Cory's Corner: Jordan Love Has Arrived
The former first round pick silenced all of his critics with a memorable performance on Sunday.
PITTSBURGH — Jordan Love, come on down!
The No. 26 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft had a career game against his mentor on Sunday night as the Packers took down the Steelers 35-25.
The Packers offense had been inconsistent for most of the early season, but things changed in a hurry thanks to the play of Love. The main thing that Love did was get the ball out early, which squelched a Pittsburgh defense that has spent the most money on that of the ball in the entire league.
Most of the pregame coverage was spent gushing about the 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers, his 18 years in Green Bay and the fact that he was only one win shy of beating all 32 NFL teams. Love quieted all that noise by simply outplaying the first ballot Hall of Famer.
“It’s definitely special for me to go out and be able to play well with him watching,” said Love. “I definitely wouldn’t be the player I am today without being able to watch him and learn from him.”
We were all looking for the signature game for Love. The game that stood out and proved why the Packers inked him to a huge $55 million contract.
“He’s him,” said Packers defensive end Rashan Gary, who had four tackles and two sacks. “Everybody in the league, if you all not woke, please wake up. Get the crust out your eyes because he is him and 10 is coming. Period.”
After making 20-straight completions and passing for 360 yards, three touchdowns and no picks, he proved that he is in fact a franchise quarterback in this league. He notched a passer rating of 134.2 after completing 78 percent of his passes in front of the waving Terrible Towels. The 20-straight completions tied Brett Favre’s mark from 2007. Love is completing 70.9 percent of his passes this season with 1,798 yards and 13 touchdowns and only two picks. Favre’s lowest interception total for a season as a Packer was 13 and Rodgers’ lowest pick number was two. Love now has logged 16 games where he has multiple touchdowns and zero touchdowns, which is amazing for 40 games as a starter. According to NFL Research, only Patrick Mahomes has more with 19.
“When you’re talking about the Favre to Rodgers to Love, Jordan has stepped up and fulfilled his end of the bargain,” said Packers tight end Tucker Kraft.
And what’s even more impressive is that Love did all that with a one-dimensional offense. The Packers only tallied 94 rushing yards and their leading rusher was Emanuel Wilson with 61.
Ten Packers caught a pass — including three tight ends. And speaking of tight end, on National Tight Ends Day, Kraft showed that he is one of the best tight ends in the nation by catching seven passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns. Kraft has great hands with a 73 percent catch percentage this season, he’s explosive by getting 15.6 yards per reception and he has proven to a solid blocker. (He’s also a little nuts by head butting a teammate that was wearing a helmet while the only protection on his melon was his buzz cut.)
Love is the guy. I know there are still a faction of people that aren’t sure if Love can play, but the Packers are now 5-1-1 and this team has still not played an entire game of football.
And the frightening thing for Packers opponents is that they are getting better. Most importantly, Love is playing like the guy that general manager Brian Gutekunst envisioned him to be.
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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn
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Comments (46)
T7Steve
October 28, 2025 at 06:45 am
"Love is playing like the guy that general manager Brian Gutekunst envisioned him to be."
That's what we need. No "Hero Ball"' just get the ball to the playmakers and protect the ball like he's been doing. Get rid of the ball quick to help this anemic banged up O-line work together better and hopefully open up the running game for Jacobs so Love can get away with throwing more of those deep balls when it's time to pile on some scores.
stockholder
October 28, 2025 at 07:09 am
Remaining silent is often better than speaking,
and peace and quiet have great value.
But I just can't do that.
Love had a terrific game, no doubt.
But the fantasy of him being the next great QB
in Green Bay, is just a bit over the top.
Was the" wait" worth it?
My answer is NO.
Yes "Speech is silver, and silence is golden,"
But he hasn't won anything, more than your heart.
The toss-up is things can change.
After all; things are equal in NFL.
If Love continues to use the weapons he has.
His confidence will erase any concerns we had.
But the pitching of Love being a MVP
has yet to be determined.
LambeauPlain
October 28, 2025 at 09:43 am
Regarding Love: "Was the" wait" worth it. My answer is NO."
Well, I don't know Rodgers Idol worshiper. Was he worth the wait after 3 years sitting and not making the playoffs until his 5th year as a Packer? Say, didn't Love make the playoffs in his 4th year?
LOL.
stockholder
October 28, 2025 at 09:54 am
Hard work deserves praise.
