History is repeating itself. Around this time last year, Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers got hot, won six of their final eight, and came close to reaching the NFC Championship Game.
The Packers made an up-and-down start to this season, too. While they found ways to win, Love turned the ball over too often, and the offense couldn't get out of its own way. Based on what we saw on Sunday Night Football, Love and the Packers are (yet again) getting hot at the right time.
Josh Jacobs deserves his flowers as he built on his All-Pro level season. He ran all over the Seattle Seahawks' defense, putting up 111 total yards and a touchdown on 17 touches in the first half alone. But Love's performance should concern other NFC contenders.
Building on a run of good games, Love made smart decisions, never put the ball in harm's way, and made several big-time throws. His early-season recklessness has disappeared, and Love has found the right balance between smart decision-making and calculated risks. Love completed 20 of 27 passes for 229 yards and two touchdowns, earning a passer rating of 123.8.
The Packers are 3-1 over the past four weeks, and Love is playing his best football of the year. Is it just a coincidence that it's during Toytotathon? In those games, Love has completed 66 of 88 passes for 872 yards, seven touchdowns, and no interceptions, a passer rating of 132.4.
Jordan Love makes Packers a dangerous team entering a playoff run
Even with the Detroit Lions losing to the Buffalo Bills in Week 15, the Packers need a miracle to win the NFC North. They will almost certainly clinch a wild-card berth and spend the next three weeks pushing for the fifth seed and hoping to avoid the seventh.
No matter where they end up, the Packers are a dangerous team. Their offensive line is among the best in the league, Jacobs is back to his All-Pro best, and Love has a deep group of pass-catchers. The defense is heating up, especially the pass rush, and the secondary should get Jaire Alexander back soon.
Love is the key piece. When he is making good decisions and playing with this level of confidence, the Packers can beat anyone. You only have to rewind to their 48-32 win over the Dallas Cowboys in last year's wild-card round for a reminder.
They came close to upsetting the Detroit Lions last week and would feel confident in a playoff rematch.
Before Sunday night, the Packers hadn't beaten a "good" team. They made a statement in Seattle, proving they can beat playoff teams in hostile environments. It will serve them well in the postseason.
Three weeks remain, but Love and the Packers are getting hot at the right time, and that's bad news for the rest of the NFC.