There is an inherent brutality to the way the NFC North resets every autumn. Long before the leaves change or the weather turns, the division establishes itself as an ecosystem where comfort does not exist and regression or progression happens at a dizzying pace.

The NFL's schedule makers handed the Vikings and Packers a tremendous litmus test to begin the 2026 season at 3:25 p.m. (CT) Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium.

When you start the year against a division rival, you aren't just kicking off the schedule. And in a division as competitive as the North is expected, a September slip-up doesn't just put a loss in the standings — it instantly creates a division deficit that will need to be closed.

While Sunday's contest marks the 21st time the Vikings have opened the season against a division opponent (since 1967 when the NFC Central division was formed), it's just the ninth time Minnesota has started its schedule against Green Bay. The Vikings are 4-4 in the eight previous instances, which are detailed below (home matchups are in bold):

– 1962: L 34-7

– 1974: W 32-17

– 1992: W 23-20 (OT)

– 1994: L 16-10

– 2003: W 30-25

– 2008: L 24-19 on Monday Night Football

– 2020: L 43-34

– 2022: W 23-7

That 1992 season opener stands out in particular; Sunday will be just the second time in franchise history the Vikings have faced the same opponent in the regular season to bridge two consecutive seasons. Minnesota fell to Green Bay 27-7 to close the 1991 regular-season schedule and earned a 16-3 victory to wrap up last year's slate of games.

The Vikings and Packers have met 131 times in their history, including twice in the postseason, with Green Bay possessing a 67-61-3 advantage in the series. The Border Battle season series has been split 28 times, including five of the past six years.

Let's see who the experts are picking to win the game:

Packers 26, Vikings 24 – Pete Prisco, CBS Sports

This will come down to how well the Packers handle all those Brian Flores pressure looks on defense for Minnesota. That's a challenge on the road. But Jordan Love has been good against the blitz in his career. That matters. The Green Bay defense will manufacture enough pressure — without Micah Parsons — to slow down Kyler Murray. Packers win it.

Packers 29, Vikings 28 – Bill Bender, Sporting News

The Packers have lost four of the last five meetings in Minnesota, and Kyler Murray is making his debut as the Vikings starting quarterback. Green Bay will not have Micah Parsons or Josh Jacobs. It's Jordan Love's time to shine – and a late TD pass to Tucker Kraft is the difference.

Vikings 23, Packers 20 – Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News

The Packers have high hopes for Jordan Love, now with more expensive No. 1 receiver Christian Watson. But the running game is going through a shakeup with the off-field issues for Josh Jacobs, and the defense won't have Jeff Hafley long-term or a healthy Micah Parsons short-term. The Vikings D remains loaded for Brian Flores, while Kevin O'Connell will help call the right plays for Kyler Murray in the QB's winning debut.

4 of 5 experts pick the Vikings, NFL.com

Analysis from NFL.com's Brooke Cersosimo: How will Kyler Murray look under Kevin O'Connell's tutelage? We're about to find out in what will be a rocking U.S. Bank Stadium full of Vikings fans ready to forget the QB conundrum of 2025. These NFC North matchups are always competitive, but this particular one feels more about what the Packers lost this offseason than what the Vikings gained. Green Bay begins the 2026 campaign without superstar pass rusher Micah Parsons and RB Josh Jacobs, an instrumental part of Matt LaFleur's offense in recent seasons who's currently on the commissioner's exempt list. That backfield will now feature MarShawn Lloyd, Kaleb Johnson and Chris Brooks (the only one with more than 100 career rush yards), meaning Brian Flores' defense should expect a heavy dose of Jordan Love's arm. Ultimately, missing two big-time starters will be too much to overcome for the road team.

2 of 7 experts pick the Vikings, Bleacher Report

Bleacher Report analysis Gary Davenport: Neither of these teams are especially easy to trust in the early-going this year — the Vikings have a new quarterback in Kyler Murray, and the Packers have significant questions on defense, especially where the pass rush is concerned. I'll take the points — with exactly zero confidence.

Bleacher Report analysis Brad Gagnon: I don't know how I feel about the Packers opening the season on the road against a sneaky-good division rival without Josh Jacobs and Micah Parsons. Throw in the unpredictability factor with Kyler Murray, and I think Green Bay is in a tough situation here.

4 of 8 experts pick the Vikings, The MMQB

4 of 11 experts pick the Vikings, ESPN

3 of 7 experts pick the Vikings, The Athletic

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