Jordan Love Has Officially Arrived

Gregory Shamus. Getty Images.

For a few weeks now Jordan Love has looked more and more like he might actually be able to do this damn thing. That being said the previous two games entering today came against the Rams and Chargers. Not the most competent, daunting defenses. Pretty much every quarterback has had their season-best game against Brandon Staley's unit. So how would Love fair in his first ever Thanksgiving game in Detroit? 

Perfectly. He handled it perfectly. 

This was a performance that puts him on the map to the whole league. People are now going to be forced to talk about Jordan Love and admit there might be something here. For fans, it's the kind of game that helps you forget about 12 and move onto 10. He was that good. 

The Packers won the toss and elected to receive. LaFleur wanted to be aggressive from the jump and that showed on the first play of the game as Love finally connected on this bomb to Christian Watson. 

As I write this I'm seeing MLF wanted to change this shot play, but Love insisted on keeping it. 

They'd cash on a few minutes later on a laser to Reed. Jayden has really come on here lately as a weapon. 

This throw was fucking ridiculous. Not entirely sure that's the play design we want with two WRs nearly running into each other, but my god he rifled that thing in there. 

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Love found Watson later on with this beauty of a throw for a score. This was a dime. These two haven't been on the same page all year, but today it all came together. 

Love iced the game with 5 minutes to go in the 4th with this keeper, showing off his speed in the process. 

The finished product? How's 22-32, 268 yards, 3 touchdowns, zero turnovers and another 39 yards on the ground sound? On the road against a very good Lions team that came into Lambeau earlier in the season and worked you? That's big time. 

There was never a moment in this game where Love wasn't in total control. Even when pressured by the Lions terrifying pass rush, he was able to get the ball out and throw it away to avoid sacks. His pocket presence was impeccable today. He was in sync with all his receivers. It all came together. Back in September the Lions jumped all over Green Bay. Today, the roles were completely reversed. 

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Obviously the big story is Love, but my god was the defense incredible. After the Lions first drive I thought this game was due for a shootout, especially without so many key guys. 

Rashan Gary took it upon himself to be a menace towards Jared Goff today. He was relentless. Joe Barry dialed up pressures all game that made Goff's life hell. Jonathan Owens blacked out and played the game of his life. This prolific Lions offense was completely shut down. They went 1 for 5 on 4th down and that lone conversion didn't come until their garbage time, over-saving drive at the very end. 

I hadn't really cared about wins of late and was more concerned about Love looking the part. Well just like that Green Bay has won three of four and have themselves firmly in the playoff conversation. They're just a game back of the 7 seed and after their next game against the Chiefs on Sunday Night Football the schedule gets incredibly easy: NYG, TB, CAR, MINN, CHI. At 5-6 right now, is 9-8 really that crazy? In Love's first season that would be very fucking cool. 

Every week I give a rating on where I feel Love is in terms of being the guy. After the Vikings loss I was at like a 2/10. Following last week's win against the Chargers I was a 5/10. Now? I'm think 6.5/10, maybe even 7. If you watch Love play you see a guy with all the tools of being a legitimate starting QB in the NFL. He's already worlds ahead of anything Justin Fields ever has shown with his arm. There's a ton of hope here and if you deny that you're just lying to yourself. Jordan Love has arrived. 

P.S. Shout out to the Waxing Gibbous. If the moon is all of a sudden shot out of the sky I think we know our suspects.