Flea Flicker Week 1 Predictions

The 2026 NFL Season is finally here. The Minnesota Vikings kick off the season against division rival Green Bay Packers. Here are some guesses at that game and the remaining games on the Week 1 schedule.

Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings

Pick: Vikings

There’s only one way this game is allowed to go. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Cincinnati Bengals

Pick: Bengals

This could be a fun game. 

New Orleans Saints @ Detroit Lions

Pick: Saints

The Saints stun the fading Lions.

New York Jets @ Tennessee Titans

Pick: Titans

The team once called the Titans playing the team currently called the Titans. The Titans take it.

Baltimore Ravens @ Indianapolis Colts

Pick: Ravens

The team currently playing in Baltimore playing the team that used to play in Baltimore. The Ravens take it.

Atlanta Falcons @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Pick: Steelers

Do the Falcons even have a quarterback?

Chicago Bears @ Carolina Panthers

The Panthers stun the fading Bears. 

Cleveland Browns @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Pick: Jaguars

The Jaguars roll.

Buffalo Bills @ Houston Texans

Pick: Bills

The NFL likes to tee up top games for Week 1. Other than the Vikings game, this is the best matchup of this Week 1. 

Miami Dolphins @ Las Vegas Raiders

Pick: Raiders

This game might be the opposite of Bills-Texans.

Washington Commanders @ Philadelphia Eagles

Pick: Eagles

This is more a pick against the Commanders than a pick for the Eagles.

Arizona Cardinals @ Los Angeles Chargers

Pick: Chargers

The Chargers roll.

Dallas Cowboys @ New York Giants

Pick: Cowboys

It’s no surprise this matchup is in prime time. The Cowboys have a bit more right now than the potentially emerging Giants. 

Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs

Pick: Chiefs

It’s easy to pick against the Broncos. Sean Payton is right there with Aaron Rodgers as the most annoying individuals in the league. 

Green Bay Packers All - Time Team

The Minnesota Vikings host the Green Bay Packers in first game of the 2026 NFL Season. The Packers have a long, sometimes glorious, NFL history. They have the most NFL titles (13). Four of those titles are of the Super Bowl variety. On the eve of the big game, here’s a team of some of the best players in Packers franchise history. 

Offense

Quarterback

Bart Starr

Running Back

Johnny Blood

Fullback

Clarke Hinkle

Wide Receivers

Don Hutson

Sterling Sharpe

Tight End

Ron Kramer

Offensive Tackles

Forrest Gregg

Cal Hubbard

Offensive Guards

Mike Michalske

Jerry Kramer

Center

Jim Ringo

Defense

Defensive Ends

Reggie White

Willie Davis

Defensive Tackles

Henry Jordan

Kenny Clark 

Linebackers

Dave Robinson

RayNitschke

Clay Matthews

Cornerbacks

Herb Adderley

Charles Woodson

Safeties

Willie Wood

LeRoy Butler

Special Teams

Kicker 

Ryan Longwell

Punter

Craig Hentrich 

Returner

Travis Williams

47 Minnesota Vikings Starting Quarterbacks

The Minnesota Vikings signed Kyler Murray in March to strengthen the quarterback room and to compete with J.J. McCarthy for the starting job. Last month, Murray was named the starter. For the fourth consecutive year, the Minnesota Vikings will start the season with a new quarterback. 

2023: Kirk Cousins

2024: Sam Darnold

2025: J.J. McCarthy

2026: Kyler Murray

Once they crawled out of their early expansion days, the Vikings have remarkably been a consistently contending team. Over the past seven decades, losing seasons have been few and winning seasons have been many. The consistent success is remarkable because the Vikings always seem to be looking for a franchise quarterback. The only franchise quarterback in team history was Fran Tarkenton. He was drafted in the third round of the 1961 NFL Draft, the first draft in franchise history. Tarkenton was great. He was so great that the Vikings traded him away after the 1966 season. It’s rare for a team with no titles to have “glory days” but the Vikings had some. Those great years started not so much with Tarkenton’s departure as Bud Grant’s arrival as head coach. Within three years, Grant had the Vikings in the Super Bowl. The late ‘60s, early ‘70s Vikings were among the best teams in the league. The only thing missing from those teams, other than a title, was a franchise quarterback. To fix that problem, the Vikings traded for Fran Tarkenton. The only franchise quarterback in team history guided the Vikings to three more Super Bowls. Tarkenton retired after the 1978 season. He retired as the holder of every league career passing record. He held those records longer than any quarterback ever has. He has a bust in Canton. The Vikings have been looking for their next franchise quarterback since Tarkenton retired in 1978. There have been some contenders for the role over the years. When it looked like they’d found that quarterback, an incredible run of bad luck took that quarterback away. 

