The Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings are headed toward a historic, never-before-seen chapter in the rivalry’s long-running history.
The Packers are 11-4. The Vikings are 13-2. Never before in the 64 years of the Packers-Vikings series have both teams entered a matchup with 11 or more wins, and the 24 combined wins between the two teams represent the most ever entering a regular season matchup.
Since the NFC North was established in 2002, the most combined wins by the Packers and Vikings in a season before 2024 was 23. The two teams are at 24 this season with two weeks left to play.
Much is at stake. The Packers can’t win the NFC North over the final two games, but Green Bay can jump into the No. 5 seed in the NFC playoff field with wins in Week 17 and 18 and two losses by the Vikings. Minnesota, however, is still competing to win the NFC North and get the coveted No. 1 seed — and first-round bye — in the postseason.
Amazingly, neither the Vikings nor the Packers are leading the division. That distinction is held by the 13-2 Detroit Lions. This is the first season in the history of the NFC North and NFC Central where three teams have 10 or more wins.
Sunday will be the 129th matchup between the Packers and Vikings. The Packers hold a 65-58-3 advantage in the regular season, and the two teams are tied at 1-1 in the postseason. Green Bay is 31-31 overall in Minnesota.
This is also a matchup of two of the most successful young coaches in NFL history. Matt LaFleur has led the Packers to the postseason in five of his first six seasons and now has 67 total wins, the second-most by a coach in his first six seasons (George Seifert, 75). Kevin O’Connell has two seasons with 13 or more wins in his first three seasons as coach, becoming just the third coach ever — and first since LaFleur — to accomplish the feat.
Since O’Connell was hired in 2022, the Vikings hold a 3-2 edge over the Packers. But no team in the series has won back-to-back games since 2020-21 (split last six games).
