On Sunday, the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings will face off in Week 18 of the NFL season. The Packers have locked themselves into the seventh spot in the NFC going into the playoffs. But they will try to establish some momentum going into the postseason with a win over their division rivals. Before Week 18 kicks off, I break down this NFC North matchup and bring you my Packers vs Vikings prediction from US Bank Stadium.
Our Packers vs Vikings Pick
| Pick: | |
| Confidence: | 1/5 |
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Green Bay Packers vs Minnesota Vikings
- Date & Time: Sunday, January 4, 2026, 1:00 PM ET
- Venue: US Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN
- Broadcast: CBS
Key Storylines
The Packers are heading to the playoffs, while the Vikings are not. But you wouldn’t know it by looking at the way these two teams have played leading up to this Week 18 matchup. The Packers have lost three games in a row and starting quarterback Jordan Love is in concussion protocol. They will face the second seed in the NFC in the first round of the playoffs, which will be either the Bears or Eagles based on the outcome of their Week 18 games. But no matter who the Packers play this week, they are struggling going toward the postseason.
As for the Vikings, they have shown a ton of pride late in the regular season despite being eliminated from playoff contention. The Vikings have won four straight games, including an upset win over the Detroit Lions that knocked Detroit out of the postseason. Minnesota is 8-8 going into this contest and could finish the season above the .500 mark with a win.
Quarterback Play
Jordan Love is the starting quarterback for the Packers under normal circumstances, but he is in concussion protocol. Malik Willis got the start in Green Bay’s Week 17 loss to the Baltimore Ravens and he was ineffective for the most part, though he did make some plays with his legs. It might be smart for the Packers to rest Love this week, even if he clears concussion protocol, to have him ready for the playoffs.
Max Brosmer was the quarterback for the Vikings last week and Minnesota won despite him throwing for just 51 yards. There is a chance that JJ McCarthy returns to action for the Vikings this week. But without a playoff spot to play for, it might also be smart for the Vikings to rest their starting quarterback to avoid risking an injury in a meaningless game.
Betting Trends & H2H
- Green Bay defeated Minnesota 23-6 in the first matchup between these teams this season.
- Minnesota is 8-8 against the spread going into Week 18.
- Green Bay is 6-10 against the spread entering this weekend.
- The Vikings are 8-8 on over/unders this season.
- The Packers have gone over the total 9 times through 16 games.
Packers vs Vikings Model Projection
Final Thoughts
