2023 NFL Power Rankings: Green Bay Packers

There was a warning sign early in training camp when Jordan Love couldn't connect on many deep balls, and that's perhaps the biggest thing holding him back through seven games. He ranks 31st among all qualified quarterbacks in deep-ball (10 or more yards downfield) accuracy (36%) and has thrown eight interceptions on such throws -- the most in the league. It hasn't helped that Love doesn't have a receiver who's beyond his second NFL season and that most of his tight ends are rookies. Losing All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari hasn't helped either. What looked like a promising start (seven touchdowns, one interception through his first three games) has turned into more questions about whether he's a franchise quarterback (four touchdowns, seven interceptions in his past four games). -- Rob Demovsky

Last week, I preached patience with Jordan Love. This week, I am a little antsier. The turnovers just have to stop. I promise if you go back and watch Love's first three games over again, you'll see a different quarterback than the one we've seen in the four losses since. His accuracy, touch and ball placement have been the biggest culprits. Rasheed Walker was benched Sunday (before re-entering the game) for giving up some pressures, but I don't think pass protection has been Green Bay's biggest issue this season. The defense hasn't been, either, though on Sunday, the unit wasn't great at slowing down Kirk Cousins before his injury. This is just a team adrift right now, badly in need of hope in one form or another.

They are in a free fall right now, and they can't seem to stop it. This season has spun out of control in the worst way. Are they done? It looks like it.

They've now lost four of five, failing to score a first-half TD in all of those games while being collectively outscored 73-9 before halftime.

Something scary (for them): Jordan Love's play

The man Green Bay hoped would take over (somewhat) seamlessly for Aaron Rodgers is 32nd in the league in completion percentage (57.7). Only Zach Wilson has had a worse rate in any season since 2020. And it's not because Love is taking deep shots. His 6.4 yards per attempt rank 26th in the league, and he's tied for the league lead in interceptions (eight).

Another week, another slow start. Not that it would fix all their problems, but I just don't see the Packers climbing out of many second-half deficits as currently constructed.

The Packers have gone five straight games without a first-half touchdown. While it's fair to say Jordan Love deserves more than seven games to prove if he can be a starting NFL quarterback, it's sure looking like the Packers' 2024 starting QB isn't on the roster now.

It's too early to give up on Jordan Love, but it's not too early to start thinking about whether he's the answer.

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