If you’ve watched the Green Bay Packers this season, you know that broadcasters love comparing Jordan Love to Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers. On Saturday, Love invoked another comparison to Favre and it wasn’t a good one – especially for Vikings fans.
The Packers took on the top-seeded San Francisco 49ers on Saturday night and Love took the field with Green Bay down 24-21. Love had a chance to lead Green Bay to a win or tie and the Packers were moving after picking up a 3rd-and-2 with a pass to Luke Musgrave.
With two timeouts, Love was in great shape, facing a 1st-and-10 from the Green Bay 36-yard line. But he was flushed out of the pocket by Nick Bosa and threw the game-sealing interception to Dre Greenlaw to end the Packers’ season.
INT NO. 2 FROM DRE GREENLAW!
đź“ş: #GBvsSF on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/yDUx5ZutVa pic.twitter.com/m2bUwvM8TK— NFL (@NFL) January 21, 2024
Vikings fans let out a sigh of relief after the interception but it came with some deja vu as Love throwing across his body to the middle of the field was eerily similar to what Brett Favre did with the Vikings in the 2009-10 NFC Championship Game agains the Saints.
Jordan Love really went full Brett Favre pic.twitter.com/KqkxrnztnU
— Tony Clements (@TonyCMKE) January 21, 2024
While the throws are similar, there are a few differences. Love’s throw happened as the Packers were driving for a game-tying field goal in their own territory while Favre was deep in New Orleans territory. While throwing the ball was Love’s only option, Favre had room to pick up a few yards that could have set up Ryan Longwell for a game-winning field goal.
Jordan Love deadass just did this pic.twitter.com/5ryMUcWvPz
— OsamaBinDabo (taylor’s version) (tonesetter) (@RyanDay2Hell) January 21, 2024
Favre’s throw also came on a 3rd-and-15 that was created after Naufahu Tahi was called for 12 men in the huddle. Love was facing a 1st-and-10.
Either way, the interceptions are moments that both fan bases will never forget.
CBS Sports researcher Doug Clawson pointed out that Love’s interception gave the Packers their fifth playoff loss in the final minute of a game, marking the most of any team since 2000.
The Packers have lost 5 playoff games with a lead in the final 5 minutes since 2000, the most of any team in the NFL
2003 vs Eagles
2014 at Seahawks
2015 at Seahawks
2021 vs 49ers
2023 at 49ersThe heartbreak continues
— Doug Clawson (@doug_clawson) January 21, 2024
Even the moment that preceded Love’s interception gave Vikings fans PTSD as Anders Carlson missed a 41-yard field goal wide left. Had he made the kick, it would have given Green Bay a 24-17 lead.
Anders Carlson misses a field goal to keep the 49ers within 4!pic.twitter.com/hEzKtxSXCr
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) January 21, 2024
Carlson is the brother of former Vikings kicker Daniel Carlson, whose infamous Lambeau Field meltdown in 2018 preceded his release and paved the way to become one of the top kickers in the NFL with the Las Vegas Raiders.
The miss gave the 49ers life and allowed San Francisco to take the lead on Christian McCaffrey’s 6-yard touchdown run with 1:07 to play.
No tears will be shed for the Packers on this side of the Mississippi River but it comes with some bad memories for Vikings fans. While Favre’s run with the Vikings included a 6-10 record in 2010, Love appears to be the Packers quarterback of the future, perhaps leading to more chances to make amends down the road.
