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

Jordan Love and the Packers “have not capitalized” on their late-game opportunities. That was the case again at Denver on Sunday.

GREEN BAY, Wis. – As a first-time starter in 2008, Aaron Rodgers endured plenty of tough losses like the one Jordan Love and the Packers suffered on Sunday at the Denver Broncos.

For the third consecutive road game, Love had a chance to lead a game-winning drive. For the third consecutive road game, Love faltered. After throwing four consecutive incompletions at Atlanta, Love threw game-ending interceptions at Las Vegas and again on Denver.

With a 19-17 loss to the Broncos, the Packers (2-4) have lost three consecutive games. After scoring 62 points in the first seven quarters of the season, Green Bay has scored 68 points the past 17 quarters.

Coming off a mini-bye, the Packers scored 13 at the Raiders, who are 22nd in points allowed. Coming off their full bye, the Packers scored 17 at the Broncos, who are still last in points allowed.

“We all know it’s ups and downs, but I think everyone’s very frustrated,” Love said. “We’ve got to find a way to win, got to find a way to win these games. We’ve been put in this position multiple times where it comes down to the offense having to go win the game and we have not capitalized on that.”

The Packers have scored 20 or fewer points in each of the last four games, a feeble first since 2005. That team scored 17 or less in six consecutive games, so it could be worse.

Their first-half offense could hardly be worse. They scored zero points in the first half against the Saints in Week 3. Against the Lions in Week 4 and again against the Raiders in Week 5, they scored three. Against the Broncos, they scored zero again.

“We’ve just got to have more urgency to start the game and we’ve got to a find way to put up points,” Love said.

After failing to move the ball with consistency with a stretch-the-field approach in his first four starts, the Packers have failed to move the ball at all with a more conservative approach. Love averaged less than 4 yards per attempt in the first half despite hitting on 10-of-13 passes.

Added together, the Love-led passing game through six games is suffering through an identity crisis. It’s not all Love’s fault, but the passing game doesn’t do anything at an acceptable level.

In his sixth start in 2008, Rodgers completed 21-of-30 passes for 208 yards as the Packers rolled over the Seahawks 27-17 in Seattle. With two touchdowns and zero interceptions, his rating was a shiny 111.5.

While Love had to battle veteran Russell Wilson, the quarterbacking matchup 15 years ago was Rodgers vs. Charlie Frye. With Matt Hasselbeck sidelined with an injury, Frye was 12-of-23 for 83 yards and served up interceptions to Tramon Williams and Charles Woodson.

It was 10-10 at halftime before Rodgers capped back-to-back drives with touchdown passes to Greg Jennings and John Kuhn.

Through six games, Rodgers in 2008 and Love in 2023 have thrown 193 passes. Rodgers is plus-13 in completions, plus-220 yards, plus-1 in touchdowns, minus-3 in interceptions and plus-18.6 in passer rating.

Jordan Love and the Packers fell to 2-4 with a loss at the Broncos on Sunday :: Photo by Ron Chenoy/USA Today Sports Images

Jordan Love Through Game 6

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.

Total: 111-of-193 passing (57.5 percent), 1,263 yards, 10 touchdowns vs. seven interceptions, 79.4 rating.

Aaron Rodgers Through Game 6

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.

Total: 124-of-193 passing (64.2 percent), 1,483 yards, 11 touchdowns vs. four interceptions, 98.0 rating.

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