Packers’ Quarterbacks Show Bounce-Back Ability

Jordan Love and Sean Clifford had some plays to regret during Friday's Packers-Bengals preseason game. They bounced back to lead a blowout victory.

Author:
Bill Huber
Publish date:
Aug 12, 2023 12:39 AM EDT

In this story:

Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Jordan Love air-mailed what would have been a big third-down completion. Sean Clifford threw two interceptions, including a pick-six.

Bad things happen in all walks of life, especially for an NFL quarterback. Mistakes happen, but it’s how you bounce back that can matter the most.

Love bounced back from a bad pass by leading the Packers to a touchdown. Clifford bounced back from the second interception by leading a 2-minute-drill touchdown. Their play led the way as the Green Bay Packers trounced the Cincinnati Bengals 36-19 in a preseason game on Friday night at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati.

Love played two series and was 7-of-10 passing for 46 yards, including a 9-yard touchdown to Romeo Doubs.

Love completed his first two passes. Then, on second-and-7, he took a deep shot to Christian Watson. The ball was right on the money but knocked away at the last minute by safety Dax Hill.

Love said he’s been working on putting a little more air under his deep balls. This time, he perhaps put a little too much air on the ball, which allowed Hill to fly over from center field and break up the pass.

“The safety just made a really good play,” Love said. “I was trying to hold him as much as I can with my eyes, and he covered a lot of ground to make that play.”

Sometimes, the defense deserves credit for making a play. Other times, the quarterback deserves the blame. On the next play, Love had rookie tight end Luke Musgrave streaking wide open over the middle on a crossing route. A good throw would have resulted in a first down and much more. Instead, Love’s fastball was thrown too high and too far in front of Musgrave.

“That was the one I wish I could get back, that throw over the middle to Luke,” Love said. “Man, just missed him. That’s an easy throw, routine throw, just couldn’t come up with it. But other than that, I thought we played well. I thought all the pass game was in stride.”

Love got rolling on the next series, starting with an easy completion to Watson on third-and-5. Including a 12-yard completion to Doubs on a bootleg and capped by the touchdown to Doubs, he completed his final four passes.

The touchdown was a thing of beauty in two ways. First was the pass itself, with Love showing a Charmin-soft touch in lobbing the ball to Doubs, who made a leaping grab in front of cornerback Sidney Jones. Second was the mental side. At Wednesday’s joint practice, the Packers ran the same play. The safety went to Doubs so Love threw it to Watson. During the game, the safety went to Watson so Love threw it to Doubs.

“I saw the DB trying to make a play underneath, just tried to put it over the top and Romeo made a great play right there going up and getting it,” Love said.

Sean Clifford (Photo by Kareem Elgazzar/USA Today Sports Images)

Clifford’s first drive produced a touchdown. His next drive did as well – but for the Bengals. On third-and-6, he had pressure in his face and telegraphed a pass to Dontayvion Wicks, which was intercepted by safety Tycen Anderson for a 43-yard pick-six.

“He’s a smart guy, and those mistakes are only fatal if you don’t learn from them,” coach Matt LaFleur said. “We’re running a shallow cross concept and all I told him was, ‘You’ve got see out in front of the receiver and [if] you see color there, you can’t throw it. I’d rather you take the sack.’ But he showed no fear in the pocket, was able to throw the ball, just made a bad decision.”

The Bengals led 16-14 late in the first half when Clifford got a chance to run a 2-minute drill. He picked up one first down but was intercepted again by Anderson. The pass was thrown just behind tight end Tucker Kraft, which allowed Anderson to pull the ball free.

An interception by Packers rookie Carrington Valentine gave Clifford 47 seconds to get the Packers into scoring range. He needed less than half the time. A bullet to Wicks gained 47 yards to the 19. From there, Clifford scrambled for 14 yards to the 5 before an easy touchdown pass to Tyler Davis.

“I definitely have made a mistake or two in my life and I’m not afraid to make another one,” Clifford said. “I trust the guys around me and I trust my teammates. Wicks was open. I’m not going to shy away just because the last play didn’t go our way. It’s one-play mentality.”

Clifford completed 20-of-26 passes for 208 yards, with 192 yards coming in the first half. The mistakes notwithstanding, the fifth-round rookie perhaps solidified his spot as Love’s primary backup.

“I do love the fact that he had to battle through some adversity, throwing the two picks, and then coming back and leading us on a 2-minute,” coach Matt LaFleur said. “I thought just to see him not be fazed by those situations, I thought it showed something. You can’t coach that. You can talk about it all you want, but that is intrinsic and he possesses that, and just happy that he was able to battle through that and overcome it.”