If you had flashbacks to the NFC Championship Game -- when the Green Bay Packers came up empty twice in goal-to-go situations early in their loss to the Seattle Seahawks -- while watching Thursday's preseason opener against the New England Patriots, it's understandable.

Goal-line and red zone offense were major problems seven months ago in Seattle.

On Thursday, the No. 1 offense managed only three points in three series despite getting into Patriots territory all three times, including two possessions that went inside the 10.

But it might not be fair to compare the Packers' inability to score touchdowns against the Patriots to the problems against the Seahawks.

"Well, it's a short playbook," quarterback Aaron Rodgers said after the Packers' 22-11 road victory. "It's the first preseason game. I think for us at this point in our progression of the offense, it's about kind of getting in shape with the no-huddle, and we moved the ball pretty well. We got stalled in the red zone, but we were in one personnel group the entire time with limited substitutions."

To be sure, the Packers probably would have come away with more points, but Mike McCarthy went for it on fourth-and-goal from the 2 on the game's first series and failed when Rodgers couldn't find anyone open and had to fire an almost uncatchable ball toward running back Eddie Lacy, who couldn't handle it. McCarthy certainly would have taken the three points in the regular season.

On the next series, Rodgers went to Davante Adams in the end zone on third-and-goal from the 7-yard line, and Adams dropped it -- apparently losing it in the lights, according to Rodgers.

"We had a couple of chances probably to score a touchdown," said Rodgers, who was 11-of-19 passing for 117 yards in one quarter of action. "But that's what preseason's for. I think we accomplished some of our goals, but we've got a long way to go."

For the game, the Packers went just 1-for-4 in the red zone. McCarthy went for it five times on fourth down, and the Packers converted just twice. They also went for two twice after touchdowns and failed both times.

"Those decisions are made before the game," McCarthy said. "Going for it on fourth down, two-point plays, it's really the opportunity when you’re in those situations to take advantage of them and the opportunity to work them and compete against the Patriots. I don't think I'll be going for it on fourth down six times a game or however many times we did it today. It was really just taking advantage of the opportunity."