The Vikings kicked off the 2018 season with a victory in front of the home crowd.
Minnesota will face a tougher challenge in Week 2 as the team heads to Wisconsin to take on the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday.
Green Bay completed a 24-23 comeback victory over the Chicago Bears during Sunday Night Football. The Packers outscored the Bears 24-6 in the second half after being shut out in the first half.
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers suffered an injury early in the game, but was able to return and play the entire last two quarters. It is a question whether or not Rodgers will play on Sunday but the Vikings are preparing for all scenarios.
Experts across the internet submitted their predictions to all NFL games ahead of the much anticipated Week 2 slate.
Let's see what is expected from the Vikings in their Week 2 Border Battle matchup:
The Vikings defense pitched a historic shutout on a bitterly cold night, holding Green Bay to just 239 total yards in the win. It was only the second time in franchise history that Minnesota held Green Bay scoreless, and the first time since a 3-0 home win on Nov. 14, 1971.
Vikings 22, Packers 17, **Elliott Harrison NFL.com**
The Vikings should expect Aaron Rodgers to play in another early NFC North game at Lambeau Field. Rodgers and Kirk Cousins have had good duels in the past, and they'll have another here. Both defenses will have their moments, but a red-hot Rodgers will be motivated to take down the division rivals who essentially ended his 2017 season.
Packers 27, Vikings 24, **Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News**
Rodgers' greatest feat Monday night was making everyone forget how underwhelming the Packers looked on both sides of the ball. The defense may have stood firm at the end to seal the comeback, but the Bears contributed a lot to that, as well. The Vikings looked exactly how they were expected to look against the 49ers, from the defense re-introducing itself to Kirk Cousins running the offense masterfully. Yet, if Rodgers plays, all bets are off.
Vikings 28, Packers 26, **David Steele, Sporting News**
Sunday's matchup between the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers does at least have a point spread, but the line has been all over the map thus far this week. That is, of course, tied to the fact the highest-rated passer in NFL history is not guaranteed to start at quarterback for Green Bay.
Minutes after lighting up the Chicago Bears on one good leg, Aaron Rodgers did declare in a postgame interview with NBC on Sunday night that he'd play against the Vikings, but his team has yet to confirm that, and No. 12 failed to participate in Wednesday's practice.
Even after seeing Rodgers put on a show against Chicago, and even while under the impression Rodgers will indeed suit up for a home game Sunday, our analysts are still picking the Packers straight up.
"That was some magic Sunday night against Chicago," Gagnon said, "but this Minnesota defense is still far better, and the Vikings have a lot more talent and experience on the offensive side of the ball. With all of that adrenaline gone, it'll be a lot harder for a far-from-healthy Rodgers to carry his inferior team against Minnesota, if he even plays."
And since it's safe to guess that sudden bad news for Rodgers would only push the line in favor of Minnesota, that's about all you need to know.
Vikings 24, Packers 21, **Bleacher Report Staff**
I wish I could know for sure whether Aaron Rodgers will be healthy on Sunday. If he is I think the Packers win, if he's not I think the Vikings win. I think Rodgers will be able to go.
Packers 20, Vikings 17, **Michael David Smith Pro Football Talk**
If Aaron Rodgers plays, Green Bay wins. If he doesn't play Green Bay loses. Best guess at this point is that Rodgers finds a way.
Packers 27, Vikings 20, **Mike Florio Pro Football Talk**
Will this be Aaron Rodgers at quarterback for the Packers or not? If they do have him, I think they win the game. If not, good luck. The hunch is he plays, so I am going with the Packers.
Packers 24, Vikings 16, **Pete Prisco, CBS Sports**
FiveThirtyEight's 2018 NFL forecast uses an Elo-based model to calculate each team's chances of advancing to the playoffs and winning the Super Bowl. Playoff probabilities are based on 20,000 simulations of the season and will update after each game.
