MINNEAPOLIS – Three times the Packers' defense thought it had the stop it needed during what became the turning point in Sunday's 39-22 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
And three times their hopes were dashed when it saw a flag laying on the turf at U.S. Bank Stadium in the immediate aftermath of the play.
"Can't leave it in the ref's hands," cornerback Keisean Nixon said. "And that's just what we did."
Green Bay was clinging to a 22-17 lead when Minnesota took possession at its own 17 after Packers quarterback Jordan Love came up short on a fourth-and-1 sneak with 13 minutes, 17 seconds left to play.
On third-and-11, Edgerrin Cooper and Devonte Wyatt sacked Vikings backup quarterback Carson Wentz for a 10-yard loss, only to have the play wiped out by an illegal contact penalty on Green Bay nickel cornerback Javon Bullard.
On Minnesota's next third down, defensive lineman Chris McClellan was flagged for unnecessary roughness on a hit during Wentz's incomplete pass to T.J. Hockenson.
The Vikings pushed the ball all the way down to the Green Bay 6 when Evan Williams picked off Wentz in the end zone on a third-and-5 pass. Again, it was negated when Shawn Hochuli's crew called defensive holding on Xavier McKinney.
Aaron Jones scored a 3-yard touchdown on the next play to put the Vikings up 25-22 after a successful two-point conversion, sparking a string of what became 29 unanswered points in Minnesota's comeback victory.
The Vikings' nine-play, 83-yard scoring drive was aided by four penalties in all.
"We try, especially as a back end, we try to play as clean as possible, especially in those man (coverage) calls when it gets down to it to not leave it in the hands of the refs," Williams said.
"That's naturally very frustrating as a defense trying to get off the field multiple times, to feel like you're getting a stop every time and you're putting yourself in a good position with third-and-longs. Winning first and second down and then give them a bail out at the end of those drives is definitely frustrating."
Things quickly unraveled for Green Bay from there. The Vikings recovered a strip sack of Love at the Packers' 1-yard line, setting up a Jordan Mason touchdown to make it 32-22.
Love was then picked off on the next series, with Minnesota taking over at the Green Bay 14. Three plays later, Justin Jefferson extended for a 9-yard touchdown to put it out of reach.
All told, Green Bay finished with 12 accepted penalties for 98 yards compared to Minnesota's three for 15.
"It was huge," said Cooper, who led Green Bay with seven tackles (two for a loss) and a sack. "We can't put stuff like that in the refs' hands. We gotta find a way to be disciplined and play sound football and avoid getting those things. As much as anyone would want to argue either way, we put it in their hands and that's on us."
Things started well for the Packers' defense. Linebacker Zaire Franklin forced an errant pass from Vikings starting quarterback Kyler Murray, which Keisean Nixon intercepted to start the game.
Green Bay led 22-10 with 5 minutes left in the third quarter but instead returns home on the bitter end of a road loss to its division rivals.
"It's just doing the little things right and having the mental fortitude late in the game when you're tired, when it's late in drives, to find a way to get off the field and do exactly what you're supposed to do," Williams said.
"I feel like we put ourselves in a good spot, but at the end of the day, you can't leave it up to the refs to make those type of calls. Move forward, that's all you can do."
Watson's big day: Christian Watson had the offense firing early, as the fifth-year receiver hauled in five catches for 131 yards and two touchdowns in the first half.
Watson opened with an 81-yard touchdown pass from Love in the first quarter that doubled as Love's longest career pass and Watson's longest career reception.
It also was the longest touchdown reception by a Packers receiver since James Jones in Week 5 of the 2013 season.
Watson took little solace in those superlatives following Sunday's disappointing loss.
"I didn't do enough for us to win the football game," Watson said. "Obviously, I was super excited coming in for the first half. Feeling like everything was going the right way, but it's hard to be proud of anything when it didn't amount to anything for the team. So, it's a tough one."
Taking care of Tucker: Packers tight end Tucker Kraft signed his long-awaited contract extension shortly before Green Bay boarded its flight to Minneapolis Saturday.
While disappointed in the outcome, Kraft expressed both his gratitude to the organization and his excitement to continue his career with the Packers.
"That releases a lot of burden over a lot of people's heads," Kraft said. "Being able to get that finished up and be part of a franchise like this where I can be here, be a captain and continue to push the needle for success in the future, and I'm very grateful to be part of this organization long term."
Kraft caught three passes for 65 yards in his first in-game action since tearing his anterior cruciate ligament last November against Carolina.
"After that first drive it really felt like riding a bike again," Kraft said. "I felt like myself and just happy I could be there and help out my teammates."
O-line shakeup: Starting left guard Aaron Banks was unable to go against the Vikings due to a persistent knee injury, causing Donovan Jennings to make his first NFL start in his third career game.
"That's the NFL. There's always injuries," said right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele, who was making his first start since tearing his patellar tendon last December in Denver. "Some guys might be down. Some guys might be up. You never know who's gonna be playing. That's the NFL. You still gotta go out there and get the job done."
Minnesota sacked Love four times while Green Bay struggled to get its run game going. MarShawn Lloyd and Chris Brooks combined for 68 yards on 20 carries (3.4 yards per attempt).
