Comparing Jordan Love’s First 13 Games to Aaron Rodgers in 2008
GREEN BAY, Wis. – In his 13th game of his debut season as the Green Bay Packers starting quarterback, Jordan Love struggled for most of Monday’s game at the New York Giants.
But, when it was time to win the game, Love did his part. Gifted incredible field position after Saquon Barkley’s stumbling fumble, Love took advantage. When one go-ahead touchdown pass was knocked loose in the end zone, Love threw another. His 6-yard pass to Malik Heath put the Packers on top 22-21 with 1:33 to play.
Joe Barry’s defense let down Love, just like Bob Sanders’ defense let down Rodgers in Rodgers’ 13th start of his debut season as the starting quarterback.
Facing the Houston Texans on a 3-degree day at Lambeau, Rodgers was given a gift when the Texans muffed a punt near midfield with 9 minutes to go. One catch and four runs by Ryan Grant set up Rodgers’ 9-yard touchdown pass to Jordy Nelson to tie the score.
With the game on the line, the Texans drove from their 3 to Green Bay’s 22 for Kris Brown’s 40-yard field goal that delivered a 24-21, walk-off victory.
The Giants also won on a walk-off field goal on Monday. Just like Rodgers 15 years ago, Love was powerless to do anything about it. In 2008, Houston’s Matt Schaub threw a 27-yard pass to tight end Owen Daniels to set up the winning field goal. In 2023, the Giants’ Tommy DeVito threw a 32-yard pass to receiver Wan’Dale Robinson to set up the winning field goal.
Love finished a solid 25-of-39 passing but for only 218 yards. He threw one touchdown but was guilty of two turnovers.
“Not good enough,” Love said of his performance. “Obviously, not good enough to get the job done there at the end. Obviously, two costly turnovers hurt us a lot. Just not good enough.”
After a five-game run in which he was among the NFL’s most efficient quarterbacks, Love’s 5.59 yards per attempt was tied for the worst of his season.
“They got us a couple of times,” coach Matt LaFleur said of how Love faired against blitz-happy Giants defensive coordinator Don Martindale. “For the most part, I thought we were off in the pass game in general. Just missed a few throws here and there, which is going to happen.
“I thought he was pretty resilient in his approach in terms of just continuing to battle and, obviously threw a touchdown pass there at the end of the game. All in all, consistently throughout the course of the game, it just was not good enough.”
Through 13 starts, Love has thrown for 3,084 yards and 23 touchdowns with an 89.0 rating. The Packers were 6-7, with five of the losses coming a combined 13 points.
At the same point in the season, Rodgers had thrown for 3,192 yards and 22 touchdowns with a 92.1 rating. The Packers were 5-8 following a fifth loss in six games. Four of those losses were by a combined 11 points.
“There was some growth, being able to score right there, but I still think there’s so many opportunities that we left out there,” Love said. “We could’ve scored more in the red zone on previous drives to really just take advantage of that game. Obviously, we didn’t. At the end of the day, we were able to score right there but it’s tough. I think there’s a lot of missed opportunities that we didn’t capitalize on.”
Jordan Love Through Game 13
Week 1, at Chicago (win): 15-of-27 passing, 245 yards, three touchdowns vs. zero interceptions, 123.2 rating.
Week 2, at Atlanta (loss): 14-of-25 passing, 151 yards, three touchdowns vs. zero interceptions, 113.5 rating.
Week 3, New Orleans (win): 22-of-44 passing, 259 yards, one touchdown vs. one interception, 66.4 rating.
Week 4, Detroit (loss): 23-of-36 passing, 246 yards, one touchdown vs. two interceptions, 69.9 rating.
Week 5, Las Vegas (loss): 16-of-30 passing, 182 yards, zero touchdowns vs. three interceptions, 32.2 rating.
Week 6, bye.
Week 7, Denver (loss): 21-of-31 passing, 180 yards, two touchdowns vs. one interception, 90.8 rating.
Week 8, Minnesota (loss): 24-of-41 passing, 229 yards, one touchdown vs. one interception, 72.1 rating.
Week 9, L.A. Rams (win): 20-of-26 passing, 228 yards, one touchdown vs. zero interceptions, 115.5 rating.
Week 10, Pittsburgh (loss): 21-of-40 passing, 289 yards, two touchdowns vs. two interceptions, 71.8 rating.
Week 11, L.A. Chargers (win): 27-of-40 passing, 322 yards, two touchdowns vs. zero interceptions, 108.5 rating.
Week 12, Detroit (win): 22-of-32 passing, 268 yards, three touchdowns vs. zero interceptions, 125.5 rating.
Week 13, Kansas City (win): 25-of-36 passing, 267 yards, three touchdowns vs. zero interceptions, 118.6 rating.
Week 14, N.Y. Giants (loss): 25-of-39 passing, 218 yards, one touchdown vs. one interception, 76.7 rating.
Total: 275-of-447 passing (61.5 percent), 3,084 yards, 23 touchdowns vs. 11 interceptions, 89.0 rating.
Aaron Rodgers Through Game 13
Week 1, Minnesota (win): 18-of-22 passing, 178 yards, one touchdown vs. zero interceptions, 115.5 rating.
Week 2, at Detroit (win): 24-of-38 passing, 328 yards, three touchdowns vs. zero interceptions, 117.0 rating.
Week 3, Dallas (loss): 22-of-39 passing, 290 yards, zero touchdowns vs. zero interceptions, 80.1 rating.
Week 4, Tampa Bay (loss): 14-of-27 passing, 165 yards, two touchdowns vs. three interceptions, 55.9 rating.
Week 5, Atlanta (loss): 25-of-37 passing, 313 yards, three touchdowns vs. one interception, 109.4 rating.
Week 6, Seattle (win): 21-of-30 passing, 208 yards, two touchdowns vs. zero interceptions, 111.5 rating.
Week 7, Indianapolis (win): 21-of-28 passing, 186 yards, one touchdown vs. zero interceptions, 104.2 rating.
Week 8: Bye
Week 9, Tennessee (loss): 22-of-41 passing, 314 yards, one touchdown vs. one interception, 76.7 rating.
Week 10, Minnesota (loss): 15-of-26 passing for 142 yards, zero touchdowns vs. zero interceptions, 72.9 rating.
Week 11, Chicago (win): 23-of-30 passing, 227 yards, two touchdowns vs. one interception, 105.8 rating.
Week 12, New Orleans (loss): 23-of-41 passing, 248 yards, two touchdowns vs. three interceptions, 59.8 rating.
Week 13, Carolina (loss): 29-of-45 passing, 298 yards, three touchdowns vs. one interception, 96.3 rating.
Week 14, Houston (loss): 19-of-30 passing, 295 yards, two touchdowns vs. one interception, 104.2 rating.
Total: 276-of-434 passing (63.6 percent), 3,192 yards, 22 touchdowns vs. 11 interceptions, 92.1 rating.
