The Green Bay Packers vs Minnesota Vikings matchup on January 4, 2026, ended with a convincing 16-3 victory for Minnesota at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Week 18 meeting closed the regular season for both NFC North teams, but the circumstances were very different. Green Bay had already secured the NFC’s No. 7 playoff seed and rested many starters. Minnesota, meanwhile, entered the finale looking to finish its season with momentum. The Vikings controlled the game from the opening quarter and finished with a 242-yard advantage in total offense.
The player statistics reflected that contrast. Minnesota generated 363 total yards, including 226 net passing yards and 137 rushing yards. Green Bay managed only 121 total yards and finished with negative seven net passing yards after four sacks cost 41 yards. J.J. McCarthy completed 14 of 23 passes for 182 yards before leaving the game, while Jordan Mason rushed for 94 yards. Justin Jefferson also delivered a major performance with eight catches for 101 yards.
Final Score
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green Bay Packers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 3 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 16 |
Minnesota established control early with two Will Reichard field goals in the first half. Reichard opened the scoring with a 43-yard kick and later added a 25-yard field goal after an extended Vikings drive. C.J. Ham then scored on a one-yard rushing touchdown with only 23 seconds left in the second quarter. Those points gave Minnesota a 13-0 halftime advantage and placed Green Bay in a difficult position against a defense that had already produced four sacks.
The third quarter passed without a score, but Minnesota maintained its advantage throughout the final period. Reichard added a 37-yard field goal with 4:09 remaining, extending the lead to 16-0. Brandon McManus finally put Green Bay on the scoreboard with a 24-yard field goal as time expired. The Packers therefore finished the game with only three points, while Minnesota completed the afternoon with 16.
Match Details
The game took place on Sunday, January 4, 2026, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. It was Week 18 of the 2025 NFL season and attracted an announced attendance of 66,606. The Packers finished the regular season 9-7-1, while the Vikings ended at 9-8. Green Bay entered the contest already locked into a playoff position, which influenced the team’s lineup decisions and left several regular starters on the sideline.
Minnesota controlled possession for 33:30 compared with Green Bay’s 26:30. The Vikings also produced 23 first downs compared with 12 for the Packers. Green Bay converted three of 12 third-down opportunities, while Minnesota converted two of 10. The biggest statistical gap came in total offense, where Minnesota gained 363 yards from 64 plays and Green Bay produced only 121 yards from 50 plays.
| Match Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | January 4, 2026 |
| Week | Week 18 |
| Venue | U.S. Bank Stadium |
| Final Score | Vikings 16, Packers 3 |
| Packers Record | 9-7-1 |
| Vikings Record | 9-8 |
| Attendance | 66,606 |
| Winning Team | Minnesota Vikings |
Team Statistics
The team statistics show just how thoroughly Minnesota controlled the matchup. The Vikings recorded 363 total yards, averaging 5.7 yards per play. Green Bay managed only 121 yards at 2.4 yards per play. Minnesota also collected 23 first downs, including 14 through the passing game, while Green Bay recorded just one passing first down. The Vikings ran 64 offensive plays, compared with 50 for the Packers.
Green Bay actually won the turnover battle because the Packers did not lose a turnover, while Minnesota lost one fumble. That advantage did not matter because the Packers could not move the ball consistently. Minnesota also dominated time of possession and limited Green Bay to one red-zone opportunity. The Packers finished 0-for-1 inside the red zone, while Minnesota went 1-for-4.
| Team Statistic | Packers | Vikings |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 121 | 363 |
| Total Plays | 50 | 64 |
| Yards per Play | 2.4 | 5.7 |
| Net Passing Yards | -7 | 226 |
| Rushing Yards | 128 | 137 |
| First Downs | 12 | 23 |
| Third Down | 3/12 | 2/10 |
| Fourth Down | 0/0 | 1/1 |
| Time of Possession | 26:30 | 33:30 |
| Turnovers Lost | 0 | 1 |
Passing Stats
Clayton Tune started at quarterback for Green Bay and completed six of 11 attempts for only 34 yards. He did not throw a touchdown or interception, but Minnesota’s pass rush sacked him four times for 41 yards. Those sacks reduced the Packers’ net passing total to negative seven yards. Tune also rushed four times for 23 yards, but the offense struggled to create sustained drives against Minnesota’s aggressive defensive front.
