The Green Bay Packers lost to the Minnesota Vikings 39-22 on Sunday in a disappointing Week 1 performance, particularly in the second half. The Packers’ offense flashed early but faded, and the defense couldn’t hold up down the stretch. Still, the game produced standouts and clear concerns. Here are three winners and three losers from Green Bay’s 2026 regular season opener.

Winners

Christian Watson

It’s impossible to start the positive side of the conversation without Christian Watson. The wide receiver had a monster game, putting himself squarely in the legitimate No. 1 receiver conversation. Watson finished with six receptions for 147 yards and two touchdown passes. Matthew Golden also had a strong showing with six receptions and 95 yards, and the Packers got contributions from Jayden Reed and others across a versatile passing attack. But Watson was the main feature. On third downs in particular, quarterback Jordan Love looked for Watson to create explosive plays, and he delivered, especially early in the game.

Bo Melton

The Packers released Bo Melton on Friday and brought him back to the practice squad, but he made his presence felt immediately. Melton had a strong performance on special teams, highlighted by a 59-yard return, and he added a 10-yard reception on offense. He’s a player the Packers clearly trust, and Green Bay should probably promote him back to the 53-man roster ahead of Week 2.

Keisean Nixon

The surprising name on the winners list is cornerback Keisean Nixon, who turned in a strong all-around performance. Nixon had a tackle for a loss, an interception on quarterback Kyler Murray, and several positive plays throughout the game. Brandon Cisse appeared to have a tougher time than Nixon did. The veteran received significant criticism down the stretch last season and throughout the offseason, but his first impression in 2026 was a positive one.

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Losers

MarShawn Lloyd

Sunday marked running back MarShawn Lloyd’s first extended NFL action after two years battling injuries and struggling to stay on the field. The results were discouraging. Lloyd’s vision looked shaky, and his explosiveness wasn’t enough to overcome that. He carried the ball 13 times for only 37 yards at 2.8 yards per carry. The Vikings’ defense makes life difficult for running backs, and that’s a fair point. But Chris Brooks, who isn’t necessarily a markedly explosive player either, finished with seven carries for 29 yards at 4.1 yards per carry. Brooks was the more explosive back on the day, and that’s a troubling sign for Lloyd.

Offensive line

The most obvious loser from Sunday’s game is the offensive line as a whole. Guards Donovan Jennings and Jacob Monk are the least talented players on the unit, but the entire room played poorly against Minnesota. Left tackle Jordan Morgan had a rough outing in his first game as a full-time starter at the position. Center Sean Rhyan also had some difficult moments. Zach Bako-Bewele was returning from an injury and was still the best offensive lineman on the roster, but the group collectively had a tough day.

Safety room

The third loser is the safety position group. The Packers have significant talent there with Xavier McKinney, Evan Williams, and Javon Bullard, but all three had difficult moments. They gave up big plays and committed penalties that extended Vikings’ drives in the second half. Green Bay’s safety room is one of the best position groups on the roster and one of the strongest in the NFL. That makes Sunday’s performance all the more surprising, especially because the Packers faced Carson Wentz for most of the game.