The problem, of course, was that the offense disappeared after its fast start, again following an all-too-familiar script. The Vikings, ranked No. 1 in the NFL on defense last season and still No. 5 this season, had a lot to do with that. They stymied running back Aaron Jones' between-the-tackles rushes and turned up the heat on Rodgers in the second half.

Two plays into the first quarter, the Packers had 119 yards and a 14-7 lead. From that point until 4 minutes remained in the game, they gained a paltry 62 yards.

As in those earlier games, the Packers just couldn't sustain any offense once the opponent figured out what they were doing. That put the game entirely on Rodgers' shoulders and he couldn't get it done, in part because he didn't have enough time behind a banged-up line. After Minnesota took a 17-14 lead late in the third quarter, Green Bay's next two possessions ended with third-down sacks that happened so fast Rodgers barely had time to look downfield.

McCarthy tried to change things up with one desperate decision in the second half. After being roundly criticized when the Packers never got the ball back after he chose to punt on fourth-and-2 from his own 33-yard line down three with 4:20 to play against Seattle, McCarthy did the opposite against the Vikings.