Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during their football game on Sunday, December 17, 2023, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay Wis. Tampa Bay defeated Green Bay 34-20.
For the Green Bay Packers, the 2023 season was about one thing, developing Jordan Love and figuring out whether he is the quarterback of the future. The team gave him a one-year extension which is basically a prove-it deal. While there have been rocky moments (which is to be expected), Love has shown he can be the quarterback of the future, and regardless of what happens in the final three games, that makes 2023 a success.
Green Bay Packers Jordan Love 2023 Season
I want to start off by playing a little game called, “Which One Of These Stat Lines Is Love’s In 2023?”
- Player A: 66.3 completion percentage, 3,541 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, 14 interceptions
- Player B: 67.4 completion percentage, 3,703 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, 13 interceptions
- Player C: 65.7 completion percentage, 3,335 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, 13 interceptions
- Player D: 62.6 completion percentage, 3,368 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, 11 interceptions
- Player E: 71.0 completion percentage, 3,921 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, 10 interceptions
Can you figure out which one is Love? The completion percentage is likely the biggest giveaway but from a passing yards, touchdowns, and interceptions standpoint, all of these players are very similar. If you guessed Player D then you are a winner! What is crazy is who the other four are. Player A is Josh Allen and Player B is Patrick Mahomes. Player C is Jalen Hurts and Player E is Tua Tagovailoa. While the rushing stats of Hurts and Allen make them more impactful, Love is clearly on par with the league’s best.
Offensive Weapons
What makes the Green Bay Packers so excited about Jordan Love is who he has been throwing to. This isn’t a team that is riddled with veteran talent. Aaron Jones is the oldest person on the offense. In terms of wide receivers, here is how it shakes out.
Second-year players: Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Samori Toure
Rookies: Jayden Reed, Malik Heath. Dontayvion Wicks, Luke Musgrave, Tucker Kraft
That’s it. Those are the primary pass catchers for this team. The backfield of Jones and AJ Dillon looks like 35-year-old veterans. The leading receiver is Reed with 592 receiving yards. Part of Love’s initial struggles was an unfamiliarity with his receivers. In week 3 against the Saints, Musgrave cut his route off early and Love missed him. In week 10 on a scramble drill, Reed stopped his route while Love thought he was going to keep going. This will solve itself as the players gel together.
Cool As A Cucumber
What has impressed me most about Green Bay Packers QB Jordan Love is his demeanor. Love has made some bad mistakes and some of the losses have been heartbreaking. He never loses confidence. Love was not great early in the season on deep throws. He didn’t stop throwing deep and in the past couple of weeks has looked great on deep throws. One of the downfalls of many young quarterbacks is the loss of confidence. Players get discouraged and start questioning what they see on the field. Love has shown that he can bounce back and continue to play hard even when things are not going well.
Building Something Special
What should excite Green Bay Packers fans about Jordan Love and this offense is the potential down the road. This group of young players can grow together and in a couple of years be an offense that is very familiar with each other. The offense has played well enough for the Packers to sneak into the playoffs. The defense has been the issue but that is another article for another day. The most important position in football is the quarterback position and 2023 has shown that the Packers have that solidified.