J.J. McCarthy delivered Minnesota’s strongest passing performance, completing 14 of 23 attempts for 182 yards. He did not throw a touchdown or interception and posted an 85.8 passer rating. McCarthy left the contest after an injury, allowing Max Brosmer to take over. Brosmer completed seven of eight passes for 57 yards. Together, the Vikings quarterbacks completed 21 of 31 passes for 226 yards.
| Quarterback | C/ATT | Yards | TD | INT | Sacks | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clayton Tune, GB | 6/11 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 60.4 |
| J.J. McCarthy, MIN | 14/23 | 182 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 85.8 |
| Max Brosmer, MIN | 7/8 | 57 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 96.4 |
Rushing Stats
Chris Brooks led Green Bay’s rushing attack with 61 yards on 13 carries. Emanuel Wilson followed with 44 yards on 18 attempts, while Tune added 23 yards on four carries. As a team, the Packers produced 128 rushing yards on 35 attempts. The ground game was considerably more effective than the passing attack, but Green Bay could not combine those rushing yards with enough passing production to threaten Minnesota’s lead.
Jordan Mason was the game’s leading rusher. He carried 14 times for 94 yards, averaging 6.7 yards per attempt and recording a long run of 24 yards. Ty Chandler added 23 yards on 10 carries, while Zavier Scott had nine yards. McCarthy contributed seven rushing yards, and Ham scored the game’s only offensive touchdown on his one-yard run.
| Rusher | Team | Carries | Yards | Average | Long | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Brooks | GB | 13 | 61 | 4.7 | 12 | 0 |
| Emanuel Wilson | GB | 18 | 44 | 2.4 | 12 | 0 |
| Clayton Tune | GB | 4 | 23 | 5.8 | 16 | 0 |
| Jordan Mason | MIN | 14 | 94 | 6.7 | 24 | 0 |
| Ty Chandler | MIN | 10 | 23 | 2.3 | 5 | 0 |
| C.J. Ham | MIN | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 | 1 |
Receiving Stats
Green Bay’s receiving production was extremely limited. Jakobie Keeney-James led the Packers with two receptions for 15 yards. Matthew Golden caught one pass for eight yards, while Josh Whyle and Emanuel Wilson each recorded one reception for four yards. Drake Dabney added one catch for three yards. The Packers finished with only six receptions for 34 yards, matching their quarterback’s passing yardage.
Justin Jefferson was the clear receiving standout for Minnesota. He caught eight of 11 targets for 101 yards and averaged 12.6 yards per reception. Jalen Nailor added three receptions for 49 yards, while Josh Oliver caught two passes for 29 yards. The Vikings finished with 21 receptions for 239 receiving yards, giving McCarthy and Brosmer enough reliable production to control the game.
| Receiver | Team | Receptions | Targets | Yards | Average | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jakobie Keeney-James | GB | 2 | 2 | 15 | 7.5 | 0 |
| Matthew Golden | GB | 1 | 3 | 8 | 8.0 | 0 |
| Josh Whyle | GB | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4.0 | 0 |
| Justin Jefferson | MIN | 8 | 11 | 101 | 12.6 | 0 |
| Jalen Nailor | MIN | 3 | 3 | 49 | 16.3 | 0 |
| Josh Oliver | MIN | 2 | 2 | 29 | 14.5 | 0 |
Defensive Player Stats
Minnesota’s defense played the most influential role in the result. The Vikings recorded four sacks and eight tackles for loss while holding Green Bay to 121 total yards. Dallas Turner led the pass rush with two sacks, while Blake Cashman and Theo Jackson each recorded a sack. Eric Wilson led Minnesota with nine total tackles, and Cashman finished with seven tackles and one sack.
