At his post-game press conference after the Packers’ 24-14 loss to the Lions, head coach Matt LaFleur faced immediate questions about Jordan Love’s costly pick-six. When a reporter asked for his thoughts on the intercepted pass that Detroit returned for a touchdown, LaFleur responded, “I think Jordan was trying to make a play under pressure. He saw Josh (Jacobs), but Joseph picked it off. You can’t make that throw against guys like Joseph and Branch. Joseph made a great play.”
When another reporter asked about the challenge of coaching a young quarterback like Love, LaFleur cut in, expressing frustration: “It’s really annoying up here, though. He’s fighting and competing. We know we have to take care of the football, but I don’t question what he’s trying to do. We just need to execute better.”
Although LaFleur may be tired of discussing Love’s interceptions, they remain relevant concerns. Love now leads the NFL with 10 interceptions this season. His pick-six against Detroit shifted momentum, sending the Packers into halftime down by 14 instead of seven. Under blitz pressure, Love scrambled right but forced a risky throw. Even if he had reached Jacobs, defenders were already closing in; throwing it away would have been the better decision. LaFleur acknowledged Love’s effort but admitted this error changed the game.
Love’s decision-making under pressure has been a recurring issue. In Week 4 against the Vikings, for instance, he forced a pass to Dontayvion Wicks under heavy pressure, resulting in a turnover. Even some successful plays, like his 50-yard throw to Jayden Reed against the Rams, have involved risky decisions—this one into triple coverage. Plays like these show that Love’s judgment often puts the ball at risk.
Though Aaron Rodgers’ legacy has set a high bar, fans should expect more from Love than his current interception streak. He’s shown that he can perform better, particularly when taking shorter, safer throws.
After the Lions game, Love acknowledged his need to clean up his play: “I’m putting the ball in jeopardy way too often. It’s something I have to address.” He added, “It comes down to staying true to my reads and being smarter with the ball.”
Love now has two weeks during the bye to work on these mistakes before facing a challenging three-game stretch in 11 days.
