We've made it to week 18 of the 2025-26 NFL season, and today's going to be a weird one with your Green Bay Packers taking on the Minnesota Vikings from US Bank Stadium in Minnesota at 12 PM CST. The 9-6-1 Packers are coming off an embarrassing 41-24 loss to the Baltimore Ravens at home, where it seemed like they were coming off a Christmas hangover or something and let Derrick Henry run all over them. The 8-8 Vikings are coming off a 23-10 victory over the Detroit Lions that actually stamped the Packers' ticket to the playoffs. The Packers are resting a few players as they have nothing to gain from today's game, while the Vikings are simply playing for pride at this point in their final game of the season. 

The last time these two teams met was just before Thanksgiving at Lambeau Field on November 23rd, when the Packers emerged victorious with a 23-6 drubbing of the Vikings. Jordan Love went 14/21 for 139 yards through the air, but the star of the game for the Packers' offense was Emanuel Wilson, who ran the ball 28 times for 107 yards and two touchdowns. The Packers' defense took care of business as well, sacking Vikings' QB JJ McCarthy five times and intercepting him twice. Both teams are expected to look different today in the finale, but the Packers will be hoping for a similar result. 

Last week was a game the Packers would like to forget. They let Derrick Henry run all over them 36 times for 216 yards and four touchdowns. Malik Willis put up a fight on offense, running nine times for 60 yards and two touchdowns as well as throwing for 288 yards and a touchdown, but that wasn't enough as the Packers' defense simply got bullied by Henry in embarrassing fashion. A team that had been doing pretty well against premier running backs up until last week, just had no answers for the ageless wonder, Henry. To make matters worse, the Packers lost Jordan Riley, Kamal Hadden, and Nate Hobbs for the rest of the season, adding to their ever-growing IR list. 

Today is going to be a weird one with so many players not on the field, but we'll see how the Packers plan to get things done. 

What to See on Offense

With so many uncertainties about who will be playing for each team today, especially the Packers, "what to expect" will be a lot different this week, focusing on which players may be featured if preferred starters aren't active. 

Jordan Love has cleared concussion protocol, but he will not be playing today. Instead, Clayton Tune will be starting for the Packers at quarterback. Tune entered last week's game when Malik Willis re-aggravated his shoulder injury and went 1/4 for 8 yards and one interception. The interception was more tough luck than anything as Tune's pass hit Bo Melton in the hands and was tipped right to a defender. Tune is around what you'd expect for a practice squad QB, raw talent that the Packers are looking to shape into a serviceable backup QB. 

At receiver, it's going to be a tough call for who Clayton Tune will have to throw to. With Jordan Love and Malik Willis not starting, I don't see a lot of benefit to walking top receivers like Watson, Doubs, and Reed out there often and risking injury. However, Savion Williams was just placed on injured reserve, and Dontayvion Wicks is Doubtful with a concussion. The Packers elevated Jakobie Keeney-James from the practice squad to the active roster yesterday, but that would leave only Matthew Golden outside of Keeney-James and possibly Bo Melton if Watson, Reed, and Doubs sit. So there is a good chance one or more of those receivers will be active. Offensive Coordinator Adam Stenavich emphasized that we shouldn't expect an increase in Matthew Golden's role this season, but in today's game, I wouldn't be surprised if he sees more snaps, given the nature of the matchup. 

The last time these two teams met, Jordan Love was only sacked once as the Packers picked up blitzes from Minnesota's defense pretty easily. There may be some backup linemen on the field today, so we will see how that goes in a game that Minnesota will likely want to give their fans some kind of positivity to end the season on.  Last week against Detroit, the Vikings sacked Jared Goff five times and intercepted him twice. We'll see if they decide to make Clayton Tune's life miserable in the pocket today or if they dare him to throw the ball. 

On the ground, I'm expecting to see a lot of Emanuel Wilson. Josh Jacobs could benefit from a week off despite his desire to keep pushing, and today is the perfect day. The Vikings, however, may not like seeing Wilson as he ran for 107 yards and two touchdowns in their first meeting this season. But with a third-string QB behind center, Minnesota will likely focus on stopping the run. Outside of Wilson, we'll perhaps see Chris Brooks take a few handoffs. We did not end up seeing Pierre Strong Jr. or the newly acquired Damien Martinez elevated from the practice squad. This was an interesting decision if Jacobs isn't going to go today, but we'll have to see how LaFleur elects to rotate his backs.

