The Green Bay Packers will travel to Minneapolis to take on the Minnesota Vikings to close out the 2025 regular season. The Minnesota Vikings were eliminated from playoff contention but have won four straight since falling to 4-8. The Packers have lost three straight games and are trying to avoid a four-game losing streak heading into the playoffs, but Matt LaFleur’s team will start Clayton Thune at quarterback and rest its most important starters.
How the Packers Wire staff thinks the Week 18 matchup with the Vikings will go:
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Zach Cruz: Vikings 24, Packers 10 (10-5-1)
Clayton Thune vs. Brian Flores is a tough matchup for the Packers no matter how you want to turn it around. It’s still regular season football on Sunday, and the Vikings have won four straight games thanks to a strong defense. Sometimes it can and probably will get ugly. While the Packers look to snap a three-game losing streak and advance into the playoffs with a win, the scoreboard won’t matter to the visiting team on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium. This is an opportunity to rest some key players and get healthy at some important positions heading into the playoffs. This evaluation opportunity is also a good opportunity for several young players. Expect Thune to make a lot of mistakes, Daniel Whelan to kick a lot of punts, and the Vikings to cruise to a relatively easy win. Staying competitive late on will be a win. It would be a huge surprise to actually win. But leaving Minneapolis without an injury that could impact next week is the ultimate reward.
Brandon Carvel: Vikings 20, Packers 9 (12-3-1)
Clayton Thune will start in the Packers’ regular season finale against the Vikings. Green Bay clinched the NFC’s seventh seed, while Minnesota was eliminated from the playoffs. While the Packers hope no one else is seriously injured, this will be another chance for J.J. McCarthy to prove he can be Minnesota’s long-term answer. The 2025 season hasn’t been smooth sailing for the former top-10 pick, who has thrown more interceptions than touchdowns this season. But with McCarthy proving something, the Vikings should take on Green Bay, who will be resting most of their key starters.
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Mark Odex: Vikings 21, Packers 13 (10-5-1)
JJ McCarthy had a disastrous game at Lambeau Field, but he’s looked better of late, and the Packers have lost Micah Parsons and Devonte Wyatt since the last time they saw the Vikings. Brian Flores vs. Clayton Tune looks to be in Minnesota’s favor in what could be a rough afternoon for the third-string quarterback.
Brennan Rupp: Vikings 24, Packers 3 (9-6-1)
The Vikings defense plays well and the Packers start Clayton Tune. It would be shocking if the Packers found a lot of traction on the road. It will be an interesting game to see some of the younger guys hit more fastballs. It’s a meaningless game for Green Bay, but it could be a big moment for Colin Oliver. Trevon Diggs is also expected to make his debut in Green Bay, and if he can put up some big plays, he could be a great addition in the playoffs. His season so far suggests he won’t, but this is a low-risk, high-reward addition.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers Wire staff predictions: Week 18 vs. Vikings
