Packers Head Coach Jordan Love will be different this time around against the Chiefs, according to Matt LaFleur.
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The increase in experience is obviously the big thing.
Jordan Love was thrust into the fire in 2021 with Aaron Rodgers sidelined due to COVID-19 protocols.
Days before a game against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, Love found out that his first-ever start would be at Arrowhead Stadium.
It didn’t go well. Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo threw every blitz in the book at the young quarterback and the Packers lost, 13-7. Love completed just 19-of-34 passes for 190 yards, one touchdown and one interception with a QBR of 33.1
Ahead of Green Bay’s 2023 matchup with the Chiefs at Lambeau Field, head coach Matt LaFleur put the blame for Love’s struggles in that contest on his shoulders.
“I was more disappointed with myself and our staff than with any of our players in that game,” LaFleur recently said, per NBC15.
“Just that we knew that it was one of those deals where we came in on Wednesday morning, I think, we found out that Aaron was going to be out and Jordan was going to be in.
Instead of just riding with what we game planned we should have, I don’t want to say started over, but we should have had a better plan in place for some of the potential issues that were going to come up, that absolutely came up in that game. I didn’t like the answers that we had for them.”
Love has since been named the starter with Rodgers traded to the New York Jets over the offseason and though this campaign has had its ups and downs, he’s looked great over the past month and actually has the Packers in the playoff hunt at 5-6, having won three of their last four games.
The experience as a starter so far is huge, but per LaFleur, Love’s game has also changed in such a way that he believes the Packers’ offense can more easily deal with the pressure Kansas City will undoubtedly throw its way.
“You can dial up maybe some of those mid- to deeper plays that take a little longer to develop, trusting if we don’t block it perfect, he’s going to get the ball out,” LaFleur said (h/t Sports Illustrated), speaking of Love’s new-found quick release.
After throwing for 11 touchdowns compared to eight interceptions in Green Bay’s first seven games this season, Love has thrown eight touchdowns compared to just two interceptions since the start of November.
His average completion percentage has also bumped up from 57.8% to 66.4%
It’s the decision-making in split-second situations,” quarterback coach Tom Clements explained.
“Every quarterback who has a good arm like Jordan does likes to throw it downfield, but sometimes you have to recognize throwing it downfield isn’t necessarily the best option.”
