The Green Bay Packers and quarterback Jordan Love are off to a rough start in the 2024 season, beginning with a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil. The situation worsened when Love suffered an MCL injury during the game’s final drive, putting him in jeopardy of missing a few upcoming games. Despite being listed as questionable for the Packers’ Week 2 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, it’s widely expected that recently acquired Malik Willis will start in Love’s place.
This injury is a significant setback for a team with Super Bowl hopes at the start of the season. Now, as Green Bay returns to Lambeau Field to face the Colts, there’s cautious optimism surrounding their quarterback situation. The Colts, who also struggled offensively in their Week 1 loss to the Houston Texans, are facing a Packers team dealing with injuries and uncertainty at quarterback. Houston capitalized on two explosive plays of 60 and 54 yards, while Colts’ rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson completed just 7-of-17 passes for 96 yards outside of those long passes.
Given these dynamics, a low-scoring game is expected, with some analysts pointing to the 40.5-point under as a smart betting choice. NESN.com’s Ricky Doyle highlighted Green Bay’s quarterback issues as a primary reason for his prediction on the “The Spread” football podcast. Doyle remarked that Willis’ performance in Tennessee didn’t inspire much confidence, and he believes Indianapolis won’t sustain its Week 1 offensive pace. He expects a slower tempo, fewer explosive plays, and a focus on ball control.
In terms of the Packers’ outlook for the season, both Doyle and co-host Mike Cole believe Green Bay may have dodged a more serious crisis. They note that the team didn’t make a move to sign a veteran quarterback like Ryan Tannehill, which suggests optimism about Love’s return timeline. The Packers also chose not to place Love on injured reserve, further indicating that he may be back sooner than anticipated. With several winnable games ahead, the goal for Green Bay is to survive this tough stretch until Love can return to the field.
