The NFC North is undoubtedly the hottest division in the NFL through six weeks of play. Each team has at least four wins and has a positive point differential of more than 40. At this point, it’s hard to tell how the division will shake out and who, if anybody, will be left on the outside looking in come playoff time. For the Packers, the difference-making aspect of their game will likely be the play of their star quarterback Jordan Love and their offensive line.
Like his fellow Wisconsinite Harry Houdini, who lived in Appleton, Wis., for a time and became renowned worldwide for his escape acts, Love has been incredible in avoiding pressure. So far this season, Love has the lowest percentage of pressures that have turned into sacks.
One reason for this is Love’s ability to move in the pocket while still keeping his eyes downfield to make a big play.
Love often takes an extra hitch or slight hop to adjust his platform. In the play below, he feels pressure on the backside but stays focused on the throw down the field for a touchdown.
Even when Love cannot escape more direct pressure, he finds a way to pull a rabbit out of a hat and get the ball off in an attempt to make a play or avoid a turnover. On the second touchdown to Romeo Doubs against the Arizona Cardinals, he faced immediate pressure in his face and turned a bad play call and protection into a play where, as Matt LaFleur put it, “That was just guys out there making plays.”
Love ultimately places his throw where Doubs can adjust to the ball or turn into a defender if the corner rotates and tries to make a play. Fortunately for Love, the defender was trying to read Doubs and didn’t look back to see where the ball was; otherwise, this could have been a turnover. The play only happens because of Love’s arm talent and confidence to make every throw on the field.
However, Love also gets himself in trouble occasionally. He’s tied for second in the NFL (with only four games played) with six interceptions, behind only Will Levis. Love’s confidence in making tight-window throws can also lead to turnovers. On one of his picks against the Minnesota Vikings, he was trying to throw into a tight window around several defenders to get the ball to Christian Watson.
A big factor in Love’s success is having an elite offensive line buying time for him. Green Bay’s offensive line has been lights out in pass protection this season. Per Pro Football Focus, the Packers’ collective offensive line unit has had a league-leading 81.4 pass-blocking grade this season. We saw some examples of their dominance on display against the Cardinals.
The Cardinals have a bottom-five pass-rushing unit. Still, it became clear early on in this game that Green Bay’s line was making easy work of blocking up when they rushed only four. The line buys Love time and gives him the comfort to make throws while doing a disappearing act.
Here’s a great example of a throw similar to his interception in the Vikings game:
Love does a good job improving his layering of the throw and looking off the linebacker to give a bit more space on a play that Arizona could have easily broken up or intercepted.
While Love’s magician-like characteristics can lift the Packers, he occasionally gets caught overextending. Love has a turnover and multiple touchdowns in every game he’s played this year. Ultimately, he will always be the driver of Green Bay’s successes, but you just want to ensure you always have a key to escape. After his injury, Love is getting a feel for the boundary of his abilities and skill, and I’m confident he’ll hone in as we get into November, December, and beyond.
