Packers QB Jordan Love Chasing History vs. Saints

If Packers QB Jordan Love can throw three touchdown passes against the New Orleans Saints, he would join a short list of young quarterbacks.

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Jordan Love is looking to make some history when he leads the Green Bay Packers into Sunday’s home opener against the New Orleans Saints.

Love started the season with back-to-back games with three touchdown passes. If he can do it again, he’d join Kansas City Chiefs two-time MVP Patrick Mahomes, Super Bowl champion Mark Rypien and Hall of Famer Kurt Warner as the only players in NFL history with three-plus touchdown passes in three of his first four career starts.

It won’t be easy against a stingy Saints defense, though that unit will be down starting corner Paulson Adebo (hamstring) as it attempts to make some history of its own.

New Orleans entered Week 3 ranked second in opponent passer rating, third in interception percentage and fourth in completion percentage. Led by Carl Granderson, who just inked a huge contract extension, and veteran Cameron Jordan, the Saints are seventh in sack percentage, as well.

The big matchup will come in the red zone, which is where most touchdowns are scored. The Packers have had six red-zone possessions and scored five touchdowns. Love is 5-of-8 passing with four touchdowns.

The Saints have had six red-zone possessions on defense and given up just one touchdown. Opposing quarterbacks are 4-of-8 for 12 yards but have lost 12 yards on a pair of sacks. So, that’s a net 0 passing yards in two games.

Packers QB Jordan Love vs. the Saints in 2021 :: Photo by Nathan Ray Seebeck/USA Today Sports Images

That lone red-zone touchdown, coming with about 1 minute to go against Carolina last week, is the only touchdown the Saints have given up this season.

“Their DBs are very physical, very athletic and they’re veteran players,” offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said. “(Marshon) Lattimore’s a very, very good corner and their safeties are very solid. They do a good job there. Their linebackers are instinctual. They do a great job getting into the windows of certain throwing lanes and things like that.

“They’re all tied together pretty well on the back end. And then, obviously, pass rush, that’s always a big thing to help with the passing game, getting pressure on the quarterback. It’s going to be a big challenge for us this week, for sure.”

Love will be a big challenge for the Saints, as well, after that unit beat up on the likes of the Titans’ Ryan Tannehill and Panthers rookie Bryce Young. Love is tied for the NFL lead in touchdowns (six) and interceptions (zero) and is the outright leader in passer rating. The Saints will offer his biggest challenge to date.

“The thing I’m most happy with is just taking care of the ball,” Love said this week. “I think as an offense, we’ve been clean. As a team, we’re winning the turnover battle. The defense comes up with those turnovers and we’re taking care of the ball on offense; I’m taking care of it. What I was most frustrated by was probably that fourth quarter [vs. Atlanta], not finding completions right there and just not moving the ball the way we were the first three quarters.”

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