Comparing Jordan Love’s First 16 Games to Aaron Rodgers in 2008

Jordan Love was masterful in leading the Packers past the Vikings on Sunday night. While Aaron Rodgers went 6-10 in his debut season, Love’s got a chance to reach the playoffs.

MINNEAPOLIS – With the 2023 NFL season about to begin four months ago, the question was whether Jordan Love could capably replace the legendary Aaron Rodgers as quarterback of the Green Bay Packers.

How’s this for an answer: Beginning with the Week 11 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, Love has thrown 16 touchdowns vs. one interception.

With the rapidly rising first-year starter leading the way with four total touchdowns, the Green Bay Packers crushed the Minnesota Vikings 33-10 on Sunday night. With that, the Packers (8-8) can punch their ticket to the playoffs if they can beat the Chicago Bears on Sunday.

Time and again this season, coach Matt LaFleur has made it a point to talk about Love’s supporting cast when asked about his quarterback. “It takes all 11” is a phrase LaFleur has used some version of countless times.

On Sunday, a question about the offense’s superb play down the stretch turned into an answer about Love.

And it was one heck of an answer.

“I really think the sky’s the limit for him. He’s just showing a glimpse of what he can ultimately be,” LaFleur said.

A glimpse?

Love was superb, once again.

He leads the NFL in games of two-plus touchdowns and zero interceptions and three-plus touchdowns and zero interceptions. After throwing 10 interceptions in the first nine games, he’s tossed only one in the last eight.

From Game 2 vs. Atlanta through Game 7 vs. Minnesota, Love had zero games of 7.0 yards per passing attempt. Since then, he’s hit at least 7.2 yards per attempt in eight of his last nine games.

Playing without receivers Christian Watson and Donayvion Wicks for the entire game and Jayden Reed for the second half, his nine possessions vs. Minnesota produced four touchdowns and two field goals.

He finished 24-of-33 passing for 256 yards with three touchdown passes and one touchdown run. He’s got 30 touchdown passes – third-most in the NFL – and four touchdown runs this year.

“He’s put a lot of people on notice,” running back Aaron Jones said. “A lot of people at the beginning of the season (said), he’s not going to be this, he’s not going to be that. He shut them up.”

While Love faced playoff pressure on Sunday night, Rodgers faced a different type of pressure in the 16th and final game of his debut season as the starter. After losing five consecutive games, the Packers hosted the winless Detroit Lions to close the 2008 season.

Touchdown passes of 9 and 14 yards from Dan Orlovsky to Calvin Johnson tied the game at 14 early in the third quarter. However, Rodgers led the Packers to 17 points in the fourth quarter. A 71-yard touchdown pass to Donald Driver midway through the fourth quarter put the game away.

Love through 16 starts has a 93.8 rating. Rodgers through 16 starts? Also 93.8.

Green Bay finished the season 6-10 but Rodgers topped 4,000 passing yards. He walked off the field to a standing ovation from the fans who endured a 10-degree wind chill. Love, win or lose vs. the Bears, deserves the same sendoff in the final home game of the year.

Sunday Six-Pack: Packers Ring In New Year by Blowing Out Minnesota

Jordan Love Through Game 16

Week 1, at Chicago (win): 15-of-27 passing, 245 yards, three touchdowns vs. zero interceptions, 123.2 rating.

Week 2, at Atlanta (loss): 14-of-25 passing, 151 yards, three touchdowns vs. zero interceptions, 113.5 rating.

Week 3, New Orleans (win): 22-of-44 passing, 259 yards, one touchdown vs. one interception, 66.4 rating.

Week 4, Detroit (loss): 23-of-36 passing, 246 yards, one touchdown vs. two interceptions, 69.9 rating.

Week 5, Las Vegas (loss): 16-of-30 passing, 182 yards, zero touchdowns vs. three interceptions, 32.2 rating.

Week 6, bye.

Week 7, Denver (loss): 21-of-31 passing, 180 yards, two touchdowns vs. one interception, 90.8 rating.

