The Green Bay Packers begin the 2026 season on Sunday with an enticing matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.
The two division rivals split last year's regular-season series 1-1, though the Packers rested most of their starters in the Week 18 loss with the seventh seed already locked up.
Stepping in at quarterback for Minnesota is former No. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray. In seven years with the Arizona Cardinals, Murray led them to only one playoff appearance, but he is joining a team that finished 9-8 last season despite subpar quarterback play.
Meanwhile, Green Bay hopes to rinse off the stench of five consecutive losses to end last season and once again establish itself as an NFC contender. Starting fast is always a point of emphasis, but if
the Packers want to begin the year 1-0, it may come down to these three key matchups:
Packers DC Jonathan Gannon vs. Vikings QB Kyler Murray
If anyone should know how to game plan against Murray, it’s Gannon. The two spent the last three seasons together in Arizona, where Gannon was his head coach. Things didn't go over well, and after missing out on the postseason all three years, they both have new gigs.
Murray has yet to beat Green Bay in his career after two attempts, but he is now in a new system orchestrated by one of the most respected offensive minds in football, Kevin O’Connell. Handing O'Connell a talented dual-threat quarterback might spell danger for opposing defenses.
Gannon is also getting a fresh start, and even though Micah Parsons is sidelined until at least Week 5, he's got some exciting pieces to work with on defense. It will be interesting to see how Gannon deploys his players and how his philosophies differ from the Packers' previous defensive coordinator, now head coach Jeff Hafley.
Packers RBs vs. Vikings run defense
In Josh Jacobs' absence, Green Bay will rely on a three-man backfield of MarShawn Lloyd, Chris Brooks, and Kaleb Johnson against the 23rd-ranked defense in rushing yards allowed per game from a year ago. The Packers' run game dealt with its own struggles, finishing 15th in rushing yards per game while averaging an unimpressive 4.1 yards per carry.
Green Bay hopes to have more consistent run-blocking this year, and there's reason for excitement with Lloyd set to play for the first time since Week 2 of his rookie season. However, expect a heavy dose of Brooks, the team's best pass-blocking back, against a defense that has led the league in blitz rate each of the past three seasons.
Generating momentum on the ground and staying ahead of the sticks could be key for the Packers in this one.
Packers CB Brandon Cisse vs. Vikings WR Justin Jefferson
Sunday will be quite the introduction for the rookie second-round pick and projected starter. Cisse impressed the coaching staff with a strong performance in training camp and preseason, but now the real test begins.
In his first NFL game, Cisse will be lining up against Minnesota's four-time All-Pro. 2025 was a "down" year for Jefferson, in part due to a Rolodex of poor quarterbacking. Jefferson had two touchdowns all year and could very well match that total on Sunday—he's done it against Green Bay twice before.
The Packers enter the season with questions at corner, though Cisse is a potential answer if he catches on fast. He'll be thrown into the fire early, and we'll see how the rookie holds up whenever he's matched up with one of the league's best.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers vs. Vikings: 3 key matchups to watch in Week 1
