Love nonetheless coping with knee points, has profession day

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Jordan Love was on the improper finish of a 28-0 rating within the second quarter of his return from a two-game absence for a knee damage when a Minnesota Vikings defender fell on the again on his braced left knee.

The Green Bay Packers quarterback got here up limping, however he by no means thought-about popping out of the sport and coach Matt LaFleur by no means thought of going again to Malik Willis.

Love then almost rallied the Packers to an unbelievable comeback, solely to lose 31-29 on Sunday at Lambeau Subject. After a career-high 51 move makes an attempt, he had his first profession four-touchdown recreation and his second recreation with three interceptions.

He stated he is nonetheless coping with some points associated to the sprained left MCL he sustained within the season opener and admitted his throwing inaccuracy early was a part of the rationale why the Packers fell behind.

“I hope it will proceed to heal and get higher, however at this second, yeah, it is undoubtedly one thing that is there,” Love stated. “And it is a kind of issues, it is soccer. We play a bodily sport and there is accidents, and also you gotta struggle by some stuff.”

Whereas Love threw for a career-high 389 yards, his accuracy was off. He accomplished simply 8 of 23 passes on throws of greater than 10 yards within the air — with all three of his interceptions approaching such throws. His 35% completion price on these throws was the bottom in a recreation of his profession, in keeping with ESPN Analysis.

The Vikings, taking part in a strain protection underneath coordinator Brian Flores, blitzed Love on 25 of his 56 dropbacks. He threw 24 passes in opposition to blitzes, essentially the most he has tried in his profession.

Whereas the Packers dropped 5 passes (three by Dontayvion Wicks and one every by Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed), Love put a number of the blame on himself.

“Simply wasn’t taking part in properly sufficient,” Love stated. “I believe ball placement was a little bit far and wide right this moment, kinda all through the entire recreation. I believe it picked up later, however yeah, I believe early on, simply missed a pair throws and was a little bit bit off. Made it arduous on a number of the receivers on a few of these performs.”

LaFleur stated he thought Love and the offense discovered a rhythm ultimately. Reed caught seven passes for 139 yards and a landing, whereas Wicks completed with 5 catches for 78 yards and two touchdowns on 13 targets.

“It appeared to me that he appeared an increasing number of comfy,” LaFleur stated of Love. “We made extra explosive performs, which is hard to do when a staff is sitting again in 2-shell. However I believe there may be lots of good classes that come out of each recreation.”

The Packers didn’t get on the board till the ultimate minute of the primary half — and even that proved troublesome. LaFleur drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for being demonstrative when the officers did not initially grant him a timeout — a transfer LaFleur stated he was “completely embarrassed” about. On the very subsequent play, nonetheless, Love hit Reed for a 16-yard landing with 15 seconds left within the second quarter.

“I do not suppose we envisioned throwing the ball 50 instances; that is by no means the plan going into any recreation,” LaFleur stated. “Normally, should you’re in a recreation like that, it is in all probability not going your approach.”

At 2-2 and trailing the unbeaten Vikings (4-0) within the NFC North, the Packers nonetheless got here away inspired by their 22-point fourth quarter and by Love’s return.

“You by no means really feel such as you’re out the sport with him,” operating again Josh Jacobs stated. “You all the time really feel like he is one throw away from a giant play, one particular play away from a giant play. I believe that is one of many greatest issues that excites me most, is you bought guys on this room who’re keen to place all of it out on the road.

“We have to repair lots of issues that we did, however I believe we’ll be all proper.”