Expect Watered Down MN Vikings Finale

At 8-8, the Minnesota Vikings have been eliminated from playoff contention after navigating one of the NFL’s most competitive divisions. Still, following their Christmas upset of the Detroit Lions, Kevin O’Connell’s team has a chance to finish the season with a winning record.

The Green Bay Packers are the only opponent Minnesota has yet to defeat this season. That could change in the finale, and Green Bay may help the Vikings along the way.

Minnesota Vikings Favored Against Resting Packers

The season was never supposed to unfold this way for Minnesota. The Vikings didn’t spend heavily in the offseason only to see their Super Bowl aspirations evaporate by midseason. J.J. McCarthy has struggled, Max Brosmer has been worse, but with Green Bay expected to rest its starters, Minnesota enters Week 18 as the favorite.

With Green Bay locked into the NFC’s No. 7 seed, they are expected to rest key players next week.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 28, 2025

Jordan Love missed the Packers’ Saturday night loss to the Baltimore Ravens while in concussion protocol. He won’t suit up in Week 18 either, leaving Malik Willis to face Brian Flores’ defense.

Following their loss, Green Bay can no longer win the NFC North regardless of what the 11–4 Chicago Bears do on Sunday Night Football. Locked into the No. 7 seed, the Packers have little incentive to risk key players. Assuming McCarthy’s broken hand remains an issue, and it makes little sense to rush him back anyway, Brosmer will get the start.

Despite having yet to throw a touchdown and opening his career with a four-interception performance, Brosmer is currently a six-point favorite against the division rival.

He’s 1–1 as a starter, having knocked off the Lions, and he can also be credited with the win over the New York Giants after replacing McCarthy at halftime. The former Minnesota Gophers quarterback has completed 63.5% of his passes this season, though the game plan has been extremely conservative due to his limitations.

Regardless of who, or how many, players the Packers sit, it would be encouraging to see Brosmer and the Vikings deliver a competent offensive performance. Quarterback play has been a glaring weakness all season, and a significant reset in 2026 feels inevitable.