The defense did its part to slow Rodgers, but the offense’s ability to drive up and down the field, not punting in the second half, turned the game into a blowout.
Love finished with a 134.2 passer rating, the highest of his career. Sunday night marked the QB’s fourth game with multiple passing TDs and zero INTs, the 16th such game of his career; only Patrick Mahomes has more such games (19) in their first 40 starts, per NFL Research.
Love’s near-perfect outing included a streak of 20 consecutive completions stretching from the second to the fourth quarter, tied for the longest streak in a game by a Packers QB with Brett Favre (Week 12, 2007).
Setting records playing opposite Rodgers, whom Love grew under during his first three seasons in Green Bay, highlighted the quarterback’s breakout campaign. The 26-year-old has been dynamic with the ball, but cut down on the turnovers that plagued him the past couple of seasons. Love is a mixture of both his predecessors — Favre’s gunslinging mentality and penchant for the big play, and Rodgers’ efficiency and accuracy, especially on the move.
“The legacy that [Rodgers] left, I would say Jordan’s filling those shoes,” Packers tight end Tucker Kraft said. “When you’re talking about the Favre to Rodgers to Love, Jordan has stepped up and fulfilled his end of the bargain.”
The QB has led the 5-1-1 Packers to the top of the NFC with an offense that has rolled over opponents. Green Bay has won four games decided by two-plus possessions; only the 7-1 Indianapolis Colts have more (five). The Packers have six games this season with 27-plus points scored (only IND has more at seven).
Through 40 career starts, Love and Rodgers’ stats are almost identical.
Love: 23-16-1 W-L, 7.6 pass yds/att, 71-25 pass TD-INT, 98.4 passer rating
Rodgers: 22-18 W-L, 7.8 pass yds/att, 70-29 pass TD-INT, 95.9 passer rating
“He played great, played fantastic,” Rodgers said. “He’s had a really nice season. He’s been really efficient with the football. He’s opportunistic, though I felt like he was very patient tonight. He took the run solutions, he took the checkdowns, moved in the pocket well. Thought he played really well.”