GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Green Bay Packers certainly made the Minnesota Vikings sweat Sunday at Lambeau Field. After trailing 28-0, the Packers lost 31-29. Matters weren’t settled until Minnesota recovered a Packers onside kick in the final minute.

The furious rally shouldn’t cover up the fact that the Packers lost at home to a division rival. The Packers are now 2-2. The Vikings are 4-0.

You can say the Packers were playing with quarterback Jordan Love, who was coming off missing two weeks with injury, and without star cornerback Jaire Alexander, but Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said himself those sound like excuses.

Falling behind 28-0 at home is what stings the most. Love called it “a deep hole.”

He’s right. There were moments of hope in the fourth quarter, but plenty of despair in the first half.

LaFleur said it’s a “humbling league.” Even though the Packers were able to turn last season around, they know they’d be wise to avoid tempting fate with a rerun. That’s why Sunday’s upcoming road game in California against the banged-up Los Angeles Rams looms so important. Don’t dig that hole any deeper.