Let’s see.  The Green Bay Packers are being forced to send a young quarterback out on to the field Sunday to make his first NFL start.  Hmmmm.....where have I seen this before?.... seems like just recently....oh, now I remember!  The Dallas Cowboys had to do just that last Sunday night. 

With Dak Prescott out, the Boys had to start Cooper Rush, a former undrafted free agent, under center.  They had to play the Minnesota Vikings on the road.  No way they win, right?  Wait a minute.  Final score:  Cowboys 20  Vikings 16.  How did they do it?  Let’s take a look. 

Rush had the benefit of a solid one-two rushing attack with Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard.  They only ran for a combined 76 yards, but they were enough of a threat to force the Vikings to load up the box to stop the run.  That opened up the passing game.  Rush had the benefit of top notch receivers in Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb.  He also had an offensive line that generally protected him well, despite giving up three sacks.  Meanwhile, the Dallas defense rose to the occasion, limiting Kirk Cousins to 184 yards passing, and keeping running back Dalvin Cook under control, allowing him to run for 78 mostly ineffective yards.  The Cowboys trailed much of the game, but stayed within striking distance.  Then, with Rush gaining confidence throughout, went on an eight play, 75 yard drive, scoring the go-ahead touchdown with two minutes left to play.   

I can see this scenario being a real possibility for the Packers against the Chiefs on Sunday.  Jordan Love will also have the benefit of a stout one-two rushing attack in Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon.  In addition, both backs are good receivers in the short passing game.  Of course, the Chiefs will load the box to stop the run.  Like Dallas, Love should have the benefit of good receivers, led by elite pass catcher Davante Adams and the return of Marquez Valdes-Scantling along with Allen Lazard.  Kansas City ranks 29th against the pass.  There are going to be yards to be made.  The offensive line has held up reasonably well against much fiercer pass rushes than the Chiefs have been able to muster thus far. 

Now, can Green Bay’s defense do its part?  The Chiefs will bring a much stronger attack than the Cowboys had to deal with against Minnesota.  But Joe Barry, who should be back from the Covid list, and his staff have managed to devise schemes that held explosive units like Arizona and Cincinnati from taking over the game.  They have to find a way to keep Tyreek Hill from running past them, and Travis Kelce from running through them. 

But Dallas had to deal with Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen, and they got it done.  They did it with the nineteenth ranked defense in the league.  The Packers D is currently rated seventh, and appears to be getting better every week, particularly along the defensive line.   

Then take into account the creativity and resourcefulness of Matt LaFleur and his offensive brain trust.  I will them over Mike McCarthy in a battle of game planners any day. 

In the preseason, playing with reserves, we got to see Jordan Love flash his potential on a few drives, but struggle to finish them off, making mistakes typical of young quarterbacks.  Same story when he came in for mop up in the season opener against the Saints, again playing with back-ups, as he led the Packers on a nine play, 54 yard drive to the five yard line, where he fumbled the ball away after a strip sack.   Would it have been different if he were throwing to Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, instead of Malik Taylor and Randall Cobb?  If he had had Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon to hand off to instead of Kylin Hill? 

Brace yourself for a national media frenzy no matter what the outcome Sunday.  If Love plays well and leads the Packers to victory, expect the talking heads to resurrect the whole Aaron Rodgers controversy.  They will expound tirelessly on whether Rodgers should be traded, and whether the three time MVP will become a locker room problem because he is envious of his replacement.  They will sow the seeds of a “quarterback controversy” because they relish the viewer emotion that conveys.  

If Love is a disaster, they will mount an attack on Brian Gutekunst for drafting him in the first place, replaying the false narrative that Gutekunst should have focused on drafting more help for their future Hall of Fame signal caller.  They will ruminate on the incredible leverage Rodgers now has regarding his decision whether to return next year. 

Both story angles will be, of course, over reactions. The truth is, no matter how Jordan Love does Sunday, it’s probably not a harbinger of his long term future.  There are few quarterbacks who look great coming out of the gate.  He could turn out to be Peyton Manning.  He could turn out to be Mitch Trubisky.  It won’t be determined by one game, especially a game against an opponent who has been to the Super Bowl the past two seasons, and will be playing at home in front of a raucous crowd. 

But beating the Chiefs is far from impossible.  The Cowboys have shown the way.