For the first time in a few years, all Packer fans can enter the offseason stress free. It is quite refreshing. There is no fear about what the QB is going to do, what free agents will be back, and how the front office will handle the Cap. Well, maybe the last one calls for a bit of concern. But nonetheless, it is time to have hope again, Packer fans! Jordan Love has arrived!
Jordan Love and co are here to stay. Love has erased the concerns and answered the critical questions. Love delivered one of the more enjoyable Packer seasons in recent history. The season was filled with the highest highs and the lowest of lows. There were several weeks of doubt and unrest. The QB position in Green Bay was in question. Then, Love flipped the script and delivered several weeks of MVP level QB play.
Packer fans come from all across the globe. Packer fans speak several different languages, have different backgrounds, different stories. However, the one thing they all have in common… they carry the G. What does that mean? Carrying the G is about pride, toughness, and resiliency. It is about family. It is about proving the ones who believe in you right.
After the loss in Pittsburgh in Week 11, Love and the Packers faced the toughest stretch of their season. With the next three games against the Los Angeles Chargers, the Detroit Lions, and the Kansas City Chiefs, the outlook was awfully grey. Even more so, now that the Lions are the NFC Runner-ups and the Chiefs are the Super Bowl Champions. Love led the Packers on a rather shocking three game winning streak with an extreme high level of play, igniting the Packers playoff chances. Toughness test… pass.
The red hot Packers rolled into New York City in a Monday Night Showdown against the Giants led by third string QB, Tommy DeVito. Plagued by a plethora of mistakes and missed opportunities, by both Love and the team, the Packers dropped a winnable game. The Packers returned home the following week with a get-right opportunity against the Tampa Buccaneers, only to allow Baker Mayfield to have a career day with a perfect 158.3 passer rating.
Following the loss to the Buccaneers, the 6-8 Packers only had a 18% chance to make the playoffs. What did Jordan Love and the Packers do? In the final three games, Love threw for 791 yards, accounted for 10 total TDs, and 0 INTs, leading the Packers to wins over the Carolina Panthers and division rivals, the Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears, clinching the NFC 7th seed. Resiliency test… pass.
Love did not stop there. He led the “house money” playing Packers into Dallas against the 2nd seed Cowboys and managed to pull off a very shocking playoff upset in a 48-32 blow out. Love posted 272 passing yards, 3 passing TDs, and a darn near perfect passer rating of 157.2. The Packers and Cowboys may not be division rivals but the importance of that match up cannot be understated. Pride test… pass.
The Packers have found their franchise QB. He checks all of the boxes. He embodies the key characteristics of the Packers. Jordan Love is one of us… and he, along with a young, rag tag group of talent, will be around for a long time, Packer fans.
