The 3-6 Green Bay Packers hosted the 4-5 Los Angeles Chargers in Week 11 of the 2023 NFL season. Both teams were coming off close losses last weekend and looked to bounce back into the win column. The Packers entered the game relatively healthy being without only two starters. S Rudy Ford and CB Jaire Alexander were both inactive. After a clutch go-ahead touchdown drive in the 4th quarter, Jordan Love leads the way for the Packers as they beat the Chargers 23-20.
Jordan Love spear-headed a pair of go-ahead touchdown drives in the second half and the Green Bay Packers defense followed suit, stopping Justin Herbert on back-to-back drives to finish off the Chargers in Lambeau Field. Love connected with Christian Watson for an 11-yard touchdown on the final play of the 3rd quarter to give Green Bay a 16-13 advantage. The Chargers then responded with a Keenan Allen touchdown to take back the lead. The Packers were down 20-16 and needed to make a play. Jordan Love was able to deliver as he found Romeo Doubs for a 24-yard touchdown with 2:33 left remaining in the game.
Love finished the day 27-40, with 322 yards, 2 TD’s and 0 interceptions. He completed passes to 10 different receivers and produced five completions of 20+ yards. Love’s 300-yard passing game (the first of his career) was the Packers’ first since Aaron Rodgers against the Chicago Bears on December 12th, 2021.
Despite allowing nearly 400 total yards to the Chargers offense, the Packers were able to force the lone turnover of the game inside the 10-yard line and held the Chargers to just one touchdown on four trips inside the red zone. Green Bay finished with more first downs, more total yards, longer time of possession and fewer turnovers.
Although the Packers won the game, it did come at a price. Just like the beginning of the year, they suffered some setbacks as far as injuries go. RB’s Aaron Jones and Emmanuel Wilson were both carted off the field in the first half. Jones suffered a knee injury and Wilson injured his shoulder after a hard takedown. Luckily though, the Packers believe Jones dodged a major injury. Talking to the media in the locker room post-game, Jones revealed that a preliminary manipulation test done on his knee showed that his ACL was intact. He also mentioned that he will have an MRI Monday to determine the extent of the injury.
While it was a great win, the Packers don’t have the luxury of time to celebrate this one. They must shift their focus, with a short week and a trip to Detroit to play the division-leading Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day at Ford Field on the horizon.
