Packers Wire staff predictions: Week 18 vs. Vikings

5 days ago 2

The Green Bay Packers will finish up the 2025 regular season with a trip to Minneapolis to play the Minnesota Vikings, who are eliminated from playoff contention but have won four straight games since falling to 4-8. The Packers have lost three straight games and are attempting to avoid losing four in a row entering the postseason, but Matt LaFleur's team is starting Clayton Tune at quarterback and resting most important starters.

Here’s how the staff at Packers Wire believes the Week 18 showdown with the Vikings will go down:

Zach Kruse: Vikings 24, Packers 10 (10-5-1)

Clayton Tune versus Brian Flores is a tough matchup for the Packers no matter how you want to spin it. Sunday is still regular season football and the Vikings have won four straight games behind a dominant defense. It could and likely will get ugly at times. While the Packers would love to snap a three-game losing streak and go into the postseason with a win, the scoreboard isn't going to matter much for the visitors on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium. This is an opportunity to rest some key players and get healthy at some important spots entering the postseason. The evaluation opportunity for several young players is a good one, too. Expect Tune to make plenty of mistakes, Daniel Whelan to kick plenty of punts and the Vikings to cruise to a relatively comfortable win. Keeping it competitive late would be a win. Actually winning would be a huge surprise. But getting out of Minneapolis without an injury that affects next week is the ultimate prize.

Brandon Carwile: Vikings 20, Packers 9 (12-3-1)

Clayton Tune will start for the Packers in a futile regular-season finale against the Vikings. Green Bay is locked in as the NFC's seventh seed, while Minnesota has been eliminated from playoff contention. While the Packers hope no one else gets seriously injured, this will be another chance for JJ McCarthy to show he can be the long-term answer in Minnesota. The 2025 season hasn't gone well for the former top 10 pick, who has thrown more interceptions than touchdowns this season. But with McCarthy out to prove something, the Vikings should handle a Green Bay team that will be resting most of its key starters.

Mark Oldacres: Vikings 21, Packers 13 (10-5-1)

JJ McCarthy had a disastrous game in the matchup at Lambeau Field, but he has looked better of late, and the Packers have lost Micah Parsons and Devonte Wyatt since they last saw the Vikings. Brian Flores versus Clayton Tune looks to be a mismatch in Minnesota’s favor, and it could be a tough afternoon for the third-string QB.

Brennen Rupp: Vikings 24, Packers 3 (9-6-1)

The Vikings defense is playing well and the Packers are starting Clayton Tune. It be shocking if the Packers found much traction on the road. It will be a fun game to see some of the younger players play more snaps. In a meaningless game for Green Bay, it could be a big moment for Collin Oliver. Trevon Diggs is also expected to make his Green Bay debut and he could be a major addition for the playoff run if he came make some splash plays. His season thus far say he won’t, but it's low-risk,high-reward addition.

This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers Wire staff predictions: Week 18 vs. Vikings

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