Jordan Love’s patience with the Packers may finally be paying off.
With Aaron Rodgers’ replacement, Green Bay has had to deal with a harsh reality thus far, but encouraging signals are emerging from the offense’s youthful supporting group.
The last time we checked in with Jordan Love, the 24-year-old was dominating the archrival Bears for 245 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-20 opening-day romp, leaving Wisconsin on a sugar high.
Is it possible that the Packers were experiencing a third lightning strike at the same location?
Since then, reality has set in. And sometimes reality stinks in the NFL.
Love and his Packers significantly improved after going 2-1 in his first three games as Aaron Rodgers’ substitute (winning the second game in a thrilling comeback against the Saints and losing by a point in the first). After that, Love had three games with multiple interceptions while Green Bay lost five of six. Following his quarterback’s spectacular debut, his coach, Matt LaFleur, issued the following caution: “You can’t let one game lead you, either favorably or adversely, into the next game. I believe he is aware of that.
Love demonstrated that he does comprehend two months later, when Green Bay was 3–6 and in desperate need of a boost to be in the running for the playoffs.
Naturally, a victory over the struggling Chargers in the middle of November won’t salvage the Packers’ season. Nevertheless, in spite of everything they’ve been through since September, Sunday’s game at least demonstrated the team’s performance and that of the quarterback—a skill LaFleur knew the inexperienced signal-caller would need in the coming weeks and months.
The Packers triumphed 23–20 over the Chargers. Without giving up a pass, Love completed his passes for 322 yards, two touchdowns, and a 108.5 rating. Additionally, he outlasted Justin Herbert in the fourth quarter.
It’s a positive move and an indication of Love’s development.
Love told me from Lambeau Field after the game, “I think that’s just life.” Adversity is something that will always exist. There will always be peaks and valleys. It simply comes down to being authentic throughout the entire process, adhering to that, and maintaining your self-assurance even in the face of setbacks. With the highs, never get too high. It’s a step in the procedure. Football is being played. Every game has a winner and a loser, as we are all aware.
“The most important thing is to keep improving as a team and as an individual and to maintain a high level of confidence.”
Love has had to remind himself of it throughout the season, and the quarterback had to do the same on Sunday, pulling through some early fits and starts before the Packers’ game-winning possession.
With 4:42 remaining on a second-and-9, Khalil Mack beat Rasheed Walker, David Bakhtiari’s replacement at left tackle, like a drum for a strip sack, leaving the Packers in a third-and-20 situation from their own 15-yard line. Love took the snap, positioned himself in the pocket, and saw something down the field—just past the sticks, toward youngster Dontayvion Wicks—that he might take advantage of. Even if it didn’t turn out the way Love had hoped, the fact that he saw it at all was a blessing for the Packers, as it might not have occurred earlier in the season.
A hole was opening up in the center. Love claims, “I tried to lay it out in front of Wicks when I saw him opening up.” “I noticed that the DB was holding him after the ball was released, but I wasn’t trying to draw a [defensive pass interference]. That was a big-time call, so I’m delighted they made it. there’s not like I just threw the DPI into there after seeing it. Just now, I was reading the play.
After the call handed the Packers a new set of downs, Wicks broke tackle and sprinted for a 35-yard gain to the Chargers’ 26-yard line two plays later. After two plays, Love connected with Romeo Doubs, another of his youthful receivers, for the game-winning touchdown from 24 yards out.
And then there was that one again, where Love saw what he needed to see and gave his recipient another chance.
We moved quickly, Love remarks. “The defense was coordinating, attempting to determine where each person was going. They lacked precise knowledge and were somewhat deranged. Romeo managed to overcome the DB. I believe they crossed paths. I was able to recognize that and just presented it to him. He did an excellent job going up and catching the ball midair. Fantastic work on his part.
Naturally, the purpose of elucidating these two moves is to demonstrate that Love will get increasingly adept at handling these circumstances the more he observes game speed. The quarterback knew that all of it takes time as he battled through the October and November valleys.
Fubo is watching the Packers. Launch your complimentary trial now.
The bright side is that he’s bringing a youthful group with him.
As previously mentioned, Wicks, tight ends Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft, and receiver Jayden Reed are the other three rookies who had multiple catches on Sunday. Love threw two touchdown passes to Doubs and Christian Watson, both in their second year. In other words, as the season progresses, the quarterback shouldn’t be the only one to improve—at least not on paper, and provided the line can continue without Bakhtiari.
Love remarks, “There’s been a lot of growth offensively over the past couple of weeks.” “Although the game hasn’t always turned out the way we wanted, you can clearly see our progress, which is crucial. We simply keep improving and developing upon it, in my opinion, every week. The ability to stay on the field, carry out these drives, string together lengthy drives, and finish in the end zone clearly shows improvement in today’s game.
Regarding Love, there will be more turbulence ahead. He is prepared and aware of that.
He also believes that experience will grow on him and teach him when to act swiftly and give his teammates a chance in certain situations, like he did with Doubs, or when to go for the third-and-long throw, as he did to Wicks. For a player who can create big plays out of structure, it also comes down to maintaining the ability to judge when to execute a normal play and when to go all out.
Love states, “The more at ease I become, the more I’ll develop and perform these off-schedule plays that I know I can perform, that I perform in practice.” “It just involves moving about and keeping a good feel and awareness of the pocket. Just keep making those plays that aren’t on the schedule, like the one I had today when I was running left and hitting Wicks over the middle while sliding through the pocket. That will be really important to us moving forward.
Early in the second quarter, the Packers were facing a second-and-15 from their 12-yard line. Anders Carlson missed a 52-yard field goal attempt after it went for 29 yards.
Beyond that, though, it once again demonstrated Love’s potential and the reason the Packers, like they did with Rodgers in the past, waited three years to draft him. And although the team was patient with Love for a considerable amount of time, this year he has most needed to practice self-compassion.
Fortunately, he has been. And he is aware of the outcome.
He claims that his confidence is growing each time he steps onto the pitch. I’m growing more at ease and am able to simply focus on the game, trust my footwork and technique, and let the ball fly. I like our direction.
