When the Green Bay Packers made the decision to trade four-time NFL MVP and future Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets ahead of the 2023 season, it was a wildly unpopular move in the eyes of the media and many fans. Of course, the Packers came to the conclusion that they needed to move on from Rodgers for multiple reasons, but giving Jordan Love the opportunity to start after three years on the bench was among the most relevant.
The 2022 Packers, led by Rodgers, were a disappointment. After three consecutive 13-win seasons, two trips to the NFC Championship game, and two MVP’s for Rodgers, they finished that particular campaign 8-9 with Rodgers throwing a season-ending interception at home to the then up-and-coming Detroit Lions.
But when Love and the 2023 Packers got off to a slow start in his first season under center, criticisms flew freely on podcasts, sports talk shows, and on social media, especially since another young quarterback, CJ Stroud of the Houston Texans, was experiencing some success.
Green Bay Packers Quarterback Jordan Love Overcame a Slow Start in 2023
In his first season as Green Bay’s starting quarterback, Love got off to a slow start. One could tell that he needed the playing time and reps in order to start feeling comfortable. However, his detractors took his early struggles to mean that he would never be good.
The Packers went 3-6 to start the season and Love completed just 58.7% of his passes for 2,009 yards, 14 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, and an 80.5 passer rating. Stroud, meanwhile, led the Texans to a 5-4 start while completing 61.6% of his passes for 2,626 yards, 15 touchdowns, two interceptions, and a 101.0 passer rating.
Since the Texans quarterback was a rookie and outperforming Love, who was in his fourth NFL season, many claimed that it was Stroud who was and would be the better quarterback of the two.
But Love and his offense figured it out in the second half of the season. In the final eight games of the 2023 season, Love completed 70.3% of his passes for 2,150 yards, 18 touchdowns, one interception, and a 112.7 passer rating.
He ended the year with a 64.2% completion percentage, 4,159 passing yards, 32 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, and a 96.1 passer rating.
In Houston’s final eight games, Stroud (who missed two of those games) completed 68.0% of his passes for 1,482 yards, eight touchdowns, three interceptions, and a 100.7 passer rating.
He ended the year with a 63.9% completion percentage, 4,108 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, five interceptions, and a 100.8 passer rating. Stroud led the NFL with 273.9 passing yards per game and won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. He also was named to the Pro Bowl.
Green Bay Packers Quarterback Jordan Love Has Been Better than CJ Stroud This Year
This season, however, has been a very different story for both quarterbacks. The Packers are 11-4 and have already clinched a spot in the NFL Playoffs. The Texans have clinched their division, but with a 9-7 record.
Love has overcome another slow start (partially due to injury) to currently have a 63.2% completion percentage, 3,135 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, and a 97.8 passer rating.
Stroud, on the other hand, has a 63.2% completion percentage, 3,492 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, and an 87.7 passer rating.
In their most recent game, Houston was embarrassed by the Baltimore Ravens by the score of 31-2. Stroud completed 17 of 31 passes for 185 yards and an interception. Afterwards, Packers fans made sure social media knew that it was a mistake to claim Stroud was better than Love last year:
Don’t ever say CJ Stroud is better than Jordan Love again.
— Dadrian🧀 (@KingDay__) December 25, 2024
The Texans have 2 points in the 4th quarter of an NFL game and I was supposed to believe CJ Stroud was better than Jordan Love
— The Storm Claus (@Ferd_Turgeson) December 26, 2024
the Stroud/Jordan Love debate in the off season was hilarious, Love is so unbelievably clear it’s insane
— ً (@ThisWasChrisss) December 26, 2024
another stinker courtesy of cj stroud, who many—MANY—have already crowned ahead of jordan love
— Zachary Jacobson (@zacobson) December 25, 2024
I watch CJ stroud and I watch Jordan love and I’m not sure how someone thinks stroud is better… pic.twitter.com/2vjlbC7e1h
— BrewMasterMurphy (@tfromfranklin) December 21, 2024
Love and the Packers are clearly having the better season when compared to Stroud and the Texans. But both quarterbacks are young and both teams appear to be set up for long-term success.
It would be interesting to see them compete against each other in a Super Bowl (or two) at some point in their careers.
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