But the Title town legacy took a major hit with
being bad for 25 years.
The mistakes were because of bad draft picks.
Any packer player will tell you that.
And shouldn’t any 1st rd pick be a star for 10 years?
The inferiority between Rodgers and Love was obvious.
Moving on was the desire of management.
Not the coach. Not Rodgers.
And the wait for another title shows Gute’s mistakes.
His draft picks; resulted in players that should have
been on special teams, rather then starting.
The lack of weapons for Rodgers.
13 NFL titles; made Green Bay Title town.
It just wasn’t about the QB.
Or about a gm learning the ropes.
Coldworld
October 28, 2025 at 10:30 am
Rodgers played pretty well on Sunday, but he’s not the Rodgers of his peak and it showed, as it did in 2022. At some point you have to accept that. Actually, Sunday night was a clear illustration of the wisdom of moving on. Love is currently a more capable QB.
stockholder
October 28, 2025 at 10:41 am
You can say that now.
But how many years will
you keep saying that!
while we wait.
The Jets traded for Rodgers
SO THEY DIDN"T HAVE TO WAIT. PERIOD!
The Steelers didn't want to wait. Period!
Why did you!
The return was status Que over title.
Coldworld
October 28, 2025 at 10:51 am
Wait? He’s better now. We spent a decade waiting for Rodgers’ second Super Bowl while he was clearly elite. That we haven’t won one yet with Love is no basis to damn him. Rather accept him as a platform capable of taking us to another if given the right people around him and a little good fortune. That’s all you can ask.
NJMagic
October 28, 2025 at 11:04 am
I think we should all be able to accept that the lack of a second trophy with Rodgers wasn't management... He choked in big games because he was too risk avoidant.
stockholder
October 28, 2025 at 11:08 am
Confidence-
When the players didn't respond.
the bottom falls out.
Team not QB.
You can't make this about Rodgers.
stockholder
October 28, 2025 at 11:05 am
CW
Titltetown wasn't about the QB as I stated.
So I'm not damning Love as you suggest.
The cover- up was TT and his dementia.
And when Rodgers criticized management.
He was told to keep Quite.
Everyone knows you don't bite the hand that feeds you.
BS to all you can ask.
I'm asking for better.
Not for cover-ups or mistakes.
crayzpackfan
October 28, 2025 at 11:19 am
While you're so busy looking into the rear view mirror, you keep smashing into trees that are popping up right in front of you. You really need to let it go Sir.
stockholder
October 28, 2025 at 12:03 pm
If Love got traded to the packers.
Would you not expect more from him?
Think about it. Expect more.
Would guys want to come here to play with Love?
Such as Reggie White, Or others for Rodgers.
Ihappydirt
October 28, 2025 at 04:32 pm
Or maybe someone like Micah Parsons?
"He's the successor — the up and comer. When I was coming here, I knew they had a quarterback.”
Oppy
October 28, 2025 at 08:45 pm
I'll give you this, Stockholder-
you are consistently one of the most dedicated haters I've ever seen.
No amount of logic or reason gets in the way of your hating on Gutekunst and Love.
ricky
October 28, 2025 at 10:52 am
Weren't you the poster who was praising Carson Wentz to the skies when he was with Philly? That he was a great QB who was only going to get better? Oops. And as far as Love as MVP, as long as he is the MVP of the SB this year, I'm good. Because being the best in the league is nice. But being the best player/winner in the Big One means a lot more.
weren't
Doug_In_Sandpoint
October 28, 2025 at 08:05 am
Love’s 16 games with multiple TD and no interceptions is really very good. I’ve been pondering…the TD/interception ratio has been very good with the Packers for years. It seems like an AR trademark that has been handed down to JL. I’m not sure if it was statistically significant but Rodgers’ numbers appeared to improve when MLF came and regressed slightly the last few years. I think we (I at least) assess that Lafleur kicks back and lets his talented QBs do their thing, but I’m wondering if the coach may have more to do with it than I give him credit for.
Guam
October 28, 2025 at 08:26 am
Off topic, but the Rams just acquired CB Roger McCreay from the Titans for a fifth round pick getting while a sixth rounder back from the Titans. McCreay was a high second round draft choice in 2022. I hope Gute is paying attention because the fire sales have started from the bottom feeding teams and the Pack could sure use some help at CB. A swap of fifth and sixth round picks is a small price to pay for some CB insurance.
