The Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers will do battle in Week 1 at U.S. Bank Stadium in 67 days, with storylines aplenty because — it’s Vikings-Packers. But one such scenario hasn’t been fully unearthed by the masses yet — the immediate, post-Arizona Cardinals showdown between Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray and Packers defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon.

The two worked together for three seasons in Arizona. Their shared first order of business outside the desert? Dueling in the NFC North.

Gannon’s Defense Adds Personal Stakes to the Opener

Schedule-Makers Plop Murray v. Gannon Out of the Gate

The Vikings could’ve played any team in Week 1, but for the 2026 squad, the NFL chose Green Bay. The folks who made the schedule probably didn’t care much about Murray versus Gannon, but it’s happening anyway.

Arizona hired Gannon during the 2023 offseason, a year after the franchise extended Murray’s contract, the deal that included the infamous “study hall” clause before it was removed. Murray was viewed as the franchise quarterback, and with a fresh new set of eyes and ideas, Gannon took over.

The Cardinals went 15-36 in those three seasons, compiling a .294 win percentage and ranking 27th in the NFL. The experiment didn’t work, and the pair lost their jobs this offseason. Freshly removed from Arizona, they’ll dance on opposite sidelines at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Gannon’s Defense

Gannon inherits the league’s 19th-best defense per DVOA from last year. The Packers reached the postseason — lost to the Chicago Bears in a wild game — and did so with a mediocre defense that has seen better days. The club also lost superstar Micah Parsons along the way to a torn ACL.

Led by Gannon, Green Bay will face Minnesota with these notable players on defense:

• Javon Bullard (S)
• Edgerrin Cooper (LB)
• Zaire Franklin (LB)
• Javon Hargrave (DI)
• Isaiah McDuffie (LB)
• Xavier McKinney (S)
• Keisean Nixon (CB)
• Benjamin St-Juste (CB)
• Lukas Van Ness (EDGE)
• Evan Williams (S)

It’s also worth noting that Hargrave, a defensive tackle, played for the Vikings last year but was cast aside this offseason before Minnesota drafted Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange.

Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport on the Packers’ defense: “After trading Rashan Gary to Dallas, who will step up on the edge opposite Parsons? How will the move from Quay Walker to Zaire Franklin affect the linebackers? How will veteran Benjamin St. Juste and rookie Brandon Cisse fit into the Green Bay secondary?”

“The Packers have the personnel on the defensive side of the ball to field a solid unit in 2026. They are going to need to, because the NFC North has the makings of the most tightly packed division in the NFL.”

Murray’s Offense

How about Murray’s offensive tools against Gannon’s defense? He’s got ’em. Murray hasn’t quite had game action with the following group, but that story will start in living color on September 13 against this former coach.

Here’s who will notably surround Murray in Minnesota’s offense:

• Jordan Addison (WR)
• Christian Darrisaw (T)
• T.J. Hockenson (TE)
• Justin Jefferson (WR)
• Jauan Jennings (WR)
• Aaron Jones (RB)
• Donovan Jackson (LG)
• Jordan Mason (RB)
• Brian O’Neill (RT)

Murray will also have Kevin O’Connell whispering in his ear, a man known for top-tier veteran quarterback tutelage.

Our Steve Hoikkala recently noted on Jackson, a rookie lineman from last year: “Jackson was stellar in his performance last season as a rookie allowing just 2 sacks in 14 games in 2025, and looks to be the long-term starter he was brought here to be.”

“His physicality and consistency to the interior offensive line are just as important as the stability in his youth for Minnesota to build around. Jackson should be the starting left guard for years to come.”

Packers-Themed Media’s Take

LombardiAve.com‘s Luke Norris wrote about the situation in March, “Jonathan Gannon will now face Kyler Murray, who he benched in 2025, twice in 2026.

“Any new wrinkle to the Packers-Vikings rivalry is always fun, but this one comes with a second storyline outside of just Murray himself, as the man who served as his head coach for the last three years and basically benched him this past season will now stand on the sideline opposite him on two occasions in 2026, that man, of course, being new Packers defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon.”

The Packers are already favored to chip off the Vikings by a point or two.

Norris added, “There still appears to be plenty of respect between Gannon and Murray, but that doesn’t mean these upcoming Packers-Vikings matchups won’t have a little more intrigue to them.”

