The Green Bay Packers made the playoffs for the second straight year under Jordan Love. However, the season wasn’t without criticism. The team went 1-5 in the NFC North and failed to beat the elite teams. Essentially, they feasted on the struggling teams but couldn’t beat real playoff contenders. The front office strengthened the offense in the offseason, most notably adding Texas WR Matthew Golden in the NFL Draft. While there is pressure on lots of people in the organization, one NFL analyst thinks the pressure is solely on Love.
Pressure On Green Bay Packers QB Jordan Love?
Jordan Love received a massive four-year, $220 million extension last offseason. While he is not the highest-paid quarterback in the league, he is in the top ten. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer believes this means the team needs to rely on Love to elevate those around him.
“It’s Jordan Love time. Only one offensive player on the roster (two-time Pro Bowl guard Elgton Jenkins), and three players in total, predate the quarterback’s time with the team. He’s on a top-of-market deal, so the onus is on him to start lifting his teammates rather than the other way around. The roster’s still solid, but competitions at left tackle and receiver will help set the course for how far the team can go, and Love’s work through any bumps at those spots will be key.”
The Green Bay Packers have dedicated a lot of cap space to Love. They are relying on many cheap offensive weapons, with running back Josh Jacobs being the only higher-paid skill position player on the roster. While there is some pressure on Love, I don’t think there is as much as Breer is describing.
Last Season Struggles
Jordan Love was injured in the Week 1 game against the Philadelphia Eagles. He then missed two games, and when he came back, he was definitely still hampered by the injury. The former first-round pick wasn’t able to finish two other games due to injury. Furthermore, his receivers didn’t help him at all. Green Bay had one of the highest drop rates in the NFL last year. Love was putting the ball where it needed to be, and his receivers dropped the ball.
A fully healthy season, paired with fewer drops, could transform this offense. Many drives in the red zone were halted by sloppy play. This happens to young teams. However, it is important to note that the team still won 11 games last year despite all of the issues. They still have to get through a tough NFC North, but they definitely have the weapons to compete with the best teams in the league.
Final Thoughts
There is pressure on many people going into next season. The Green Bay Packers want to add another Super Bowl trophy to the case, especially while this roster is young and cheap. If this offense improves drastically, it could be one of the most fun teams to watch next season.
