GAME DAY PREVIEW: Vikings Host Packers Today in Minneapolis
The Minnesota Vikings open the regular season at home today against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium in Week 1 of the NFL season.
It will be a fresh start for the Vikings under new head coach Kevin O'Connell. Commenting on the Vikings website, O'Connell says...
Yeah, I'm just excited for it. This isn't just any other game – it is my first game as a head coach, against a divisional rival. I'm well aware of the importance of this football game for our team. I think this 17-game season, looking at it, what's out in front of our team, it's important that we get off to a good start, we want to play the right way, but we know we're playing a really good football team that we're going to see again later in the year.
Injury Report
For the Vikings, defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard (bicep) and safety Lewis Cine (knee) are both listed as 'questionable' today.
For the Packers, wide receiver Allen Lazard (ankle) is 'doubtful' for today's game. Offensive linemen David Bakhtiari (knee) and Elgton Jenkins (pectoral & knee) are listed as 'questionable.'
Matchup History
The Vikings and Packers have faced each other 123 times in the regular and postseason, with Green Bay leading the series 64-56-3. The Vikings won the first matchup last season 34-31 in Minneapolis, losing the second game to the Packers 37-10 in Green Bay.
The Odds
The Vikings are 1½ point underdogs against the Packers today.
The Broadcast
The game is set to kickoff at 3:25 pm CT. (TV: FOX)