Packers Offense, Special Teams Sputter To 13-7 Loss In Love's 1st Start

After a wild week of news surrounding the Packers, 2020 first round pick Jordan Love made his first career start in the NFL. Despite a healthy wide receiver group, the Love-led Packers were not able to pull out a win on Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs, losing 13-7.

The Packers certainly weren't lacking for opportunities however. In the first quarter, after the Chiefs completed a 15 play drive to get into the endzone and take a 7-0 lead, the Packers ensuing 9 play, 53 yard drive came up empty after a 40 yard field goal attempt from Mason Crosby missed wide left.

After the defense forced a turnover on downs in Kansas City territory, the special teams failed again, with Mason Crosby's 37 yard field goal attempt getting blocked by the Chiefs' Alex Okafor.

Green Bay's defense forced a Kansas City punt with just under 3 minutes to go in the first half, but Malik Taylor fell down trying to block and the ball hit off his foot and was recovered by the Chiefs at the GB 10 yard line. The defense made another stand and held KC to a field goal, making it a 10-0 game.

Love got the Packers close on the following possession, but they weren't able to convert on 4th down at the Kansas City 38 yard line, and they gave the ball back to the Chiefs, who kicked another field goal before halftime.

In the second half, the Packers defense continued to hold up and force punt after punt, but the Packers offense wasn't able to take advantage. Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, sensing a nervous rookie QB in his first career start, was sending blitzes all night and trying to make Love as uncomfortable in the pocket as possible. Love put together a good drive, spanning 14 plays and covering 68 yards, but L'Jarius Sneed intercepted a pass intended for Davante Adams.

Eventually, the Packers did get into the endzone on their final possession of the game, with Love throwing a 20 yard TD pass to Allen Lazard for Love's first NFL TD.

Love finished the night completing 19 of 34 pass attempts for 190 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, and a 69.5 passer rating. The loss isn't completely on him, as several other facets of the offense weren't working, and special teams certainly didn't help. If those two field goal attempts in the first half are made, then this is a whole different ballgame.

The seven-game winning streak comes to an end and the Packers fall to 7-2, but they still have a sizable lead in the NFC North. Aaron Rodgers is slated to be back next week when Green Bay takes on the Seahawks at Lambeau Field.


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