Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur is treating the Week 1 loss to the Minnesota Vikings as ancient history as his team prepares for a critical rematch Sunday at Lambeau Field.

Green Bay enters at 6-3 and in last place in the NFC North. The Chicago Bears lead the division at 7-2, while the Detroit Lions and Vikings are both 6-2. The Packers are 1-2 against North foes so far.

LaFleur has repeatedly emphasized the stakes.

“The reality is this: We are in last place in our division right now, so this is a very important game,” he said Wednesday.

He has also described divisional contests as carrying extra weight. “Divisional games, to me, they are (worth) a game in a half. We have to make sure come out and we have a great week of prep,” LaFleur added.

In the Sept. 13 opener at U.S. Bank Stadium, the Vikings won 39-22. Green Bay held a 22-10 lead in the third quarter before Minnesota scored 29 unanswered points. The Packers outgained the Vikings 419 yards to 239 but committed 12 penalties and converted just 1 of 4 red-zone trips.

LaFleur has downplayed how much that result should matter now.

“You might as well throw Week 1 out the window in most instances. There’s a lot of craziness that goes on, especially in Week 1. You never know what you’re going to get, so I do think it’s going to be helpful,” he said this week.

The Packers have won five of their last six games, including a 45-27 victory at New England on Nov. 8 in which Jordan Love accounted for four touchdowns. Love has thrown for 2,618 yards with 19 touchdowns and six interceptions this season.

Green Bay ranks second in the NFL in passing yards per game but last in rushing at 68.2 yards per game. The team averages 24.0 points and 347.9 total yards per contest while allowing 21.2 points and 322.9 yards.

According to The Athletic’s NFL Playoff Simulator, a loss Sunday would drop the Packers’ chances of winning the NFC North to about 4 percent. A victory would raise those odds to roughly 20 percent. The franchise last claimed the division title in 2021.

Minnesota’s defense has been among the league’s toughest, ranking near the top in several efficiency metrics and frequently forcing third-and-long situations. LaFleur said the Vikings do an excellent job getting offenses behind the sticks and creating pressure.

The Packers will host the Vikings at noon Central time on Sunday. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. Eastern at Lambeau Field.

Green Bay’s offensive line has more experience at the guard spots than it did in Week 1, when first-time starters struggled against Minnesota’s aggressive scheme. LaFleur has stressed the need for cleaner communication and fewer self-inflicted mistakes.

Both teams sit in the thick of a competitive division race with eight games remaining. A win would keep the Packers in the conversation for a playoff berth and improve their division outlook significantly.

LaFleur said the focus remains simple: prepare well, play clean football, and treat this as the most important game on the schedule right now. The outcome will go a long way toward determining whether Green Bay can climb out of last place in the North.