The Green Bay Packers have long been a storied franchise with a lineage of quarterback greats. Heading into the 2023 seasons. The Cheeseheads didn’t know what to expect as it was the first season in almost two decades in which they would line up without Aaron Rodgers as part of their squad.
The four-time MVP winner left Lambeau Field last summer in favor of a new venture with the New York Jets, however, his season ended six minutes into his debut after tearing his Achilles in the curtain raiser against the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium
Back in Wisconsin however, the pressure was truly on as Jordan Love took the reins as the starting QB, and all eyes were on how he would stack up against the league’s elite signal-callers.
The talented 25-year-old entered the season with the weight of the world on his young shoulders and the daunting task of leading one of the most storied franchises in the entire league into battle. In a league where the QB is often seen as the cornerstone of the team, the former Utah State star’s progress and performance were pivotal to the Packers’ success.
Let’s explore how he measured up to other top quarterbacks in the league.
Patrick Mahomes
Patrick Mahomes has been nothing short of a sensation in the NFL, often setting the benchmark for quarterback play. The former Texas Tech standout’s arsenal includes pinpoint accuracy, the ability to extend plays, and a tendency to make the big throws when it counts. he has demonstrated that throughout the course of the playoffs, leading his unfancied Kansas City Chiefs all the way to the Super Bowl even though they entered the postseason after a wretched run of form.
The Missouri-based side lost five of their last ten games, but their early season form was enough to secure the AFC West title. They have since knocked off the Miami Dolphins, as well as road victories against the Buffalo Bills and the Baltimore Ravens, with online NFL spreads making them a +280 underdog for success in the latter of those games. Both Mahomes and Love comfortably racked up over 4,000 yards, with the former out-throwing the latter by just 24 yards throughout the course of the regular season.
But the Green Bay sensation did have the edge when it came to touchdowns, racking up a mighty 32 – the second highest in the entire league – to Mahomes’ 28. However, he would swap that in a heartbreak if it meant that he would be able to feature in the Big Game just as Arrowhead’s finest is for the fourth time in five years.
Tua Tagovailoa
Tua Tagovailoa rose to prominence with his quick release and decision-making which has made him one of the most effective quarterbacks in the league. Over the course of the last two years, the former University of Alabama standout has come into his own, leading the Miami Dolphins into the playoffs on both occasions. Last year, his side was downed by the Buffalo Bills while this year, the Chiefs had too much for them to handle in the wildcard round.
Tua had an MVP-caliber campaign in 2023, topping the league in terms of throwing yards by amassing some 465 yards more than Love. However, he couldn’t match him when it came to touchdowns, throwing three less than the man under center at Lambeau.
Jared Goff
Jared Goff has a reputation for being a solid pocket passer and orchestrating offense with precision. Since making the move to the Detroit Lions two years ago, he has become one of the most well-rounded players in the entire league. This year, he led the Ford Field outfit to its first AFC North crown in history, before also securing their first postseason victory in 32 years, snapping a run of eight straight wildcard round eliminations.
If that wasn’t enough, the Lions then knocked off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the divisional round, sending them to the NFC Championship game for the first time in history. And it looked as though they were going to get the victory against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium after amassing a huge 24-7 lead at halftime. But unfortunately for Goff and Co., the Niners would mount a comeback of the ages in the second stanza, ultimately running out 34-31 victors.
Throughout the regular season, Goff outthrew Love by 416 yards, but he did throw two fewer touchdowns than his contemporary.
Lamar Jackson
When it comes to dual-threat capabilities, Lamar Jackson is often one of the first names mentioned. His dynamic playmaking with both his arms and legs sets a unique bar. Comparing Love’s rushing stats, escape ability, and versatility with Jackson offers no comparison. The Baltimore star was the dominant quarterback on the ground last season, amassing a whopping 821 yards and five touchdowns. Green Bay’s main man could manage just 247 rushing yards however, he did claim four rushing touchdowns, just one fewer than the mighty former Louisville Cardinal.