If Jordan Love ever needed one more game to truly ignite his Green Bay Packers legacy, Sunday became the final 2023 log to his growing bonfire.
The former backup quarterback Love began the year with heavy scrutiny, replacing a legend in Aaron Rodgers. One year ago, he was on the sidelines when Rodgers and the Pack failed to clinch a playoff berth. Somewhere in the middle of 2023, Love and the Packers were 2-5 and staring down potentially watching the NFL playoffs after Jan. 7.
Now, all eyes will be on Love as he enters this new realm past Packers greats have witnessed: the postseason.
Jordan Love Is “Brimming With Confidence”
With the season on the line, Love delivered this final tally: 27 of 32, 316 passing yards, two touchdowns, and guiding the Packers to a 17-9 win over the rival Chicago Bears.
Love noticeably walked out of Lambeau Field with his chest out and head held high — knowing he just won over the Packers faithful in continuing their season.
Jordan Love brimming with confidence pic.twitter.com/HITaxPpNPf
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) January 8, 2024
And he was bombarded with love by his teammates, who now gain an extra game thanks to Love’s arm and moxie.
Jordan Love won't ever forget this moment 🫶 #CHIvsGB pic.twitter.com/XrpyTDWNhK
— NFL (@NFL) January 8, 2024
Sunday’s performance did more than just help cement his own legacy start at the iconic NFL venue. Love’s 2023 season ends in turnaround fashion.
Love Lights Fire Under Himself in Late-Season Charge
To win over his fans and team, Love had to bounce back immediately from both the 2-5 start and enduring one of the worst nights ever witnessed by a Packers quarterback.
Back on Oct. 9 in Sin City, the Las Vegas Raiders snatched three Love interceptions — two by then little-known linebacker Robert Spillane — as the Packers fell 17-13 at Allegiant Stadium. Love was also kept out of the end zone as a passer and runner. The performance raised questions on whether Love was capable of leading the four-time Super Bowl-winning franchise as QB1.
Love responded by avoiding a three-interception night for the rest of the season, but he also ended the season with these high marks:
- Love caps off the ’23 campaign by throwing a touchdown pass in the final 12 games of the year.
- He was only picked off in four of the final 12 contests.
- Love ends up delivering a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 24:3 to close out 2023.
- Following the Raiders loss, Love surpassed 20 completions in 11 of the last 12 contests.
Love won over many in Wisconsin and across the league, and it all began with a “seismic shift” as ESPN NFL insider Field Yates described it.
“The Packers underwent a seismic shift this offseason, trading away a four-time MVP and turning the keys over to a QB in Jordan Love who had made just one start in his career. Green Bay has the youngest roster in the NFL. Love just threw for over 4,000 yards and 32 TD (second most in the NFL) and the roster is full of impressive building blocks. And the Packers are playoff bound. Incredibly impressive job,” Yates posted on X, formerly Twitter.
The surprise first-round selection for Packers fans back in 2020 now has Green Bay back in the playoffs after a year’s absence.
“It means everything,” Love told reporters postgame. “This is the opportunity that we work for all season long. And obviously, coming into it, this was a huge game for us. Our last couple of games have been playoff games. We had to win those. So we had our backs against the wall. But proud of this team.”
Love was equally proud of how this Packers team stuck together and put together a playoff run. And it came in the post-Rodgers realm.
The Bakersfield, Calif., native just popularized the No. 10 jerseys among his fanbase. In just one season, he proved he can take a team previously led by the legendary Rodgers into the playoffs. Meanwhile, Rodgers is set to join the New York Jets in watching Love and the Pack in the postseason after finishing 7-10.
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