Jordan Love’s season with the Green Bay Packers may have ended with a disappointing interception, but overall, it was a success. Love showcased his potential and put himself in a position to secure a lucrative contract this offseason. Despite the unhappy ending, his performance against the Dallas Cowboys in his playoff debut was outstanding, as he threw three touchdowns and led the team to victory. Love’s journey this season has been a feel-good story, but there is a warning label that comes with him, and it was evident in the Packers’ season finale.
In the final moments of the game against the San Francisco 49ers, Love had the opportunity to lead the team to a comeback victory. With just over a minute left on the clock and the Packers trailing by three points, Love was effectively moving the ball downfield. However, on a crucial first and 10 play, Love made a critical mistake. Instead of throwing the ball away, he attempted a risky pass across his body, resulting in an interception that sealed the Packers’ fate.
This moment showcased Love’s tendency to make questionable decisions under pressure, reminiscent of Brett Favre’s occasional road rage moments. Love has shown signs of being a gunslinger, often opting for aggressive passes instead of playing it safe. While he had managed to avoid turnovers for most of the season, this interception highlighted his regression to his riskier style of play.
When the Packers drafted Love in the first round, skeptics were concerned about his tendency to throw interceptions. Aaron Rodgers, known for his low interception percentage, made Love’s tendencies even more worrisome. Love had shown promise as a developmental player, but his Jekyll and Hyde passing style has persisted in Green Bay.
In a preseason game against the 49ers in 2022, Love threw three interceptions, raising doubts among fans about whether he had outgrown his gunslinger phase. Throughout the regular season, Love struggled with completion percentage, interception percentage, yards per attempt, and passer rating. The Packers’ offense also experienced a significant decline, failing to score more than 20 points in five consecutive weeks.
Despite these rocky moments, Love’s strong finish to the regular season overshadowed his shortcomings until the final drive against the 49ers. The fact that he came so close to reaching the NFC Championship Game after years of skepticism speaks to his talent. Had Love led the team to a touchdown or a victory in overtime, it would have caused uproar in rival city Chicago, where the Bears have struggled to find a successful quarterback.
Moving forward, Love’s key to an encore performance will be to prove that his regression is not imminent and that his season-ending interception was an anomaly. After a decade of consistency from Rodgers, the Packers now have another gunslinger at the helm. Love’s success will depend on his ability to strike a balance between taking calculated risks and avoiding costly turnovers. Green Bay is counting on Love to build on his promising season and become the franchise quarterback they envision.
