Inside Giants-Packers: What went wrong for Big Blue

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Giants returned to the playoffs for the first time since the 2011 season. Their trip was short-lived. Here's a quick look at their 38-13 loss to the Packers in Sunday's NFC wild-card game at Lambeau Field.

Why the Giants lost

They missed too many opportunities on offense, and made too many mistakes on defense and special teams.

They also had the chance to put pressure on Green Bay with two first-half trips to the red zone, but they settled for field goals both times.

The secondary, which has been their strength, was lit up repeatedly for big plays and wasn't able to force any turnovers.

And special teams made mistakes that handcuffed the Giants' offense, putting them in terrible field position.

It was a bad combination, and a bad afternoon for the Giants.

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Turning point

The Giants will look back on the final three minutes of the first half and cringe this off-season.

With 2:20 to go before halftime, they led 6-0. But they surrendered 14 points in the final 2:20 in a game-changing sequence. First they let Packers QB Aaron Rodgers beat them with a spectacular scramble — the play lasted eight seconds — to find WR Davante Adams for a five-yard touchdown. The Packers had their first lead of the game, 7-6.

Then, on the final snap of the first half, Rodgers threw a Hail Mary to the back of the end zone. WR Randall Cobb hauled in the 42-yard pass as time expired. Lambeau shook with noise. And the Packers never relinquished control.

Costly errors

Secondary: The Giants' defensive backfield has been their biggest strength late in the season. It was a liability on Sunday. Rodgers picked them apart, especially in the second half. Cobb, Adams and running back Ty Montgomery all had catches of 30 yards or longer. On another day when the Giants' offense struggled to score, it was too much to overcome.

Special teams: Punter Brad Wing struggled, especially early in the game, allowing the Packers to win the field-position game when the Giants were attempting to take control.

With the Giants pinned deep in their own territory, two of Wing's first-quarter punts didn't travel more than 30 yards.

Then, in the third quarter, kick returner Bobby Rainey stepped out of bounds at the 3-yard line after fielding a kickoff. The Packers would force the Giants to punt from their own end zone and cashed in later with a field goal to take a 24-13 lead.

Game balls 

Aaron Rodgers: He finished 25-of-40 for 362 yards and four touchdowns. And he did most of it without receiver Jordy Nelson, who left early with an injury.

Randall Cobb: He torched the Giants for five catches, 116 yards and three touchdowns. He tied former receiver Sterling Sharpe for the Packers' all-time postseason record with three touchdowns in a game.

Injuries

Giants cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie left the game in the first half with a thigh bruise. But he returned to the field after halftime. ... Packers receiver Jordy Nelson left in the first half with a rib injury, suffered when he took a hit on an incomplete pass. Nelson went back to the locker room and did not return. ... Montgomery left with a left leg injury in the fourth quarter and did not return.

Email: vasqueza@northjersey.com