Clifford on Roller-Coaster Debut: ‘That’s How I Play’

Through one game, Sean Clifford leads the NFL in passing yards and interceptions. The key will be finding the proper balance.

Author:
Bill Huber
Publish date:
Aug 13, 2023 11:55 AM EDT

In this story:

Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. – As a quarterback, there are two sure ways to lose football games. One is to throw interceptions. The other is to play too conservatively.

Perhaps no quarterback in NFL history has been as good as former Green Bay Packers star Aaron Rodgers at creating game-winning plays while avoiding game-losing blunders. Rookie quarterback Sean Clifford, who inherited Rodgers’ locker at Lambeau Field, needs to find balance between big plays and big mistakes.

In many ways, the fifth-round draft pick was exceptional in Friday’s preseason victory over the Bengals. He threw for 192 yards in the first half alone, and finished the night with 20-of-26 passing for 208 yards. However, those six noncompletions included two interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown.

“That’s kind of how I play,” Clifford said afterward. “Sometimes I’m unconventional. Sometimes I’m a little risky, which I need to improve on, but all together, I do like to go out there and make plays and have fun with my teammates.”

Clifford made a bunch of plays. He had three completions of 25-plus yards and had a hand in seven plays of at least 15 yards. For sake of comparison, the entire Bengals team had only five plays of 15-plus yards.

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However, the mistakes were big. With pressure in his face, he telegraphed a pass to receiver Dontayvion Wicks that resulted in a pick-six that pulled the Bengals within 14-13. His second interception, a tight-window throw that was slightly behind tight end Tucker Kraft, might have put the Packers in a two-score hole just before halftime had Joe Burrow been the Bengals’ quarterback.

Instead, an interception by Carrington Valentine gave Clifford another shot at a 2-minute drill. A big-time throw to Wicks gained 47 yards and set up an easy touchdown pass to Tyler Davis to give the Packers a 21-16 lead at the break.

Packers coach Matt LaFleur loved how Clifford responded to the turnovers.

That full-speed-ahead approach appears to be part of Clifford’s DNA.

“I definitely have made a mistake or two in my life and I’m not afraid to make another one,” said Clifford, who in Penn State history ranks first in touchdowns and fourth in interceptions. “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 a one-play mentality.”

Entering Sunday’s final two games of the first full week of the preseason, Clifford led the NFL in passing yards but was tied for first in interceptions. Among 24 quarterbacks with at least 10 passing attempts, he’s third with 8.0 yards per attempt.

As in everything in life, the proper balance is required. More often than not, throwing two interceptions is losing football. Then again, being paralyzed by fear of making a mistake and going 20-for-20 passing for 100 yards isn’t winning football, either.

The Packers are counting on Clifford to find that sweet spot between being aggressive and careless. After all, they didn't draft him to be Capt. Checkdown.

“We had a touchdown. We had a pick-six. We had another pick. It was a little bit of everything,” Clifford said. “Lots to learn from. A lot of good, a lot of bad. To be able to take this and really run with it and say, ‘All right how can I improve? How can I continue to grow?’ They make those plays fast. The NFL is a quick league, especially on defense.”