Acme Packing Company
For the third time in his NFL career, Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love will get a chance to show a national audience what he’s capable of on Thanksgiving. This year, Love and the Packers once again face the Detroit Lions in Thursday’s early game.
The early results on the holiday have been terrific for Love. Whether Toyotathon is responsible for his Thanksgiving performances remains to be seen, but the 27-year-old has gone 2-0 on Turkey Day with an absurd 127.2 passer rating.
Love is off to another hot start this season, leading all full-time starters in EPA per dropback, according to NFELO. He’s been remarkably efficient while taking care of the ball, but head coach Matt LaFleur has been conservative in terms of letting his franchise quarterback air it out.
That conservative offensive approach can be justified, at least in last week’s win over the Minnesota Vikings where Love attempted just 21 passes compared to the team’s 42 rushing attempts. Love is currently dealing with a separated non-throwing shoulder that forced him to hand the ball off with the wrong hand multiple times in the win.
Still, when asked to throw the ball, Love looked completely fine dropping back and delivering accurate passes, even completing 6-of-9 passes for 65 yards when under pressure. That includes this ridiculous pass on third down to Dontayvion Wicks.
Love efficiently carved up this Detroit defense earlier this season, completing 16-of-22 passes for 188 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions in a statement win in the season opener.
That Lions defense is also dealing with a handful of injuries heading into Thanksgiving. Safety Kerby Joseph has already been ruled out, while cornerback Terrion Arnold could potentially return after missing the last few games with a concussion suffered against the Washington Commanders on November 9.
It’s not like the Lions defense is pushovers, but LaFleur needs to have a much more aggressive gameplan against Detroit than he did against Minnesota. It’s unlikely the Packers will find much success if they attempt 42 rushing plays on Thursday, as the Lions rank sixth in defensive DVOA against the run.
This won’t be an easy game for the Packers offense, but if Love and LaFleur can get the passing game going, then there’s a real path to victory for Green Bay, and a chance to get back on top of the NFC North over the holiday weekend.
