MINNEAPOLIS — The Vikings uniforms were the Classic style. The team's fourth quarter was epic.

Minnesota opened its 2026 regular season by outlasting Green Bay for a 39-22 victory Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium.

The victory involved emerging from a double-digit deficit (22-10 with 5:09 remaining in the third quarter) by scoring 29 unanswered points, a run that began with a 16-yard touchdown pass from T.J. Hockenson that was precipitated by a career-long 68-yard kickoff return by second-year pro Myles Price.

That score made it 22-17 with 3:01 left in the third quarter.

Green Bay tried to answer, but instead of taking three points on a field goal, Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur accepted an offsides penalty and opted to go for it on fourth-and-1.

QB Jordan Love was stuffed by a wall of Purple led by rookie Domonique Orange, providing a major turning point.

Minnesota drove 83 yards on its next possession, ticking off more than six minutes before Aaron Jones, Sr., scored on a 3-yard romp to the left pylon. He picked up key blocks from Christian Darrisaw and rookie fullback Max Bredeson. A 2-point conversion pass from Wentz to Justin Jefferson made it 25-22 with 6:37 remaining.

Playing defense ramped up the pressure, forcing turnovers when Andrew Van Ginkel forced a fumble during a sack of Love that was split with Blake Cashman. Van Ginkel returned the ball to the 1, and Jordan Mason followed with a TD plunge.

Cashman tipped a pass by Love, and it deflected off Harrison Smith before it was corralled by James Pierre and returned to set up another short field.

Jefferson capped the next drive with a 9-yard touchdown on his 587^th career reception, which tied Randy Moss for second on the team's receptions leaderboard.

Here are four more observations.

1. Wentz's relief effort

The long-awaited start to the 2026 Vikings season began auspiciously.

Minnesota's offense lost a yard on its first run play and the football on its first pass play.

After Aaron Jones, Sr., was tackled for a loss of 1, quarterback Kyler Murray launched a pass into double coverage toward fellow newcomer Jauan Jennings.

It was intercepted by Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon and returned 11 yards to the Green Bay 47.

The Packers only gained 12 yards on the ensuing possession but it was enough for rookie Trey Smack to drill a 59-yard field goal with room to spare for a 3-0 lead with 12:11 remaining in the first quarter.

Murray's second possession included a 6-yard run by Jones, a 9-yard pass to Justin Jefferson and a 6-yard scramble by Murray before back-to-back false starts by Minnesota halted the momentum.

On the next series, three plays after an 81-yard touchdown allowed by the Vikings, Murray scrambled again. He gave himself up by sliding shy of the sticks, but was hit in the helmet by Lukas Van Ness and smacked by Javon Bullard on the turf. Officials flagged Bullard for unnecessary roughness.

Murray was evaluated for a concussion and ruled out. He finished his Vikings debut was replaced by Wentz, who finished 12-of-19 passing for 133 yards and three touchdowns, good for a passer rating of 123.5.

2. Cashing in on a free play

Wentz showed his veteran savvy to strike for Minnesota's first touchdown of the season.

He alertly used a hard count to draw Van Ness offsides and opted to take an end zone shot to Jefferson, who was in single coverage by rookie corner Brandon Cisse. Jefferson reeled in the catch to make it a 12-10 contest with 1:55 remaining in the first half.

It was a free play similar to many that Green Bay has capitalized on over the years.

The 39-yard distance was a longer TD pass than Minnesota posted in the entire 2025 season, by the way.

3. Ground and pound

The Vikings stayed patient with the run game and eventually wore down the Packers.

Mason led the way with 59 yards on 15 carries, and Jones finished with 40 yards on 12 carries.

The persistence helped Minnesota win time of possession 32:58 to 27:02 and took away a few opportunities for a Packers offense that put together some explosives, including an 81-yard touchdown from Love to Christian Watson.

The defense also showed relentlessness and finally found a way home, despite Love's elusiveness and ability to throw on the run.

Van Ginkel led Minnesota with 1.5 sacks, and Cashman had the other half. Levi Drake Rodriguez and Dallas Turner each recorded one. Turner recorded a whopping seven of Minnesota's 15 QB hits.

4. Newcomers help sway momentum

Orange's play on the QB sneak was massive and joined by other times he was pushing the line of scrimmage.

Pierre's pick was the fifth of his career and a great way to make his Minnesota debut after 95 career games with the Steelers.

DeeJay Dallas signed to Minnesota's practice squad on Sept. 2. He was elevated Saturday. Known as an all-around running back with rush, receiving and return yards, he showed he can also lay the hammer. Dallas' block sprung Price's long return.

Bredeson showed full bandwidth in the offense, moving to multiple spots in the formation and delivering key blocks.

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