NFL to launch America 250 recognition in Week 18; Packers play Vikings

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The new year will be the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which will spark celebrations and recognition and marketing at least until July 4, and the NFL will be among the first to pitch in, beginning with the final week of the NFL season.

The Green Bay Packers (9-6-1) play the Minnesota Vikings (8-8) at noon Jan. 4 in U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis in the final regular-season game. The Packers secured the seventh seed in the NFC playoffs. The Vikings did not qualify for the playoffs, but are riding a four-game winning streak. The Packers lost their last three games.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis makes an adjustment at the line during the fourth quarter of their game Nov. 23 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. The Packers beat the Vikings 23-6.

Beginning in Week 18 and continuing throughout the playoffs, the NFL will celebrate the 250th anniversary in NFL stadiums across the country, as well as during game broadcasts.

Special commemorative footballs featuring the America 250 logo will be predominant in games. Every game in Week 18 and throughout the playoffs will feature an America 250 stencil on the sidelines. Game officials will use America 250 branded coins for coin tosses, which will later be auctioned for charity on the NFL Auction platform. Coaches and staff will wear special commemorative sideline apparel for playoff games, and fans may participate in the celebration through the forthcoming launch of club-specific America 250 fan apparel.

NFL will continue its celebrations at league-wide tentpole events in 2026, including Super Bowl 60 in the San Francisco bay area and the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh.

Typical winter weather forecast, but in a dome that's not a problem

For fans traveling to Minneapolis, the weather forecast for the weekend is high teens-low 20s with no prediction of precipitation. U.S. Bank Stadium is domed, so inside the weather will be delightful.

How does U.S. Bank Stadium rank among NFL venues?

U.S. Bank Stadium ranked sixth among the NFL's 30 stadiums by USA TODAY and second by Sports Illustrated.

"There’s no describing just how much of an upgrade U.S. Bank Stadium is over the 1970s shuttered airport aesthetic of the Metrodome. The glass ceiling makes the scope of the stadium appear truly enormous, but you never feel separated from the field itself. Plus, they have Grain Belt on tap – which is either a feature or a bug, depending on how you view the local lager," wrote Christian D'Andrea for USA TODAY.

"With the natural lighting hitting the field through giant glass windows, U.S. Bank Stadium provides the feel of an outdoor venue – just without the frostbite that comes with attending January playoff games in sub-zero temperatures. Sound the Gjallarhorn," was Sports Illustrated's take.

Where is U.S. Bank Stadium?

U.S. Bank Stadium is in downtown Minneapolis, 9 miles northwest of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. It is 276 miles due west of Lambeau Field, about a five-hour drive.

Where can you watch the Packers-Vikings game

The game will be on CBS at noon Jan. 4. Spero Dedes will handle play-by-play and will be joined by analyst Adam Archuleta and Aditi Kinkhabwala on the sidelines.

Here's where to listen to the game on radio

Packers games can be heard on the Packers Radio Network, which includes 54 stations in Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, North Dakota and South Dakota. WRIT-Milwaukee, 95.7 BIG FM, is the flagship station. Wayne Larrivee does play-by-play and two-time Packers Pro Bowler Larry McCarren provides analysis. Former fullback John Kuhn will be on the sideline.

The radio broadcast will be streamed at Packers.com. The Packers mobile app will stream the radio broadcast within the Packers' home market, per NFL broadcast restrictions. Fans within the Packers' local home marketing area can listen to the game on packers.com.

Twin Cities metro area 11 times larger than Green Bay metro area

Green Bay is the smallest market in the NFL, with a metro area population of 328,268, compared to Minneapolis-St. Paul, which has a metro area population of 3.7 million.

Contact Richard Ryman at rryman@usatodayco.com. Follow him on Twitter at @RichRymanPG, on Instagram at @rrymanPG.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: NFL to launch America 250 recognition in Week 18; Packers play Vikings

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