Critical Five Games Ahead for Packers QB Jordan Love
GREEN BAY, Wis. – In Weeks 4 and 5 of the 2023 NFL season, only two quarterbacks had a passer rating of less than 74.0: New England’s Mac Jones (35.0) and the Green Bay Packers’ Jordan Love (51.8).
If the Packers are going to turn around their season after back-to-back losses to the Lions and Raiders, they’ll need Love to regain his early-season form. In helping Green Bay to a 2-1 start, Love threw seven touchdowns vs. one interception and ranked 13th with a 94.7 passer rating. The last two games – including last week against the Raiders’ porous pass defense – Love threw one touchdown and five interceptions.
Five huge games await if the Packers are going to be playing for anything for their Thanksgiving rematch at Detroit. Here is a look at those pass defenses.
Week 7: at Denver Broncos
In 2015, the Packers were 6-0 and coming off their bye when they played at the Denver Broncos. The Broncos shellacked the Packers 29-10. Aaron Rodgers was 14-of-22 passing for 77 yards. He was sacked three times, meaning the Packers had 50 net passing yards on a combined 25 attempts and sacks.
That Broncos defense featured Aqib Talib, Bradley Roby and Chris Harris as the three corners. With a powerful defense, the Broncos won the Super Bowl.
This year’s Broncos are 1-5. They are last in the NFL in opponent passer rating (117.8), completion percentage (76.4), yards per attempt (8.25) and touchdown passes (14). As it stands, the Broncos have the worst opponent passer rating and completion percentage in NFL history.
That’s rather shocking considering the pass rush is at least decent and Patrick Surtain Jr. is a premier cornerback. The other starters, Damarri Mathis and slot Ja’Quan McMillian, have been chewed up and spit out. Of 69 corners with 50 percent playing time, Mathis’ 143.4 is the worst in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus.
The Broncos are coming off a 19-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday night. Patrick Mahomes threw for 306 yards but Kansas City scored only one touchdown.
Week 8: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Jordan Love vs. the Vikings last year.
Photo by Tork Mason/USA Today Sports Images
The Vikings are 30th in opponent passer rating (103.3). They not only are next-to-last in opponent completion percentage this season (75.2) but are second-worst in NFL history. However, they’re in the middle of the pack in passing yards allowed per attempt and per game.
According to Pro Football Focus and its best guess at coverage responsibilities, the starting trio of Byron Murphy, Akayleb Evans and slot Josh Metellus have all allowed passer ratings of more than 110. Of 69 corners with 50 percent playing time, Murphy’s 141.4 ranks 68th.
Minnesota beat Chicago 19-13 on Sunday after knocking out Justin Fields and limiting rookie Tyson Bagent to 10-of-14 for 83 yards with one interception and a 56.5 rating. Danielle Hunter had two sacks, tying him with the Steelers’ T.J. Watt with a league-leading eight.
Week 9: vs. Los Angeles Rams
The Rams have been surprisingly competitive thanks in large part to their defense. Even after trading elite cornerback Jalen Ramsey this offseason, the Rams are seventh in opponent passer rating (76.7), third in completion percentage (56.9) and first in touchdowns (four).
On the other hand, they’re in the bottom tier in the league in sack percentage (29th) and interception percentage (26th). Indomitable defensive tackle Aaron Donald has 2.5 sacks. He’s been selected to the Pro Bowl following each of his nine seasons. Among active players, he’s fifth with 105.5 career sacks and second with 165 career tackles for losses.
The starting perimeter corners, Ahkello Witherspoon and Derion Kendrick, have been in lockdown mode. According to PFF, 69 corners have played at least 50 percent of the snaps. Witherspoon ranks first in completion percentage and Kendrick is second.
Week 10: at Pittsburgh Steelers
T.J. Watt had two sacks at Green Bay in 2021.
Photo by Benny Sieu/USA Today Sports Images
The Steelers, who like the Packers were off this week, are in the middle of the pack in opponent passer rating (85.1) but are fourth in completion percentage (59.3).
Pittsburgh’s pass defense starts with its pass rush. Even with a Week 6 bye, T.J. Watt is tied for the NFL lead with eight sacks and is just one off the pace with 15 quarterback hits. More than just a one-trick pony, he’s also got four passes defensed, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
With a strong pass rush, the veteran cornerback tandem of Levi Wallace has two interceptions and ranks second with seven passes defensed and Patrick Peterson has one interception and six passes defensed. However, they’ve also been charged with seven touchdowns (four vs. Peterson, three vs. Wallace).
Week 11: at Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers, who are coming off a Week 5 bye, will host the Cowboys on Monday night. Barring a remarkable about-face, they will exit Week 6 with statistically the worst pass defense in the NFL. In their four games, they’ve allowed 299.8 passing yards per game, almost 30 more yards than every other team.
The worst pass defense in NFL history, from a yardage perspective, was played by the 2011 Packers, who allowed 299.75 passing yards per game. That is exactly what the Chargers are allowing.
They are 26th in opponent passer rating (98.5) and 30th in yards per attempt (7.59). However, they’ve run hot and cold: 466 yards against Miami and 345 against Minnesota but 200 against Tennessee and 188 against Las Vegas.
With Khalil Mack (six sacks) and Joe Bosa (three sacks), the Chargers have a devasting pass-rushing duo. They are fifth in sack percentage. Mike Davis ranks among the bottom five in the league in passer rating allowed (137.8), touchdowns allowed (four) and penalties (five).
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