The formula looks so simple for the Green Bay Packers.

Keep running back Aaron Jones involved, and the offense scores points.

During the first half Thursday night in Seattle, Jones turned his 10 touches into 88 yards and two touchdowns, helping the Packers jump out to a 21-17 halftime lead.

By no fault of his own, he mostly disappeared over the final 30 minutes. Predictably, so did the Packers offense.

Jones ran four times and caught two passes in the second half, producing only 15 yards. The Packers managed nothing more than a single field goal over the final two quarters as the Seahawks came from behind to score what looks to be a staggering blow to Green Bay’s season.

During just the first 30 minutes, Jones ran in an 8-yard touchdown and caught three passes for 51 yards, including a 24-yard touchdown before the half.

The opportunities dried up.

Jones’ inexplicable usage was partially a result of the Packers’ inability to stay on the field. The offense ran only 27 plays in the second half. They were 2-for-7 on third down and punted four times, including twice after three-and-outs.

But the excuses only go so far. How does a dynamic playmaker suddenly become an afterthought in a close, back-and-forth game?

The Packers offense got into a few tough situations and completely abandoned the run.

A questionable block in the back penalty on the first drive of the second half wiped out an 18-yard run by Jones and resulted in a 1st-and-20 situation. The Packers threw three straight passes and punted.

A drive later, Rodgers threw incomplete on first down and Jones was stopped for no gain on second down before a third-down sack ended the possession.

On the third drive of the second half, the Packers called three passes and one run. Another punt.

Jones received three of his six second-half touches on the Packers’ march to a field goal, the offense’s lone scoring drive of the final two quarters. Rodgers took a sack on third down despite Jones waiting wide open underneath for what would have been an easy conversion.

The final drive after the Seahawks took the lead: Incomplete, eight-yard completion, incomplete, punt. Jones didn’t even sniff an opportunity to handle the football.

Just like that, a game Jones had by the neck in the first half completely got away from Rodgers, Mike McCarthy and the Packers.

If the Packers are to revive a flat-lining season, the focus must remain on Jones, who has proven himself capable of being the driving force for a productive, more consistent offense. It’s a potent group when he’s handling the football. It’s a disjointed mess otherwise. Thursday night was another prime example.