BTW after the trade the Titans claimed Micah Robinson off the Packers PS. So the Packers didn't get help and lost depth. Ouch.
Starrbrite
October 28, 2025 at 04:45 pm
Good points Guam.
LeotisHarris
October 28, 2025 at 08:44 am
Okay, I can roll with the Price is Right mash-up.
Poked a memory loose from when Leotis Jr served notice that we'd been watching Star Wars; Return of the Jedi a bit to much back in the VCR days. I pulled up to the drive-up at the bank, and when the cannister was returned via the tube, 4 year-old Leotis Jr announced from the backseat "inform the commander that Lord Vader's shuttle has arrived."
Thanks for coming to my TED talk. GPG
Handsback
October 28, 2025 at 09:09 am
Personally I think Love arrived in that first playoff game in Dallas. Now he's learning how to be an elite QB.
Green Bay can win the SB with Love. Now if they could find another OL and CB to fill their roster, we will find out how Love will do in the big game.
JMHO
LambeauPlain
October 28, 2025 at 09:53 am
Good comment. That has been my take on Love.
Elite Love is the best Love. And it is worth developing.
LambeauPlain
October 28, 2025 at 09:56 am
"Love now has logged 16 games where he has multiple touchdowns and zero touchdowns, which is amazing for 40 games as a starter. According to NFL Research, only Patrick Mahomes has more with 19."
That's good work Cory...I did not know that...in spite of the typo "zero touchdowns". You meant INTs.
It is amazing and amazing company.
I would love to see a SB between the two. A redux of SB 1.
Coldworld
October 28, 2025 at 10:44 am
It is remarkable how similar Love’s stats are almost exactly the same as Rodgers’ at the same point in their careers. I know if I’d been told that a draft pick would deliver that before Love was drafted, I’d have leapt on the pick not been thoroughly pissed off at a wasted chance to help immediately.
Looking back, Rodgers achieved what he did early on with better, more experienced WRs and a better (in the context of the time) offensive design (if looked at in terms of output at least). If anything, Rodgers was better set up to put up stats and get help from his skill players. Neither had good defenses initially, though that changed dramatically, arguably a year earlier for Love.
Yes, that Love pick has proved to be an excellent one in hindsight. Whether it will be a great one, as Rodgers’ was, is for the future to determine, but we have a QB who is good enough at least to make us a credible contender.
stockholder
October 28, 2025 at 10:57 am
The 2020 draft was a bad draft.
Sure you got Love and lost a 4th pick.
But the obvious Need was a ILB and WR.
I suggested Tee Higgins.
And he is what Rodgers would have needed.
The writing was on the wall as Rodgers stated.
All for the Glory of Gute.
Not Titletown.
Windows closed.
Signing more free agents to cover Gute's ass.
Coldworld
October 28, 2025 at 11:28 am
If I recall correctly, there were at least 3 free agents who were instrumental in helping us win the Super Bowl with Rodgers. I never mentioned the draft as a whole or Gute. I simply spoke to the Love pick in hindsight. You just fire a blunderbuss full of random scrap at any suggestion that Love might be good or worthy of picking. That no longer holds water.
stockholder
October 28, 2025 at 11:44 am
Love worked hard.
He is the QB.
I simply said it wasn't worth the wait.
Oppy
October 28, 2025 at 08:50 pm
Rodgers hasn't been to the superbowl since the 2010 season, but you somehow have it decided in your head that despite a decade without another SB appearance, it was the Packers front office decision to spend a 1st round pick on the future of the QB position that prevented the Packers from winning another superbowl.
You sir, are thick in the head.
Leatherhead
October 28, 2025 at 11:38 am
Stock....Rodgers was never going to get us there. He'd had plenty of chances and always managed to come up a little short.
Change is inevitable; learn to embrace it.
stockholder
October 28, 2025 at 11:56 am
It takes more than A QB.
But the fit, must be more than the QB.
We traded for Favre.
The Rams traded for Stafford.
Serious consideration wasn't given
for another Super-Bowl Trophy.
Management wiped the slate clean.
