The Minnesota Vikings could really use a football doctor to diagnose and treat their ailments.

Overall, the Vikings are in good health. Two straight losses after a 5-0 start have raised concerns about underlying issues, but with a correct diagnosis they should be able to treat the symptoms and get back on track.

The symptoms appeared in Week 4 against Green Bay and have continued ever since. Bad penalties, unlucky calls from officials, elite quarterbacks, short rest periods, red zone issues and a pass defense that has been shredded are the most obvious signs of a healthy faulty.

Minnesota was crushing the Packers 28-7 early in the fourth quarter when all of a sudden the defense started coughing up yards. Jordan Love led the Packers on a touchdown drive in which he threw for 78 yards and a touchdown to make the score 28-14. Then Sam Darnold was sacked and fumbled and two plays later Love threw another TD. Minnesota led 31-22 before Love carried the Packers 96 yards in five plays for another touchdown. They held on to win, but something was wrong.

The following week, in London, the defense did not bleed meters. Instead, the offense began to lose steam, even though doctors have since realized that five straight scoreless drives in the Green Bay game may have signaled signs of a struggling offense. After losing Aaron Jones to a hip injury early in the game, Minnesota totaled just 91 yards in the second half, including just seven yards rushing.

The Vikings led the Jets 17-0 and it looked like someone had stopped the offense, as four of the next seven possessions ended in a punt while the other three resulted in two field goals and an interception. One of the field goals was after a three-and-out in Jets territory.

They went home 5-0 after beating Aaron Rodgers, but badly needed a vaccine.

Perhaps the most serious symptom appeared during the following bye week, when it was revealed that starting inside linebacker Blake Cashman had suffered a turf toe injury. Without him, the Lions gashed the defense for a total of 391 yards. The leaky defense was masked by a defensive touchdown, but Jared Goff eviscerated the Minnesota blitz and found big yards to open receivers up the middle all day long.

It happened again against the Rams. Matthew Stafford threw four touchdown passes and the Vikings’ once-ferocious pass rush generated just three pressures. And once again, the offense disappeared after back-to-back touchdown drives to start the game, adding just six points over the final three quarters. They had seven drives in the last three quarters and they did punt, punt, end of half, field goal, field goal, punt, safety.

Comorbidities, if you will, include refs, making recovery more difficult for the Vikings.

Against Green Bay, Xavier McKinney got an interception near the end zone even though it was clear he didn’t have control of the ball when it landed out of bounds. If that doesn’t happen, the Vikings will almost surely turn this streak into three or six points and lead 31-7 or 35-7.

Against the Rams, a phantom defensive call on Byron Murphy Jr. gave Los Angeles a first down after an incomplete pass on third down. This drive ended with a touchdown. The other glaring refereeing error was the failure to call a Darnold’s obvious mask this led to game security.

The Vikings are about to be loaded with football penicillin with Cashman expected to return from his toe injury, tight end TJ Hockenson making his season debut to add firepower to the offense , and Dalton Risner perhaps taking over at right guard for struggling Ed Ingram. .

Those three should help treat the symptoms that have led to Minnesota’s faltering health, and the Vikings can further boost their immune system by purchasing over-the-counter talent before the Nov. 5 trade deadline.