The Green Bay Packers fell to 2-5 on the season after an embarrassing 2-5 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, at home at Lambeau Field. Now losers of four-consecutive games, the young Packers are still searching for an identity, for consistency, and answers as to how they can play better.
For some, the answer is easy: move on from quarterback Jordan Love. However, that is such a lazy answer and one that will solve zero problems on the Packers’ offense.
Love finished the day game against the Vikings with 229 passing yards while completing 24 of 41 passes (58.5%) to go with a touchdown and an interception. It was absolutely not a good performance by the first-year starter; however, he received little help from his pass catchers and offensive line.
Green Bay Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur Calls Out Other Players for Not Helping Jordan Love Succeed
After the loss on Sunday, head coach Matt LaFleur was asked about where he sees Jordan Love in terms of his progression and whether or not he is happy with his play. LaFleur got real honest with his response, not absolving Love of bad plays, but also calling out the rest of the offense for not doing their jobs either:
LIVE: Head Coach Matt LaFleur meets with the media following #MINvsGB 🎙️ https://t.co/QSEo2y1pxO
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) October 29, 2023
“I mean, obviously, you know, I say this every week. There always a couple of plays that he would like to have back. But also, like, we have to make some plays for him, too.
“I mean, we had like six dropped balls. That’s going to be tough to overcome. We got to catch it. We got to throw it better and we got to catch it better. We got to block better. We got to stop having penalties that knock us back and put us in obvious pass situations.
“We have to figure out a way to convert on third down early in the game so you can run your offense. I mean, we’re running a two-minute offense for half the game.”
While it easy to point to Love and blame him for the Packers’ struggles, he cannot make the offensive line better, or force his wide receivers to hold onto passes that hit them in the chest or hands.
Early in the game, on a third an long, Love hit Jayden Reed on a beautiful pass down the sideline, a pass thrown where only Reed could get it. Unfortunately, left tackle Rasheed Walker was flagged as an ineligible man down field. It killed the drive.
In another instance, facing second and eight, Love threw to Aaron Jones on a check down; but Jones dropped the ball. On third and eight, Love hit tight end Luke Musgrave right in the hands on what should have been a first down; but Musgrave dropped the ball.
Late in the game, with the ball inside the ten-yard line, Love hit wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks on a slant leading him to the endzone. But Wicks dropped the ball.
The interception Love threw was a pass that was placed perfectly in the hands and gut of Jayden Reed, who allowed the Vikings’ safety to rip it away from him. Reed, quite literally, had the ball pressed to his own body with his arms around it, but allowed the ball to be stripped away for an interception.
Of course, there are throws at which Love must be better. His decision-making is questionable at times, just as it is for most first-year starters.
But if his pass catchers would hold onto just half of the passes they have dropped this year, Green Bay is probably 5-2 or 4-3, and we are having a very different conversation about Love.
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1 Comment
It is far too early to give up on Love. Put a team around him for a few games and then do an evaluation. Mercy lord! That was a tough game to sit through…