Coach Scott Robertson suffered his first loss in the role and said the All Blacks prepared knowing Argentina would look to slow the game down. They would come around the mauls and create opportunities for themselves.
"The tap back balls, the little things and loose ball, the unstructured stuff they fed off, that's the part that hurts.
"They took those opportunities and managed the clock in the last 10 minutes; they did a hell of a job.
Robertson said skill set errors and game management made life difficult for the All Blacks.
The game continued with the features seen in their two games against England, such as getting into the opposition's 22m area but not taking the chances they created.
"We got there and couldn't put pressure on."
Once Argentina could pin the All Blacks in their half in the last 10 minutes of the game, the pressure on lineouts and the concession of penalties made it difficult to slip the net.
Argentina also targeted restarts to pin the All Blacks in their 22m area.
"It's clear we've got to get the kick-offs. England did it to us and we didn't execute it."
Robertson said first five-eighths Damian McKenzie needed time in the role. He produced some 'class' touches with chip kicks and short passing and was growing as a game manager.
"You've got to back him, he's learning along the way."
Turning the performance around ahead of the second Test in Auckland at the weekend started with accepting the loss and being honest with each other in assessing it.
"Once we're honest we'll appear with a clear focus on what's required this week and people owning it.
"We did some good stuff around England, around the kicking game and the high battle and the contestable stuff. We didn't do that part of it last night, and it cost us in the end."
Captain Ardie Savea said the All Blacks' inability to finish off chances was a testament to how Argentina played.
"They were always there, they were always putting us under pressure. When they were kicking off, their kicks were right on the money and they were pushing us there and we couldn't get out. That's something we need to look at and be better."