Matt LaFleur Takes Blame for Jordan Love’s Struggles in First NFL Start

Jordan Love with the Packers in 2021
Jordan Love with the Packers in 2021. Photo by Darren Lee/CSM/Shutterstock (12522915bl)

The Green Bay Packers are probably not happy with the way their second-year quarterback Jordan Love played in Sunday’s 13-7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Love, stepping in for the starter Aaron Rodgers, struggled to get the offense going in his first NFL start and managed to complete just 55 percent of his passes for 190 yards and one touchdown. He also threw an interception.

Still, Green Bay’s head coach Matt LaFleur praised Love while speaking with reporters after the game.

“I thought Jordan, I was really proud of the way he played,” said LaFleur via ESPN. “He hung in there, he was taking hits and delivering the ball. I thought he did a really good job.”

LaFleur then proceeded to take the blame for Love’s struggles, saying that his shortcomings ultimately made the job harder for the young signal-caller.

“I think that, ultimately, I’ve got to be better, and this one falls squarely on me,” he added.

Love especially had troubles on third downs, where the Chiefs mostly opted for blitz. This resulted in the Packers converting just two out of their 12 third-down attempts.

“I think all it took was maybe one big play against it, and it wouldn’t have been coming as much,” said Love about Kansas City’s tactic. “Obviously, we weren’t able to execute it, so that’s why they kept bringing it.”

Green Bay traded up to select Jordan Love in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. The Utah State product didn’t play at all during his rookie year and spent the better part of the campaign as a third-string QB. Love got the backup job ahead of this season and got his first taste of NFL regular-season action in Week 1 in relief duty against the New Orleans Saints.