The Vikings’ defense is incredible. Their offense should be more capable with a new quarterback under center. But their special teams also present a very interesting challenge for the Packers.
Under the guidance of new coordinator Cam Achord, the Packers’ special teams have been — with some exceptions — generally pretty solid. Pre-injury, Skyy Moore bolstered the Packers’ return game, but the Packers’ special teams have really shined in coverage. As of this week, the Packers’ have allowed the fourth-lowest
average per return on punt returns and the 10th lowest figure on special teams. (This, incidentally, aligns with the special teams stuff the Packers have historically cared about the most and done the best, but it’s still good to see them doing a good job there.)
But as good as the Packers are in punt and kick coverage, the Vikings are even better at punt and kick returns. Minnesota currently ranks first in punt return average (17.5 yards per return) and second in kickoff return average (29.9 per return). It’s true the Vikings have logged a very long punt return (86 yards) and a pretty long kickoff return (68 yards), but even if you removed those long returns, the Vikings’ averages would only drop them to the fifth- and third-best spots in the league on punt and kickoff return, respectively.
And it’s all thanks to return man Myles Price.
Undrafted out of Indiana in 2025, the 5-foot-9, 183-pound Price was a special teams only player for the Vikings last season. He averaged a respectable 9.9 yards per return on 30 punt returns and 25.9 yards per return on 60 kickoff returns, but capped out at a long of 43 yards on his punt duties and 61 yards on kickoff returns. Certainly not bad numbers, but not eye popping.
That’s changed in 2026. The pocket-sized Price leads the NFL in punt return yardage, boasts the longest punt return in the league, and is the only player in the NFL to score on a punt return this season. He’s also the only player who’s returned either a punt or a kick for the Vikings this year, meaning their impressive league-wide rankings are entirely the work of their micro machine return man.
Everybody knows the Packers will have their hands full with Brian Flores, and Kirk Cousins may be enough to bolster their offense to at least some level of respectability. But if the Packers don’t take care of business on special teams, the Vikings could end up tilting the balance in that phase of the game. And in what’s expected to be a close game, any little bit could make a difference.
Fortunately, special teams have never been a game-altering problem for the Packers in the past, right? Right?
