Jordan Love isn’t hesitant to take risks and throw deep. Just look at his remarkable 53-yard pass to Jayden Reed during the Green Bay Packers’ victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Week 5.
Love delivered an exceptional throw, and Reed pulled off an impressive catch. However, in retrospect, it might have been a risky decision for Love to attempt that throw at all. He essentially invited the Rams to intercept it by throwing into triple coverage. Still, he had faith in his ability to make the throw and in Reed’s ability to secure the catch.
All’s well that ends well, right?
In this instance, definitely. The Packers are happy with the outcome. However, head coach Matt LaFleur cautioned Love about making such risky throws in the future.
Matt LaFleur gives an honest answer about Jordan Love’s incredible pass to Jayden Reed
It’s tough to criticize a decision that pays off so well. Love believed in himself and Reed, and they succeeded. However, the process can sometimes matter more than the outcome. As LaFleur mentioned on Monday, consistently making risky choices won’t always lead to favorable results.
“The one to J-Reed, I don’t recommend that decision,” said LaFleur. “But he threw a hell of a ball and Jayden made a heck of a catch. It’s one of those things that you’re like, no, no, no, yes. But I just think, over time, you’ve got to be careful with those.”
Well said. We can certainly enjoy that play repeatedly; it’s truly spectacular. However, in the grand scheme, Love should likely minimize unnecessary risks.
“All quarterbacks go through this,” LaFleur noted. “We need to keep encouraging him to take what’s available. I respect his desire to push the ball downfield, but we often discuss that sometimes you have to earn the right to do that.”
There’s no doubt that Love embodies some of Brett Favre’s spirit, navigating a constant risk-reward dynamic. You can’t make big plays without taking chances, but there’s a delicate balance between being bold and being reckless.
Love demonstrated that the Aaron Rodgers approach can also succeed, throwing 18 touchdowns with just one interception during the Packers’ 6-2 finish to the 2023 regular season. He generally avoided unnecessary risks, taking what the defense offered while strategically choosing moments to shine.
Since returning from an MCL sprain, however, Love has edged too close to reckless play, with six touchdowns and four interceptions in just two games.
Including the season opener in Brazil, Love has thrown eight touchdowns but also has five interceptions. LaFleur aims to harness Love’s playmaking skills without stifling his ability to deliver spectacular moments, but he also needs to address the turnover issue.
His pass to Reed was phenomenal—arguably the best of his career. Still, it could have easily resulted in a turnover. The outcome was impressive, but the decision-making process? Not so much.
Striking the right balance will be the next challenge for both Love and LaFleur.
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