Kyler Murray makes his highly anticipated debut as Minnesota hosts a bitter rival, seeking an immediate divisional statement in a high-stakes season opener at U.S. Bank Stadium.
The Minnesota Vikings will open the 2026 NFL season on Sunday afternoon with a home matchup against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Both teams enter Week 1 at 0-0, with Minnesota beginning a new era at quarterback as Kyler Murray makes his Vikings debut against a familiar NFC North rival.
With two division games to open the season, this is an immediate opportunity for Minnesota to establish itself in the NFC North race. It all starts Sunday afternoon in Minnesota for the opener.
How to Watch
- Date: September 13
- Time: 3:25 PM CT
- TV: CBS
- Location: U.S. Bank Stadium | Minneapolis, MN
Game Outlook
All eyes will be on Kyler Murray as he takes his first regular-season snaps in a Vikings uniform. After spending the first several years of his career in Arizona, Murray gets a fresh start in Minnesota after winning the starting quarterback job over J.J. McCarthy during the offseason. He now steps into a more competitive situation with a Vikings team that believes it has the pieces to contend, making his performance one of the biggest storylines entering the season.
There may also be no better way to evaluate this new-look Minnesota offense than against Green Bay. The Packers remain one of the Vikings’ most important division rivals, and Week 1 often brings plenty of uncertainty as teams reveal how offseason changes translate to meaningful games. Minnesota does have the advantage of opening at home, and the betting market views these teams as extremely close, with the Vikings favored by just 1.5 points.
For the Vikings, the key will be getting Murray comfortable early and allowing the offense to establish a rhythm without asking the new quarterback to do too much immediately. Green Bay is talented enough to punish mistakes, so protecting the football and avoiding the sloppy play that can often define Week 1 will be important. More than anything, this is Minnesota’s first opportunity to see what its new quarterback situation looks like when the games actually count.
Betting Odds
- Spread: Vikings -1.5
- Moneyline: Vikings -131
- Over/Under: 46.5
Following this contest, the Vikings will travel to Chicago for a Week 2 matchup against the Bears. That means Minnesota will open its season with back-to-back NFC North games and an early opportunity to create separation within the division. That’s what makes this early part of the season so crucial for the Vikings, given it’s a chance to either build division momentum.
