There wasn’t a single Packers player willing to concede the NFC North Division title after the team’s 38-26 loss to the Vikings in former Packer Brett Favre’s homecoming to Lambeau Field in a purple uniform. But in the aftermath of a game that received “surreal” coverage by both the local and national media according to one local veteran Packers observer, there was no denying the frustration many of those players were feeling, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. For the second time in a month, a member of the defense spoke negatively about new coordinator Dom Capers’ 3-4 scheme.

Picking up where CB Charles Woodson left off following the Packers’ earlier loss to the Vikings — when Woodson complained about the lack of blitzing ordered by Capers — DRE Cullen Jenkins openly complained after the game, saying that he felt “handcuffed” by a scheme that failed to register a single sack of Favre for the second time this season. The lack of sacks is worth noting, considering Favre has been brought down 18 times by the six other teams he has faced this season.

But a lack of pressure on Favre was hardly the biggest problem in a defeat that put the Packers 2½ games behind the Vikings in the NFC North. Ill-timed penalties, shoddy special-teams play, poor protection by the offensive line and inconsistent production by an offense that managed only 47 yards in the first half were much bigger problems for a team that it appears is going to have to significantly clean up its act in more than a few areas if it hopes to earn a wild-card berth this season.

The PFW spin

Jenkins’ handcuffed feeling notwithstanding, it’s obvious Capers’ defense came up extremely short in its two outings against Favre this season, allowing the 40-year-old signalcaller to complete 41-of-59 passes for 515 yards and seven TDs with zero interceptions. It’s also worth noting that the Vikings were able to score four touchdowns on their five trips inside the Packers’ 20-yard line on Sunday. But unlike the first game against Minnesota, Capers employed frequent blitzes — to no avail. What definitely hurt the defense more than its philosophy was the loss of LB Brandon Chillar with a broken hand. Desmond Bishop, who was in the lineup in place of the versatile Chillar, was victimized on a key screen play late in the game that resulted in a 44-yard romp by RB Adrian Peterson.

Beyond that, special-teams breakdowns and costly penalties were more responsible for the final outcome. While Favre emerged as the obvious player of the game, a case could be made for Vikings rookie WR-RS Percy Harvin, who broke the Packers’ backs with five kickoff returns of 175 yards. His 77-yard romp on his initial return and a 48-yard return late in the game on a flubbed squib-kick attempt by Packers PK Mason Crosby were particularly costly. As for the penalties, which continue to be a huge problem for the Packers, an ill-advised head-butting call on DLE Johnny Jolly that kept the drive toward the Vikings’ go-ahead TD alive and a face-mask call on rookie DE B.J. Raji also turned out to be major mistakes.

“Jolly’s penalty was totally uncalled for,” said Packers head coach Mike McCarthy in his Monday press conference. “He needs to be more calm. B.J.’s penalty was more of a technique thing.”

McCarthy also mentioned the offense’s inconsistency. After struggling mightily in the first half, QB Aaron Rodgers, who was limping badly after the game but should be OK in time for the Buccaneers this Sunday, ended up completing 26-of-41 passes for 287 yards and three TDs (108.5 passer rating). “Our passing game in the third and fourth quarter couldn’t have been any better,” McCarthy said. “But early in the game a lot of the variables that showed up in the Metrodome (in the first game against the Vikings this season) carried over. The negative plays really hurt us. And our sack numbers are clearly out of balance (14 of Rodgers’ 31 sacks have come against the Vikings). We need to be more productive in our pass protection and we will continue to work on it.”