The Green Bay Packers” passing game has taken a noticeable downturn after a promising start to the season. As they gear up to face the Philadelphia Eagles, quarterback Jordan Love will need to alter his approach to succeed.
In the early part of the season, Love, the Packers” franchise quarterback with a significant contract, showcased his ability to throw deep, averaging 13.1 air yards per attempt in the team”s first two games, the highest in the league. However, opposing defenses have since adjusted their strategies to limit his deep throws, forcing him to rely more on short passes.
“I”ve said it before, I”m going to be an aggressive quarterback. I love taking shots downfield,” Love stated after the Washington game. “I”ve got a lot of confidence in my guys that they”re going to make plays when we get some of these opportunities.” Despite his confidence, defenses are now compelling him to adopt a less aggressive style.
According to Pro Football Focus, among 34 quarterbacks with at least 100 dropbacks since Week 3, Love ranks 30th with an average of just 6.6 air yards per attempt. “It”s always a challenge,” Love acknowledged during a recent practice as the Packers prepare for their matchup against the defending Super Bowl champions. “If teams want to take the deep ball away, it”s about finding ways to keep attacking, whether it”s short of the coverage or just checkdowns. Just find ways to get completions.” His adaptability will be tested against an Eagles defense that excels at limiting explosive plays.
In games where he has made 20 or more dropbacks, Love”s air yards per attempt have varied significantly, ranking at the bottom in some outings while performing better in others. For example, in a Week 3 loss to Cleveland, he was last among quarterbacks with just 1.7 air yards, while in a win against Cincinnati, he improved to eighth with 9.2 air yards per attempt. Despite these fluctuations, he has performed well overall this season, holding a passer rating of 107.9, which places him sixth in the NFL. His completion percentage has also risen dramatically to 70.8 percent, a significant improvement over his previous seasons.
Coach Matt LaFleur commented on Love”s performance, stating, “I think he”s done a really good job. There are going to be plays that you”d like to have back, but he has a lot of trust in his guys.” LaFleur emphasizes the importance of balance, encouraging Love to be smart and take what the defense gives him.
This season, a significant portion of Love”s passes—22.0 percent—have been thrown behind the line of scrimmage, indicating a trend toward short passes. However, Love has excelled when throwing intermediate passes, ranking third in yards per attempt. The absence of tight end Tucker Kraft, who has been instrumental in converting short passes into significant gains, poses a challenge for the Packers moving forward. LaFleur noted that earning the right to throw deep is essential, suggesting that successful short passes could open opportunities for longer throws as defenses tighten their coverage.
Facing the Eagles will not be easy for Love. The Eagles, who intercepted him three times during a playoff game last season, rank highly in both opponent passer rating and completion percentage. The recent game against the Panthers highlighted the Packers” struggle to move the ball effectively, which is an area that the Eagles” defensive scheme will likely exploit.
“I think they wanted a shell over the top of the defense and not give us some of those explosive plays,” Love reflected on the playoff game. “It always comes back down to that—just taking advantage of some opportunities.” As the Packers look to regain momentum, Love”s ability to adapt will be crucial against a formidable Eagles defense.