Since their first season in 1961, the Vikings have selected five quarterbacks in the first round of the NFL Draft. 

Tommy Kramer (1977)

Daunte Culpepper (1999)

Christian Ponder (2011)

Teddy Bridgewater (2014)

J.J. McCarthy (2024)

Tommy Kramer was always fun and often great when he was on the field. The problem was that he wasn’t on the field enough. Daunte Culpepper was on an upward trajectory until a knee injury ended his time in Minnesota. Christian Ponder was drafted to be a quarterback that he never had the talent to be. As with Culpepper, a horrible knee injury ended whatever future Teddy Bridgewater might’ve had with the Vikings. Each of the four quarterbacks was drafted to be the next great Vikings quarterback. Three showed great potential and the fourth was Ponder. Now, we come to J.J. McCarthy. He lost his rookie season to a torn meniscus last summer. At least publicly, the plan wasn’t for McCarthy to start as a rookie. At least publicly, the plan was for former high-pick, now journeyman Sam Darnold to be the starting quarterback in 2024. That was then. The plan last year was for J.J. McCarthy to be the Vikings 44th starting quarterback. Injuries turned it to a season of some highs and several lows. Injuries have forced the Vikings to play a at least three quarterbacks in half of Kevin O’Connell’s four seasons as head coach. That trend forced the team’s decision-makers this offseason to put together the deepest, strongest quarterback room possible. Kyler Murray was signed. Carson Wentz was retained. Murray and McCarthy competed for the starting job. Murray won that competition. When he takes the field on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers, Murray will become the 47th starting quarterback in the franchise history of the Minnesota Vikings. 

47 starting quarterbacks. Here are those quarterbacks.  

1961:

George Shaw (4)

Fran Tarkenton (10)

1962

Fran Tarkenton (14)

1963:

Fran Tarkenton (13)

Ron Vander Kelen (1)

1964:

Fran Tarkenton ((14)

1965:

Fran Tarkenton (14)

1966:

Fran Tarkenton (12)

Ron Vander Kelen (1)

Bob Berry (1)

1967:

Joe Kapp (11)

Ron Vander Kelen (3)

1968:

Joe Kapp (14)

1969:

Joe Kapp (13)

Gary Couzzo (1)

1970:

Gary Couzzo (12)

Bob Lee (2)

1971:

Gary Couzzo (8)

Bob Lee (4)

Norm Snead (2)

1972:

Fran Tarkenton (14)

1973:

Fran Tarkenton (14)

1974:

Fran Tarkenton (13)

Bob Berry (1)

1975:

Fran Tarkenton (14)

1976:

Fran Tarkenton (13)

Bob Lee (1)

1977:

Fran Tarkenton (9)

Bob Lee (4)

Tommy Kramer (1)

1978:

Fran Tarkenton (16)

1979:

Tommy Kramer (16)

1980:

Tommy Kramer (15)

Steve Dils (1)

1981:

Tommy Kramer (14)

Steve Dils (2)

1982:

Tommy Kramer (9)

1983:

Steve Dils (12)

Tommy Kramer (3)

Wade Wilson (1)

1984:

Tommy Kramer (9)

Wade Wilson (5)

Archie Manning (2)

1985:

Tommy Kramer (15)

Wade Wilson (1)

1986:

Tommy Kramer (13)

Wade Wilson (3)

1987:

Wade Wilson (7)

Tony Adams (3) - replacement games

Tommy Kramer (5)

1988:

Wade Wilson (10)

Tommy Kramer (6)

1989:

Wade Wilson (12)

Tommy Kramer (4)

1990:

Rich Gannon (12)

Wade Wilson (4)

1991:

Rich Gannon (11)

Wade Wilson (5)

1992:

Rich Gannon (12)

Sean Salisbury (4)

1993:

Jim McMahon (12)

Sean Salisbury (4)

1994:

Warren Moon (15)

Sean Salisbury (1)

1995:

Warren Moon (16)

1996:

Warren Moon (8)

Brad Johnson (8)

1997:

Brad Johnson (13)

Randall Cunningham (3)

1998:

Randall Cunningham (14)

Brad Johnson (2)

1999:

Jeff George (10)

Randall Cunningham (6)

2000:

Daunte Culpepper (16)

2001:

Daunte Culpepper (11)

