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Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

QB Jordan Love has re-opened the Packers' Super Bowl window

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated 1/15/24

The Green Bay Packers weren't expected to beat the Dallas Cowboys on wild-card weekend, and they especially weren't being picked to absolutely boat race the 12-win Dallas team en route to a 48-32 blowout win.

The Packers weren't supposed to be in the playoffs this season. It was thought to be an experimental "growing year" for Green Bay. General manager Brian Gutekunst had just shipped off four-time MVP and future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets and the Packers were happy with just finding out what they had in his successor, Jordan Love.

And it looked like they didn't have much for the first quarter of the season. Love struggled early and the Packers "raced off" to a 2-5 start.

Something clicked in Love's head around early November, though, and he and the Packers' offense have since been an absolute force.

That was never more evident than against Dallas in the playoffs when Love walked into Jerry Jones' masterpiece and created his own. He completed 16-of-21 passes for 272 yards and three touchdowns — looking in complete control of the offense the whole time while flashing other-worldly talent multiple times.

Jordan Love is BUILT DIFFERENT pic.twitter.com/pEaRsjLyzH
— IKE Packers Podcast (@IKE_Packers) January 14, 2024

If you were squinting, you would have sworn that Rodgers was still under center for the Packers — or even a young Brett Favre. Love has developed into an absolute superstar.

Took Jordan Love one season to go through the Josh Allen development arc.

Dude became a super hero in 18 games pic.twitter.com/ShssHZlU0X
— Sam Monson (@PFF_Sam) January 15, 2024

By beating Dallas, the Packers set themselves up for a date with a familiar foe in the San Francisco 49ers, and it wouldn't be surprising if the Pack was taken down by the NFC's No. 1 seed. But the very fact that Green Bay is still playing and is contending not even a year after trading Rodgers is an incredible revelation.

Love's ascendance to stardom will have an even bigger impact on Green Bay's future, though, because if this is him still "figuring it out" — what will he look like next season and beyond?

That's just as true of him as it is for the offense around him. Head coach Matt LaFleur is currently making hay with a roster of young playmakers like Romeo Doubs (second season), Dontayvion Wicks (rookie), Tucker Kraft (rookie), Luke Musgrave (rookie) and Christian Watson (second season).

As Love continues to ascend, it makes sense that that core nucleus of young, cheap talent will only get better as well.

Even if the Packers lose to the 49ers next weekend, Green Bay's Super Bowl window has been blown wide open by Love.

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