* And you must see that when they drafted Love
PackerBackerAZ
October 28, 2025 at 12:33 pm
Your refusal to acknowledge Love's growth and his becoming the Packers next franchise/elite/potential HoF quarterback sure smacks of Rodgers dementia syndrome. I was not on the Love bandwagon before this season. He has shown himself to potentially be the next HoF quarterback. Will he need to continue his excellent play for several years? Of course. You're refusing to see his growth and potential because of Rodgers being so much better? What has Rodgers done since 2011? Being named the mvp four years? How many Super Bowls did he bring to Titletown in those four mvp seasons? What's he done since they traded him to the Jets?
The ridiculous take on Higgins, because you supposedly said to draft him in 2020, seems to have greatly warped your ability to enjoy the Packers performing really well with Love at quarterback.
Love is improving his play including decision making and I'm thrilled that's happening. Get rid of your negative Love nonsense, unrequited Rodgers love and start to enjoy the ride to Super Bowl LIX. I know that this Packers team has finally got a real chance to win a Super Bowl. That gives me a lot of enjoyment every game they play to their potential.
stockholder
October 28, 2025 at 01:10 pm
No- Love Grew.
I said Hard work deserves Credit.
What you and others fail to see
is the missing pieces by Gute.
The wasted picks. The upgrades.
What gute has done not only hurt
the Title town Legacy.
He won't keep proper depth.
He won't finish upgrading the DL.
He always leaves it to chance and
1 or 2 players short.
Uses a revolving door policy rather, than the draft 1st.
(Next man up)
Why can't you and others see that?
This isn't a love affair for heroes.
This is about finishing what you START!
Extending the waiting period isn't on LOVE.
PackerBackerAZ
October 28, 2025 at 04:01 pm
When Gutekunst traded for Parsons, he upgraded the defense to one that can contend for the Super Bowl. How do you upgrade every position in the salary cap era? It's impossible. Gutekunst has been a draft and develop pseudo gm while trying to upgrade via free agency. He's hit on more than he's missed both in the draft and free agency. Since Parsons got to the Packers, Wyatt, Gary and Walker have performed better. They're starting to play up to their draft status and second contract. I'm not sold on Van Ness but what pseudo gm hasn't missed on a first round draft pick?
I'm not a Gutekunst apologist. I believe he should be gone, Lafleur should be gone and Ball should be gone. My timeline for a gm/hc to get a team to the Super Bowl is six years. They've all had their six years. The funky front office structure is another thing that has had more than enough time. That being said, I'm enjoying this season and look forward to the Packers winning a fifth Super Bowl. Should the Packers fail to get to the Super Bowl, I certainly hope Poilcy will abolish his defacto general managership and hire a real bonafide NFL general manager to run the football operations.
stockholder
October 28, 2025 at 08:59 pm
How do you upgrade every position -
Well you don't go out and spend money
on a position you already have a all=pro at.
Yes I'm referring to Jenkins.
The problem with Gute's drafts-
Taking the lesser graded player
for the position of need.
Yes I'm referring to Meyer.
And the untimely pick of Love.
Not to mention avoiding a need and
filling that position later in the draft.
Why do all his picks have to sit the
bench and learn?
Which is why the Parsons trade
made common sense.
I will say Rodgers needed a
versatile TE. very badly.
That position was the
the biggest mistake made.
Until they drafted Kraft.
jannesbjornson
October 28, 2025 at 12:56 pm
At that point in the Draft, Love was the Best Value. The Viqueens took Jeff Gladney, for comparison. The error of the 2020 draft was not moving up in Rd Two, or attempting to gain more picks in Rd Two. If not Love, the target should have been Jonathon Taylor ,another guy from the backyard who was ignored, like Alec Ingold as a lead dog. The 2019 fiasco with Savage and the verdict is still out on Gary. The selection of Love has saved Gutedkunst's job. Dillon over Willie Gay, or Logan Wilson in Rd Two should have had your hackles up. They don't have any more ammo to go after Q. Williams. The two picks with Musgrave and Bullard have not moved the needle.
Rovers work in college, not Pro Ball.
stockholder
October 28, 2025 at 01:19 pm
No- Queen was.
The proper fit was Tee Higgins.
TT drafted a Wr on a regular basis.
The selection of Love was condemned
at the time.
His trading for a back-up QB was bad.
And he had us all believing Rodgers would get
hurt.
After he got rid go Linsley. Bulaga etc.
Oppy
October 28, 2025 at 08:57 pm
I generally respect your opinions, Jannes, but saying 'the verdict is still out on Gary' smacks of someone who reads stat sheets as opposed to watching the player on the field play the game.