Spergon Wynn (2)

Todd Bouman (3)

2002:

Daunte Culpepper (16)

2003:

Daunte Culpepper (14)

Gus Frerotte (2)

2004:

Daunte Culpepper (16)

2005:

Daunte Culpepper (7)

Brad Johnson (9)

2006:

Brad Johnson (14)

Tarvaris Jackson (2)

2007:

Tarvaris Jackson (12)

Kelly Holcomb (3)

Brooks Bollinger (1)

2008:

Gus Frerotte (11)

Tarvaris Jackson (5)

2009:

Brett Favre (16)

2010:

Brett Favre (13)

Tarvaris Jackson (1)

Joe Webb (2)

2011:

Donovan McNabb (6)

Christian Ponder (10)

2012:

Christian Ponder (16)

2013:

Christian Ponder (9)

Josh Freeman (1)

Matt Cassel (6)

2014:

Matt Cassel (3)

Teddy Bridgewater (12)

Christian Ponder (1)

2015:

Teddy Bridgewater (16)

2016:

Shaun Hill (1)

Sam Bradford (15)

2017:

Sam Bradford (2)

Case Keenum (14)

2018:

Kirk Cousins (16)

2019:

Kirk Cousins (15)

Sean Mannion (1)

2020:

Kirk Cousins (16)

2021:

Kirk Cousins (16)

Sean Mannion (1)

2022:

Kirk Cousins (17)

2023:

Kirk Cousins (8)

Jaren Hall (2)

Josh Dobbs (4)

Nick Mullens (3)

2024:

Sam Darnold (17)

2025: 

J.J. McCarthy (10)

Carson Wentz (5)

Max Brosmer (2)

2026:

Kyler Murray

46 Quarterbacks:

George Shaw

Fran Tarkenton

Ron Vander Kelen

Bob Berry

Joe Kapp

Gary Couzzo

Bob Lee

Norm Snead

Tommy Kramer

Steve Dils

Wade Wilson

Archie Manning

Tony Adams - replacement games

Rich Gannon

Sean Salisbury

Jim McMahon

Warren Moon

Brad Johnson

Randall Cunningham

Jeff George

Daunte Culpepper

Spergon Wynn

Todd Bouman

Gus Frerotte

Tarvaris Jackson

Kelly Holcomb

Brooks Bollinger

Brett Favre

Joe Webb

Donovan McNabb

Christian Ponder

Josh Freeman

Matt Cassel

Teddy Bridgewater

Shaun Hill

Sam Bradford

Case Keenum

Kirk Cousins

Sean Mannion

Jaren Hall

Josh Dobbs

Nick Mullens

Sam Darnold

J.J. McCarthy

Carson Wentz

Max Brosmer

Kyler Murray

Minnesota Vikings Unofficial Depth Chart

The Minnesota Vikings host the Green Bay Packers on Sunday in the season opener. In advance of the first game of the 2026 season, the Vikings released their “unofficial” depth chart. A team-released depth chart being tagged as “unofficial” is always interesting. It’s interesting because a depth chart released by the team is as “official” as a depth chart can get. I believe the league’s teams see these depth charts as “unofficial” because they don’t want to be committed to it. Despite their questionable nature, this depth chart can be interesting. Here’s a look at the first “unofficial” depth chart of the Minnesota Vikings.

Minnesota Vikings “Unofficial” Depth Chart

Offense

Quarterback

Starter:

Kyler Murray

Backups:

Carson Wentz

J.J. McCarthy

Running Back

Starter:

Aaron Jones, Sr.

Jordan Mason

Backups:

Demond Claiborne

Fullback

Starter:

Max Bredeson

Wide Receiver

Starter:

Justin Jefferson

Backups:

Tai Felton

Wide Receiver

Starter:

Jordan Addison

Wide Receiver 

Jauan Jennings

Backups:

Myles Price

Tight End

Starter:

T.J. Hockenson

Backups:

Josh Oliver

Gavin Bartholomew

Left Tackle

Starter:

Christian Darrisaw

Backups:

Ryan Van Demark

Left Guard

Starter:

Donovan Jackson

Backups:

Joe Huber

Center

Starter:

Blake Brandel

Backups:

Nick Samac

Right Guard

Starter:

Will Fries

Backup:

Trevor Keegan

Right Tackle

Starter:

Brian O’Neill

Backups:

Caleb Tiernan

Defense

Defensive Line

Starters:

Jalen Redmond

Levi Drake Rodriguez 

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins

Backups:

Caleb Banks

Domonique Orange

Elijah Williams

Outside Linebacker

Starters:

Dallas Turner

Andrew Van Ginkel

Backups:

Chaz Chambliss

Bo Richter

Inside Linebacker

Starters:

Blake Cashman

Eric Wilson

Backups:

Ivan Pace Jr.

