The Green Bay Packers had one of the more gut-wrenching losses on Saturday, losing 22-16 to their heated rival the Chicago Bears in overtime. Coach Matt LaFleur was left to contemplate one of the most excruciating losses of his short tenure. Adding insult to injury, though, starting quarterback Jordan Love departed the game after a helmet-to-helmet takedown and subsequently entered the concussion protocol.
The emergency unfolded on the second quarter. Love in pain after being hit by Bears defensive end Austin Booker, who moments earlier had picked up his second first half roughing-the-passer penalty. Love went 9-of-11 passing for 121 yards and tossed a touchdown pass to receiver Romeo Doubs. Unfortunately for Brown, his set was cut short when he was checked for a possible concussion. It was a big turning point in the game. This was the first time Love ever reported a concussion during his NFL career, up until now.
Aside from this most recent sabbatical, Love had dealt with a wave of injuries since taking on the role of full-time Packers’ signal-caller in 2023. For reference, he missed two games this season. The injury happened in the season opening game against the Philadelphia Eagles. He left and could not complete the Week 8 contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars, an aggravation of a groin strain. He fought his way back to play just a week later in that next game against Washington. This time last season, he left the regular-season finale with a right elbow injury. Luckily for him, he returned in full force for the postseason.
In the wake of Love’s injury, the Packers found it difficult to recapture that initial spark. They headed into the overtime round with dreams of victory. Disaster struck when Love fumbled the ball on a botched snap during their very first possession, cementing an even tougher path to victory.
“What’s the flag they called on that, roughing the passer?” questioned Aaron Banks, reflecting the frustration surrounding the officiating during the game.
In 2018, the NFL’s former head of officiating, Dean Blandino, echoed Banks’ concern about officiating inconsistencies and how it puts player safety at risk. He remarked, “I just don’t know. Guys get kicked out of games for taunting, but if you hit a quarterback late in the head, you know what I’m saying? That should get the same treatment for something as simple as taunting. I think that has to be reevaluated. I think that’s ridiculous.”
The unpredictability of Love’s durability brings another element of concern for the Packers. His status for their next game will be determined later in the week, and fans and teammates alike await news on his condition.
After the last-minute defeat that surely left the Packers disappointed, several of the players took responsibility for what they did on the field. Romeo Doubs on his performance in the game, “S
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