Recent struggles on the offensive side of the ball had become a major concern heading into the Packers’ most recent matchup with the Giants.
After losing two straight home games for the first time since 2013, to the Panthers and the Eagles, analysts quickly focused their attention on the play of Jordan Love and the Packers’ offense, especially considering the defense held Carolina to 16 points and Philadelphia to just 10.
American Football Analyst for ESPN, Dan Orlovsky, weighed in on his thoughts on the current situation in Green Bay.
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Well, in their past matchup against the Giants, head coach Matt LaFleur did just that and put the ball into Love’s hands by opening up the pass game. Love posted a career-high Pro Football Focus overall grade of 93.1 and led the Packers on arguably the most poised drive of his career.
Love by the Numbers
Through the first 11 weeks, Jordan Love is delivering his best season since becoming the starter in 2023.
Love’s current stats include:
The most notable improvements are seen in his interception rate, completion percentage, and overall rating. In past seasons, through the first 11 weeks, Love posted:
- 10 interceptions in 2023 and 11 in 2024
- 59.7% completion in 2023 and 63% in 2024
- 83.8 rating in 2023 and 95.4 in 2024
Love and the Packers offense also rank inside the top five in several key categories:
- First in third-down percentage (49.19%)
- Fourth in red-zone percentage (67.50%)
- Third in goal-to-go percentage (94.12%)
- Fourth in games with 400+ yards
- Fifth in 20+ yard completions
In addition, Love leads the NFL in pass plays of 25 yards or more since 2023.
When the Offense Lost Rhythm
Jordan Love is arguably at his best when he operates out of play action. This approach is also a core part of Matt LaFleur’s offensive identity. He wants to run the ball to open the pass and create strong play-action chances.
In the first five games, Love posted a 128.0 passer rating, and the Packers had the third-highest play-action rate in the NFL. From Weeks 6-9, however, Green Bay dropped to 29th in play-action usage.
The run game has been less steady than in prior seasons, which can limit play-action success. Still, it’s hard to understand why the Packers moved away from a proven strength so quickly.
Offensive Outlook
Josh Jacobs left last week’s game against the Giants with a knee contusion. He is considered day-to-day and questionable for the matchup with Minnesota.
Jacobs is the key piece of the Packers’ run game. If he cannot play Sunday, the offense will likely lean heavily on Love and the passing attack.
Against the Giants, Green Bay used play action on 34.5% of its plays. That was the team’s highest play-action rate since Week 6. The Packers also threw the ball on 51% of their offensive snaps. During Sunday’s matchup, the offense responded well. Green Bay converted all four red-zone trips into touchdowns, showing strong efficiency with this approach.
These results reinforce that putting the football in Jordan Love’s hands is an extremely efficient strategy for the Packers, especially at this time.
Final Notes
Despite adversity, Jordan Love has proven he can lead the Packers efficiently when given the right opportunities. Even with uncertainties in the run game, it has been shown that leaning on Love and the passing attack can be highly effective.
Whether or not Josh Jacobs suits up this week, the formula is clear: keeping the ball in Love’s hands will remain their best path to sustained offensive success.
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