Love Shows Promise in Three Key Areas

Jordan Love will be looking to build upon a big starting debut when the Packers visit the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. His play in three areas stood out against the Chicago Bears.

GREEN BAY, Wis. – For most of his starting tenure, Aaron Rodgers ranked No. 1 in NFL history in passer rating. Through Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season, new Green Bay Packers starting quarterback Jordan Love is No. 1 in passer rating.

Of course, stats through one game are largely irrelevant. Love’s glittering passer rating was built on the strength of three touchdowns in 27 attempts and a lot of yards after the catch; he’s only 25th in completion percentage. According to Zebra Sports, which is responsible for the NFL’s Next Gen Stats, Love’s completion percent was 12.3 percent below expectation.

Still, Love’s sterling second half led the way as the Packers blasted the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.

“I think the biggest thing for the offense as a whole, I think we played clean football,” Love said on Wednesday. “Not a lot of penalties, we were able to put ourselves in good positions for third downs, and then we were able to go out there and convert most of our third downs.

“There were a couple we left out there; a couple passes I had to J-Reed (Jayden Reed) that just missed inside a little bit and DBs were able to make a play but, for the most part, I think we did a good job. And then red zone as well, going 3-for-3 in the red zone.”

Taking a closer look at Love’s comment:

- The Packers didn’t commit a turnover. While his passes were kept out of harm’s way, Love had the good fortune of his fumbled snap bouncing right into his hands and turning into a completion to Luke Musgrave rather than an unforced giveaway. Plus, on one of his scrambles, he ran with poor ball security.

- Love was magnificent on third down. Games are won and lost when it’s time to move the chains. After all, it’s hard to score touchdowns without getting first downs. Love converted six of his nine third-down passes. That 66.7 percent conversion rate, along with 11.8 yards per attempt, ranks first through Week 1.

Led by Love, the Packers through the first week of the season rank third with a 56.3 percent conversion rate. After finishing second in 2020 (49.4 percent) and ninth in 2021 (43.6 percent), they plunged to 17th on third down last year (39.5 percent).

Jordan Love (Photo by Jamie Sabau/USA Today Sports Images)

- The Packers scored touchdowns on all three red-zone possessions, one of four teams to go 100 percent. That’s a big reason why they scored 38 points last week – second-most in the league. Love was 2-of-4 passing in the red zone, with both completions resulting in touchdowns to Romeo Doubs.

The Packers were first in the red zone in 2020 with an all-time great 80.0 percent touchdown rate. That plummeted to 19th in 2021 (58.6 percent) and 24th in 2022 (51.9 percent).

The Packers under coach Matt LaFleur have excelled at controlling the football. During his first four seasons, Green Bay turned over the football 59 times – nine fewer than any other team. Keeping that trend going will be key.

So, too, will be fixing third down and red zone. The Packers led the NFL in scoring in 2020 thanks in large part to their ruthless efficiency on third down and in the red zone. Sunday’s performance against a defense that should have been better after adding five veteran starter in free agency was an excellent first step.

If Love can continue playing keepaway from opposing defenses while making plays in key situations, the Packers should be season-long contenders.

It won’t be easy this week. The Atlanta Falcons’ defense emerged from Week 1 ranked fifth in scoring (10 points), seventh in yards per play, third in yards per passing play and fourth in interception percentage. Presumably, Love is better at this stage of his career than Carolina rookie Bryce Young, but the Falcons aren’t to be underestimated.

“I think it’s huge,” Love said of his Week 1 success. “I think it just builds confidence, and I already had a lot of confidence having played a good amount of snaps so far. If you’re going in there for the first time as the starting quarterback, you’re going to have a little bit of nerves, which I did.

“My first start in Kansas City [in 2021], there was some nerves, and I definitely felt a little bit more comfortable having played a little bit more. I think just the more I’m out there, the more I’m playing, the more reps I get, the more comfortable I’ll feel and feel better out there.”

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