Winners and losers for Packers in embarrassing Week 4 loss to Vikings

A dramatic fourth quarter almost resulted in an all-time comeback win for the Green Bay Packers, but their disastrous first half left them with too much to do.

Green Bay trailed 28-0 at one stage and looked on course for a blowout defeat. Matt LaFleur's team battled back to make a contest of it, eventually falling short, 31-29. There were plenty of negatives from the performance, but once the sting of defeat eases, LaFleur can take some positives, too.

Losing Christian Watson to injury is the biggest disappointment from the game, but what else did we learn? Here are the Packers' winners and losers from Week 4.

Winners and losers for the Packers after loss to Vikings in Week 4

Winner: Jayden Reed

Win, lose, or draw, it doesn't matter. Jayden Reed is a star and makes plays regardless. The former second-round pick is always there when his quarterback needs him, and he stepped up with seven catches for 139 yards and a touchdown in Week 4.

After all the offseason conversation about whether the Packers had a true WR1, Reed has emerged as Love's favorite target. In Love's two starts, he has connected with Reed 11 times for 277 yards and two touchdowns.

Loser: Brayden Narveson

After the preseason, the Packers understood they needed change at kicker and released Anders Carlson and Greg Joseph. The problem? They got worse. It's impossible to have any confidence in rookie Brayden Narveson, who missed from 37 and 49 yards on Sunday. Narveson has missed at least one kick in all four games, although one didn't stand due to a penalty on the Tennessee Titans that had no impact on the kick.

Matt LaFleur said he still has "a lot of trust and faith" in Narveson. And let's be honest, there aren't many great options in free agency. But unless the Packers get their kicking game figured out, they could end up in worse shape than last season, which is saying a lot.

The Packers missed two field goals and lost the game by two points.

Winner: Xavier McKinney

What more can we say about Xavier McKinney? Four games, four interceptions. He is unbelievable.

If the season ended today, McKinney would be a first-team All-Pro lock. The Packers knew he could become that player in Jeff Hafley's system, and he is delivering. According to Cheesehead TV's Aaron Nagler, McKinney's four-game interception streak is tied for the second-longest in Packers history.

He's only just got here.

Loser: Jordan Love

Throw three interceptions, and you probably won't win the game. Love didn't look 100 percent and took some time to find rhythm. Many of his throws early in the game were low, even on completions, and he threw three costly interceptions.

Love's second pick wasn't on him. He threw a pass intended for Romeo Doubs, but Luke Musgrave thought it was for him and got his hands to it. It still reached Doubs, but Musgrave's deflection likely caused him to tip it straight into the hands of Vikings defender Shaquill Griffin.

The other two picks? Yeah, they were on Love. He saved his worst for last, a desperate heave into the end zone to Dontayvion Wicks. Time was against the Packers, and Love needed to get the ball out fast to avoid a free rusher, but launching it and hoping for the best is not the answer.

Love admitted he struggled for accuracy and made some bad plays.

Winner: Jordan Love

However, we also saw the great side of Love, especially in the second half. He threw for 389 yards and four touchdowns against an elite defense that knew the pass was coming for most of the game. Love showed toughness, kept battling despite the scoreline, and found ways to make plays.

The Vikings hit Love 10 times and sacked him once, but he kept getting back up. There were some rough plays, but also plenty of great ones.

Loser: Jeff Hafley

Jeff Hafley doesn't deserve the full blame for the Packers' defensive efforts. He lacked depth in the secondary after losing Jaire Alexander and Carrington Valentine, placing them in a tough spot against the Vikings' talented receiving corps. Hafley's defense also bounced back in the second half, allowing only three points while forcing two turnovers.

However, there's no excusing the first-half disaster. Sure, Isaiah McDuffie dropped an interception on the opening drive, and a Love interception set the Vikings up at the Packers' 4-yard line on another, but to give up 28 points on five first-half possessions isn't good enough.

The pass rush made two sacks but struggled to generate consistent pressure, and Sam Darnold made them pay.

Winner: Daniel Whelan

Daniel Whelan deserves some love. He has made an excellent start to the season, and his booming 59-yard punt sparked the fightback. Jalen Nailor muffed it, handing Green Bay possession at the 3-yard line, which led to the team's opening touchdown.

Whelan averaged 60 yards per punt and continued his great work from the opening three games.

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