The Green Bay Packers’ decision to trade Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets signaled the end of an era. Green Bay has had a Hall of Fame quarterback behind center for the past 30 years, culminating with the 2023 NFL season. With the decision to move on to Jordan Love, many expected the offense to stagnate and the Packers to perform worse in 2023 than they did in 2022.
And for a while, it appeared that the doubters were correct. The Packers started 2-5, and Love struggled to establish a rhythm with his inexperienced wide receivers and tight ends. Many speculated that Green Bay might look to the 2024 NFL Draft for a new quarterback. Some even advocated for rookie sixth-round pick Sean Clifford to take over.
But suddenly it clicked. Green Bay went 7-3 in their final ten games, and Love soared to heights many believed he would never achieve. By the end of the season, he had outperformed Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers in his debut year as starter.
Looking back on the season, it’s difficult to identify exactly when and what clicked on offense to help them save the season. Some credit Love and the Packers’ Thanksgiving victory over the Detroit Lions with establishing them as a force to be reckoned with. However, Love believes that a different game, one in which they lost, represented the season’s turning point.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love cites the loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers as the team’s turning point.
Love and several other Packers players were present on media row in Las Vegas prior of Super Bowl LVIII. As part of his endorsement arrangement with Old Spice, Love met with Kay Adams, the host of the famous show Up and Adams. She asked him if he thought the win over the Lions on Thanksgiving was the game that changed his season. In response, Love stated:
“Yeah, I think that throughout the second half of the season, especially after the Steelers game, after we went on a stretch of a few of defeats, and then we got that one win, and it put us on a roll going forward.
“But I think more than anything, we just started rolling as a team, our chemistry got better, and, you know, we went through some adversity and came out better for it on the other end.”
The loss in Pittsburgh occurred one week after Green Bay defeated the short-handed Los Angeles Rams at home. However, this was the Packers’ fifth loss in six games. The setback pushed the Packers to 3-6 on the season, putting their backs against the wall.
Jordan Love did not have his best game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In the loss to Pittsburgh, Love completed only 21 of 40 throws for 289 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. Green Bay received the ball twice in the dying minutes of the game, with the opportunity to march down the field and take the lead. However, Love threw two interceptions, preventing them from scoring points.
However, it was a learning experience for Love and the Packers that they would never forget. Following the setback, Green Bay went on to win three consecutive games and finished the season 6-2.
Of course, Love’s interception against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Divisional Round has to be fresh in his mind. One must presume he can’t wait to come back on the field and correct that mistake next season.
