The Green Bay Packers struggled to evaluate Jordan Love's performance last Sunday, as the second-year backup -- who made his first career start in place of Aaron Rodgers -- threw for 190 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the team's 13-7 road loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Following the game, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur admitted to reporters that he didn't create a proper gameplan for Love, who spent the entire game under duress in the pocket. So, is it simply too early for anyone to conclude whether the former first-round pick can be the Packers' future quarterback? USA Today Sports columnist Jarrett Bell believes so.
"I was at the game, and Jordan Love didn't lose that game for them," Bell told the Reiter Than You show on Thursday. "They had three special teams gaffes, moved the ball. Love actually passed for more yards than Mahomes. He threw one ugly interception just outside the red zone. They were marching, so that hurt them. But the one thing I really like about him -- and I think it's going to give him a chance to be successful -- was his footwork...
"It's way too early to draw the conclusion [that Love can't be their future]. But we know he's not going to be Aaron Rodgers. So, what do you do? You have to support him with good defense and special teams, all the things any young quarterback is going to need. That's what the Packers need to come to grips with, if they want to start preparing during the offseason for that transition."
From start to finish, Kansas City's pass rush overwhelmed Love. According to ESPN Stats & Info, the 23-year-old completed just 6 of 17 passes for 30 yards when blitzed, but of those six successful plays, one of them happened to be a 20-yard touchdown pass to receiver Allen Lazard, late in the fourth quarter.
Love may get to start again on Sunday afternoon, when the Packers host the Seattle Seahawks. Rodgers, who tested positive for COVID-19 last week and isn't vaccinated, has been forced to quarantine for at least 10 days, and the earliest he can rejoin the team is Saturday if he's asymptomatic.
The entire NFL conversation between Bell and Reiter can be accessed in the audio player above.
You can follow the Reiter Than You show on Twitter @sportsreiter and @CBSSportsRadio, and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.