Green Bay’s defense also produced individual highlights despite spending long stretches on the field. Jamon Johnson led the Packers with 10 tackles. Barrin Sorrell recorded eight tackles, one sack and one quarterback hit. Jaylin Simpson also finished with eight tackles, while Johnathan Baldwin II recorded seven. As a unit, Green Bay registered two sacks and four tackles for loss.
| Defender | Team | Tackles | Sacks | TFL | QB Hits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jamon Johnson | GB | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Barrin Sorrell | GB | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Jaylin Simpson | GB | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Johnathan Baldwin II | GB | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Eric Wilson | MIN | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Blake Cashman | MIN | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Dallas Turner | MIN | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Theo Jackson | MIN | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Important Game Moments
Minnesota’s first scoring drive immediately established the tone. Reichard converted a 43-yard field goal at 10:27 of the first quarter after an eight-play, 46-yard possession. Reichard then added a 25-yard field goal in the second quarter after a 14-play, 84-yard drive. The Vikings continued moving the ball efficiently, and their sustained possessions prevented Green Bay’s offense from establishing any rhythm.
The most important offensive play came just before halftime. Minnesota completed a nine-play, 59-yard drive with C.J. Ham’s one-yard touchdown run, giving the Vikings a 13-0 lead. Green Bay never answered with a touchdown. Minnesota later added Reichard’s 37-yard field goal, and McManus’ field goal with no time remaining provided Green Bay’s only points.
Turning Point
The defining turning point was Minnesota’s ability to build a 13-0 halftime advantage while its defense kept Green Bay’s offense almost completely contained. The Packers managed only six completions in the entire game, and their four sacks allowed erased 41 passing yards. Green Bay’s 121 total yards represented a remarkably low offensive output, while Minnesota’s defense consistently won at the line of scrimmage.
Green Bay’s decision to rest many starters also shaped the contest. The Packers had already secured the No. 7 NFC playoff seed, so the organization prioritized preparation for the postseason. Minnesota took advantage of the situation and finished its season with its fifth consecutive victory. The Vikings’ 363 yards and 33:30 time of possession demonstrated their ability to control the game even without producing a single passing touchdown.
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What the Player Stats Reveal
The numbers make the outcome straightforward. Minnesota gained three times as many total yards as Green Bay, with 363 compared with 121. The Vikings also produced 23 first downs to Green Bay’s 12 and averaged 5.7 yards per play. The Packers averaged only 2.4 yards per play. Minnesota’s passing game produced 226 net yards, while Green Bay finished with negative seven net passing yards after accounting for sacks.
Individual performances reinforced that team advantage. Mason’s 94 rushing yards gave Minnesota a consistent ground threat, while Jefferson’s 101 receiving yards provided the game’s biggest receiving total. McCarthy added 182 passing yards before leaving with an injury. For Green Bay, Brooks’ 61 rushing yards represented the team’s best offensive output, but Tune’s 34 passing yards and four sacks reflected the enormous challenge the Packers faced against Minnesota’s defensive front.
Final Match Summary
The Green Bay Packers vs Minnesota Vikings match player stats from January 4, 2026, tell the story of a one-sided regular-season finale. Minnesota won 16-3 after taking a 13-0 halftime lead and limiting Green Bay to 121 total yards. McCarthy passed for 182 yards, Mason rushed for 94 yards, and Jefferson caught eight passes for 101 yards. The Vikings defense added four sacks and eight tackles for loss, while Reichard made all three of his field-goal attempts.
Green Bay’s offense struggled throughout the afternoon, although its 128 rushing yards prevented the performance from becoming completely one-dimensional. Brooks led the Packers with 61 rushing yards, while Johnson topped the defense with 10 tackles. The Vikings controlled possession, created 23 first downs and outgained Green Bay by 242 yards. With the Packers already preparing for the playoffs, Minnesota closed its 2025 season on a positive note with a convincing divisional victory.
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