If you’re checking your phone or refreshing your feed to find out what is the score of the Minnesota Vikings football game, you probably caught the end of a wild ride. The Vikings just wrapped up their regular season on January 4, 2026, at U.S. Bank Stadium.
They won.
The final score was Minnesota Vikings 16, Green Bay Packers 3.
It wasn't exactly a high-flying offensive masterpiece. Honestly, it was a bit of a grind, but a win over Green Bay always tastes sweet in the Twin Cities, regardless of the playoff implications. And let’s be real—the implications this year were... complicated.
Breaking Down the 16-3 Victory Over the Packers
This game was the definition of "finishing strong." Minnesota entered the day with a bit of a chip on their shoulder. They weren't heading to the postseason—the math just didn't work out after some mid-season stumbles—but they had the chance to sweep the leg of their biggest rival.
The Packers had already locked up the No. 7 seed in the NFC. Because of that, they played it safe. They rested some key starters, which definitely tilted the field in Minnesota's favor.
The Scoring Summary
How do you get to 16 points in the NFL? Apparently, you rely heavily on your kicker and a very reliable fullback.
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- First Quarter: Will Reichard started things off with a 43-yard field goal. 3-0, Vikings.
- Second Quarter: Reichard added another one from 25 yards. Then, right before the half, C.J. Ham punched it in from the 1-yard line. 13-0, Vikings.
- Fourth Quarter: After a scoreless third, Reichard hit his third field goal of the day (37 yards). 16-0.
- The Final Second: The Packers finally got on the board with a 24-yard field goal as time expired. 16-3.
Will Reichard was basically the MVP of the afternoon. Going 3-for-3 in a game where yards were hard to come by is huge. He ended the season as a First-Team All-Pro for a reason.
The McCarthy Injury Scare
The biggest story coming out of this game isn't just the score. It’s J.J. McCarthy.
The young quarterback was looking sharp early on. He went 14-of-23 for 182 yards and looked like he was finally finding that rhythm everyone has been waiting for. But then, it happened again. McCarthy had to leave the game early with an injury, forcing Max Brosmer into the spotlight.
Kevin O’Connell was pretty vague in the post-game presser, but you could see the frustration. McCarthy has shown flashes of being "the guy," but staying on the field has been the hurdle. He finished the season with 181 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns on the ground, showing that dual-threat capability that makes him so dangerous when healthy.
Justin Jefferson Being Justin Jefferson
Even in a low-scoring affair, #18 found a way to show out. Justin Jefferson hauled in 8 catches for 101 yards.
Think about that.
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The team only scored one touchdown, the backup QB played a chunk of the game, and Jefferson still averaged over 12 yards a catch. He finished the 2025-2026 campaign with 1,048 receiving yards. It’s basically a law of physics at this point: if the Vikings are playing, Justin Jefferson is going to get his yards.
A Look at the Final Standings
The Vikings finished the year with a 9-8 record.
It’s a bit of a "what if" season. They ended on a five-game winning streak. If the season had lasted two more weeks, they might have been the hottest team in the NFC. They beat Washington 31-0, took down Dallas 34-26 on the road, and handled Detroit on Christmas Day.
But a 9-8 record in a tough NFC North only got them 3rd place.
| Team | Record | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 11-6 | 2-4 |
| Green Bay Packers | 9-7-1 | 4-2 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 9-8 | 4-2 |
| Detroit Lions | 9-8 | 2-4 |
The NFC North was a total bloodbath this year. Every single team finished at or above .500. The Vikings actually had a great divisional record (4-2), but those losses to Seattle and Baltimore earlier in the winter really came back to haunt them.
The Brian Flores Defense
We have to talk about the defense. Brian Flores has this unit playing like a bunch of possessed men. They allowed only 19.6 points per game this season, which ranked 7th in the league.
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In the finale against Green Bay, they were relentless.
- Dallas Turner was a monster, recording 2 sacks and a forced fumble.
- Blake Cashman finished the year with a massive 144 tackles.
- Harrison Smith gave the fans a "thank you" wave after the game, which has everyone wondering if the legendary safety is finally hanging it up.
The defense is the reason this team stayed competitive while the offense dealt with QB rotations and injuries to guys like T.J. Hockenson and Jordan Addison.
What Happens Next?
Now that the final whistle has blown on the 2025-2026 season, the focus shifts immediately to the draft and free agency.
- Monitor the J.J. McCarthy Update: The severity of his latest injury will dictate everything the Vikings do in the offseason. If he's healthy, they build around him. If not, the QB room remains a question mark.
- The Jordan Addison Situation: Off-field issues have been swirling around Addison lately (including a trespassing charge in Florida). The team will need to address his status sooner rather than later.
- Draft Positioning: With a 9-8 record, the Vikings will likely pick in the middle of the first round. Expect them to look at defensive line depth or perhaps a high-end guard to protect whoever is under center.
- Free Agency Decisions: Guys like Aaron Jones Sr. and Byron Murphy have big decisions to make. The Vikings have some cap space, but Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has been careful about overspending.
The Vikings might be sitting out the playoffs this month, but that 16-3 win over Green Bay ensures they head into the spring with a bit of momentum and a lot of hope for 2026.
Keep an eye on the official NFL schedule release in May to see who the Vikings face in the 2026 season opener. In the meantime, you can watch the full highlights of the Week 18 win on the official Vikings YouTube channel or catch up on the final season statistics at NFL.com to see how your favorite players stacked up against the rest of the league.