Jordan Love admits 'mortal sin' and explains sequence of mistakes during loss to the 49ers
Jordan Love had a really good season, especially down the stretch, and consolidated himself as a potential franchise quarterback for the Green Bay Packers. The game against the Dallas Cowboys last week was nearly perfect, but the same thing can't be said about the performance in the 24-21 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. The […]
Jordan Love had a really good season, especially down the stretch, and consolidated himself as a potential franchise quarterback for the Green Bay Packers. The game against the Dallas Cowboys last week was nearly perfect, but the same thing can't be said about the performance in the 24-21 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
The Packers had the lead for most of the game, and Love was playing well. But in the second half, three mistakes in particular were costly for the team — and compounded to a series of mistakes by other players to result in the elimination.
First interception
Jordan Love threw behind tight end Tucker Kraft in a third-and-long situation. The rookie tried to save the play, but instead tipped the ball, which ended up being intercepted by linebacker Dre Greenlaw.
"I missed it," Love said after the game was over. "It was a little bit behind him, he was running a crossing route. I missed it, and it obviously got tipped and picked."
Missed throw to Aaron Jones
On a third and short, Jordan Love tried to extend the play and find running back Aaron Jones over the middle of the field. The ball placement was not perfect, though, and Jones didn't have a chance to catch it. That forced the Packers to punt.
"The one to Aaron (Jones) was kinda off-schedule," Love explained. "He stayed on the move, we were just not on the same page there, and I missed on that one as well."
Mortal sin
The biggest Love's mistake of the game — and potentially of the season — was the final interception to Greenlaw. It was first and 10, with 52 seconds left on the clock. The Packers needed a field goal to tie the game, but Love certainly didn't need to force that ball to Christian Watson.
Love did, however. He was picked, and the game was over.
"The play broke down, I was scrambling right, saw Christian (Watson) over the middle and tried to force one into him. I thought I could make the play, did it to the backside, Dre (Greenlaw) made a great play," Love said. "Looking back, yes, throw it away, I don't know if I had the opportunity to run, go out of bounds, but I forced it across the middle late, which is a mortal sin. It costs us."
The rain in Santa Clara didn't help, but the quarterback said after the game it wasn't a big factor.
"It was a challenge, but I don't think it was affecting too much the passing game."
Jordan Love finished the game with 21/34 for 194 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. His passer rating was 72.4 — the worse for Love since the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on November 12.
"It's tough, very tough," Love added. "We had the opportunity to win that game and didn't capitalize on it. It's a tough way to end the season."
Missed opportunities by the Packers resulted in yet another painful loss
Green Bay lost to San Francisco in the divisional round
