Locals in the NFL: Jordan Love shows his growth as Packers control playoff destiny

AROUND THE SHIELD — Jordan Love's last time out against the Minnesota Vikings went far from how he had hoped.

That may as well have been another lifetime — not just nine weeks ago — for the Green Bay Packers starter, who completed just 58.5% of his passes for 229 yards, a touchdown and an interception in a 24-10 loss Oct. 29.

In Sunday's primetime rematch, Love completed 24-of-33 passes for 256 yards and three touchdowns — and ran for another score — as the Green Bay Packers cruised past division rival Minnesota 33-10 on Sunday Night Football to cap Week 17.

That's just a small microcosm of Love's growth in his third season of pro football, but his first as the Packers' full-time starter after learning under future Hall-of-Famer Aaron Rogers for two years.

"I think I've grown in a lot of ways, just showing up to work every week, trying to find ways to get better and growing on the little mistakes," Love told NBC after the win. "I'm just trusting everybody around me."

Aaron Jones ran for 120 yards and Jayden Reed had two touchdown catches for the Packers (8-8), who can clinch the NFC's final wild card spot with a home win over Chicago in the regular-season finale.

In his latest triumph, Love got the best of a Utah college football derby against a Minnesota squad led by former BYU quarterback Jaren Hall.

In the Maple Mountain High product's first start since he left the game early with a concussion in Week 9, it was Love that took advantage early to give the Packers a lead.

The former first-round pick in his first full season as a starter threw for 180 yards and two touchdowns to Jayden Reed in the first half, and also ran for a 2-yard score to give Green Bay a 23-3 halftime advantage over their division rivals on the road.

"He's unflappable, standing in there making plays," Packers coach Matt LaFleur told NBC of Love at halftime. "And guys are making plays for him."

Hall completed 5-of-10 passes for 67 yards and an interception, a fumble and three sacks taken for the Vikings (7-9) in the first half before being replaced by Nick Mullens. But Love wasn't done.

The Aggies alum capped a 13-play, 91-yard touchdown drive with a 9-yard strike off his back foot to a wide-open Bo Melton that put Green Bay up 30-3 after three quarters to help salt the game away.

Love got plenty of help from his defense, a once-maligned crew that totaled four sacks and 14 quarterback hits in harassing Minnesota's dual-quarterback setup.

"I think in the business of what we do, we're always going to be criticized," Love said. "But it's all about what you do next, and they came in and stepped up big tonight. Talk about some huge plays."

Love made his comments on the field with NBC's Melissa Stark, wearing a New Year's Eve-themed top hat just a few moments before midnight on the east coast. That's when the Bakersfield, California, native also publicly revealed his New Year's resolution on national TV.

"My New Year's resolution is to learn how to shuffle cards," he said, laughing. "I need to learn how to do it for all the games I play … like Uno."

Here are other standout performances from several former Utah college and high school football players in Week 17 of the 2023 NFL regular season:

• Former BYU receiver Puka Nacua caught five passes for 118 yards as the Los Angeles Rams clinched a playoff berth with a 26-25 win over the New York Giants (combined with Seattle's 30-23 loss to Pittsburgh). The fifth-round rookie from Orem High now has 1,445 yards on 101 catches this season after his seventh 100-yard performance of the season, tying Odell Beckham Jr. and Justin Jefferson for the most by a rookie in the Super Bowl era. Nacua is just four receptions and 28 yards shy of breaking Bill Groman's all-time rookie record of 1,472 yards by a rookie that has stood for 63 years.
• Former Utah starter Tyler Huntley came off the bench to throw a 19-yard touchdown as the Baltimore Ravens routed the Miami Dolphins 56-19. It was just the second touchdown of the year for the 25-year-old signal caller from Dania, Florida.
• Former BYU linebacker Fred Warner had six tackles in the San Francisco 49ers' 27-10 win over the Washington Commander, and also delivered a perfect quip after watching Arizona's 35-31 upset over Philadelphia that clinched the No. 1 seed out of the NFC: "Thank you, Cardinals."

Sunday Night Football

Green Bay 33, Minnesota 10

Packers (8-8)

• Jordan Love, QB, Utah State: Starting quarterback completed 24-of-33 passes for 256 yards and three touchdowns and ran for a 2-yard score on offense.
• Zayne Anderson, S, BYU/Stansbury: Reserve safety also played special teams.

Vikings (7-9)

• Jaren Hall, QB, BYU/Maple Mountain: Starting quarterback completed 5-of-10 passes for 67 yards with an interception, a fumble and three sacks taken on offense.
• Khyiris Tonga, DT, BYU/Granger: Starting defensive tackle had six stops on defense.

Sunday afternoon

Baltimore 56, Miami 19

Ravens (13-3)

• Tyler Huntley, QB, Utah: Backup quarterback had a 19-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.
• Marcus Williams, S, Utah: Starting safety posted five tackles on defense.
• Kyle Van Noy, LB, BYU: Reserve linebacker had a tackle and a sack on defense.

Dolphins (11-5)

• Chris Brooks, RB, BYU: Reserve running back ran for 14 yards on two carries.

Buffalo 27, New England 21

Bills (10-6)

• Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah: Reserve tight end caught four passes for a team-high 87 yards on offense.
• Taron Johnson, CB, Weber State: Starting nickel totaled four tackles.

Patriots (4-12)

• No locals on the active roster.

Chicago 37, Atlanta 17

Bears (7-9)

• Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah: Starting defensive back made two tackles on defense.
• Patrick Scales, LS, Utah State/Weber: Played 12 snaps on interception.
• Braxton Jones, OT, Southern Utah/Murray: Starting left tackle recovered a fumble on offense.
• Noah Sewell, LB, Orem (via Oregon): Reserve linebacker also played on special teams.

