Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love is currently under fire from sports fans for his performance against the Minnesota Vikings last Sunday, which resulted in a devastating loss on the Packer’s home territory at Lambeau Field. Mentions of Love online are flush with jeering comments insinuating that Love was not prepared to face off against this long-time Packers rival:
Love’s Tribute to Past Green Bay Packers Quarterback
In particular, social media users have latched onto making jokes about Love’s choice to wear a Brett Favre jersey into his first game back at Lambeau Field. What was likely meant to be a supportive tribute, showing love to Favre after his recent Parkinson’s diagnosis, has instead become an opportunity for some sports fans to criticize both players in one fell swoop. With Love throwing three interceptions during this game, some posters and meme pages jumped to compare these unfortunate passes to Favre’s past shortcomings:
Many social media users have adopted the sarcastic tone of the above post, presenting their criticisms as false praise in order to mock both Love and Favre. Others chose to make the comparison more directly:
Love vs. Willis
While criticisms and jokes from the rival team after a loss are expected, it seems as though even Packers fans are frustrated with Love after this game. Many are using this moment of disappointment in Love to elevate Malik Willis, adding fuel to an online feud between fans of these two Packers QBs:
Hope for Love Remains
As a fellow Utah State University alumni, my heart goes out to Love during this barrage of criticism and while the frustration of Packers fans may be justified, it is also heartwarming to see that there are still plenty of fans willing to stick up for Love, despite the loss.
Many comments on critical posts are defending Love, stating that some of the blame falls on the receivers for the interceptions. Others credit Love with closing the gap during the second half of the game, which moved from the Vikings leading with 28 to nothing into an easier-to-swallow 31 to 29 by the end of the game. Some Packers fans are taking a more balanced approach, criticizing Love when appropriate but also bringing the same energy to the rest of the team, rather than targeting Love exclusively:
While Love certainly still has diehard fans and those willing to criticize with a lighter hand, it seems that to other Packers fans, he has a lot to prove moving forward in order to change the perception that he is holding the Pack back. Hopefully Love can shake off this negative attention and prove his detractors wrong.
