The playoff-bound Green Bay Packers are hobbling their way into their regular season finale against the Minnesota Vikings.
Since the Week 18 result won’t change the Packers’ playoff seed it’s paramount for head coach Matt LaFleur and his team to get healthy (or at least somewhat healthy given so many stars are out with season-ending injuries). This Packers team simply can’t afford any more injuries.
But do the Packers, whose porous run defense was exposed in a 41-24 loss to the Baltimore Ravens last week, want to go into the playoffs on a four-game losing streak?
That’s the situation the Packers (9-6-1) would be in if they lose to the Vikings. Not exactly peaking at the right time. Regardless, they’ll likely be resting players.
Meanwhile, Kevin O’Connell’s team, which had previously been eliminated from playoff contention, are on a roll as it concludes the regular season. The Vikings (8-8) have won their last four games and even helped the Packers clinch a playoff berth last week by beating the Detroit Lions on Christmas.
Who suits up at quarterback for Minnesota is still to be determined. The status of second-year pro JJ McCarthy, who has a hand injury, is up in the air.
Here’s an early look at the Packers-Vikings matchup, including start time, TV channel, odds and the NFC playoff picture and more:
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What time is the Packer game on Sunday?
The Packers will play the Vikings at noon on Sunday, Jan. 4, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, the second matchup between the two teams this season.
It’s the Packers’ first Sunday noon game since their Week 12 win over the Vikings on Nov. 23 at Lambeau Field.
What channel is the Packers vs Vikings? TV, streaming
Spero Dedes (play-by-play), Adam Archuleta (analyst), Aditi Kinkhabwala (sideline reporter) are on the call.
Stream Packers vs Vikings on Fubo
NFC playoff picture
The playoff puzzle is almost complete in the NFC. Six of the seven playoff spots are taken with the NFC South champion still to be determined. The winner gets the No. 4 seed. The Packers, locked into the seventh seed, are the only team in the field with their playoff seed known. The seeds for the other teams that have clinched a playoff spot will be finalized during Week 18.
In the hunt: Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 7-9 (can only win the NFC South and be the fourth seed)
Eliminated: Minnesota Vikings 8-8, Detroit Lions 8-8, Dallas Cowboys 7-8-1, Atlanta Falcons 7-9, New Orleans Saints 6-10, Washington Commanders 4-12, Arizona Cardinals 3-13, New York Giants 3-13
Packers vs Vikings odds
Since the Packers will likely rest several starters, the Vikings are almost touchdown favorites.
Odds courtesy of BetMGM.
Is JJ McCarthy playing vs the Packers?
Like last week, the Packers could be facing a backup quarterback.
Quarterback JJ McCarthy, the team’s 2024 first-round pick, has a hairline fracture in his right hand.
McCarthy missed the Vikings’ Week 17 game on Christmas on Dec. 25 after leaving the Week 16 contest with the injury.
O’Connell said on Dec. 29 McCarthy is “progressing.”
“Swelling in his hand has come down a little bit,” O’Connell said. “It’s just gonna be about working through it this week and seeing what his grip strength is like and if he can possibly give it a go this week.”
If McCarthy doesn’t play, Max Brosmer will get the start for a third time this season.
Green Bay Packers 2025 schedule
The Packers are 9-6-1 entering their Week 18 game.
Who will the Packers play in the playoffs?
As the seventh seed, the Packers will play the No. 2 seed on the road in the wild-card round of the playoffs. That will be either the Bears or Eagles.
The Bears will be the No. 2 seed with a win over the Lions on Jan. 4 or an Eagles loss over the Commanders.
The Eagles will be the No. 2 seed with a win over the Commanders and a Bears loss to the Lions. The Packers lost to the Eagles in a wild-card game last season.
The playoffs begin with wild-card weekend Jan. 10-12.
When is the Super Bowl 2026?
The Packers will attempt to reach the Super Bowl for the first time since the 2010 season.
The Super Bowl is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 8, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: When do the Packers play next? Vikings game Sunday, time, TV, schedule
Reporting by Christopher Kuhagen, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
