PITTSBURGH — This was classic Aaron Rodgers. Besides it was Jordan Love.
Twenty straight completions.
300 and sixty yards passing.
Three touchdowns.
No interceptions.
With Rodgers watching within the Steelers’ black and gold, Love, the quarterback who changed him with the Inexperienced Bay Packers, confirmed simply how a lot he realized from his predecessor in a 35-25 victory on Sunday evening in Rodgers’ new residence, Pittsburgh’s Acrisure Stadium.
“He is confirmed he is the successor,” Packers defensive finish Micah Parsons stated. “He is the up-and-coming. Like J-Love, speaking about once I was coming right here, I used to be like, ‘I do know they have a quarterback, I do know I’ve acquired a quarterback.’ I am simply so happy with him, all the pieces he is been via, how he is developed as a participant, how he is developed as an individual, and he is simply enjoying some actually good soccer proper now.”
It began after a rocky first half during which the Packers trailed 16-7. Then, Love started to warmth up. He practically doubled his earlier excessive for consecutive completions, which had been 11, and practically matched the 22 straight Rodgers accomplished over two video games in 2022, his remaining season in Inexperienced Bay.
“He is him,” Packers defensive finish Rashan Gary stated. “He is him. Everyone within the league, if y’all not woke, please get up. Get the crust out your eyes as a result of he’s him, and 10 is coming. Interval.”
Love completed 29-of-37 passing and put up the sixth occasion of a Packers quarterback finishing 75% of his passes with at the very least 350 yards and three touchdowns in a recreation, in accordance with ESPN Analysis. Rodgers has half of these such video games. Brett Favre and Don Majkowski every have one.
“Clearly, being behind A-Rod for 3 years, with the ability to see him and simply the high-level play that he was able to going on the market and doing and with the ability to put the ball on the cash always was very cool for me to have the ability to see,” Love stated.
Love dealt with the Steelers’ strain with precision. He accomplished 11-of-15 passes for 183 yards in opposition to the blitz. All three of his touchdowns got here when the Steelers despatched further rushers.
“The legacy that [Rodgers] left, I’d say Jordan’s filling these sneakers,” Packers tight finish Tucker Kraft stated. “Whenever you’re speaking in regards to the Favre to Rodgers to Love, Jordan has stepped up and fulfilled his finish of the cut price.”
Kraft was on the receiving finish of two of Love’s touchdowns — a 16-yard catch-and-run within the first quarter for the Packers solely rating earlier than halftime and a bang-bang 24-yarder within the fourth quarter to place the Packers forward by 10.
In between, Kraft hauled in a 59-yarder that Love heaved in semi-desperation with strain in his face. In all, Kraft completed with seven catches for 143 yards — 128 of these after the catch, probably the most YAC by a good finish in a recreation since George Kittle’s 135 in 2018 — and the 2 scores.
It additionally helped Love that he acquired deep-threat receiver Christian Watson again. Taking part in for the primary time since he tore his ACL in final 12 months’s regular-season finale, Watson caught 4 passes for 85 yards.
“He actually took command,” Watson stated of Love. “We knew that within the second half we needed to go on the market and execute loads higher. I believe he took the helm and simply led us and put us in place to make performs and that is precisely what we would have liked from him. He was undoubtedly big.”
None of it got here as a shock to Packers coach Matt LaFleur, who watched Love wait for 3 years behind Rodgers earlier than he took over because the starter in 2023.
“It is nice for Jordan,” LaFleur stated. “Jordan’s labored his ass off to get right here. He was affected person all through the method, all through the journey, and he took benefit of the chance, he actually did. It has been cool.”
After the sport, Rodgers and Love shared a short trade close to midfield.
“He performed nice, performed incredible,” Rodgers stated. “He is had a very nice season. He is been actually environment friendly with the soccer. He is opportunistic although I felt like he was very affected person tonight. He took the run options, he took the verify downs, moved within the pocket, properly thought he performed rather well.”
By seven video games, the Packers sit at 5-1-1 — the one staff within the NFC with fewer than two losses. Love has 13 touchdowns and simply two interceptions whereas finishing practically 71% of his passes.
“I am glad I am right here to look at it,” Parsons stated. “I am glad I am on this aspect. So J-Love, hold going.”