“Perhaps Gannon isn’t thrilled that his first regular QB1 as a head coach couldn’t stay healthy (or at least healthy enough), and perhaps Murray wants to stick it to the head coach who benched him.”

The NFL regular season is exactly nine weeks away.

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker

Among the Minnesota Vikings’ fan base, hopes are high for 2026, mainly because the club acquired Kyler Murray in March and finished last season with a winning record despite mostly miserable quarterback play.

But ESPN does not share that optimism, nominating Minnesota’s roster as the 11th-worst in the NFL heading into training camp. If Minnesota makes something of the season, it will do so without the sign-off of ESPN.

ESPN’s Low View Adds Pressure ahead of 2026

ESPN: Vikings’ Roster Ranks No. 22 in Power Rankings

Mike Clay of ESPN dropped the No. 22 ranking for the Vikings, noting that the running backs — Aaron Jones, Jordan Mason, Demond Claiborne, and Zavier Scott — were the team’s foremost weakness.

On the other hand, he noted the chief strength: “Biggest strength: Pass catchers. Receivers Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and newcomer Jauan Jennings and tight end T.J. Hockenson form a terrific group of targets for whoever wins the QB job.”

“Even in a down season (no fault of his own), Jefferson delivered his sixth consecutive season with 1,000-plus receiving yards in 2025 and remains arguably the league’s best wide receiver. Addison produced 875-plus receiving yards and nine-plus TDs in his first two seasons before the QB woes of 2025.”

Pound for pound, Clay is probably correct about the pass-catchers as the team’s main calling card, though the defense is statistically fantastic too.

“Jennings broke out in 2024 with the 49ers and has a 132-1,618-15 receiving line over the past two seasons. Hockenson’s stats have been down the past two seasons, but the 29-year-old remains one of the league’s best two-way tight ends,” Clay concluded.

The Teams Ahead of MIN

Three teams questionably checked in ahead of Minnesota:

• Indianapolis Colts
• Washington Commanders
• Pittsburgh Steelers

The Colts are all-in to win a Super Bowl with Daniel Jones, who is recovering from a torn Achilles, an injury that goes either way in terms of recovery. The Commanders fired up a down year after an unexpected sprint to the NFC Championship in 2024. And the Steelers will roll with Aaron Rodgers again, this time led by his old pal, head coach Mike McCarthy.

Placing any of those squads ahead of Minnesota per roster talent is certainly debateable.

Very Little Faith in the QB

How did the Vikings fetch the 22nd roster ranking in football? It’s pretty evident: outside of Minneapolis, the masses don’t trust the quarterback(s). Murray’s reputation is at a career crater. That’s the cost of doing business when the Arizona Cardinals, of all organizations, run you out of town. Put plainly, the world believes that Murray is mid.

His quarterback running mate this summer, J.J. McCarthy, is mostly known for memes, and somehow, that matters in the court of public opinion. McCarthy produced an up-and-down season in his first as a starter, and that’s when he wasn’t missing seven games due to a flurry of injuries.

Most NFL analysis starts with the quarterback, and for a team like the Vikings to rank 22nd, it means that ESPN doesn’t really trust Murray or McCarthy to be dependable.

The Super Bowl Odds

How about Vegas? Do sportsbooks agree with the 22nd assessment? For the most part.

The Vikings’ Super Bowl odds in early July are 18th-best in the sport. Here’s the full list for curious minds:

• Los Angeles Rams: +500
• Buffalo Bills: +1000
• Baltimore Ravens: +1100
• Seattle Seahawks: +1200
• Los Angeles Chargers: +1600
• Kansas City Chiefs: +1600
• Detroit Lions: +1700
• New England Patriots: +1700
• San Francisco 49ers: +1700
• Philadelphia Eagles: +1800
• Houston Texans: +1900
• Cincinnati Bengals: +2000
• Denver Broncos: +2000
• Green Bay Packers: +2200
• Dallas Cowboys: +2200
• Chicago Bears: +2700
• Jacksonville Jaguars: +2700
• Indianapolis Colts: +4500
• Minnesota Vikings: +4500
• Washington Commanders: +5000
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers: +6000
• Pittsburgh Steelers: +7000
• New York Giants: +7000
• Atlanta Falcons: +7500
• Carolina Panthers: +8000
• New Orleans Saints: +8000
• Tennessee Titans: +12500
• Las Vegas Raiders: +12500
• Cleveland Browns: +35000
• New York Jets: +40000
• Miami Dolphins: +60000
• Arizona Cardinals: +100000

Oddsmakers pretty much plop the Vikings in the same boat as the Colts at +4500. That’s akin to reaching into a shuffled deck and pulling one specific card — like the Ace of Spades — on the first try.

