Studs and Duds from Packers 31-29 Loss to the Vikings

A loss is always tough.

A divisional loss is even tougher. That's especially true when there were as many self-inflicted wounds as there were in the Green Bay Packers' 31-29 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

The Packers turned the ball over four times and committed eight more penalties.

It's hard enough to win in the NFL, but even more difficult when you make things harder on yourself.

There were some standout performances in this game, both good and bad.

When you trail 28-0 at one point of the first half, there is likely much more bad than good.

Here are our standouts and those that will be nervous during today's film correction.

Studs

Daniel Whelan

One of Green Bay's kickers is off to a great start this season. Whelan's 74-yard punt was part of what got the Packers going in the first half.

Whelan's punt disappeared into the Wisconsin sun, making things difficult for Myles Gaskin.

Gaskin muffed the punt, and it was recovered by Bo Melton deep in Minnesota territory.

The Packers would score on a touchdown pass from Jordan Love to Jayden Reed before halftime.

It was the first set of points that Green Bay scored on the day. This is a list they hope their punter is not on often, but on this day, he was.

Xavier McKinney

Xavier McKinney is off to a historic start in Green Bay.

That is not an exaggeration.

McKinney's interception on Sunday, his fourth, made him the first Packer to ever intercept a pass in each of his first four games.

McKinney has been a big bright spot in Green Bay's defense in the early going. The free agent acquisition is one of the leading candidates for Defensive Player of the Year if such a list were to exist at this point in the season.

His interception on Sunday kept Minnesota from extending their lead, and gave the Packers a chance to get back into the game.

Jayden Reed

The Packers may not have a traditional WR1, but Reed is their best receiver through the first quarter of the season.

He caught seven more passes for 139 yards and the aforementioned touchdown yesterday.

He leads the Packers in receiving yards early in the year, and has been the one consistent performer from that room.

His skillset lends itself to playing well with both Jordan Love when he's healthy, or Malik Willis.

Matt LaFleur calls Reed a "war daddy" because of his ability to make plays on the ball when it is in the air.

Reed is going to be in the conversation for a Pro Bowl selection if this level of production continues.

Duds

Rashan Gary

If this were a list for most disappointing players through the first quarter of the season, Rashan Gary might be number one on the list.

Gary has one sack on the season. He's being erased by offensive tackles and tight ends.

His impact plays are few and far between.

The entire pass rush struggled yesterday, but Gary is the leader of that unit. He needs to be better.

If he does not start affecting games more than he is now, the Packers are not going to reach their ceiling on defense.

According to PFF, Gary's pass rush win rate is 3 percent so far in 2024.

That's not going to cut it for someone on the back end of the roster, let alone someone of Gary's stature.

Brayden Narveson

The Packers lead the league in a stat they don't want to.

Missed kicks.

Brayden Narveson missed two more kicks on Sunday, and his first miss helped the Vikigns build a 14-0 advantage in the first half.

“Those are critical misses and it’s unacceptable; hurts,” said Narveson after the game.

“I’m sure you guys can all see it in my face. It hurts. But I just gotta look myself in the mirror, go back to the drawing board and be better. That’s about all I can say about it."

For what it's worth, it does not sound like Narveson's job is in danger.

LaFleur expressed confidence in him after the game.

“It’s just part of it and, unfortunately, it wasn’t his day, but I’ve got a lot of confidence and won’t blink if we have to put him out there in another situation.” LaFleur said.

Regardless of how confident the team is in him, Narveson needs to reward that confidence.

The Packers have played two good teams this year, and have lost those games by a combined seven points.

Narveson has missed three kicks in those games, leaving nine points on the field.

He needs to be better starting this week in Los Angeles.

Matt LaFleur

When things are going wrong, you don't want your coach to add to the issues the team on the field is facing.

That's exactly what Matt LaFleur did on Sunday.

After the game, LaFleur did apologize for his outburst that cost his team 15 yards while they were trailing 28-0.

“I’m absolutely embarrassed that I got an unsportsmanlike,” LaFleur said. “When you expect composure from your team and then you’re doing that, that’s a bad look."

The bad look could have been worse. At the time of his outburst, the Packers were trailing 28-0, but inside Minnesota's 1 yardline.

With the way they were struggling to move the ball throughout the first half, those 15 yards could have proven costly.

Thankfully for LaFleur, Jordan Love and Jayden Reed picked him up one play later with a 15-yard touchdown pass.

Combine that with LaFleur's confidence in his kicker that can only be described as inexplicable at this point, he's earned his way onto this list.

Related: The Morning After: Packers Drop Heartbreaker to the Vikings