Final Comparison: Love in 2023 vs. Rodgers in 2008

Comparing Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love’s first season replacing Aaron Rodgers in 2023 to Rodgers’ first season replacing Brett Favre in 2008 has always been an apples-to-avocados process.

Different supporting players, different eras, different opponents added up to a different challenge and different results. Nonetheless, with their first seasons complete following a playoffs-clinching victory over Chicago, the final numbers are in. With Love getting an additional start due to the expanded season:

Passer rating: Love, 96.1. Rodgers, 93.8.

Completion percentage: Love, 64.2. Rodgers, 63.6.

Yards: Love, 4,158; Rodgers, 4,038.

Touchdowns: Love, 32. Rodgers, 28.

Interceptions: Love, 11. Rodgers, 13.

So, how would Rodgers fare in replacing a four-time MVP?

Incredibly well.

Love finished 11th in passer rating, seventh in yards, 21st in completion percentage (after being 32nd at midseason) and second in touchdowns. Rodgers was sixth in rating, fourth in yards, 10th in completion percentage and fourth in touchdowns.

So, Love had the better numbers; Rodgers had the better league rankings. Love was throwing passes to the youngest group of receivers and tight ends in the NFL; Rodgers was throwing to an experienced group and inherited a team that was coming off a trip to the NFC Championship Game.

Our weekly quarterback comparisons were never just about statistics, though that was an inevitable part of the process. The idea was to plot the weekly ups and downs that are inevitable for a young quarterback.

Remember, Rodgers went 6-10 in his debut season. He lost one close game after another, sometimes by his own doing, sometimes because of the defense or special teams. With the Packers positioned to make the playoffs, they lost five in a row down the stretch.

Love had those same growing pains, with late-game failures at Atlanta, Las Vegas and Denver leading to a 2-5 start. But, unlike Rodgers, Love got the team headed in the right direction. In the final equation, this is the set of numbers that matter:

Record: Love, 9-8. Rodgers, 6-10.

“It was tough,” a triumphant Love said. “We went on a stretch where we just weren’t finding ways to win. We were in a lot of really close games and we just couldn’t get over that hump. It was really tough, but no one blinked. No one was crying about losing. We found ways to get better.

“Obviously, I think the main thing was we’ve just got to find ways to win those close games. That’s what we’ve been able to do. Obviously, we had one tonight. So, I think that’s the mentality – just finding ways to win. Because we know it’s not going to be easy.”

Rodgers sat on the bench for three seasons before replacing Favre. Love sat on the bench for three seasons before replacing Rodgers. Rodgers quickly showed enough to earn a long-term contract extension. There’s no doubt a new contract is coming for Love.

Coach Matt LaFleur said it best.

“I don’t think there’s many questions left, to be honest with you,” he said.

Not after, with a trip to the playoffs on the line, Love was 27-of-32 passing.

“You want to play in big-time games and, when the pressure’s on, just to be able to go showcase what you’re made of,” Love said. “Definitely being on the bench for those three years and being behind Aaron and wanting to be out there so bad, now that I’ve got my opportunity, just making the most of it, taking it and running with it. That’s the same thing that everyone in that locker room is doing when they get those opportunities.

“It’s definitely something that I was waiting for and dreaming of.”

Jordan Love Through Full 17-Game Season in 2023

Week 1, at Chicago (win): 15-of-27 passing, 245 yards, three touchdowns vs. zero interceptions, 123.2 rating.

Week 2, at Atlanta (loss): 14-of-25 passing, 151 yards, three touchdowns vs. zero interceptions, 113.5 rating.

Week 3, New Orleans (win): 22-of-44 passing, 259 yards, one touchdown vs. one interception, 66.4 rating.

Week 4, Detroit (loss): 23-of-36 passing, 246 yards, one touchdown vs. two interceptions, 69.9 rating.

Week 5, Las Vegas (loss): 16-of-30 passing, 182 yards, zero touchdowns vs. three interceptions, 32.2 rating.

Week 6, bye.

Week 7, Denver (loss): 21-of-31 passing, 180 yards, two touchdowns vs. one interception, 90.8 rating.

