Packers’ Jordan Love Is Overcoming Everything Thrown at Him in 2026

Green Bay Packers' star quarterback Jordan Love is playing like an MVP candidate.

Whether or not he actually becomes Green Bay's third-straight MVP quarterback will be determined over the the next few weeks of play.

The Packers, coming off a 27-19 win over the Carolina Panthers on Thursday Night Football, are 5-3 and they've won four of their last five.

It's not been a perfect season for the Packers, though. In fact, it's been far from it.

They find themselves last in the NFC North standings and there have been several low points already this season.

The fourth quarter collapse against the Minnesota Vikings to start the season. Getting ran over by Bijan Robinson and the Atlanta Falcons. The missed field goals and penalties against the Detroit Lions.

Then there's the injuries.

Zach Bako-Bewele, Jayden Reed, Edgerrin Cooper and Javon Hargrave have all been lost for the season. Micah Parsons has yet to play.

There's the inconsistencies, especially in the running game.

Through eight games, the Packers have the worst rushing attack in the NFL, averaging just 60.6 yards per game. The offensive line has been horrible, but the running back group has been unable to take advantage of the few opportunities they've been given.

And then there's the drops, and the pressure. Love has just 2.5 seconds to throw on average, which is the least amount of time for any quarterback in the NFL.

Second-year wideout Matthew Golden leads the NFL in drops with eight and several of those have been touchdowns. Tucker Kraft has dropped five passes. Christian Watson has dropped three.

And yet...Love leads the league in passing yards with 2,246 and he's fourth in passing touchdowns with 16. 

Per Mike Sando of The Athletic, the Packers rank seventh in the league in total offense from Week 5 to Week 8, and that's all due to Love and his ability to shoulder the load.

It certainly isn't because he's getting much help.

The Packers rank dead last in the NFL in EPA per ush by running backs (-0.26) and last in air yards per game lost on dropped passes (22.6). That's not even to mention the fact that their rookie kicker, Trey Smack, is statistically one of the worst kickers in the NFL.

He's hit just 11-of-16 field goals (68.8%) and 16-of-19 extra points (84.2%).

Love has elevated his game and he's carrying the Packers. Sure, he's thrown six interceptions and a few of those were definitely his fault, but he's been asked to carry the load unlike any other quarterback in the NFL right now.

He leads the league in passing attempts with 312. 

Love has made chicken salad out of chicken you-know-what all season long, and if he can keep doing that while keeping the Packers in the hunt, he deserves to be mentioned in the MVP conversation.

Can he win it, though?

This next stretch at the New England Patriots, against the Vikings and at the Los Angeles Rams, will be key in answering that question.