The Green Bay Packers should have been 2-0 by now. Except that they’re not.
This is after allowing the Atlanta Falcons to secure an impressive come-from-behind victory on Sunday as the game ended 25-24 in favor of the home team. Green Bay entered the final frame with a seemingly secure 12-point lead, only to see Atlanta come roaring all the way back with a touchdown and two field goals in the fourth period.
Green Bay Packers QB Jordan Love ‘Messed Up’ QB Sneak in Fourth Quarter
Green Bay did not have a shortage of chances to close this game out. Even after allowing the Falcons to score a TD and one field goal, the Packers still had a 24-22 lead with a little over six minutes left in the game. However, what could be their biggest blunder of the contest came at fourth-and-short right on their own 34-yard line.
Jordan Love attempted a sneak to get to first down, but it ended miserably for the young quarterback:
How Jordan love tried to sneak without the ball is wild pic.twitter.com/eSArK8kpJD
— Light Skinned Todoroki🌹 (@byondplusultra) September 17, 2023
Somehow, Love was not able to get the ball in his hands. Green Bay was assessed with a five-yard procedure penalty, which gave them no other choice but to punt.
After the game, Love was asked to shed some light on the botched QB sneak, and the 24-year-old did not make any excuses. Love took full responsibility for the crucial mistake:
“I just messed up the operation with the cadence on that one,” Love said, via Mike Spofford of the team website. “Not everybody got the call to get the sneak.
“I said the wrong thing. It’s pretty much not a play until I give the live word. I just messed it up.”
I guess you can charge this one to experience as Green Bay’s QB1 learns the ropes in his new and somewhat unfamiliar role. It was a pretty costly error, though, and one that may have caused the Packers the game.
Matt LaFleur Reacts to Jordan Love’s Gaffe
Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur has also shared his two cents worth on the failed play. The Packers shot-caller admitted that he wanted to call a timeout, but at the same time, LaFleur deferred to Love’s situational assessment of the play:
“If he thought he could get it on the sneak, then it’s on him to check to it,” LaFleur said. “I think he did and nobody heard him. It was loud, and it’s an unfortunate situation. We were definitely going to call a timeout there and go for it on fourth down.”
Such are the breaks of the game, and at this point, it doesn’t seem like one bad snap is going to lead to LaFleur losing confidence in his new cornerstone quarterback.
For More Wisconsin Sports:
Follow me on Twitter at @PaoloSongcoNBA, and follow us @WiSportsHeroics. Also, check out our Merchandise Here! Get 20% off with the code “WSH.” You can also reach out to Paolo Songco via email at pao.songco@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Wisconsin sports, click here! Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers, Milwaukee Bucks, Wisconsin Badgers.