Jordan Love looked healthy, comfortable, and decisive in the Green Bay Packers' win over the Chicago Bears. His return to full strength comes just in time for a huge showdown against the San Francisco 49ers.
Unlike in the Packers' loss to the Detroit Lions before the bye week, when it's debatable whether he should've even played, Love showed the kind of pocket mobility and rushing talent we haven't seen much this season. Limited by knee and groin injuries, Love spent far more time sat in the pocket as the Packers had to adjust their game plans and play almost exclusively out of the shotgun.
The Packers only ran 43 plays against the Bears, in large part due to the defense's inability to get off the field, but Green Bay reached the red zone on five of its six drives (not including a kneel-down at the end of the half).
Love made good decisions and only put the ball in harm's way once on an overthrow to Tucker Kraft, which was intercepted.
Now, a healthy Love gets the opportunity for revenge against the Niners. And don't think January's playoff exit won't be on his mind. Following last year's win over the Kansas City Chiefs, Love admitted he had the game circled on his calendar, as it was a rematch from his first career start in 2021 when he struggled in a loss at Arrowhead Stadium.
Love's mission is to not only strengthen the Packers' playoff hopes but to push the Niners one step closer to elimination.
3 bold predictions for Jordan Love ahead of Packers' huge showdown with 49ers
Jordan Love doesn't turn the ball over
Love needs to take better care of the football. He has thrown at least one interception in all eight games, a total of 11, and is on a record-setting run for the wrong reasons. However, there's reason to believe he has turned a corner after the bye week.
While Love didn't light up the stat sheet against the Bears, he had his best game of the season in terms of decision-making and process. Perhaps his only questionable decision was on his 48-yard connection with Christian Watson, who had double coverage. Kraft was open for a clear first down, but Love trusted his receiver to make a play, which he did.
When it came to process, Love was almost flawless. He hit his checkdowns, threw the ball away, and didn't force passes. His interception was just a bad pass; he made the perfect choice on who to target but just overthrew it. According to PFF, he only had one turnover-worthy play in the entire game, and the Bears picked it off.
Outside of one bad throw, Love's numbers looked great. He completed 76 percent of his passes for 261 yards and a touchdown to earn a 113.0 rating, his second-best of the year.
Love threw two picks in the divisional-round loss to San Francisco, both to linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who won't play this week. If he takes his decision-making from last week's game into this one, Love's turnover streak may finally end.
Jordan Love connects with Christian Watson for two touchdowns
Christian Watson needs more opportunities. Throughout his career, the Packers' offense has flowed better and found more rhythm when he is heavily involved. Defenses always have to respect his speed, and even then, he can make plays in double coverage like he did in Chicago.
Watson is healthy and reminded everyone how he can dramatically change a game. His 60-yard catch-and-run set up the Packers' game-winning touchdown. Beyond his ability to hurt defenses vertically, Watson blocks well and creates opportunities underneath by simply being on the field.
The third-year pro can get on a roll when he builds some confidence and momentum. In 2022, he scored eight touchdowns in a four-game stretch. Last season, he found the end zone four times in three weeks.
Watson only has two touchdowns this season but is coming off a career-high 150 receiving yards in last week's win. The Love-to-Watson connection is heating up, and they will connect for two touchdowns against the Niners.
Jordan Love-to-Jayden Reed connection dominates 49ers' defense
While Watson will catch two touchdowns, Jayden Reed will lead the team in receiving. With Greenlaw out, the Niners have problems defending the middle of the field.
In last week's loss to the Seattle Seahawks, they had no answer for Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who caught 10 of 11 passes for 110 yards while doing most of his damage in the middle of the field. The Packers can create similar matchups for Reed, and Matt LaFleur should find as many ways as possible to have him go up against former teammate De'Vondre Campbell.
Per PFF, Campbell has given up 40 catches on 46 targets for 335 yards this season. His coverage issues will play into the Packers' hands. Reed might not see a ton of Campbell, but he can dominate underneath in the same way Smith-Njigba did against this defense a week ago.