The Green Bay Packers sent shockwaves through the NFL when they traded four-time MVP and future Pro Football Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets. That trade, many presumed, marked the end of 30 years of great quarterback play. In the opinion of many, 2020 NFL Draft Pick Jordan Love would never live up to the standard set by Rodgers and Brett Favre.
All offseason, Packers fans, Chicago Bears fans, Detroit Lions fans, Minnesota Vikings fans, analysts, podcasters, writers, even other NFL players, predicted that Love would crash and burn, and he would take Green Bay with him.
When the Packers lost four games in a row and fell to 2-5, many of these detractors felt vindicated. Love had a completion percentage under 60%, his interceptions were racking up, and the offense looked lost.
But then the Packers defeated the struggling Los Angeles Rams, and there was noticeable improvement from Love. After a hiccup on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers (where the Packers have not won since Bart Starr’s final season), Green Bay rattled off three straight wins and improved to 6-6. During that string of victories, Love threw eight touchdown passes, no interceptions, and has seen his numbers mirror those of Rodgers in 2008.
Have the Green Bay Packers Found Their 3rd Straight Franchise Quarterback in Jordan Love?
While Love is still very early in his career as a starting quarterback, his play as of late has been good enough to convince many that they were wrong about him. With Green Bay in control of their own destiny in terms of making the NFL Playoffs, one NFL writer went so far as to say “the Packers did it again” in regards to finding a great quarterback.
James Dator of SB Nation wrote:
“It’s been over 30 years since the Green Pay Packers were without a franchise quarterback, and dammit if it’s not looking like they’re going to be set for the future once more.
“Jordan Love pulled off the biggest win of his career on Sunday night as he led the Packers to a 27-19 win over the Chiefs on Sunday Night Football — and while the game was important in keeping Green Bay’s playoffs hopes alive, it’s far more about what this game represents.
“Love has been the best quarterback nobody has been talking about over the last month. Early season struggles have given way to ruthless efficiency, and it’s led to Love truly showing he can be the future of the Packers.”
He continued:
“It’s simply not supposed to happen like this. A team shouldn’t be able to go on an unbroken streak of great quarterbacks without interruption, but the Packers consistently prove they’re the smartest kids in the room in terms of looking ahead, finding quarterback talent, and knowing when it’s time to move on.
“Tales of the Packers demise were greatly exaggerated. Bad news for the rest of the NFC North moving forward.”
It is still early in Love’s career, and it is still early in the careers of the offensive weapons around him. There will be more mistakes made. There will be more growing pains. But the three teams that they have defeated during their three-game win streak are no pushovers. The Kansas City Chiefs, after all, are the defending Superbowl Champions.
This is a good team. And Love is a good quarterback. He may not be a Hall of Famer (yet), but he is more than capable of leading the Packers’ offense.
Yes, they did it again.
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