Minnesota Vikings predictions: Week 1 vs. Packers

Football. It’s back.

After a long, long offseason that featured an exclusive look into NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s basement during the virtual draft and not a single preseason game, Week 1 of the 2020 campaign has arrived.

We can now get back to watching our favorite teams and players with motors that won’t quit just take it one game at a time on any given Sunday.

Ahh, football. We missed you.

For the first time in team history, the Minnesota Vikings’ season will open against the rival Green Bay Packers at home.

So, which team will start the season 1-0? Here’s this week’s predictions from around the web:

Barry Wilner of the Associated Press: Vikings 23, Packers 17.

NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal: Vikings 23, Packers 20. “The Packers have had a strong offensive line for so long that it’s taken for granted. That may no longer be the case after Bryan Bulaga’s departure — and a series of injuries — scrambled the right side. The Vikings’ pass rush will also be shorthanded without Danielle Hunter for at least the first three weeks of the season, but new arrival Yannick Ngakoue’s speed should show up on the home turf Sunday. Minnesota’s zone-running game should also match up well against a Packers defense that puts six defensive backs on the field more than any other team. This result wouldn’t exact revenge for the Monday nighter that decided the NFC North late last season, but it would be a terrific way for the Vikings to establish themselves as the most balanced team in a balanced division.”

Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times: Vikings 28, Packers 24.

Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com: Packers 28, Vikings 17. “The Packers have had trouble at Minnesota, but they won there last year. This Vikings team isn’t as good, which is why I think Aaron Rodgers will go in there and beat them again. The Packers will win a big, early-division game.”

John Breech of CBSSports.com: Packers 20, Vikings 17. “I actually think the Vikings will end up having a decent defense this season, especially since they added Yannick Ngakoue, but I don’t think the unit is going to gel right away, which is why [Aaron] Rodgers is going to shred them.”

Will Brinson of CBSSports.com: Packers 21, Vikings 17. “[T]he Packers shouldn’t be dogs in a game where the Vikings lose home-field advantage, not with the way they’ve taken care of business against this team in years past.”

Vinny Iyer of the Sporting News: Vikings 20, Packers 17. “Even with considerable change, the Vikings are a bit tighter defensively than the Packers and will dig deep with ball control to take the early division lead.”

Tad Haslop of the Sporting News: Packers 27, Vikings 23. “Many were bothered by how the Packers handled their roster in the offseason. But even with Jordan Love in the picture, as long as Aaron Rodgers is playing quarterback, Green Bay’s offense will be a problem for opposing teams. Of course, the Vikings are uniquely equipped to give the Packers issues, too. This one will be as close as the odds suggest.”

The Miami Herald’s Greg Cote: Packers 24, Vikings 20.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac: Vikings 28, Packers 24.

Philly Voice’s Jimmy Kempski: Vikings.

Berry Tramel of The Oklahoman: Vikings 27, Packers 19.

Pro Football Talk’s Michael David Smith and Mike Florio: MDS – Vikings 24, Packers 17; Florio – Vikings 27, Packers 20.

All seven USA Today writers pick the Packers to win. The scores: 27-23, 24-20, 24-23, 30-25, 24-17, 26-22 and 30-24.

Four of the six analysts at SI.com are picking the Packers to win.

Seven of the 10 writers at the Dallas Morning News think the Vikings will win.

Two of the three writers at Athlon Sports pick the Vikings to win.