Packers and Vikings open a new chapter in their heated NFC North rivalry

Players to watch

Justin Jefferson vs Jaire Alexander

This has been some type of individual rivalry over the last couple of years, and this one on Sunday will be the first with Alexander playing under coordinator Jeff Hafley. So how the Packers will use Jaire trying to limit Jefferson is a big storyline of the game.

Aaron Jones

Jones is a Packers legend, but he was released in March and signed with the rivals on a one-year, $6 million contract. The running back has been efficient through three weeks, and he has helped keep quarterback Sam Darnold in favorable situations.

Sam Darnold

Darnold has played the best football of his NFL career, with a 117.3 passer rating through three weeks. That being said, the quarterback has gotten away with some bad plays, and the Packers had seven interceptions in three games — they had seven the entire season in 2023. Darnold taking care of the football is a huge factor in this game.

Kenny Clark

Clark didn't have a strong start to the season, but he has still been able to generate seven pressures (second on the team, behind Devonte Wyatt), and the interior of the offensive line is a weakness for the Vikings. Considering Minnesota's solid tackle play, creating interior pressure will be imperative for Green Bay.

Xavier McKinney

McKinney can become the fourth player since 2000 with an interception in each of his team's first four games of a season. He's been a great addition to the Packers defense, an unusual but extremely smart free agent signing.

His versatility and ability to cover a huge amount of grass is exactly what Green Bay was looking for when it signed him to a four-year, $67 million deal back in March.

NFC North standings

Week 4 is early and this is the first NFC North matchup of the entire schedule. That being said, it's hard to find more important games this early than this one. If the Vikings win, they open a two-game lead over the Packers. Meanwhile, if Green Bay wins, they take over the first place in the division — even if the Detroit Lions beat the Seattle Seahawks on Monday, the Packers would have a tie-breaking advantage because of their divisional record.