NFL Spin Zone‘s Sayre Bedinger ranked Minnesota at — you guessed it — No. 22 in his recent power rankings: “The Vikings are going to be relying on defensive coordinator Brian Flores and his scheme more than ever before.”

“Even with the possibility of a breakout from Dallas Turner, this team has young players replacing the likes of Jonathan Greenard, Jonathan Allen, Javon Hargrave, and Harrison Smith. Those are huge losses. Factoring in the quarterback position coming down to Kyler Murray and JJ McCarthy, this is going to be maybe the biggest “test” year for O’Connell and his staff.”

The Vikings haven’t won a playoff game in 2,376 days.

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker

Every NFL team has players who don’t quite match the value of their contracts, and based on current depth chart construction, the 2026 Minnesota Vikings are not excluded.

The club begins the regular season in about nine weeks, and unless the following players lower their cap hits, they reasonably fit in an “overpaid” bucket. The players are listed ascendingly (No. 1 = most overpaid Viking).

Vikings’ Cap Sheet Reveals a Few Expensive Questions

4. Josh Oliver | TE2

2026 Cap Hit: $9.9 Million

Oliver is a blocking tight end, which is fantastic. It’s also a bit ironic because coming out of college (San Jose State) in 2019, that was supposed to be his problem. The scouting report said the guy could batch, but his run blocking stank.

Well, Oliver flipped the script, probably after the Baltimore Ravens‘ coaching staff got a hold of him.

The issue with a blocking tight end? They’re not worth $10 million. Teams can find sufficient versions for half the price or even less. The Vikings shouldn’t cut Oliver or devalue him on the depth chart, but the fact remains that $9.9 million is expensive.

Thankfully, Oliver has some redzone utility. He’s dependable when quarterbacks target him.

3. Aaron Jones | RB

2026 Cap Hit: $10.2 Million

You can write this in ink: 2026 will be Jones’s final season in Minnesota. He’ll turn 32 in December, and his career, for better or worse, is winding down. When the offseason began, most Vikings fans and analysts theorized Jones as a roster-cut candidate, and they didn’t do that on a whim. He’s effective in spots, especially early in the regular season, yet injuries habitually take their toll on Jones. That’s his jam.

The Vikings proposed a paycut for Jones in March. He accepted. He’s back in the saddle as RB1 or RB2 because of his pass-blocking and locker room leadership. It’s just quite obvious that his prime is well in the past.

Minnesota also refused to sign a free-agent running back like Travis Etienne or draft a mid-round rookie like Mike Washington. It’s Jones again — and probably for the last time.

He averaged 4.2 yards per carry, played 12 games, and banked 548 rushing yards last year. His career has been fantastic, and the guy is an awesome dude. Still, he’s not worth $10.2 million unless he forges a totally unforeseen and healthy late-career resurgence.

2. T.J. Hockenson | TE

2026 Cap Hit: $15.6 Million

Of all men on this overpaid list, Hockenson might have the clearest path to a resurrection. He blew out his knee in the 2023 season, thanks to a low hit by Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph, and, due to the shift in the Vikings’ offense — using Hockenson as the sixth offensive lineman — he’s never regained his form.

Hockenson signed a monster extension during the summer of 2023. Four months later, the injury occurred, rendering the contract not worth the squeeze. If a team pays a tight end over $15 million, it must target him heavily in the passing game. The Vikings don’t do that anymore. Hockenson’s success in the Twin Cities feels like a Kirk Cousins special in hindsight.

Here’s the silver lining, though: new Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray has cooked with tight ends. Ask Trey McBride, who most consider the best or second-best tight end in the sport. If Murray could unlock McBride, he should be able to get Hockenson back up to speed.

If not, 2026 will likely be Hockenson’s final season in Minnesota. There’s a reason so many fans thought the franchise might draft Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq in April.

