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MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Vikings overcame the loss of starting quarterback Kyler Murray and scored three fourth-quarter touchdowns to shock the Green Bay Packers 39-22 on Sunday. The Vikings scored 22 points in just 2:42 of game time to take the lead — and then pad it.
Penalties on three consecutive third downs gave Minnesota vital first downs on their go-ahead drive, which culminated in an Aaron Jones touchdown run with 6:37 remaining.
On the subsequent Packers possession, several Minnesota players converged to sack Jordan Love deep in Green Bay territory, and Andrew Van Ginkel ripped the ball out of Love’s hands as he was falling. On the next play, the Vikings scored on a Jordan Mason touchdown plunge.
Three plays later, Love’s pass was tipped by Blake Cashman and intercepted by James Pierre, who returned it to the Packers’ 14-yard line. Three plays later, Justin Jefferson’s incredible individual effort got him into the end zone for the second time on the day. The star wideout ended up with eight receptions for 92 yards and the two scores.
Murray, making his first start since joining the Vikings this offseason, was knocked out of the game in the first quarter after taking a violent hit to the head during a scramble. Murray was quickly ruled out and is in the concussion protocol.
Despite his rough fourth quarter, Love went 21-of-42 passing for 387 yards and two touchdowns. Packers wide receiver Christian Watson had six catches for 147 yards and two touchdowns, including an 81-yarder in the first quarter.
The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman and Alec Lewis share their takeaways.
Box score | NFL Week 1 live blog | Game discussion
Top Plays from Packers @ Vikings
What does the loss of Kyler Murray mean?
It isn’t clear yet if Murray will miss time, but the Vikings signed Carson Wentz for this exact reason. Murray had played more than 11 regular-season games only once in the last four seasons. Wentz offers knowledge of the system. Coach Kevin O’Connell trusts him to target Jefferson, which is perhaps the most important offensive priority.
And on Sunday, Wentz proved all of it. He orchestrated multiple touchdown drives, completing 12 of 19 passes for 133 yards and three touchdowns. Jefferson caught two of them.
Wentz, though, is a backup for a reason. He has trouble surveying the field and frequently puts his body in harm’s way in the pocket. He has been injury-prone throughout his career, which places the Vikings in a precarious position, especially if Murray is out for an extended period of time.
This adds responsibility for third-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy, whom the Vikings demoted from starter in 2025 to third string in the span of an offseason. Minnesota didn’t trust McCarthy enough to make him the backup. If he is forced into that role, the Vikings will have to make sure he’s prepared. His injury history, too, adds another dimension for Minnesota. The team could also look to supplement its roster with another free-agent quarterback to cover for depth issues. — Alec Lewis, Vikings beat writer
How was the Vikings’ defense able to turn up the pressure?
The Packers’ offense torched the Vikings defense for numerous explosive plays throughout Sunday’s game. Green Bay led 19-10 at halftime.
But Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ unit flipped the script in the second half. In the fourth quarter, Flores’ group forced two Packers turnovers (the aforementioned Love fumble and interception) and stopped them twice more on downs. The pass rush engulfed Green Bay’s offensive line and swarmed Love.
The game turned when Packers coach Matt LaFleur took three points off the board early in the fourth quarter to attempt a fourth-and-1 at the Vikings’ 17. The Minnesota defense stopped Love on a sneak, and from that point on, the defense was smothering, applying pressure at the perfect time. Minnesota pressured Love on 13 snaps in the second half, sacking him four times, and left the Packers out of sorts. — Lewis
Why can’t the Packers finish games against NFC North rivals?
We’ve all seen this movie before. The Packers have now blown double-digit, second-half leads in their last three meaningful games against NFC North opponents (Week 18 against the Vikings last season doesn’t count because the starters were rested with the No. 7 seed already secured).
Green Bay talked all offseason about finishing games better after collapsing late too many times last year, but the first game this season suggested that little has changed. On one play, the Packers played conservatively and ran for a 1-yard toss on third-and-12 early in the third quarter while leading 19-10. On another, they decided to be aggressive and take a field goal (and an eight-point lead) off the board, unsuccessfully sneaking Jordan Love on fourth-and-1. Those two plays hint at indecision from LaFleur, which isn’t the most inspiring sign for this fanbase after how last season fell apart. — Matt Schneidman, Packers beat writer
Why did Minnesota’s pressure finally break Green Bay in the fourth quarter?
The Packers need to sort out their offensive line. Maybe Sunday’s leaky performance was simply a byproduct of facing Flores’ chaotic pressure packages, but Love was on his back far too often for Green Bay’s offense to flourish. There were mistakes across the line, from missed assignments in pass protection to pre-snap penalties, and they forced Love to operate off schedule, which made him less effective outside the pocket. Starting left guard Aaron Banks missed another game due to injury, this time a knee issue that has nagged him all summer. He needs to get healthy, and those around him need to tighten things up, or this could be a long season for what should otherwise be a prolific passing attack. — Schneidman
What does the result mean in this season’s NFC North race?
The Vikings’ Week 1 victory makes for a nice start in the NFC North. Sunday, though, is not a recipe for success. To continue to prove their worth in the division, they must make significant adjustments ahead of next Sunday’s matchup with the Bears. Beat Chicago, and Minnesota will solidify its spot as a worthy challenger in the division. — Lewis
The Packers are fortunate this is only Week 1, but it’s never pleasant to lose an NFC North game when the other three teams in the division win. These games count as two, so Green Bay is already beginning the 2026 season behind the eight ball. The Packers haven’t won the division since 2021. This four-year drought is the longest they’ve gone without a crown since the NFC North took on its current form in 2002. — Schneidman