Jordan Love dropped another three-touchdown performance last week, and if you weren’t paying attention to the Green Bay signal-caller, it’s time to tune in. This wasn’t some fluke. The film shows exactly how he picked apart the Patriots, play by play. Get ready to geek out, because this dude is finding ways to open up defenses that are just plain nasty.
Love’s First Strike: Deception and Precision for Six
Picture this: It’s 3rd & 5, early in the first quarter, Packers are on the 5-yard line. They’re in 11 personnel, starting in a split-backfield. Love’s tight end, Tucker Kraft, initially lines up to his right but then shifts out pre-snap to a bunch on the right side. The defense adjusts, and Love, ever the maestro, “Cans” the play, bringing Kraft back in as the in-line TE. That gives them a clear two-man look over Christian Watson and Matthew Golden, who are stacked up.
Kraft then motions under the formation, dragging his man with him across the field. It looks like Man coverage, but those DBs can ‘Banjo’ it, meaning they’d switch responsibilities if there was a switch release at the line. What happens next? Watson pushes vertical on a corner route. This builds a wall, forcing Patriots DB Christian Gonzalez to either go over or under if he wants to follow Golden inside. Golden angles out, pushes Gonzalez wide, then cuts back inside on an angle route. Gonzalez stays glued to Watson, leaving Golden with room inside. Now, Love still has linebackers to contend with, but here’s where the magic happens.
Love is doing this thing all year: he sets his shoulders and feet pointing outside, looking like he’s launching it to the sideline. That’s the trick that keeps Gonzalez on Watson and holds those LBs in place. It gives Golden the space he needs. Seriously, watch the replay of his feet and helmet direction versus where the ball actually goes. It’s an absolute clinic on how to pry open windows between the hashes.
Second and Third TDs: Bunch Formations and Back-Shoulder Darts
Moving to the third quarter, the Packers are up 24-14, and Love is still slinging it. On 3rd & 7, they line up in 11 personnel again, with Jonnu Smith as the tight end, but this time it’s a Bunch Nub formation. Three receivers bunched to one side, lone TE on the line opposite. No fancy pre-snap motion here, just pure execution.
Savion Williams is the point man in the bunch, with Golden outside and Watson inside. Golden and Watson run a double-post, a classic concept in that part of the field. Williams, meanwhile, stutter-steps off the line and runs a fade. With Golden and Watson tying up the safety, Williams gets a juicy one-on-one against Karon Prunty, a 5th-round rookie who’s seeing his first extended action outside of special teams. Love checks the safeties, then fires a perfect back-shoulder throw to Williams on the fade. That’s a great catch, too, and with the extra point, the Packers are suddenly up 31-14. Talk about making a statement!
And Love wasn’t done yet! His third touchdown of the day came on 1st & 10 later in the third quarter, shortly after the Packers forced their fourth turnover. While the details of that specific play weren’t fully broken down, it just cemented another stellar three-TD performance from the guy.
While the league was watching Love tear it up, our own Seattle Seahawks were out there handling business, putting up a decisive 17-3 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. A good day for football all around, and definitely something to keep an eye on as the season unfolds.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Acme Packing Company.
Leave a Reply