What to See on Defense

Like my offensive portion, this section will primarily focus on players who may see increased roles today, given the uncertainty of the lineup. 

Starting at quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings today will be JJ McCarthy. McCarthy hasn't played in a few games and has had his injury woes this season, so deciding to start him today is a bit odd, but it seems as though Minnesota is hoping to put together some momentum into the offseason. 

Minnesota's offensive line has not kept the quarterback clean these last few weeks, so the Packers will be hoping to put up those sack totals today and limit McCarthy's production, but they will likely be without most top defensive players. We are expecting to see the debut of Collin Oliver, however, the rookie pass rusher who many fans are already calling "Micah Parsons 2.0." Despite any action at all seen from him this season, due to injury. Maybe we'll be surprised by him, along with some increased snaps for fellow rookie Barryn Sorrell, who has put together several winning reps against offensive linemen this season in his minimal chances. 

The Packers' secondary has been decimated by injury, leading to the addition of CB Trevon Diggs off waivers from the Dallas Cowboys. Diggs has been injured most of the season, and when he has been active, he's just been flat-out beaten by receivers. There is a chance he plays today, but I would not expect a ton of production or snaps from Diggs. Bo Melton has mainly taken snaps at receiver this season after trying to transition to corner in training camp. However, he was seen taking reps with the defense in practice this week, so we may see the regular-season debut of Bo Melton, the corner. 

Whoever is starting at corner for the Packers today may be facing Minnesota's full complement of receivers. With Justin Jefferson 53 receiving yards away from the century mark, there's been a lot of chatter amongst the Vikings-faithful about McCarthy needing to get Jefferson over 1K yards to end the season. Along with Jefferson are Jordan Addison and Jalen Nailor, who are also decent threats and will test whoever Green Bay puts in their path. Tight end TJ Hockenson is OUT today for the Vikings, so that gives the Packers' secondary one less pass-catching threat to deal with. 

Against the run, the Vikings, of course, have former Packer, Aaron Jones, alongside Jordan Mason. Jones did not practice this week and is out today, so I would expect to see a lot of Jordan Mason in the running game for Minnesota. Mason has had a good 2025 season, running for 664 yards and six touchdowns, and will likely be looking to finish the season on a high note in an effort to become the feature back for the Vikings if Aaron Jones does not return next season. 

The Packers have a familiar face returning on the defensive line in Jonathan Ford. With the injury to Jordan Riley last week, Ford will have a huge opportunity in his second stint with the Packers. We'll see how much Ford plays today, but I would expect his role to increase dramatically as the Packers need a run-stopper in the middle. 

Extra Notes

If there's one area not expected to change a lot today for the Packers, it's special teams. I don't know if that's good or bad, honestly, but let's not get into that gripe now. 

Brandon McManus has been picture-perfect for the last six games, Vikings kicker Will Reichard has also been perfect, so no excitement there.  Punting, personally, I feel Daniel Whelan was robbed of a Pro Bowl election, considering he has the second-best punt average in the league, but we all know the Pro Bowl has become meaningless, and it's All-Pro elections that count, but we'll see on that front. Vikings punter Ryan Wright ranks eighth in the league in punt average. 

Kick/Punt returns haven't been too exciting for either squad this season, with Myles Price handling the majority of duties for the Vikings, and we'll have to see who handles returns today for the Packers. Last week, it was Bo Melton and Nate Hobbs taking the majority of kick returns. With Hobbs now on IR and Melton seeing an increased role on defense, possibly, that could change. 

In the End

It's the final game of the regular season, against a hated division rival in the Minnesota Vikings. But this game honestly just feels like an exhibition matchup. The Packers are running a third-string QB onto the field and a smattering of other backups, given that their playoff ticket is already punched, and the Vikings have nothing to play for either. You want your team to win, but if they lose, what does it really matter? It's just a weird game against a team that we'd normally have a lot of emotion playing against, but today, it's just not the same.

Nonetheless, we want our Packers to win. But more importantly, let's get out of this game healthy and ready for the playoffs. Go Pack Go.