Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love’s 2024 season had its ups and downs. Battling knee and groin injuries and a receiving corps with the third-most drops in the NFL, he still finished ninth in EPA per play, seventh in adjusted EPA per play, and 10th in EPA combined with completion percentage over expected. Moreover, he posted a 3.4% turnover-worthy play rate under pressure, which was the second-best mark by a Packers quarterback in the past decade.
On the other hand, Love occasionally struggled with accuracy. His big-time throw rate dropped from 5.6% in 2023 to 3.5% last season, and his turnover-worthy play rate rose by 0.1%. Furthermore, Love's completion percentage dropped from 64.2% in 2023 to 63.1% in 2024.
Love played like an MVP candidate in the second half of 2023, throwing 18 touchdowns to just one interception over the final eight games of the regular season and leading the Packers into the postseason in dominant fashion. So, while his numbers dropped in 2024 compared to 2023, it was only a matter of time before the narrative of regression started to emerge.
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, however, is not buying into that conversation.
Green Bay Packers HC Matt LaFleur and quarterback Jordan Love (10) during 2023 training camp.
Green Bay Packers HC Matt LaFleur and quarterback Jordan Love (10) during 2023 training camp.
© Samantha Madar/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK
“I think there's, like, a narrative out there that, for whatever reason, that he wasn't as productive as the year before," LaFleur said, via The Athletic. "Well, he missed significant time and he missed the better of three games. ... Three games is a significant amount of time and you're going to be a little bit -- you're not going to produce as much from a numbers perspective.”
LaFleur also mentioned that the high number of drops by the receiving corps played a significant role in Love’s performance and affected the offense overall.
"Let's be honest -- we did have a lot of drops last year," LaFleur noted. "So there was other circumstances that play into it. All in all, I think everybody's going to be better though."
During the first week of OTAs, Love was asked about the notion that he regressed last year, and he shared a thoughtful response.
"You know what I mean? Everybody has different opinions, things like that. You gotta block that stuff out," Love said. "It’s all about the goals of the team at the end of the day. I’d say we won more games than we did the year before. That’s why I ask people, what is a step back?"
A healthy Jordan Love should give LaFleur greater confidence to use under-center play action and play action more broadly. In 2023, he was one of the NFL’s most efficient quarterbacks on play-action plays. Love ranked third in passing yards, tied for fourth in touchdowns, and posted the sixth-best completion percentage among quarterbacks with at least 60 dropbacks. Additionally, Love recorded the fourth-most first downs and posted a 113.7 passer rating.
Love’s limited mobility in 2024 made the Packers use mostly shotgun formations, which slowed the offense and limited its options. On true dropbacks, he completed 57% of passes, with 15 touchdowns and 15 interceptions, 7.5 yards per attempt, and a 77.6 passer rating. These stats rank 26th in completion percentage, 27th in passer rating, and worst in touchdown-to-interception ratio among starting quarterbacks.
While Love’s numbers dipped, calling it a regression in his production is still a stretch. Still, becoming a better quarterback in 2025 is just the first step for Green Bay’s path back to the Super Bowl. If he stays healthy, the Packers should be able to compete with every contender in the NFC.