Gary is for real, his motor and effort are top level, and he's an extremely balanced player who is equally effective vs. the run or rushing the passer. He creates problems for opposing OCs.
I don't think there is a roster in the league in which he wouldn't be occupying one of the starting DE/OLB positions.
jannesbjornson
October 29, 2025 at 10:05 am
My bias was to select Brian Burns, or Montez Sweat. The Savage pick when better options were on the table is still baffling.
Gary benefits from the synergy with Parsons.
Dragon5
October 28, 2025 at 10:57 am
Believing in somebody is fine, but take the team to at least NFCCG or SB. Just a few weeks ago, he was the fool throwing a pick into triple coverage with the game on the line. Slap on labels after he's earned respect conquering the toughest playoff opponents; forged in fire. Until then, please save the king crowning for checkers. 🙄
porupack
October 28, 2025 at 11:31 am
I think your article intends well, but a little gushy one-sided. I don't think its all about a QB. Success or not is a careful concoction of a coach's game strategy, the receivers, the oline and whole attack. Its like arguing what's more important to making whiskey; grain or water? Duh....grain?
I think we saw MLF install an attack that mitigated weakness of Oline play, allowed JLove to get comfortable. The plays seemed to all have clear outlets, and multiple outlets. Designed for quick passes. So JLove could take some quick looks to the midfield, and if those were covered already had a clear outlet. So...the strategy was as much responsible as the execution. Both make the brew.
We're still too early to announce the succession of QB MVP in Green Bay. resist the sensationalism and stick with just good analytics on game to game basis. If/when GB becomes consistently dominant, and starts pounding other playoff teams in the playoffs...then you can start some sensation articles. Whoa, hooooorsey, whoooa.
Coldworld
October 28, 2025 at 01:00 pm
I think Love improvised on some broken or at least breaking plays and it was that that changed the momentum helped by Kraft, Wilson and Watson (and Pittsburgh losing their 6th OL and ceasing to run the ball as they had successfully in the first). Then we could tee off on Rodgers after that and that sealed the deal.
Strat
October 28, 2025 at 12:45 pm
I doubt he "silenced" anyone. He had a good game, but got away with a couple bad throws that Kraft and Watson turned into catches, made all the difference in this game. But that's the NFL anymore. Throw the ball up for grabs, jump ball time, maybe get a catch or P.I. I'm glad he did well, tough place to play, but this is still "his year" and there are a lot of games left in this year. Hopefully he remains at least fairly consistent the rest of the way. AFC North not exactly a powerhouse division.
Coldworld
October 28, 2025 at 12:56 pm
It amuses me to read these kind of statements. Did you never watch Rodgers at his peak throw one up to Driver, Jennings, Nelson, Cobb and Adams and trust his WR to go get it? How about Mahomes, Prescott? At times we prayed Rodgers would do that more. Know where your receiver is and what he can do and these things become not only possible, but how an offense takes the step into excellence.
Yes, there is some risk. However, there are also rewards. The trick is to stay on the right side of that line and not too far from it. Statistically at least, Love has been. He’s been almost as parsimonious as Rodgers in fact at this point in their respective careers.
13TimeChamps
October 28, 2025 at 01:41 pm
I've been making trips around our sun for 3/4 of a century now. I have to admit I have never encountered someone slipping the word parsimonious into a football chatroom before.
Well done Sir!
Ihappydirt
October 28, 2025 at 04:51 pm
The throw to Watson was beautiful, not a bad throw. Watch it again. Over the under defender, to the outside where only Watson could reach it.
The throw to Kraft he knew he could get away with because Kraft was looking and the db had his back to Love. Plus Kraft's huge strength advantage over the db.
Alberta_Packer
October 28, 2025 at 05:02 pm
Aaron Rodgers made Mike McCarthy look like a better coach - which extended his career with the Packers (McCarthy). In the last 2 games (especially) - Love transcended LaFleur's coaching by shouldering the Packers to consecutive victories. This is what I've been waiting for from Love. Becoming the clear and unquestioned v.i.p. in the entire Packers organization - including Micah Parsons. Now it's just a question of sustainability.
marpag1
October 29, 2025 at 03:56 am
Anyone who says Love "silenced all of his critics" is just as delusional as Stockholder, who is currently in the process of flooding this board with delusional critiques of Jordan Love.