Jordan Love Surpasses Aaron Rodgers in Key Metrics Through First 40 Starts
As the Green Bay Packers prepare to face the Pittsburgh Steelers, all eyes are on the quarterbacks who once shared a locker room. Sunday night’s matchup serves as a fitting backdrop to compare the performances of Jordan Love and Aaron Rodgers after their first 40 starts.
Rodgers’ Legacy in Green Bay
Aaron Rodgers, a stalwart of the Packers for 18 seasons, is a name synonymous with excellence in the NFL. Over his tenure, he secured four MVP awards and led the team to a Super Bowl victory. However, after the 2023 NFL Draft, the Packers traded Rodgers to the New York Jets, paving the way for Love to take the reins as the starting quarterback. Now, as he leads the Steelers against the team that defined his career, Rodgers reflects on the significance of returning to face his former franchise.
“It is just another game,” Rodgers shared prior to the season. “There’s energy around it kind of outside of yourself, but it doesn’t make or break your career. It’ll be fun to beat them, for sure, because I would’ve beaten every team, and because you’re trying to win all your games.”
Statistical Showdown: Love vs. Rodgers
As Love gears up for his 40th start, a closer look at their statistics reveals an intriguing narrative.
Comparative Statistics Through 40 Starts
Completions
– Rodgers: 856
– Love: 781
Attempts
– Rodgers: 1,346
– Love: 1,214
Completion Percentage
– Rodgers: 63.6%
– Love: 64.3%
Yards
– Rodgers: 10,483
– Love: 9,176
Touchdowns
– Rodgers: 70 (5.2%)
– Love: 68 (5.6%)
Interceptions
– Rodgers: 29 (2.2%)
– Love: 25 (2.1%)
Touchdown-to-Interception Ratio
– Rodgers: 2.41
– Love: 2.72
Yards Per Attempt
– Rodgers: 7.8
– Love: 7.6
Passer Rating
– Rodgers: 95.9
– Love: 97.3
Record
– Rodgers: 22-18
– Love: 22-16-1
While Rodgers outpaces Love in total completions, attempts, and yardage, it is Love who shines in efficiency metrics, boasting a superior completion percentage and a better touchdown-to-interception ratio.
The Context of Their Matchup
This matchup carries less of the emotional weight that defined previous quarterback transitions in Green Bay. Unlike the intense rivalry seen when Rodgers faced Brett Favre in 2009, this encounter is more about the teams than the individuals. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur emphasized the importance of focusing on the game itself rather than the narratives surrounding it.
“We’re playing the Pittsburgh Steelers, who happen to have Aaron Rodgers. It’s as simple as that,” LaFleur stated. “Granted, we’ve got a lot of love and respect for Aaron. What he’s done here, he’s a Hall of Famer. Our past together, we had a lot of great moments, but this game is not about that.”
Year Three: A Closer Look at Their Early Seasons
In their third years as starters, Love’s performance this season offers an interesting parallel to Rodgers’ early career. Here’s a breakdown of their statistics from the first six games of their third seasons.
Third-Year Comparisons
Completions
– Rodgers: 129
– Love: 122
Attempts
– Rodgers: 201
– Love: 176
Completion Percentage
– Rodgers: 64.2%
– Love: 69.3%
Yards
– Rodgers: 1,546
– Love: 1,438
Touchdowns
– Rodgers: 10
– Love: 10
Interceptions
– Rodgers: 7
– Love: 2
Touchdown-to-Interception Ratio
– Rodgers: 1.43
– Love: 5.00
Yards Per Attempt
– Rodgers: 7.7
– Love: 8.2
Passer Rating
– Rodgers: 89.7
– Love: 108.1
Record
– Rodgers: 3-3
– Love: 4-1-1
Despite Love’s impressive early-season statistics, it was Rodgers who found his stride later in the season, culminating in a Super Bowl run. As both quarterbacks prepare for their respective challenges on Sunday, the spotlight is on Love to continue proving his capabilities as he steps into the legacy left by one of the NFL’s greats.
