Green Bay Packers fans know how good Jordan Love is, but it seems like the rest of the NFL world still isn't ready to accept it.
Many analysts focus on his interceptions, which is something he absolutely needs to clean up, but they ignore everything else. Love is fearless. Yes, it leads to turnovers, but more often than not, it results in explosive plays for the Packers' offense.
The stats back it up. Since the start of the 2023 season, nobody has thrown more touchdown passes than Love's 47. Baker Mayfield is the next closest with 46. Reigning Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes has 33 in that span and has thrown more interceptions than Love.
Despite missing two games, Love sits near the top of the TD standings again this season.
Jordan Love ranks second in the NFL for touchdown passes
Through the opening seven weeks of the season, Love has thrown 15 touchdown passes, tying Lamar Jackson for the second-most in the NFL. Only Mayfield has more, with 18. The best part? Love missed two games.
Rank | Player | TD passes |
|---|---|---|
1 | Baker Mayfield | 18 |
2 | Jordan Love | 15 |
3 | Lamar Jackson | 15 |
4 | Joe Burrow | 14 |
5 | Sam Darnold | 12 |
6 | Josh Allen | 12 |
7 | Aaron Rodgers | 10 |
8 | Kirk Cousins | 10 |
9 | Jared Goff | 10 |
10 | C.J. Stroud | 10 |
Love deserves to be in the MVP conversation. He is making big-time plays week in and week out, and the Packers are winning games.
Touchdowns? Only Mayfield has more. Clutch moments? Love led the Packers on a game-winning drive against the Houston Texans last week. No player has more touchdowns on third down than Love this season.
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Love is a playmaker. Including the playoffs, he has thrown multiple touchdown passes in 11 straight games.
Compare his numbers this season to Mahomes', who has started all seven games for the Kansas City Chiefs but has thrown for only six touchdowns with eight interceptions. But it's Love getting criticism for his interceptions. Love has nine more touchdown passes than Mahomes (in two fewer games) and the same number of picks (also in two fewer games, to be fair).
Matt LaFleur is letting Love make mistakes because the risk-reward is worth it. He makes far more good plays than bad, and he will learn when to take risks and when to take the more cautious approach.
Despite dealing with a sprained MCL that cost him two games, Love has made an excellent start to the season. He deserves to be among the early frontrunners in the MVP conversation.