How Do Jordan Love’s First Two Games Compare to Aaron Rodgers in 2008?

Aaron Rodgers won his first NFL start in 2008 and Jordan Love threw three touchdown passes in his 2023 debut at Chicago. How do things stack up after the Week 2 loss at the Atlanta Falcons?

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The knock on Aaron Rodgers, especially during his early years as the Green Bay Packers’ starting quarterback, was his inability to lead come-from-behind wins.

It was the same story for Jordan Love on Sunday as the Packers blew a 12-point lead and lost 25-24 on Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

In the fourth quarter, Love was 0-for-6 passing and botched a fourth-and-1 sneak.

To say it was all Love’s fault would be insane, though, just as it was to point the finger at Rodgers during some of those early losses.

Love was leading an offense that was without its best all-around playmaker (Aaron Jones), most explosive receiver (Christian Watson) and its premier left-side blocking tandem of tackle David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins. The defense wasn’t of any help, either, with the Falcons’ last four drives accounting for four scores, 16 points and more yards than the Packers gained the entire game.

Love had a shot to be the hero, anyway. Starting at the 25 with 56 seconds and zero timeouts, Love needed to move the ball about 35 yards to have a shot at a field goal. The offense gained 0 of those yards. Love threw four consecutive incompletions – he was under heavy pressure on second and fourth down – as the team wasted an opportunity to steal a victory.

“It’s something that we practice all the time,” Love said. “Most practices we do 2-minute drives, so it’s something we’ve just got to do better at. I’ve got to do better at getting that drive started, getting some completions and just moving that ball. But we didn’t do enough, missed some targets right there and just wasn’t good enough.”

Love started poorly and ended poorly. In between, he was superb. At one point, he threw 13 passes that resulted in more touchdowns (three) than incompletions (one).

Falcons defenders Kaden Elliss (55) and Arnold Ebiketie pressure Packers QB Jordan Love :: Photo by Dale Zanine/USA Today Sports Images

The game was a bit reminiscent of the Packers’ 33-32 loss at the Falcons in 2016. In that game, Rodgers – at the height of his powers – kept the Packers competitive without star receiver Randall Cobb, top tight end Jared Cook and running backs Eddie Lacy and James Starks. Don Jackson started the game at running back, Justin Perillo at tight end.

Rodgers, like Love on Sunday, had a chance to be the hero but went 1-of-4 for 7 yards during a four-and-out final possession.

Turning the calendar back further to 2008, Rodgers in his second career start led the Packers to a 48-25 win at the Detroit Lions. That Lions team, with Joe Barry as defensive coordinator, went 0-16.

Just like Love did with his three touchdown passes at Chicago in his second career start last week, Rodgers threw three touchdown passes vs. the Lions – on consecutive first-half possessions to James Jones, Donald Driver and Jordy Nelson.

While the final score was a blowout, the game got a bit too close for comfort, but Charles Woodson and Nick Collins had pick-sixes in a span of 62 seconds late in the fourth quarter to turn the final score into a rout.

Rodgers finished 24-of-38 passing for 328 touchdowns with the three touchdowns and zero interceptions, good for a 117.0 passer rating, as he improved his career record to 2-0.

Jordan Love Through Week 2

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

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

Total: 29-of-52 passing, 396 yards, six touchdowns vs. zero interceptions, 118.8 rating.

Aaron Rodgers Through Week 2

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

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

Total: 42-of-60 passing (70.0 percent), 506 yards, four touchdowns vs. zero interceptions, 117.8 rating