Packers' QB Love dominates Cards with full complement of receivers

 

[October 15, 2024]  By STEVE MEGARGEE

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Packers quarterback Jordan Love showed Sunday just what he’s capable of accomplishing when he has his full complement of receivers.

Whether that receiving group will remain at full strength moving forward remains uncertain.

Dontayvion Wicks left the Packers' 34-13 triumph over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday with a shoulder injury. Packers coach Matt LaFleur didn't have a definitive update Monday on Wicks' status.

“We’ll give him through the week and see where he’s at,” LaFleur said. "I just know it’s always a concern when you have a player that can’t go back in the game.”

Love had his best game of the season Sunday as he capitalized on Romeo Doubs returning from a suspension and Christian Watson coming back from an ankle injury. Neither Doubs nor Watson had been available for the Packers' 24-19 victory over the Los Angeles Rams a week earlier.

After throwing eight touchdown passes and five interceptions in his first three starts of the season, Love threw four touchdown passes and was picked off only once against the Arizona Cardinals. He also completed 68.8% of his passes, the first time this season he’s been at 60% or better.

“I think we’ve just got to keep building upon it, you know?” Love said after the game. “Build off this win, this performance, go back, handle business this week throughout practice, and we’ve got a really good team (the Houston Texans) coming in here next week."

Two of Love’s touchdown passes went to Doubs, whose suspension resulted from missing two practices leading up to the Rams game. Love also had a 44-yard touchdown connection with Watson.

Love wasn’t really to blame for his lone interception.

With rain falling for much of the first half, intended receiver Bo Melton slipped on a route late in the second quarter. With Melton on the ground, Love’s pass went to Arizona’s Sean Murphy-Bunting.

Love otherwise avoided turnovers, which had been an issue.

After missing two games with an injury to his left medial collateral ligament, Love got picked off three times in a 31-29 loss to Minnesota and threw his first career pick-6 against the Rams.

His performance Sunday was reminiscent of his late-season surge last season, when he threw 21 touchdown passes and only one interception in a nine-game stretch that culminated with a wild-card playoff victory at Dallas.

“He’s playing with a lot of confidence,” LaFleur said Sunday.

What’s working

The Packers continue producing plenty of takeaways. Xavier McKinney didn’t intercept a pass for the first time all season, but the Packers still recovered three fumbles. They have 17 takeaways — four more than anyone else. … The Packers outrushed the Cardinals 179-89. They're averaging 167.2 yards rushing per game, second in the NFL to Baltimore’s 205.3. Green Bay has rushed for 1,003 yards this year, its most in the first six games of a season since 1963. … The Packers punted just once all day. ... Love wasn't sacked.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love walks off the field after an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Green Bay. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

What needs work

For the second straight week, the Packers had a key turnover late in the second quarter that enabled the opponent to grab momentum. Murphy-Bunting’s interception came a week after Love threw a pick-6 in the closing minutes of the first half against the Rams. The Packers are getting outscored 54-43 in the second quarter; they’re outscoring teams 119-67 in the other three quarters. … The defense did a nice job of neutralizing Arizona’s rushing attack but didn’t have any sacks.

Stock up

Doubs scored his first two touchdowns of the season. … RB Emanuel Wilson rushed for 54 yards on just seven attempts and is averaging 5 yards per carry as he cements his status as a solid No. 2 running back alongside Josh Jacobs. … S Evan Williams continued his outstanding rookie season by by forcing a fumble and getting a tackle for loss. ... Rookie LB Edgerrin Cooper played 65.5% of the defensive snaps, the first time he'd been on the field for as many as 40% of the defensive plays.

Stock down

CB Eric Stokes was on the field for just 16 defensive snaps Sunday. He had played at least 53 snaps in four of the Packers’ first five games. … K Brayden Narveson made two field goals but also missed one from 44 yards. Narveson has missed five field-goal attempts this season — more than any other kicker — and that’s without any tries from beyond 49 yards.

Injuries

DL Devonte Wyatt missed a second straight game with an ankle injury.

Key numbers

17/18 — Green Bay’s season is barely one-third of the way over, yet the Packers already are on the verge of surpassing their takeaway total from a year ago. The Packers have 17 takeaways through their first six games after forcing just 18 turnovers all of last season.

Next steps

The Packers (4-2) stay home to face the AFC South-leading Texans (5-1).

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