Fresh off of signing a up-to-date $220 million contract, Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love wasted no time in making a great throw to one of his many promising wide receivers to kick off the 2024 preseason.
On the third play of Saturday’s preseason opener in Cleveland, Love threw a deep pass to second-year quarterback Dontayvion Wicks for a 65-yard touchdown. The Packers took a 7-0 lead and never trailed again in a 23-10 victory over the Browns.
How did this explosive play come about?
Let’s start with the setup. On 3rd-and-4, the Packers went in a trip formation (three receivers on each side), with Wicks lined up centrally, Jayden Reed lined up inside Wicks and Luke Musgrave as the perimeter receiver.
The Browns tied it with one high safety, and Ronnie Hickman — the other safety — lined up over Wicks in the slot. You can bet Love saw that before the snap and knew exactly where he was going with the ball.
“We had a great game tailored to that situation. One-on-one with Wicks in the box and the safety was a little bit off,” Love said after the game.
From that moment on, two things happened.
First, Love used his eyes to manipulate the single high safety. The focus on Reed running from right to left pulled the safety out of the picture, giving Wicks half the field to work his route-running magic in one-on-one coverage.
Using a bit of Davante Adams magic, Wicks hesitated at the top of the route, forced Hickman to stop his feet, then subtly moved outside. The speedy cornerback might have had a chance to recover the ball. Hickman, a safety, had no chance.
Wicks executed the slot fade — a staple of the Packers under Matt LaFleur — to perfection.
“He ran a great route. He rocked him to sleep at the top and was able to pass him,” Love said.
Well, this is one way to start: Love to Wicks, 65-yard touchdown.
Wicks vs. safety. Love liked that matchup. (via @NextGenStats) photo:twitter.com/E9Om7p2FwI
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) August 10, 2024
In the penalty area, Love back-footed the ball before Wicks could get past Hickman. The throw was nearly perfect, hitting Wick in the groin and giving him a chance to escape Hickman and reach the end zone.
Love fired from his own 26-yard line. The ball landed in Wicks’ hands at the Browns’ 45-yard line. Given the accuracy, it looked like Love had passed the ball to Wicks 30 yards away.
“I got the ball out there for him and he made the rest happen. Great play by him,” Love said.
Love’s long-range passing accuracy was a bit spotty early in his first season as a starter, but he caught fire in the second half of the season and was one of the NFL’s better downfield quarterbacks to finish the year. His throw to Wicks on Saturday suggests his long-range passing is getting better.
…will be a problem if Jordan Love plays faster, manipulates defenders and looks for matchups like Dontayvion Wicks vs. safety.
Doubs, Reed, Wicks are a lively adolescent trio in Green Bay. Good to have football back, baby!! photo:twitter.com/cuQzgERpRM
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) August 11, 2024
Love’s final stats Saturday: 2-of-2 for 63 yards and a touchdown, with a perfect passer rating of 158.3. He retired after the opening touchdown.
Wicks was even more productive. He played exactly one touchdown with scrimmage. His final stats: One catch, 65 yards, and a touchdown.