Week 8, Minnesota (loss): 24-of-41 passing, 229 yards, one touchdown vs. one interception, 72.1 rating.

Week 9, L.A. Rams (win): 20-of-26 passing, 228 yards, one touchdown vs. zero interceptions, 115.5 rating.

Week 10, Pittsburgh (loss): 21-of-40 passing, 289 yards, two touchdowns vs. two interceptions, 71.8 rating.

Week 11, L.A. Chargers (win): 27-of-40 passing, 322 yards, two touchdowns vs. zero interceptions, 108.5 rating.

Week 12, Detroit (win): 22-of-32 passing, 268 yards, three touchdowns vs. zero interceptions, 125.5 rating.

Week 13, Kansas City (win): 25-of-36 passing, 267 yards, three touchdowns vs. zero interceptions, 118.6 rating.

Week 14, N.Y. Giants (loss): 25-of-39 passing, 218 yards, one touchdown vs. one interception, 76.7 rating.

Week 15, Tampa Bay (loss): 29-of-39 passing, 284 yards, two touchdowns vs. zero interceptions, 111.5 rating.

Week 16, Carolina (win): 17-of-28 passing, 219 yards, two touchdowns vs. zero interceptions, 109.1 rating.

Week 17, Minnesota (win): 24-of-33 passing, 256 yards, three touchdowns vs. zero interceptions, 125.3 rating.

Week 18, Chicago (win): 27-of-32 passing, 316 yards, two touchdowns vs. zero interceptions, 128.5 rating.

Total: 372-of-579 passing (64.2 percent), 4,158 yards, 32 touchdowns vs. 11 interceptions, 96.1 rating.

Aaron Rodgers Through Full 16-Game Season in 2008

Week 1, Minnesota (win): 18-of-22 passing, 178 yards, one touchdown vs. zero interceptions, 115.5 rating.

Week 2, at Detroit (win): 24-of-38 passing, 328 yards, three touchdowns vs. zero interceptions, 117.0 rating.

Week 3, Dallas (loss): 22-of-39 passing, 290 yards, zero touchdowns vs. zero interceptions, 80.1 rating.

Week 4, Tampa Bay (loss): 14-of-27 passing, 165 yards, two touchdowns vs. three interceptions, 55.9 rating.

Week 5, Atlanta (loss): 25-of-37 passing, 313 yards, three touchdowns vs. one interception, 109.4 rating.

Week 6, Seattle (win): 21-of-30 passing, 208 yards, two touchdowns vs. zero interceptions, 111.5 rating.

Week 7, Indianapolis (win): 21-of-28 passing, 186 yards, one touchdown vs. zero interceptions, 104.2 rating.

Week 8: Bye

Week 9, Tennessee (loss): 22-of-41 passing, 314 yards, one touchdown vs. one interception, 76.7 rating.

Week 10, Minnesota (loss): 15-of-26 passing for 142 yards, zero touchdowns vs. zero interceptions, 72.9 rating.

Week 11, Chicago (win): 23-of-30 passing, 227 yards, two touchdowns vs. one interception, 105.8 rating.

Week 12, New Orleans (loss): 23-of-41 passing, 248 yards, two touchdowns vs. three interceptions, 59.8 rating.

Week 13, Carolina (loss): 29-of-45 passing, 298 yards, three touchdowns vs. one interception, 96.3 rating.

Week 14, Houston (loss): 19-of-30 passing, 295 yards, two touchdowns vs. one interception, 104.2 rating.

Week 15, Jacksonville (loss): 20-of-32 passing, 278 yards, one touchdown vs. one interception, 87.8 rating.

Week 16, Chicago (loss): 24-of-39 passing, 260 yards, two touchdowns vs. one interception, 87.6 rating.

Week 17, Detroit (win): 21-of-31 passing, 308 yards, three touchdowns vs. zero interceptions, 132.2 rating.

Total: 345-of-536 passing (63.6 percent), 4,038 yards, 28 touchdowns vs. 13 interceptions, 93.8 rating.