GREEN BAY — Jordan Love’s two-week absence was only that, as Sunday he dressed and played quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, but it wasn’t enough to help raise the team from a dismal 28-17 loss at Lambeau Field against the unbeaten Minnesota Vikings.
Love was featured in his first match since he aggravated his ankle injury. He uncharacteristically threw for 215 yards and only one touchdown, much of which can be attributed to his lack of work in previous weeks. A crucial hold and two interceptions by Love ended Packer’s drives and the momentum of the game. The Vikings have had arguably one of the best defenses in the league this season and they made good use of those interceptions as they contained the Packers offense for most of the game.
As for the offense, it never got into a grove after that and this let the Vikings establish themselves in the game, after going in at the half leading 14-3. The first half of play lived up to the hype and was all that the Vikings needed as quarterback Kirk Cousins was once again spectacular, completing 28 of 34 passes for 275 yards and three touchdowns, two of which were delivered to wide receiver Justin Jefferson who had yet another outstanding game with 140 receiving yards.
Still, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur believes Love demonstrated much in defeat to the tough Viking team. Jordan struggled out there indeed. I can’t say it was an easy game to come back to, especially against a team like Minnesota,” LaFleur said. “There are some things we have to fix offensively, but I do have to commend how he competed.” “
But it was all Green. Bay in the second half, with Love spearheading that fourth-quarter drive that would cut the lead of the Vikings to 21-17. Cousins and the Vikings were having none of that, however, as they also scored a touchdown to seal the win and push their record to 7-0 this season.
The loss leaves the Packers at 3-4, down a treacherous stretch in the NFC North against some of the division’s top teams, so this one hurt.
Love was upbeat about this team, though.
“We’re disappointed, but I’m confident in this group,” Love said afterward. “We just need to get back to work and execute better.”.
This next week will be the time when the Packers will pick themselves up when they play with the Detroit Lions as the Vikings continue their pursuit of an unbeaten season
