When the Green Bay Packers host the Detroit Lions on Thursday night, they hope to improve to 3-1. As Green Bay’s new starter, Jordan Love will face his first divisional foe at home, and the Packers will be seeking vengeance after Detroit eliminated them from postseason contention last season.
Love just defeated the New Orleans Saints in a thrilling come-from-behind victory that had a little bit of everything. The inexperienced quarterback struggled in the first half against the renowned Saints defense but recovered in the second to direct three consecutive touchdown drives and escape with an 18-17 victory. The Packers were without a number of key players, including offensive linemen David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins, wide receiver Christian Watson, and running back Aaron Jones. On Thursday night, Green Bay is anticipated to welcome back a few of those players, including Watson, Love’s new No. 1 wideout who has missed the first three games due to a hamstring ailment. This is significant for Green Bay’s offense even though his snap count will probably be kept track of.
Love has been an intriguing passer through three games, to put it mildly. In Weeks 1 and 2, he became just the sixth quarterback in the previous 20 years to post 300+ throwing yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. However, he also has the NFL’s lowest completion percentage (52.4%) and greatest off-target rate (16.7%). Love still ranks third in terms of touchdown passes with seven.
Love wants to throw the ball down the field, as we’ve learned over the past few weeks. According to TruMedia, he is leading in air yards/target minus spikes (10.6) and second in throwing attempts of 20 yards or more (17). Four Packers are currently among the top 45 in air yards/target. Watson can help in this situation.
In his first season, Watson was No. 7 in air yards per target (13.98) and No. 10 in receiving yards per target (14.9). Since Randy Moss, Watson is the first rookie wide receiver in the Super Bowl era to score eight touchdowns in a row. He had an impressive run in Weeks 10 through 13 of the previous season, compiling 362 yards from scrimmage and averaging 20.87 yards per reception in addition to those eight touchdowns.
Watson is a threat for long balls and, according to PFF, he topped all rookies in receiving touchdowns of 20 yards or more last year. In Watson’s absence, players like Dontayvion Wicks and Jayden Reed stepped up, but now is our chance to see this Packers offense in action.