Jordan Love’s accomplishment in his first season as the team’s full-time starter—beating a rising divisional opponent at home in a win-and-in game for the postseason—made the Green Bay Packers eligible for the playoffs, something Aaron Rodgers was unable to do in his previous one.
On Sunday afternoon, January 7, love was almost perfect as the Packers defeated the Chicago Bears 17-9 to end a three-game winning streak that gave Green Bay (9-8) the No. 7 seed and the final Wildcard in the NFC playoffs. With a rating of 128.6, he completed 27 of 32 passes for 316 yards and two touchdowns.
Furthermore, Love excelled during the most significant parts of the game. Refusing to give Bears quarterback Justin Fields an opportunity to tie the game, the quarterback engineered a 12-play, 61-yard drive that took the final 6:08 of the game’s time. During the drive, Green Bay produced four first downs, including two 15-yard touchdown passes from Love on third and second and third and seventh plays, respectively, on third down.
Head coach Matt LaFleur commended the 25-year-old quarterback after the game for his composure and performance in the face of extreme pressure.
LaFleur remarked, “He’s a tough-minded sucker now.” “He’s got the right s***. He deserves it.”
After winning, Love talked to reporters about how Sunday night he had truly fulfilled his aspirations.
“You want to be able to go show off what you’re made of when the pressure is on and play in big-time games,” Love stated. “It’s undoubtedly what I had been hoping and waiting for.”
