Packers' Jordan Love believes he's
learned from previous playoff disappointments
[January 08, 2026]
By STEVE MEGARGEE
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love has
done a great job of avoiding interceptions throughout this season.
However, he hasn't been nearly as effective in that regard during
his playoff career.
The Packers’ chances of extending their season beyond this weekend
depend in part on how well Love can protect the ball against the
Chicago Bears, who had an NFL-leading 23 interceptions and 33 total
takeaways during the regular season.
Love was picked off on just six of his 439 passes this season, but
he has thrown five interceptions in his past six postseason
quarters. Love will try to change that recent playoff trajectory
when the Packers (9-7-1) visit the NFC North champion Bears (11-6)
in a Saturday night wild-card matchup.
“Every play is something to learn from and grow from,” Love said
Wednesday. “That’s the mindset I’ve always taken. I think, like I
mentioned going into the playoffs having to win and then having a
couple tough losses, it all shapes you going into the offseason.”
Love's three previous playoff starts have run the gamut.
He made his playoff debut two years ago and went 16 of 21 for 272
yards with three touchdown passes and no interceptions in a 48-32
wild-card victory at Dallas. Love threw for two more touchdowns to
give Green Bay a lead at San Francisco the following week before
getting intercepted late in the third quarter and again in the
closing minutes of a 24-21 loss.
Last season, Love threw three interceptions without a touchdown pass
in a 22-10 wild-card loss at Philadelphia while many of his top
options got injured either before or during the game.
“You look at the way the 49ers game ended, throwing a pick to end
it, it’s a tough way to go out,” Love said. “And I think in that
situation, there’s so much good stuff to learn from in a two-minute
situation, understanding what the situation is, how much time is
left, what the down and distance is, how much we need. And trying
not to force the ball right there and make that play. And then, you
look at the Eagles game, I had a (few) turnovers in that game.
“So I think it just always comes down to taking care of the ball,
playing your best as a quarterback, and then putting the team in the
best position.”
Love completed 66.3% of his passes this season for 3,381 yards with
23 touchdowns. He threw multiple interceptions just once, when he
got picked off twice in a 34-26 loss at Denver that started Green
Bay's four-game skid to close the regular season.
Saturday will mark the first time Love has played since absorbing a
helmet-to-helmet hit from Bears defensive end Austin Booker in the
second quarter of the Packers’ 22-16 overtime loss at Chicago on
Dec. 20.
Although he missed Green Bay's final two regular-season games, Love
doesn't expect rust to be an issue Saturday.
Love practiced fully throughout last week after getting cleared from
concussion protocol, though the Packers chose to rest him for their
16-3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.
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Green Bay Packers quarterbacks Jordan Love (10) and Malik Willis,
left, sit on the bench during the second half of an NFL football
game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in
Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
“When you’re practicing throughout the week, you
still stay fresh,” Love said. “You’re missing some time playing in
the game, but we played a lot of games this season. You’ve got
banked reps.”
Love has a history of playing well against the Bears.
He threw for 234 yards with three touchdowns and an interception in
the Packers' 28-21 victory over the Bears in Green Bay. Love has
nine touchdown passes with two interceptions in six games against
Chicago.
“We talk about it whenever it’s Bears week, just understanding the
history of the Packers and this and the Bears — the oldest rivalry
in the NFL,” Love said. “It’s something that I wasn’t even too
familiar with before I got here, and then I think since I’ve been
here, it’s something you just learn about.”
The recent history of this rivalry — the past four Packers-Bears
matchups have all gone down to the wire — and the circumstances of
Love’s exit from the Dec. 20 game have increased the intensity even
more.
Booker was penalized for roughing the passer on the hit that sent
Love into concussion protocol. Asked whether he thought the hit was
a clean play, Love simply replied, “It’s a hit. It is what it is.”
Packers running back Josh Jacobs was more forthcoming on the topic.
“He’s never really rattled in those situations, but I know a lot of
guys took that hit that he took a little personal,” Jacobs said. “So
I’m not saying we’re going to go out there and play dirty or nothing
like that, but we’re definitely going to defend our brother.”
NOTES: WR/CB Bo Melton is going on injured reserve after hurting his
knee in the Packers’ regular-season finale. Coach Matt LaFleur said
it isn’t an ACL injury and shouldn't impact Melton’s availability
for next season. … Jacobs says he’s feeling “the best I’ve felt
probably in the last six weeks” after being slowed by a knee issue
late in the regular season. … Jacobs, WR Christian Watson and S Evan
Williams received the Tom Mulhern Stand-Up Guy Award given annually
to the Packers who best helped reporters during the season.
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