Love’s Career Day Spoiled by Costly Interceptions

Sunday’s game from Jordan Love seemed like a typical up-and-down performance for a quarterback making just his 23rd career NFL start. It was also his first start coming off a major injury. His rustiness in the first half wasn’t too surprising.

In 16 years as the Packers starting quarterback Brett Favre never missed a game from an injury and in 15 years, Aaron Rodgers missed games three times from injury (2010 – concussion, 2013 and 2017 – broken collarbone).

First the good, Love had a career day in passing yards and touchdown passes. It was Love’s third career 300-yard passing day, finishing with 389 yards. It was the most passing yards in a game for the Packers since Rodgers eclipsed 400 yards twice in 2019. Love also had his first career four touchdown pass day.

 

Jordan Love has only played two games.

Yet he is only 1 of 9 QBs in the NFL to have 15 or more passes of 20+ yards.

He is slinging it.

— Jacob Morley (@JacobMorley) October 1, 2024

 

He matched both Rodgers and Favre with three touchdown passes in the 4th quarter of a game. Rodgers had three 4th quarter touchdown passes in his epic comeback against the Bears in 2018 and Favre also did this in 2003 against the Chargers. Both Rodgers and Favre were victorious in their comeback attempts.

For Love and the Packers, their comeback was too little, too late. Missed field goals and turnovers did in the offense, despite scoring 29 points for the second in a loss this season.

For the season, Love has completed 49 of 88 passes (just 55.6 %) for 649 yards with six touchdown passes, but also four interceptions. Last season, Love threw just three interceptions total from the Chargers game through the 49ers playoff game.

Now the bad, despite having a career day, one concerning trend that popped up again Sunday was Love’s questionable decision making in the 4th quarter while trailing. In 2023, this was the case in four different Packers losses.

 

Pressure prevented Jordan Love from throwing to Christian Watson sooner on the game-sealing interception. Love is initially looking to Watson’s side of the field but drops his eyes to evade a sack. pic.twitter.com/k2Bx8L5Nk5

— Brandon Carwile (@PackerScribe) October 11, 2023

 

17-13 loss to the Raiders, two 4th quarter interceptions

19-17 loss to the Broncos, 4th quarter interception

23-19 loss to the Steelers, two 4th quarter interceptions

24-21 loss to the 49ers, 4th quarter interception

In Sunday’s game, the Packers had the ball trailing 31-22, and Love threw essentially a 50/50 ball to Dontayvion Wicks on first down. That interception, combined with Tucker Kraft’s subsequent fumble on Green Bay’s next possession, cost the Packers a legitimate chance at coming back from a once 28-0 deficit.

 

Jordan Love throws up a prayer ball against the all out blitz and the Vikings get the INT to seal the game pic.twitter.com/DEx2HLDWpj

— Streameast News Network (@StreameastNews) September 29, 2024

 

As a young quarterback, maybe it’s just part of the learning for Love. But in these critical moments, as was evident last January, questionable decisions can cost the team its season. For the Packers to get to the place it wants to get to, the 4th quarter of close games will need improvement from Love in this area.