He helped the Packers avoid a rebuild and emerge as an NFC contender in his first season as the team’s starter, therefore it can only be viewed as a success.
Love was the Packers’ choice to start at quarterback this season following Aaron Rodgers’ departure from the team in an April 2023 deal with the New York Jets. As the player with the longest contract in the franchise, Rodgers spent 18 seasons playing in Titletown.
For the Packers, it seemed a little like they had traded away a former all-star quarterback to make room for a more youthful talent with promise. For Rodgers, it was Brett Favre first. It was Rodgers for Love after that. Coincidentally, both veterans signed with the Jets. However, Love has now taken over, and it looks like Green Bay has found yet another generational star.
It was a little difficult at first. Love had a mostly uneven season for the Packers, starting the season 2–5, throwing at least one interception in five straight games from Weeks 3–8. He actually threw eight interceptions in all over that time, including three in a Week 5 loss to the Raiders. Love, who turned 25 in November, had several opportunities to showcase his abilities.
He eventually calmed down. The Packers also did so.
After finishing 7-3 in the regular season, Green Bay finished with a 9-8 record, second place in the NFC North, the seventh seed in the league, and the final NFC wild-card slot. Love finished the regular season with a perfect 18:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio while throwing for 2,150 yards. During the regular season, he started every one of Green Bay’s 17 games, throwing for 4,159 yards, 32 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions on 64.2% of his throws. 96.1 was his quarterback rating.
But his postseason appearance was the highlight of his first season as a starter. The NFC East champions and No. 2 seeded Cowboys, against whom the No. 7-seeded Packers traveled to Dallas, were favored by more than a score.
In a 48-32 demolition of the Cowboys, Love only completed 16 of 21 passes for 272 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions.
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