1. Will Fries | RG

2026 Cap Hit: $17.2 Million

Was Fries terrible in 2025? Absolutely not. Was Fries worth $17.2 million in 2025? Absolutely not.

The guy posted a Pro Football Focus grade just over 60.0, which would’ve been remarkable during the Mike Zimmer era of Vikings football when guards like Dakota Dozier and Dru Samia graced your television sets. But that was then, and this is now.

Former Vikings boss Kwesi Adofo-Mensah paid Fries handsomely last season, and based on his 2025 output, he should be earning about $6 million annually — not $17 million.

Perhaps Fries will settle in the Vikings offense with another year of experience. If he does not, you are about seven months from Googling or putting Fries’ dead cap hit into ChatGPT. Always remember: Adofo-Mensah handed Fries the fact contract based on five good games for the Indianapolis Colts in 2024. He has no verifiable history of consistency.

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker

The referee for the Argentina vs Egypt match, Francois Letexier, and other match officials are in focus after what transpired in a dramatic FIFA World Cup 2026 clash on Tuesday. Egypt appeared close to a historic upset after taking a 2-0 lead. Argentina produced a late comeback starting in the 79th minute, with Lionel Messi playing a decisive role by scoring one goal and setting up another before Enzo Fernandez completed the turnaround in stoppage time. However, Mohamed Salah’s Egypt were furious with some crucial decisions by the officials going against the team, including a disallowed goal following a VAR review and a penalty appeal that was not reviewed in the buildup to Argentina’s winning goal.

The Egyptian Football Federation (EFF) has reportedly approached FIFA, lodging a formal protest against the decisions of referee Francois Letexier. According to a report in Spanish publication Diario AS, the president of the Egypt Football Association, Hany Abo Rida, has lodged a formal complaint with FIFA against French referee Francois Letexier and his officiating team.

The report further states that the complaint calls for an investigation into what Egypt describes as controversial decisions that went against the Pharaohs. The federation has also officially requested that the French officiating team be removed from the remainder of the tournament because of what it considers crucial errors.

Now, according to a report by L’Equipe, the Frenchman’s performance “will be reviewed, and FIFA’s refereeing officials will decide, based on his technical performance, the officials’ reports, and the disputed video footage, whether he will continue in this World Cup.”

However, the report added that the complaint may not succeed, as a country/member association “cannot exercise a veto over the appointment of the refereeing body, which falls under the purview of the FIFA Referees Committee.”

Past instances

Though requests and complaints like Egypt’s have been made at past FIFA World Cups, they did not result in a referee being excluded. However, in 2002, Italy complained against Ecuadorian referee Byron Moreno after the Round of 16 match against South Korea (1-2). He had awarded 15 minutes of added time, and the Azzurri lost. After that match, he did not officiate any other game in that competition, but FIFA never officially clarified whether it was due to the Italian protests.

Francois Letexier officiated the Euro 2024 final between Spain and England. He has also been voted the world’s best referee by the IFFHS (International Federation of Football History & Statistics)

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Bob Myers, the former Golden State Warriors executive renowned for constructing the league’s most recent dynasty, made an appearance on Wednesday’s episode of the “Game Over” podcast with Max Kellerman and Rich Paul, the Klutch Sports CEO who famously represents LeBron James.

Myers’ current role as president of sports for Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, in which he hired new Philadelphia 76ers president of basketball operations, made his presence particularly intriguing. After all, the Sixers, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, are among the top-three contenders pursuing James, who is reportedly taking Philadelphia‘s pitch “really seriously.”

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Myers, seated next to Paul, illustrated a version of that pitch on the podcast, the same place Paul previously listed the potential teams James could join this offseason. Myers repeated that he believes the Sixers give James the “best chance to win” in his 24th NBA season.

“If you’re talking about the Sixers, if he was here, I would say, ‘I honestly believe this is your best chance to win,’” Myers said. “You have to decide all the other things, that are equally important, because it’s his life. He has to play, he has to face the scrutiny of his decision. Half the people will say, ‘You should have done this, you should have done that.’ Criticize him or whatever, which is his life, so he’s been through all that.

“What I would just say is, if it’s about winning, let’s talk about this team. Because you can win here, in Philadelphia. If you want to talk about other stuff: What’s this guy like, what’s that guy like — by the way, he knows players, a lot of them, better than I do. Their games — this is a guy that probably watches more basketball than anybody understands. He’s probably watching a game in February that nobody’s watching. So not only does he know the guys, he knows how they play.”

