Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) rolls out of the pocket during the second half of the NFC divisional playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 20, 2024, in Santa Clara, California. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love hasn’t dwelled on last season’s NFC divisional playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers, but it’s a memory that’s lingered. With the 49ers returning to Lambeau Field on Sunday (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox), Love was asked to revisit the heartbreaking 24-21 defeat during a media session Wednesday.
“I think just ending the season, getting into the playoffs and being knocked out by the 49ers — whoever it would have been — that game is definitely going to sit with you,” Love said. “That’s what you’ve got to kind of just sit with all offseason, is going back, watching that game, trying to see what you could have done better, could have done differently in that game.
“It definitely sits with you through the offseason, and then you obviously move on. Just knowing that that’s the team that knocked us out, we’re definitely hungry for this game.”
Lessons from the Loss
Love admitted he reviewed the film from the playoff game three times during the offseason. While his approach to studying that game wasn’t much different from other reviews, the stakes of a playoff loss brought valuable lessons.
“Obviously, two turnovers in that game, critical mistakes, the final two-minute drive situation to go win, and having a turnover,” Love said as he listed off the things that stuck with him. “So just learning from that situation, put myself back in that situation, what would I have done differently? How do I grow from that? Things like that.”
One of Love’s turnovers came in the game’s final moments. With 52 seconds left, he rolled to his right and threw across his body, resulting in an interception by linebacker Dre Greenlaw. Earlier in the third quarter, Greenlaw intercepted another pass thrown high and behind tight end Tucker Kraft.
Interceptions have remained an issue for Love this season. He has thrown 11 so far, matching his 2023 total. His current streak of eight consecutive games with an interception ties the second-longest to begin a season over the past decade, per ESPN Research. However, Love said he’s feeling healthy after battling knee and groin injuries earlier this season.
Looking Ahead to Sunday
Fortunately for Love, Greenlaw won’t be playing this Sunday. The 49ers linebacker is still recovering from a torn Achilles he suffered during the Super Bowl.
This game might also work in Love’s favor because it’s a regular-season matchup. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has won two of his three regular-season games against the 49ers. However, in the postseason, his close friend and former mentor, Kyle Shanahan, has had the upper hand, eliminating the Packers in three of their four playoff meetings.
Despite their history, LaFleur insists those past results don’t matter now.
“I think you’ve just got to rely on what you see on tape and, you know, try to find holes in whatever — whether it’s on offense, defense or special teams — and try to attack the perceived weaknesses, which there’s not many on this football team,” LaFleur said.
“They’ve got a lot of good players. I think their scheme — it doesn’t matter what phase of the game — I think it’s really sound. And I think there’s a lot of good, lot of great, coaches over there and great players. So it’s tough to go against.”
This report used information from ESPN.
