On Sunday, the Green Bay Packers and head coach Matt LaFleur lost to the Chicago Bears 24-22 after a walk-off field goal from Bears kicker Cairo Santos. It was a disappointing game for Green Bay, which had previously won 11 straight games against Chicago, dating back to Dec. 16, 2018.
However, the loss wasn’t the only worrying part of the game, after quarterback Jordan Love, who started the game, had to leave in the second quarter after suffering a right elbow injury and never returned. With the Packers now set to face the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs, questions raised about whether Love will be healthy enough to play. After the game, though, LaFleur gave a very encouraging update, saying the Love “was good to go back in,” against the Bears if needed.
Matt LaFleur says Jordan Love “was good to go back in” if situation warranted it. In fact, he thought Love might play again after Malik Willis got his thumb hit, but Willis was able to keep playing.
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) January 5, 2025 Green Bay’s playoff chances would have looked grim without Love, who has been very productive this year. He officially ended the regular season, starting 15 games and completing 268-of-425 passes for 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Of course, though, during the regular season, backup Malik Willis was called on to start two games after Love suffered an MCL sprain in Week 1, and the Packers went 2-0.
In those games, Willis was efficient, completing 25 of 33 passes for 324 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions. However, those two performances came against the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans, who currently have a combined record of 11-23.
Luckily, with a serious injury avoided, Love seems to have the chance to prove why he was worth that four-year $220 million contract for Green Bay and possibly make a deep playoff run.
