Jordan Love's back-breaking interceptions ultimately cost Packers a win
For the Green Bay Packers (3-6), Sunday's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers was probably the most frustrating defeat they've experienced this year.The game was a complete rollercoaster. It started with the defense giving up 17 points over the course of the first three drives of the game and things really became dire when Jordan Love's […]
For the Green Bay Packers (3-6), Sunday's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers was probably the most frustrating defeat they've experienced this year.
The game was a complete rollercoaster. It started with the defense giving up 17 points over the course of the first three drives of the game and things really became dire when Jordan Love's pass was picked off in the end zone with 3:20 left in the game.
Even after that play, the Packers still had a shot to win in at the end, but Love threw another interception as he tried to hit Christian Watson for the game-winning touchdown. Love also targeted Watson on his first interception, which looked like a bad decision and a bad throw, at the time.
And sure enough, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed that Love should've looked in another direction on that play. Love also confirmed that the throw could've been better.
"They clouded the coverage coverage. They had a safety over the top [and] the corner made a good play on it," LaFleur told reporters after the game. "Really that's not the intent of the play in that situation. Anytime you see a half-field safety, we're running a double move on both the outside and the inside that was designed for single-high defense. They played the shell. So I mean, I need to go back and look at it, but I just thought that the ball needed to go backside."
Based solely off the coverage on Christian Watson, it was already a tough throw. But, as LaFleur stated, the Steelers had Watson bracketed against the sideline and the play was not intended to work against this type of coverage. Love simply made what was both a bad decision and a bad throw. It put his team in a bad spot that ultimately cost them the game.
"We ran a double-move on the outside. We ran an out earlier and they jumped it a little bit, so we ran a double-move," Love explained after the game. "I thought I was able to get [it to] Christian over the top and I was trying to put the ball over the top where only he could get it. The DB was able to make a good play and get a handle on it.
"I mean, you can look at it and say I wish I would have put a little bit more out there. You know, where only Christian can get it and make a play on it."
The Packers' rollercoaster ride with Jordan Love continues
The Packers offense showed some signs of life against the Steelers, which was honestly a bit surprising considering the Steelers defense is a pretty solid unit and it was a road game for Green Bay.
But still, Love's inconsistencies remain and the offense isn't really going to take off until he can fix his lapses in decision-making and accuracy. Sure the former should improve over time. Therefore, it's the latter that should really concern the Packers and their fans, moving forward.
There were several times where Love's passes simply weren't where they need to be. The first example that comes to mind was the errant throw to Dontayvion Wicks on a 2nd and 16. It was high and outside and Wicks was open. Love also had a good pocket to throw from. But instead of what would've been about a 14-yard completion, it fell incomplete and the Packers were left with a 3rd and 16.
Of course, Love dropped a dime into the arms of Jayden Reed for a touchdown on that play, but the point remains: the inconsistency is there and it puts the team in tough holes to climb out of. That's not a sustainable way to win games, as we've seen all year long.
But, still, overall, Sunday was an OK showing and it's looked better than it has all year. Even if it's a low bar to clear.
If the Packers can continue taking steps forward, then who knows where this team could be in a few weeks. They aren't going to be challenging for a playoff berth. But at this point, any tangible signs of growth are welcomed in the biggest of ways.
"I do think that there was a lot of good that came out of this, in terms of we knew we challenged our team to go out there and compete for four quarters," said LaFleur. "I felt from the opening kickoff to the final whistle we did that and I'm confident if we continue with this, that we will end up on the other side of this."
