The Green Bay Packers officially ushered in the Jordan Love era under center when the organization chose to move on from future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers, trading him away to the New York Jets. Many around the league and the NFC North division thought this would be the opportunity to capitalize on the Packers in transition.
Not so fast. Love has looked sensational this preseason, hinting at a possible breakout in 2023. His final preseason stats are 21 of 33 for 193 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions. At times, Love has looked in complete control and has thrown some dimes to the Packers’ receiving corps.
What Type of Player Is Jordan Love?
Love is a talented QB, and Green Bay knew it when they selected him in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. The selection was controversial at the time since Rodgers was entrenched as the Packers’ starting QB. Many felt Green Bay would have been better suited to provide playmakers around Rodgers, not an eventual replacement.
Rodgers took the selection personally and put together an MVP season to show Green Bay he was far from over. He didn’t push Love away, though, as former Packers legend Brett Favre had done to him. Rodgers mentored Love and showed him the ropes. Who better to study under than one of the best QBs ever?
MORE: Green Bay Packers QB Jordan Love Picks Peyton Manning’s Brain
There are facets of Love’s game that seem carbon copied from Rodgers. Love’s footwork and off-balance throws look eerily reminiscent of his mentor. Rodgers has one of the strongest arms in NFL history, but Love’s isn’t subpar by any means.
The Packers’ play-action passing game with designed rollouts should cater to Love’s skill set. If Love’s brief regular season and preseason experience has shown us anything, there is potential here.
Why Are Bears, Lions, and Vikings Fans Mad?
The Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, and Detroit Lions view 2023 as a transition year for Green Bay and saw the Rodgers’ trade as a relief. Rodgers has terrorized these teams for the better part of two decades, so it’s understandable that they would pleased to see one of the best signal-callers ever leave the NFC North.
The narrative on Love coming into this season was that he would struggle early on, giving the Packers’ NFC North rivals a grip on the division. However, Love is playing better than many gave him credit, and Green Bay is being slept on as one of the most underrated teams in the league.
The Packers have a solid defense and a solid 1-2 tandem in the backfield in Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon. They have talent at the skill positions, albeit mostly unproven. Christian Watson looks like a potential star, while Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed round out the starting trio of receivers.
In the 2023 NFL Draft, Green Bay invested in the TE position, selecting Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft. Both are athletic specimens who can stretch the middle of the field, which should make the Packers’ offense tough to stop.
As for Bears, Lions, and Vikings fans, they have a few thoughts on the matter.
How I expect the Bears season to go after going thru this year as a White Sox fan:
Justin Fields throws 30 INTs and is definitely not the guy
the Bears lose 14 games
Jordan Love becomes the best quarterback in the league and leads the Packers to the Super Bowl
— Zach (@zachsox) August 28, 2023
The year is 2035. Jordan Love has 3 rings and 5 MVPs. Bears fans are still making excuses for why Justin Fields hasn’t “broken out” yet.
— Jack (@YelichWasRobbed) August 28, 2023
Easy take as a Vikings fan: Jordan Love will be considered the better QB than Justin Fields by the end of the season.
Both have similar age, Fields has 25 more starts.
Fields problems are of the uncorrectible kind.#Bears #GoPackGo
— HomefieldNFL (@homefield_nfl) August 28, 2023
My face when I hear “Jordan Love will be better than Justin Fields” pic.twitter.com/zjNB3Dg671
— Just Another Year Chicago: Bears (@OfficialJAYCHI) August 25, 2023