Falcons (7-9)

• Tyler Allgeier, RB, BYU: Reserve running back ran for 13 yards and added a 75-yard touchdown on a screen pass.
• Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah: Starting cornerback made three tackles on defense.
• Kaden Elliss, LB, Judge Memorial (via Idaho): Starting linebacker had nine tackles and a sack on defense.

Houston 26, Tennessee 3

Texans (9-7)

• Dalton Schultz, TE, Bingham (via Stanford): Starting tight end caught two passes for 19 yards on offense.

Titans (5-11)

• No locals on the active roster.

Indianapolis 23, Las Vegas 20

Colts (9-7)

• Matt Gay, K, Utah/UVU/Orem: Kicked field goals of 38 and 33 yards, as well as a 45-yarder that turned out to be the game winner, with two PATs.
• Blake Freeland, OT, BYU/Herriman: Reserve lineman played offensive tackle.
• Julian Blackmon, S, Utah/Layton: Placed on injured reserve (shoulder).
• Zack Moss, RB, Utah: Inactive for Week 17.

Raiders (7-9)

• Andre James, OC, Herriman (via UCLA): Started at center on offense.
• Cole Fotheringham, TE, Utah: Left with an injury.

Jacksonville 26, Carolina 0

Jaguars (9-7)

• Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah: Starting linebacker posted seven tackles on defense.

Panthers (2-14)

• No locals on the active roster.

Los Angeles 26, New York 25

Rams (9-7)

• Puka Nacua, WR, BYU/Orem: Starting receiver ran for 19 yards, caught five passes for team-high 118 yards on offense.
• Jonah Williams, DE, Weber State: Starting defensive end made two tackles on defense.

Giants (5-11)

• No locals on the active roster.

Arizona 35, Philadelphia 31

Cardinals (4-12)

• No locals on the active roster.

Eagles (11-5)

• Sua Opeta, OG, Weber State/Stansbury: Reserve lineman played offensive guard.
• Britain Covey, WR/RS, Utah/Timpview: Active, but did not play.

New Orleans 23, Tampa Bay 13

Saints (8-8)

• Taysom Hill, QB, BYU: Backup quarterback ran twice, completed an 11-yard pass, and caught two passes for 30 yards including a 22-yard touchdown from Derek Carr on offense.
• Jamaal Williams, RB, BYU: Starting running back posted a team-high 58 yards on 19 carries, caught four passes for 13 yards on offense.
• Nephi Sewell, LB, Utah/Desert Hills: Reserve linebacker left with an injury (knee).
• Rashid Shaheed, WR/RS, Weber State: Starting receiver caught two passes for 14 yards, returned two punts for 27 yards and had two kickoff returns for 41 yards.

Buccaneers (8-8)

• Deven Thompkins, WR/RS, Utah State: Reserve receiver caught one pass on two targets, and returned two punts for 21 yards.

San Francisco 27, Washington 10

49ers (12-4)

• Fred Warner, LB, BYU: Starting linebacker made six tackles on defense.
• Mitch Wishnowsky, P, Utah: Punted twice for 76 yards, both downed inside the 20.

Commanders (4-12)

• Tyler Larsen, OC, Utah State/Jordan: Placed on injured reserve (knee).
• Cody Barton, LB, Utah/Brighton: Starting linebacker had team-high 12 tackles and a tackle for loss on defense.

Pittsburgh 30, Seattle 23

Steelers (9-7)

• Jaylen Warren, RB, Utah State/Snow/East (via Oklahoma State): Reserve running back ran for 75 yards on 13 carries, including an 18-yard touchdown, and caught four passes for 23 yards on offense.
• Eric Rowe, DB, Utah: Starting safety had 10 tackles and a tackle for loss on defense.
• Miles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah: Reserve safety made two tackles on defense, added a tackle on special teams.

Seahawks (8-8)

• Bobby Wagner, LB, Utah State: Starting linebacker totaled 14 tackles and a tackle for loss on defense.

Denver 16, Los Angeles 9

Broncos (8-8)

• Garett Bolles, OT, Utah/Snow/Westlake: Started at left tackle.

Chargers (5-11)

• Michael Davis, CB, Utah: Starting cornerback made six tackles on defense.
• Alohi Gilman, S, Orem (via Notre Dame): Starting safety had two tackles, two passes defended.

Kansas City 25, Cincinnati 17

Chiefs (10-6)

• No locals on the active roster, but coached by former BYU offensive lineman and graduate assistant Andy Reid.

Bengals (8-8)

• Jalen Davis, CB, Utah State: Inactive for Week 17.
• Jay Tufele, DT, Bingham (via USC): Reserve defensive lineman made three tackles.

Saturday night

Dallas 20, Detroit 19

Cowboys (11-5)

• No locals on the active roster.

Lions (11-5)

• Penei Sewell, OT, Desert Hills (via Oregon): Starting right tackle played all 69 snaps on offense.

Thursday Night Football

Cleveland 37, New York 20

Browns (11-5)

• Sione Takitaki, LB, BYU: Starting linebacker had a team-high 16 tackles and a pass defended in 67 snaps on defense.
• Mohamoud Diabate, LB, Utah: Reserve linebacker made one tackle in 16 snaps on special teams.
• Siaki Ika, DT, East (via Baylor): Reserve defensive tackle played 16 snaps on defense.

Jets (6-10)

• Zach Wilson, QB, BYU/Corner Canyon: Inactive for Week 17 (concussion).

Related topics