Trainer Greg Eurell is targeting a second successive Flemington win with his gelding Obvious this Saturday, a goal that seemed unlikely just two months ago.

The son of Toronado is entered for the 1600-metre Silver Bowl Final, an event restricted to three-year-olds.

Obvious cemented his status as a leading contender for the Silver Bowl after securing a heat victory on June 20. This followed a second-place finish at Caulfield on May 30, performances that offered Eurell considerable relief given his horse’s previous form.

Obvious finished last at Sandown on April 6 and again at Mornington twelve days later. Eurell attributes his gelding’s late-season resurgence to a period of rest and rehabilitation at Monomeith Stud, utilising their water walker facilities.

“It was hard to work it out, he led into those runs in his usual manner and then he just failed to fire a shot,” Eurell commented.

“So we thought we’d give him a freshen up and send him down to Monomeith on the water walker.”

“Then we just brought him back in and we’re doing a bit with him, gave him a jumpout, the jumpout was good, so we thought, ‘oh well, we’ll go again.”

Obvious was beaten three-quarters of a length at Caulfield by Clevor Trever, who stands as a significant rival this week. A number of other horses contesting the Silver Bowl were also unsuccessful in their most recent outings.

While Obvious carried 52.5kg to victory at Flemington thanks to Luke Cartwright’s allowance, he now shoulders 57.5kg in this week’s non-claiming race, with Eurell opting to retain the winning jockey.

“He gets a bit of a penalty weight-wise after the win, but I think he’s in great shape and the beauty of him is he can handle any surface.”

Obvious has drawn barrier seven in the thirteen-horse Silver Bowl Final and is currently sharing the second line of betting with Lucky Lucky Boom, with Clevor Trever the favourite.

For those interested in the action, investigating the betting markets for the main race could be a worthwhile endeavour.

Explore the latest betting markets for the race at betting sites.

Jockey Billy Egan is set to partner the Patrick Payne-trained gelding Jimmy The Bear again for the $200,000 Listed Winter Championship final at Flemington this Saturday.

Despite Egan not having ridden Jimmy The Bear extensively during his Winter Championship defence campaign, he will reclaim the ride at a crucial juncture.

This marks the first time Egan has been aboard Jimmy The Bear in 2026. His last association with the horse was in the Kensington Stakes on New Year’s Eve, and he has maintained a keen interest in the gelding’s performances.

“I galloped with him on Tuesday morning at Werribee – Patrick rode him and I rode his stablemate, but he worked good,” Egan commented.

“He’s been going pretty good. I think he’s had a similar lead up with all the races he’s run in, it’s been the same sort of plan as last year, and he’s going well.”

Much like last year, Jimmy The Bear commenced his campaign at Caulfield in early May and completed his Winter Championship preparations in The David Bourke (1620m) at Flemington.

This year saw him have only one additional start before the final, a win over 1600m at Caulfield on May 30, whereas in 2025, he had two runs in between.

The son of Jimmy Creed is assigned 60kg for Saturday’s assignment, a kilogram more than last year. He aims to join Glaneuse as the only horse to win the 1600m race, first run in 1980, in consecutive years.

“He’s pretty highly rated now, so he deserves to carry the weight,” Egan said of the 13-time winner.

“He’s a big horse and he’s proven he can carry the weight.”

Jimmy The Bear drew barrier one for the Winter Championship Final. This contrasts with his younger half-brother and stablemate, Clevor Trever, who will start from the second-widest gate in the 13-horse Silver Bowl Final, which closes the meeting.

The Omaha Beach three-year-old also carries 60kg for his first attempt at 1600m. Egan acknowledges the challenge but believes the colt is up to the task.

“Maybe the weights might be a little bit different for him, because they got so close to him last time and he is getting out to the mile,” he observed.

“He’s probably got a few more obstacles to overcome, but he’s in really good form.”

Egan’s other mounts on Finals Day, both trained by Payne, are Bold Soul in the $150,000 Banjo Paterson Series Final (2600m) and Falset Star in the $175,000 Listed A R Creswick Stakes (1200m).

Check out the latest betting markets for the Winter Championship Final with leading Australian betting sites.