After suffering a sprained MCL in Green Bay's season opener, Jordan Love was cleared to return in Week 4 of the NFL season. He made sure to make a number of statements ahead of — and during — his first game back.
Hours before the game was set to kick off, Love was spotted entering Lambeau Field wearing a vintage jersey of Hall of Fame Packers QB Brett Favre. Love's tribute comes days after Favre revealed he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, information he disclosed during a congressional hearing about his reported misdirection of welfare funds in Mississippi.
Given the nature of Favre's misdoings, Love's decision to pay tribute in such a way received a mixed reception, though Favre himself took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his appreciation for Green Bay's signal caller.
Big respect to @jordan3love for wearing this old man’s jersey.
— Brett Favre (@BrettFavre) September 29, 2024
I didn’t think I could like Jordan anymore until this morning. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/02xzFMCLPH
In Love's first game back, the Packers fell into a 28-0 hole before a furious second-half comeback came up just short. After the game, fans across social media couldn't help but note that Love's Farve-esque stat line was a continuation of his pregame tribute.
Here's a closer look into Love's numbers against Minnesota and why everyone has had the same reaction.
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Jordan Love stats today vs. Vikings
Love might have been recovering from a knee injury, but his throwing arm seemed just fine. He attempted 54 passes, completing 32 of them for 389 yards and four touchdowns, though he did also throw three interceptions.
Stat | Total |
Completions/Attempts (%) | 32/54 |
Passing yards | 389 |
Yards/attempt | 7.2 |
Touchdowns | 4 |
Interceptions | 3 |
Passer rating | 83.0 |
Love shook off the rust after missing two weeks of action and gave Green Bay hope in a game that very well could have been considered at halftime.
Of course, it's worth taking a closer look at the parallels to similar games that Favre turned in during his time as a Packer. Over Favre's 20-year career, he turned in two games with at least three touchdowns, three interceptions and 300-plus yards.
Favre is one of 32 players in league history to have two or more such games.
Love's Week 4 performance comes nearly 26 years to the date of Favre's first-ever such game, in which he finished by completing 27 of 45 passes for 388 yards and five touchdowns in a one-score win over the Panthers.
After the loss, Favre made sure to circle back and double down on his support of Green Bay's dynamic QB.
Dear Jordan:
— Brett Favre (@BrettFavre) September 29, 2024
Just a reminder that one game, one play, or one pass doesn’t define you. Way to show resilience today. You have a long career ahead. Just keep going forward.
#4
Social media had plenty of fun with Love's numbers.
Jordan Love wore a Brett Favre jersey to the stadium today and turned in a very Brett Favre looking stat line pic.twitter.com/iiyQ4HanHz
— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) September 29, 2024
JORDAN LOVE PROPERLY HONORING BRETT FAVRE TODAY…
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) September 29, 2024
• 4 touchdowns
• 3 interceptions
• 389 passing yards
• 32 of 54
Doing it just how @BrettFavre would have… pic.twitter.com/ClJXDZ4DXx
Jordan Love walked into the Lambeau Field today wearing a Brett Favre jersey. And proceeded to deliver the most Favre gunslinging stat line ever. #Packers #NFL pic.twitter.com/aQ1UQ3JYDJ
— Michael Clouse (@theonlyMC) September 29, 2024