Jake Golday

Cornerback:

Starter:

Isaiah Rodgers

Backups:

James Pierre

Zemaiah Vaughn

Cornerback

Starter:

Byron Murphy Jr.

Backup:

Chuck Demmings

Safety

Joshua Metellus

Backups:

Jay Ward

Jakobe Thomas

Safety

Starter:

Harrison Smith

Backups:

Theo Jackson

Jacob Thomas

Special Teams

Punter/Holder

Starter:

Brett Thorson

Kicker

Starter:

Will Reichard

Long Snapper

Starter:

Andrew DePaola

Punt Returner

Starter:

Myles Price

Backup:

Tai Felton

Kick Returner

Starter:

Myles Price

Backup:

Tai Felton

Demond Claiborne

***

First of all, it’s so great to finally see Harrison Smith on the field on the depth chart. Even though it took all offseason, training camp, and preseason for him to officially return, I’m not close to being ready to not seeing #22 roaming around the Vikings defense. 

The depth chart focus for most is Carson Wentz being named QB2. Maybe this will ease the twisted fixation on J.J. McCarthy. From college through his first 2+ years in the league, there’s been nothing normal about the coverage of the young quarterback. Maybe he can now get a bit of peace for a little while. 

Some Depth Chart Curiosities:

1. Aaron Jones Sr. and Jordan Mason as joint running back starters. 

2. In Nick Samac and Trevor Keegan, about half of the offensive line depth was added after cutdown day. 

3. The Vikings defensive line group is going to be fun. 

4. The overall depth, especially on defense, is much improved. 

5. For months, the depth at outside linebacker has been a concern for media and fans. The Vikings finally addressed that concern last week with the signing of Kyler Van Noy. His roster presence in shown in this depth chart as he’s currently on the practice squad. 

6. Welcome Back Harrison Smith

Flea Flicker 2026 Predictions

Here’s a guess at which teams win the divisions and which team wins it all. 

NFC North

1. Minnesota Vikings

2. Detroit Lions

3. Green Bay Packers

4. Chicago Bears

This is an easy pick. 

NFC East

1. Dallas Cowboys

2. Philadelphia Eagles 

3. New York Giants
4. Washington Commanders

The Cowboys take advantage of an Eagles fade. The Giants and Commanders could be lurking as any of the four could win this division. 

NFC South

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2. Carolina Panthers

3. New Orleans Saints 

4. Atlanta Falcons

This feels like a three-team race. 

NFC West

1. San Francisco 49ers 

2. Los Angeles Rams

3. Seattle Seahawks

4. Arizona Cardinals

Somehow, the 49ers edge the money-stacked Rams. The defending champs are left fighting for a playoff spot. 

AFC North

1. Baltimore Ravens

2. Cincinnati Bengals

3. Pittsburgh Steelers

4. Cleveland Browns

This is a two team race. 

AFC East

1. Buffalo Bills

2. New England Patriots

3. New York Jets
4. Miami Dolphins

The Patriots drop with a more challenging schedule. For the first time in a while, the Jets aren’t the worst team in the AFC East. 

AFC South

1. Houston Texans
2. Jacksonville Jaguars

3. Indianapolis Colts

4. Tennessee Titans

This division could be a lot of fun for a while. 

AFC West

1. Kansas City Chiefs
2. Los Angeles Chargers

3. Denver Broncos

4. Las Vegas Raiders

This should be a fun three-team battle. 

Super Bowl
Minnesota Vikings over Buffalo Bills

Finally! 

Flea Flicker 2026 Awards Predictions

A new NFL season kicks off this week. Who will bring home some hardware in 2026? 

