The Green Bay Packers face the Detroit Lions in a critical NFC North game on Thursday, but quarterback Jordan Love has been studying well in advance.
In a story published Thursday, ESPN’s Rob Demovsky detailed Love’s preparation process during his second full year as a starter. Part of that includes studying plays from other teams around the league during what is supposed to be his off day and then relaying suggestions to the coaching staff.
“I’m usually on my own while the coaches are game planning,” Love said. “I make a notes page of plays I see other teams running that look good.”
The coaches have taken suggestions in the past, including when Green Bay was able to match wide receiver Christian Watson up against a linebacker in a game against the rival Chicago Bears.
“Sometimes they make it,” Love said of his play suggestions. “Sometimes they don’t.”
The preparation process is working, as the Packers are 9-3 this season and in playoff positioning despite being in third place in the loaded NFC North. A head-to-head victory over the 11-1 Lions would help them close the gap between the first-place team and the 10-2 Minnesota Vikings.
And Love seems better suited to pick up these important wins late in his second season as a starter with more experience under his belt.
Jordan Love rolls out and finds a wide open Christian Watson for 77 yards!
📺: #GBvsLV on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/ZjjXbjW0ad pic.twitter.com/Y1FrjP2d6x— NFL (@NFL) October 10, 2023
“Maybe Year 1, he’s just trying to do his job,” passing game coordinator Jason Vrable said. “Year 2, right now, I think that communication, that growth when we’re talking about third downs or what we like, Jordan’s like, ‘I like that, but I like that one more.’ As opposed to Year 1, a lot of guys … just want to please people, as opposed to [saying] what you truly feel.”
While interceptions have remained a concern for the 26-year-old, he is still completing 63 percent of his passes for 2,518 yards, 20 touchdowns and 11 picks through 10 starts this year.
Thursday will arguably be his most important start of the season, as Green Bay needs to make up for its Week 9 loss to the Lions if it is going to make a run in the division. He threw an interception and fumbled three times in that previous loss, so his performance will be firmly under the spotlight in the rematch.
Fortunately for the Packers, they know Love has been studying to get ready for this moment.
