SPORTS LINE
The Green Bay Packers.
QB Jordan Love was the NFL’s breakout star last year, thanks to a dominant final eight games but how has he done so far this season? The weather outside is frightful but Jordan Love’s play has been delightful. Love’s superb performance has flown a bit under the radar because Josh Jacobs is stealing all the touchdowns and so many touches. Indeed, the Green Bay Packers are Super Bowl contenders because Love is playing like a quarterback capable of beating any team at any location on any day of the week. When Love signed his four-year, $220 million extension this summer, it was a move that set the tone for the franchise moving forward. He was their guy. No debate.
Quarterback Jordan Love is continuing to catch fire as a passer. Since coming out of the bye, or over the last four games, Love has completed 59 of 88 passes for 904 yards, six touchdown passes, and just one interception. His efficiency in throwing the football is off the charts. Finally, over knee and groin injuries, Love has regained mobility and accuracy and once again transformed into one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks, just as he did during an incredible stretch to end last season. After throwing an interception in each of his first seven games before the bye, Love has thrown only one and that’s when the receiver slipped coming out of his break at Chicago. He has had zero interceptions in the last three games and wasn’t even close against Detroit’s ball-hawking secondary.
Love has matched his career high with four consecutive games with a 100-plus rating. The second is yards per attempt. Since the bye, Love is a full yard better than any other quarterback. Love’s advantage in yards per completion is a whopping 1.7. Can Love stay hot during a tough stretch, lead the Packers into the postseason, and do some damage as a passer against the NFC playoff field? We are rooting for him and the Packers. The Packers lost the game last Sunday to the Detroit Lions. They played well but not at playoff competitor level, but then the Lions didn’t either.
The Milwaukee Bucks.
The Milwaukee Bucks are looking like the team we all thought they’d be at the start of the season. The Milwaukee Bucks are experiencing a massive upswing after starting the 2024-25 NBA Season in less-than-ideal circumstances. The Bucks are doing their best to remain competitive. A large part of this success is the resurgence of Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is leading the league with 32.7 points per game. Additionally, he is averaging 11.4 total rebounds, six assists, 1.5 blocks, and 0.6 steals. Other players helping Milwaukee excel are Damian Lillard, Brook Lopez, and Bobby Portis. Right now, Milwaukee needs help on defense.
While the team is ranked in the Top 10 for nearly every defensive statistic, the Bucks need help on the perimeter. The Bucks players took a moment to consider how far they’ve come in the past few weeks as they are contenders to win the NBA Cup in Vegas which is an in-season tournament. Milwaukee has battled through adversity this season, but they’ve stayed undefeated in NBA Cup games so far. Bucks forward Bobby Portis said returning to Las Vegas this season was even more special considering the team began the season with a 2-8 record before going undefeated in NBA Cup group play and holding on to a close win against the Magic. Compared to the other three teams,
Milwaukee is considered the oldest of the bunch. The Oklahoma City Thunder, Hawks, and Houston Rockets are three of the younger squads around the league. The team has battled their way back from a poor start to the season and has put themselves back into good standing in the Eastern Conference. The Bucks have spent more time on the court together to help aid them on this journey and it’s been reflected in their play.
