Eight of Minnesota's last nine games have gone UNDER the total match points line, and Green Bay arrives in Minneapolis without a settled backfield plan.

Josh Jacobs is unavailable for Week 1, leaving the Packers to figure out their rushing approach on the road against a division rival, while the Vikings' own recent trend keeps pointing toward low-scoring, defensively controlled contests.

That combination sits at the centre of this preview, even though a healthier Green Bay receiving corps offers a genuine counter-argument for those expecting points.

Quick Picks

Our Pick: Total Points: Under 46.5

Alternative Pick: Handicap Betting: Minnesota Vikings -1.5

Full markets and lines for this NFC North opener are available via the Green Bay Packers vs Minnesota Vikings odds page.

A Week 1 Opener With Plenty of Unknowns

Both NFC North sides open the 2026 season at 0-0, but neither arrives with full clarity on personnel.

Minnesota hand the offense to Kyler Murray, who won the starting quarterback job during camp and now makes his first regular-season start in Kevin O'Connell's system.

Green Bay, meanwhile, will be without Micah Parsons for the opener; he's on the physically unable to perform list and is set to miss at least four games while recovering from a torn left ACL, removing the Packers' leading edge-rush threat just as a new-look Vikings offense takes the field.

For context on what's at stake financially for players in these situations, it's worth understanding how much NFL players earn league-wide.

This is the first of two scheduled meetings between these rivals in 2026, with the return fixture set for Week 10 in Green Bay.

Date: Monday 14 September 2026

Kick-off: 6:25 am AEST

Local Kick-off: 3:25 pm CDT

Venue: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

How to watch Green Bay Packers vs Minnesota Vikings in Australia

DAZN NFL Game Pass provides full access to every NFL game, which covers this Week 1 fixture for Australian viewers.

For broader guidance on catching NFL action throughout the season, the guide to watching the NFL in Australia is a useful reference point.

Where the Rushing Question Factors In

Green Bay's ground game carries real uncertainty into this matchup.

With Jacobs unavailable to play or practice, and his return timetable still unclear, the Packers may lean more heavily on Jordan Love and the passing attack than they'd prefer against a Minnesota defense that has recently trended toward tighter, lower-scoring games.

That shift in offensive balance is central to why the total feels vulnerable to sitting under the line again.

Green Bay Packers vs Minnesota Vikings Prediction

Back the Under 46.5 on total points. Minnesota's recent scoring trend and Green Bay's unsettled backfield both point toward a grinding, defensively-shaped contest rather than a shootout.

The counter is that Green Bay's receiving group is healthier than it was together last season, and Parsons' absence strips away the Packers' top pass-rush weapon against Minnesota's new quarterback.

For a different angle on the NFL's Australian storylines, see Australians who have played in the NFL.