarter alone, turning what looked like a disappointing season opener into one of the more impressive comebacks of Week 1.
There are still plenty of questions for Minnesota moving forward, especially with Murray now entering concussion protocol. But if Sunday’s game showed anything, it’s that this team has enough experience, playmakers, and resilience to survive adversity.
The Vikings didn’t play a perfect game.
They didn’t need to.
They just needed to finish.
And they did. SKOL