Week 8, Minnesota (loss): 24-of-41 passing, 229 yards, one touchdown vs. one interception, 72.1 rating.

Week 9, L.A. Rams (win): 20-of-26 passing, 228 yards, one touchdown vs. zero interceptions, 115.5 rating.

Week 10, Pittsburgh (loss): 21-of-40 passing, 289 yards, two touchdowns vs. two interceptions, 71.8 rating.

Week 11, L.A. Chargers (win): 27-of-40 passing, 322 yards, two touchdowns vs. zero interceptions, 108.5 rating.

Week 12, Detroit (win): 22-of-32 passing, 268 yards, three touchdowns vs. zero interceptions, 125.5 rating.

Week 13, Kansas City (win): 25-of-36 passing, 267 yards, three touchdowns vs. zero interceptions, 118.6 rating.

Week 14, N.Y. Giants (loss): 25-of-39 passing, 218 yards, one touchdown vs. one interception, 76.7 rating.

Week 15, Tampa Bay (loss): 29-of-39 passing, 284 yards, two touchdowns vs. zero interceptions, 111.5 rating.

Week 16, Carolina (win): 17-of-28 passing, 219 yards, two touchdowns vs. zero interceptions, 109.1 rating.

Week 17, Minnesota (win): 24-of-33 passing, 256 yards, three touchdowns vs. zero interceptions, 125.3 rating.

Total: 345-of-547 passing (63.1 percent), 3,843 yards, 30 touchdowns vs. 11 interceptions, 93.8 rating.

Win ‘Means Nothing Unless We Take Care of Business’

Aaron Rodgers Through Game 16

Week 1, Minnesota (win): 18-of-22 passing, 178 yards, one touchdown vs. zero interceptions, 115.5 rating.

Week 2, at Detroit (win): 24-of-38 passing, 328 yards, three touchdowns vs. zero interceptions, 117.0 rating.

Week 3, Dallas (loss): 22-of-39 passing, 290 yards, zero touchdowns vs. zero interceptions, 80.1 rating.

Week 4, Tampa Bay (loss): 14-of-27 passing, 165 yards, two touchdowns vs. three interceptions, 55.9 rating.

Week 5, Atlanta (loss): 25-of-37 passing, 313 yards, three touchdowns vs. one interception, 109.4 rating.

Week 6, Seattle (win): 21-of-30 passing, 208 yards, two touchdowns vs. zero interceptions, 111.5 rating.

Week 7, Indianapolis (win): 21-of-28 passing, 186 yards, one touchdown vs. zero interceptions, 104.2 rating.

Week 8: Bye

Week 9, Tennessee (loss): 22-of-41 passing, 314 yards, one touchdown vs. one interception, 76.7 rating.

Week 10, Minnesota (loss): 15-of-26 passing for 142 yards, zero touchdowns vs. zero interceptions, 72.9 rating.

Week 11, Chicago (win): 23-of-30 passing, 227 yards, two touchdowns vs. one interception, 105.8 rating.

Week 12, New Orleans (loss): 23-of-41 passing, 248 yards, two touchdowns vs. three interceptions, 59.8 rating.

Week 13, Carolina (loss): 29-of-45 passing, 298 yards, three touchdowns vs. one interception, 96.3 rating.

Week 14, Houston (loss): 19-of-30 passing, 295 yards, two touchdowns vs. one interception, 104.2 rating.

Week 15, Jacksonville (loss): 20-of-32 passing, 278 yards, one touchdown vs. one interception, 87.8 rating.

Week 16, Chicago (loss): 24-of-39 passing, 260 yards, two touchdowns vs. one interception, 87.6 rating.

Week 17, Detroit (win): 21-of-31 passing, 308 yards, three touchdowns vs. zero interceptions, 132.2 rating.

Total: 345-of-536 passing (63.6 percent), 4,038 yards, 28 touchdowns vs. 13 interceptions, 93.8 rating.