For three quarters, Jordan Love’s home debut as Green Bay’s starting quarterback was a dud.
The Packers and their third-year signal-caller trailed 17-0 against the stifling New Orleans Saints defense and threatened a 1-2 start. Then Love rewrote history.
The Packers responded with 18 unanswered points in the fourth quarter as Green Bay cruised to an 18-17 victory, stunning the Saints and ensuring Love’s home opener debut was a success. The win was the 11th straight in a home opener for Green Bay, with the previous 10 coming with Aaron Rodgers under center. The Packers have improved to 24-8 in home openers since 1993, a streak that dates back to the Brett Favre era.
“It was very hard,” Love told reporters of the comeback. “Especially when you didn’t do what you wanted throughout the game, especially on offense. We hurt ourselves more than we helped ourselves.
“Just to stay in position and be confident in what we’re doing – to have that next-play mentality. It is not easy. “
How the rally came about
After Green Bay tied the game with a field goal with 11:00 left in the fourth quarter, Love secured the first Packers touchdown of the day with a four-down scramble from the two-yard line on Green Bay’s next possession .
The Packers were then the winner on a two-point conversion that Love completed for Samori Toure. The score cut Green Bay’s deficit to 17-11 and allowed the Packers to take the lead on their next possession.
They did this with a spectacular catch and throw from Love to Romeo Doubs on a third-down throw in the front right corner of the end zone.
The Saints had a chance to respond with the ball and with 2:56 left, Jameis Winston filled in at quarterback for the injured Derek Carr. But a 46-yard field goal attempt by rookie kicker Blake Grupe went wide right and sent Lambeau Field into a frenzy.
The Packers secured the victory despite the absence of several key players, including All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari and starting running back Aaron Jones. Second-year receiver Christian Watson was also inactive for the third straight game with a lingering hamstring injury.
Jordan Love’s Lambeau field start debut was a resounding success. (AP/Morry Gash)
At Lambeau’s launch debut, Love was greeted with a rousing ovation
Love received a hero’s welcome from the crowd at Lambeau Field, eager to welcome their new starter as the Packers continued to turn the page on the Rodgers era.
His reception threatened to be the highlight of his day as Green Bay’s offense remained stagnant through three quarters, setting an ominous tone to the start of the Love era. By halftime, Love had completed 7 of 16 passes for just 74 yards while the Saints limited the Packers’ offense to 116 yards.
Difficult start for Love
Green Bay’s five possessions in the first half ended with a turnover on downs, three punts and the end of the half. One of the punts was returned for a touchdown. The turnover on downs was a disaster near midfield in an opening period flea flare that ended with Love desperately making an incomplete pass while falling down.
Love opened the second half with a third-down interception of Saints cornerback Lonnie Johnson after an errant deep ball.
Two possessions later, another Packers possession ended with a failed fourth down, this time a fourth-and-2 pass to Patrick Taylor that went deep into the red zone. Things looked bleak for the Packers faithful.
But New Orleans’ offense stagnated after halftime and a shoulder injury sidelined Carr in the third quarter.
The extent of the injury was not immediately clear, but led to a trip to the hospital for further evaluation. Winston took over at quarterback and the Saints didn’t score again, giving Love and the Green Bay offense a chance to start their fourth-quarter rally.
Love made the most of his opening. He finished the game completing 22 of 44 passes for 259 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He added 39 yards and a touchdown on the ground, a tally that included a 24-yard scramble down the left sideline that helped set up the go-ahead Green Bay touchdown.
As he entered Lambeau Field, he exited the stadium to a rousing ovation from the enthusiastic Packers crowd.
He will try to improve to 2-0 in Thursday’s NFC North matchup against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field.