Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers will face off against the Seattle Seahawks later today on Sunday Night Football. In the past, when the Packers faced off against the Seattle Seahawks, the outcome of the game would have mostly been determined by the QB play – specifically Aaron Rodgers. Could Rodgers be Super Man enough to win the game?
Love doesn’t have to do that. I remember always thinking, “Man, if Rodgers just had a few more weapons, or if we only just had a defense, this team would win so many more games.” Instead, Green Bay seemingly just relied on Rodger’s heroics. Well, Love does have a complete team. The Packers don’t have to rely solely on Jordan Love to win a game.
Matter of fact, Green Bay can win games in so many more ways than they could have with Rodgers under center. This isn’t to take away from Jordan Love in any way. I actually believe he could play hero ball if the game required it. He has the ability to make every throw on the field and the calm demeanor to not fall under pressure.
So, what makes it where Love doesn’t need to play hero ball for the Packers?
Jordan Love Has A Defense
Rodgers only had a top ten defense three times in his tenure with the Packers. And the one time it was a top five defense (2nd), Green Bay won the Super Bowl. Currently, in the points against per game stat line, the Packers are in the top ten being ranked 9th overall. Additionally, this defense has also been very opportunistic.
Green Bay is ranked fourth in takeaways. This defense can step up at any moment to help win a game. However, the defense has been leaky at the end-of-half and end-of-game situations. They lost to the Lions because of it and nearly lost to the Bears if it wasn’t for a great field goal block by the special teams.
Oh, that reminds me…
Love Has A Special Team
I’m pretty sure I have heart palpitations every time the Green Bay special teams has to go on the field. Not because of how they are playing this year, nay, they are actually playing very well. No, the darn near PTSD that I have received from poor special teams play is why. Aaron Rodgers had to overcome terrible special teams units for many, many years.
Jordan Love doesn’t have to do that. I mean, ever since the Packers signed Brandon McManus, the special teams unit has been on fire and arguably has been the best unit out of the offense, defense, and special teams units.
Jordan Love doesn’t have to play hero ball because the special teams aren’t putting him in situations where he has to play hero ball.
Speaking of being put in bad situations…
Jordan Love Has A Run Game
Rodgers had a run game on occasion throughout his time in Green Bay, but it wasn’t always used effectively. I remember there was a stat used for Ryan Grant back in the day where if he had over fifteen rush attempts, the Packers were undefeated. Or something like that. It was insane. All I could think was, “Come on Mike! Give Grant the ball more! We’d win a lot more often.”
But ever since then, those stats have been thrown out a lot with other Packers running backs too. Running the ball is a good thing, and the Packers in recent history haven’t always been the best in making sure they keep running the ball. Well, this season, Love and the Packers have a run game.
Interesting note: in the four games that the Packers have lost this season, Josh Jacobs has averaged 14 rushing attempts while in the games that Green Bay has won he has averaged 20.33 rushing attempts per game.
Running the ball leads to wins and for the most part, the Packers are a run first team this season.
The Packers Have Consistency
Jordan Love doesn’t have to play hero ball because he has a great team around him. The defense can set him up with a short field thanks to their turnovers. The special teams have given the opposing offense longer fields making it harder on them. And the run game has kept the offense ahead of the sticks, making third down manageable.
He doesn’t have to be a hero. But he can if he needs to. Exhibit “A” from this season: the defense and the specials teams let the Texans take the lead with a 1:44 remaining in the game. Love then led the offense on a great 2-minute drive giving Brandon McManus an opportunity to win the game with zeroes on the clock.
The Packers have a long way to go to achieve ultimate consistency, but they have been more balanced than they have in many years. Because of this, Love doesn’t have to be The Reason Green Bay wins games. He can be a part of the reason.
Go Pack Go!
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Damon is a diehard, fully-immersed cheesehead who currently lives in southern Missouri. He teaches at a local high school and has a family YouTube channel about all things Packers. You can follow him on twitter at @packersfamily and on YouTube at The Packers Family.
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The post Jordan Love Doesn’t Need to Play Hero Ball For the Packers first appeared on PackersTalk.com Blog Posts and Podcasts.