Isn’t it crazy how one great half of football down the stretch of a season can change the entire narrative around a quarterback and their franchise?
At the midway point of the 2023 season, the Green Bay Packers sat at 3-6, and all hope had seemed lost for Jordan Love and the Packers. It seems crazy now, but at the time, questions were asked if Green Bay’s 2020 first-round pick would be one-and-down as the team's full-time starter after sitting behind 4-time MVP Aaron Rodgers for three years who was then traded to the New York Jets during the 2023 offseason.
Luckily for the Packers, over the last ten games of the season (including the post-season), Love threw for 23 touchdowns, only 3 interceptions, and 2616 passing yards, with a impressive 69.8 completion percentage.
Green Bay won six of their last eight regular season games behind Love's dramatically improved play to finish 9-8 and capture the NFC's final playoff spot, even winning a playoff game in the wildcard round over the 2-seed Dallas Cowboys.
Now heading into 2024, the Packers are regarded as one of the sneaky contenders in the NFC and some people have even gone as far as picking the Pack to get out of the NFC and even win the Super Bowl with Love also being one of the dark horse MVP candidates if he can pick up where he left off on the back nine of the 2023 season.
This off-season, the only real change for the Packers was in the running back game with their offence they released long-time Packer Aaron Jones and brought in All-Pro Running Back Josh Jacobs in free agency.
For their offence to go to another level, Green Bay will expect development from their young receiver core in Dontayvion Wicks, Christian Watson, and Jayden Reed, as well as a jump from their young tight ends Tucker Kraft, and Luke Musgrave who all showed flashes when healthy, and once Love got comfortable behind center.
Some may think the team is an elite receiver away from contention, and ironically, Davante Adams comes to mind as someone who could be an ideal fit if he were to be traded at the deadline from the Raiders.
However, it doesn’t matter how good these weapons are if Love plays as poorly this upcoming season as he did at the beginning of 2023. If Love can continue the play he showed at the end of last season and in the playoffs, I would not be shocked if we see the Green Bay Packers hoisting the Lombardi trophy come February with the franchise yet again having a franchise quarterback leading the way for years to come.
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