The first few weeks of the 2024 NFL season have not been short of surprising results, including a number in the NFC North division. For example, the Green Bay Packers, who have played their last two games without Jordan Love, are 2-1. An even bigger surprise is that the Minnesota Vikings, who have played their last two games against San Francisco and Houston with Sam Darnold as the starter, are one of the last 3-0 teams in the league.
There are just six days left until the Packers and Vikings face off in what is arguably the marquee game of Week 4, which includes games like Bills vs. Ravens, Chiefs vs. Chargers and Seahawks vs. Lions. Two weeks ago at this time, it would have seemed impossible. The good news for Green Bay is that they may not have to rely on a ball-sparing defense, Malik Willis and the mad wizardry of Matt LaFleur to get through this.
According to Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, Jordan Love will be one participant limited to training this week.
“I’m sure he’ll be limited,” LaFleur said Monday, according to Dominique Yates of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. “Then it’s just day-by-day work. We’ll see. I think anybody who saw what happened to him knows it’s a legitimate injury. He’s working on it. He’s doing everything he can to be on the field. We want him on the field.”
It makes sense that Matt LaFleur and the Packers are eager to get Jordan Love back on the field. Since Green Bay’s bye week last year, Love has started fifteen games. In those games, the Packers are just 8-7, but Love has shown incredible growth, completing 66 percent of his passes for 3,802 yards, 31 touchdowns, and just eight interceptions. Overall, Love has played like the franchise quarterback Green Bay paid him to return to in July.
The Packers are fortunate to have avoided a worst-case scenario with Love. Even if it means he’ll need another week or two of “limited” action before he’s back to 100 percent.
Packers face toughest test yet with Vikings defense led by Brian Flores
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Whether it’s Jordan Love or Malik Willis who starts Sunday for Green Bay, the Packers will face a tough challenge against a Minnesota Vikings defense that has done a remarkable job under second-year defensive coordinator Brian Flores. The Vikings are currently second in the league in points allowed per game and are coming off a performance against the Houston Texans in which quarterback CJ Stroud had a 68.6 passer rating, the second-worst mark of his career.
It remains to be seen whether the Minnesota Vikings defense will be able to operate this way throughout the year, but the same can be said for Green Bay with Malik Willis as its starting quarterback. Willis seemed like a lost cause in Tennessee, but he has since been rejuvenated by Matt LaFleur and the Packers. It’s not a long-term solution, but it could be enough until Jordan Love is no longer limited.
