The Raiders ambushed Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers, in a 17-13 Monday Night Football win that saw the first-year starter face relentless pressure from Maxx Crosby and the Vegas' front seven all night long.
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Love, who tossed a career-high three interceptions in Monday night's defeat, was also sacked twice, during a forgettable performance.
Aaron Rodgers, whom Love replaced as the Packers' starting quarterback this season, revealed during his weekly Tuesday appearance on ESPN's The Pat McAfee Show that he reached out to the 24-year-old after Monday night's contest.
"I sent him a message," Rodgers said. "I love Jordan, he's a great kid. I think he showed a lot of things earlier in the season. He's shown an ability to throw the ball downfield, he's very athletic, I feel like he's had a number of really nice look-offs, and some plays that the average fan has to be like 'Oh, this guy is going to be around for a while, this guy can play.'"
"I sent Jordan Love a message last night and he's a great kid..
The important thing as a QB is to keep your confidence and we all go through growing pains..
He's gonna be around a while and that Packers team is gonna get it fixed" @AaronRodgers12 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/izKdiJu0vj
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 10, 2023
One of Love's signature moments thus far in his career came back in Week 3, orchestrating a frenetic fourth quarter comeback victory at Lambeau Field. But, Monday night, Love received a bit of a reality check.
Love was held to 182 yards with three interceptions, was sacked twice, and rushed for 37 yards.
Still, the game came down to a Hail Mary attempt at the end of the game, and Rodgers believes that the Packers left some opportunities on the field.
"Watching the game," Rodgers said. "There are things about the offense that I know, so I have an idea of what they wanted to do. Watching that game, in the red-zone, it seemed like there were times they weren't aggressive as maybe they could have been ... There's going to be growing pains, I had growing pains my first-year starting, we all go through it. He's going to be just fine."
Rodgers has walked in Love's shoes, of course, and offered his Packers successor some advice for navigating the adversity that follow losses such as Monday night's.
"Week to week," Rodgers pointed out. "The narrative can really change. It can be 'you're not the guy, and this is a mistake' one week, and the next week it can be 'this guy is going to be around for 15 years.'"
"The important thing is, realize it's just part of it, there's going to be ups and downs in your career, in the season, you have to keep pushing through, you have to be the same guy every single day, have to inspire your teammates, and bring that consistency ... I love Jordan."
