This was supposed to be a year not to worry about the results of wins and losses for the Packers. Instead it was supposed to be about finding out if Jordan Love was the long-term answer at quarterback. Well, with his play and leading the Packers to the NFL Playoffs, Love has emphatically shown he’s the man to lead the Packers into the future.
However, he also has the Packers controlling their own playoff destiny heading into the final week of the regular season. Win, and the Packers are in the playoffs. What a massive win for the franchise to be in this spot with such a young team, in fact, the youngest in the NFL being led by a first-year starter at QB. Just looking at the stats – 4,159 yards, 32 TD, 11 INT – particularly, the last few weeks where Love has an 18 TD to just 1 INT run, he’s been outstanding and all-time great for a first-year starter.
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In fact, Love may need to be in the MVP conversation. His season is more impressive the more layers you peel back. Let’s take a look at why.
Injuries to key players around him
For a young player stability is often synonymous with successful young quarterbacks. Love didn’t have that luxury. His starting left tackle missed all but one game. Aaron Jones missed nearly half the season. His No. 1 WR missed half the year. Yet, Love overcame it all and has been superb in the second half of the season. Love threw for 18 touchdowns and just one interceptions since Week 11. The ascending quarterback led the NFL in multi-touchdown games with zero INTs with nine. Despite a number of injuries surrounding him this season, Love has withstood it and led the Packers to the postseason.
Surrounded by inexperienced players
The Packers are the youngest team in the NFL and one of the youngest teams to ever make the postseason. Love has been a great leader and doing so in silence. Young teams are momentum dependent and things went awry in the first half of the season, but now the Packers are rolling winning six of their final eight regular season games.
Love is leading by example and his fellow young offensive players surrounding him are following suit, peaking at the right time. His offensive tackles Zach Tom and Rasheed Walker have been terrific in the second half of the year. The receivers are all stepping up illustrated by Bo Melton coming off the practice squad and adding to an already ascending WR room.
No true No. 1 WR
I love the Packers’ wide receiver group. However, there really isn’t a true, proven No. 1 guy. Christian Watson a number one? He has an injury history already and didn’t have a 100-yard receiving game all year. The Packers’ leading receiver was rookie wideout Jayden Reed with 793 yards. While Love didn’t have limited weapons, he doesn’t have what many quarterbacks in the NFL have – a true go-to guy. When in doubt, go to him. Josh Allen has Stefon Diggs. Dak Prescott has Ceedee Lamb. Yes, the Packers have many young weapons but no true No. 1, although I think they may have multiple guys on the roster become that in the future.
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The Packers defense
The Packers defense has been what a quarterback doesn’t need, inconsistent. The Packers defense has had some nice moments, including the past two weeks stymieing the Vikings and Bears the final two weeks of the regular season. However, it comes after some rough weeks getting shredded by journeyman, struggling or backup quarterbacks. Giants QB Tommy DeVito had just four incompletions vs. the Packers but was benched the next week; Bryce Young put up 30 points when the team hadn’t scored 17 or more points in 6 weeks and was shutout in Week 17 and 18. The Baker Mayfield game at Lambeau. The defense struggled early in the season as well. But, the Packers have found a way into the postseason, mainly due to a ascending offense.
What’s it all mean?
It all adds up to Jordan Love has a bonafide top-5 MVP case. The NFL is a quarterback-driven league. Love had 36 total touchdowns and was a top-10 rated passer. Add to that the outside noise, the youngest team in the NFL, injuries? Who was the steady guy? A first-year starter who proved himself to be the Packers’ next franchise QB. Who has a better case? Dak Prescott, Josh Allen…and that’s probably the list. Love put the Packers on his back to a 6-2 finish to the season and a playoff berth and had 18 TDs to 1 INT.
In the biggest moments, Love showed phenomenal poise and skill not just for a first-year starter but regardless of experience. Love should be a top-5 MVP finisher in the NFL this season. Any qualms regarding Jordan Love have been squashed. And every other NFC North foe can’t believe the Packers have done it again, developing a franchise quarterback.
