The consistency issues that plague the Green Bay Packers offense early in the 2024 season look quite similar to the problems that plagued the Packers through the first half of last season.
Penalties, misfires, falls.
Around this time last year, too many promising rides were halted due to poorly timed penalties, incorrect throws, falls or misplanned routes. The passing game, while newborn, seemed good but also frustratingly inconsistent for a long time before Jordan Love and his weapons finally broke out in a gigantic way in the second half of the season.
Almost the exact same narrative could describe why the Packers’ offense – while undeniably explosive – is once again “close” to something really good five games into 2024.
After eight weeks in 2023, Love has completed 57.7 percent of his passes with an average depth of target of 9.7 yards and an adjusted completion percentage of 65.9. According to PFF, roughly 8.2 percent of Love’s attempts were dropped, which ranked fifth among quarterbacks at the time.
Love, who has missed two games and has only three starts, is obviously less likely to start the 2024 season. However, after five weeks, the number looks strikingly similar. Love is completing 56.1 percent of his passes with an average depth of target of 10.1 yards and an adjusted completion percentage of 69.9. Roughly 11.1 percent of Love’s attempts were dropped, the most among quarterbacks.
When asked where the Packers could most improve going forward, LaFleur immediately pointed to penalties, undoubtedly a frustrating reality for a coach who struggled with the same procedural and post-snap issues with the NFL’s youngest team a year ago. The Packers are one of the most penalized teams in football since the beginning of 2024.
Overall, Love needs to be more exact, receivers need to complete more plays, and avoidable penalties need to disappear.
Sunday’s win over the Rams was a good example of how all three are hurting the Packers.
On the first play, Love opened for Dontayvion Wicks with a deep cross, but it went wide. Two plays later, he was sacked on third down and the Packers struck out. Later in the first half, the Packers faced a 3rd and 2. Jayden Reed made a tackle and was open, but dropped the pass, resulting in a punt. Wicks had a false start in the second quarter that put the Packers within their own 10. A play later, Love threw a pick-six while under pressure in the end zone. During a marathon fourth quarter, Zach Tom False started with a first down attempt from the Rams’ 36-yard line, and what could have been a game-tying score turned into a punt on 4th-and-24.
The connection between Love and Wicks could be the key to unlocking the whole case. Wicks had another down, and on third-and-10 with less than four minutes remaining, he failed to catch a deep ball that could have sealed the deal. Wicks has scored just 10 of 29 goals this season, including just 7 of 20 in the last two weeks. On many of the misses, either Wicks was open and Love missed, or Wicks failed to end the game with a catchable ball. If these two get on the same page, the Packers passing game could start.
On Sunday, LaFleur said the Packers strive for consistency in every game. His newborn team was hunting for the same thing in the first half of last year. Once they found him, everything changed and the Packers turned potential into amazing results.
That same potential energy exists in the 2024 Packers, and likely in greater volume. The sheer number of explosive plays made this season provided scoring opportunities and laid the foundation for what the Packers could become. Adding more consistency – a better throw here, a catch there – could convert potential into kinetic energy and result in another offensive explosion for Love and the Packers as the 2024 season progresses.