Most Valuable Player

Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills

Offensive Player of the Year

Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings

Defensive Player of the Year

Will Anderson Jr., Edge, Houston Texans

Comeback Player of the Year

Kyler Murray, QB, Minnesota Vikings 

Coach of the Year

Kevin O’Connell, Minnesota Vikings

Offensive Rookie of the Year

Jadarian Price, RB, Seattle Seahawks 

Defensive Rookie of the Year

Caleb Downs, S, Dallas Cowboys

All-Pro Team

Quarterback

Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills

Running Back

Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers

Fullback

Max Bredeson, Minnesota Vikings 

Wide Receivers

Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings

Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens

Tight End

Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals

Offensive Tackles

Christian Darrisaw, Minnesota Vikings

Lane Johnson, Philadelphia Eagles

Offensive Guards

Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis Colts 

Quinn Meinerz, Denver Broncos 

Center

Creed Humphrey, Kansas City Chiefs

Defense

Edge Rushers

Dallas Turner, Minnesota Vikings 

Will Anderson Jr., Houston Texans

Interior Defensive Linemen

Jalen Redmond, Minnesota Vikings 

Dexter Lawrence, New York Giants

Linebackers

Ernest Jones, Seattles Seahawks

Blake Cashman, Minnesota Vikings

Roquan Smith, Baltimore Ravens

Cornerbacks

Patrick Surtain II, Denver Broncos

Derrick Stingley Jr., Houston Texans

Safeties

Joshua Metellus, Minnesota Vikings

Kyle Hamilton, Baltimore Ravens

Special Teams

Kicker

Will Reichard, Minnesota Vikings

Punter

Jordan Stout, Baltimore Ravens

Kick Returner

Myles Price, Minnesota Vikings 

Punt Returner

Rashid Shaheed, Seattle Seahawks

Core Special Teamer

Bo Richter, Minnesota Vikings 

Long Snapper

Andrew DePaola, Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Vikings Roster: By Age

In the week since the roster was trimmed to 53 players, the Minnesota Vikings signed 35-year old outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy and brought back 37-year old safety Harrison Smith. With those two additions, there’s now a curious and substantial experience to the roster, in general, and defense, in particular. Here’s a look at the 53-man roster broken down by age. Van Noy was initially signed to the practice squad. Until he jumps to the active roster, his advanced age isn’t reflected in this breakdown. 

Minnesota Vikings Roster: By Age

39

Andrew DePaola

37

Harrison Smith

33

Carson Wentz

31

Eric Wilson

Andrew Van Ginkel

Aaron Jones Sr.

30

Brian O’Neill

Blake Cashman

29

James Pierre

Josh Oliver

Kyler Murray

Jauan Jennings

T.J. Hockenson

Blake Brandel

28

Ryan Van Demark

Isaiah Rodgers

Byron Murphy Jr.

Joshua Metellus

Will Fries

27

Jalen Redmond

Jordan Mason

Justin Jefferson

Theo Jackson

Christian Darrisaw

26

Jay Ward

Brett Thorson

Levi Drake Rodriguez

Bo Richter

Trevor Keegan

25

Nick Samac

Will Reichard

Ivan Pace Jr.

24

Ben Yurosek

Zemaiah Vaughn

Myles Price

Joe Huber

Jordan Addison

23

Elijah Williams

Dallas Turner

Caleb Tiernan

Jakobe Thomas

J.J. McCarthy

Donovan Jackson

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins

Jake Golday

Tai Felton

Chuck Demmings

Chaz Chambliss

Max Bredeson

Gavin Bartholomew 

Caleb Banks

22

Jacob Thomas

Domonique Orange

Demond Claiborne

***

Since the Vikings have yet to announce a corresponding roster move after the addition of Harrison Smith, the roster currently holds 54 players. 

Assuming Kyle Van Noy will soon be added to the 53-man roster, the Vikings defense will occasionally have five players on the field over the age of 30.

Harrison Smith - 37

Kyle Van Noy - 35

Eric Wilson - 31

Andrew Van Ginkel - 31

Blake Cashman - 30

No worries. The Vikings also have some promising defensive players under the age of 25 playing with and learning from those graybeards.

Jakobe Thomas - 23

Jacob Thomas - 22

Jake Golday - 23

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins - 23

Chuck Demmings - 23

Caleb Banks - 23

Domonique Orange - 22

If all goes as planned, those youngsters will supplement a smart, experienced defense now and lead it in a couple years. 

Brian Flores has crafted a defense of smart players. For that defense to operate at its best, experienced and instinctive defenders like Harrison Smith, Joshua Metellus, Byron Murphy Jr., Blake Cashman, Eric Wilson, and Andrew Van Ginkel are needed. 

I fell for the Vikings in the 1970s when the team was filled with brilliant players in their 30s. It was an experienced group that made Super Bowl appearances routine. Winning the damn game was the difficulty. As a young Vikings fan, that was my normal. While experience is a characteristic shared by these teams separated by decades, the current Vikings team is downright youthful compared to those great teams. Hopefully, the splash of experience is what it takes to finally get back to the Super Bowl. Just win it this time!