Jordan Love’s unforgettable first playoff start carries Packers past Cowboys

Jordan Love and the Inexperienced Bay Packers gained’t quickly overlook the quarterback’s first profession playoff begin.

Love, the previous Utah State standout, starred Sunday because the Packers went on the highway and beat the Dallas Cowboys 48-32 within the NFL wild-card spherical.

Love accomplished 16 of 21 passes for 272 yards and three touchdowns, outperforming the Cowboys’ Dak Prescott, who accomplished 41 of 60 passes for 403 yards and three touchdowns but additionally threw two interceptions, together with a 60-yard pick-six simply earlier than halftime.

“He’s a dude,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur instructed reporters Sunday after Love’s newest robust effort. “He’s an actual dude.”

With Love on the helm, Inexperienced Bay scored touchdowns on six of its first seven possession to knock off Dallas.

Love’s first profession playoff landing cross — a 20-yard dart to rookie Dontayvion Wicks — gave the Packers a 20-0 lead within the second quarter.

“It was an all-out look … for him to hold in there and get that throw … these are issues you possibly can’t essentially — you possibly can attempt to coach it, however what a second for him,” LaFleur mentioned.

Love added two passing touchdowns within the second half. He threw a 38-yarder to Luke Musgrave late within the third quarter, then a 3-yarder to Romeo Doubs simply minutes later to offer the Packers a 48-16 lead early within the fourth.

“It simply exhibits what we’re about as a group,” Love instructed reporters. “We’ve been counted out so many occasions.”

That units Inexperienced Bay up with a matchup in opposition to the San Francisco 49ers within the playoffs’ divisional spherical.

With Sunday’s outcomes, there are 21 gamers with Utah ties remaining within the playoffs.

Right here’s how different Utah ties on energetic rosters fared throughout Sunday’s wild-card motion:

Packers 48, Cowboys 32

Inexperienced Bay Packers

• Zayne Anderson, S, BYU and Stansbury Excessive: Had 2 solo tackles, together with 1 on particular groups.
• Jordan Love, QB, Utah State: Began his first profession playoff sport and accomplished 16 of 21 passes for 272 yards and three touchdowns.

Dallas Cowboys

• No gamers with Utah ties.

Lions 24, Rams 23

Detroit Lions

• Penei Sewell, OT, Desert Hills Excessive: Began at proper deal with.

Los Angeles Rams

• Puka Nacua, WR, BYU and Orem Excessive: Began at large receiver and caught 9 passes for an NFL rookie playoff document 181 yards and a landing. See story.
• Jonah Williams, DE, Weber State: Began at defensive finish and had three tackles, together with two solo, and a deal with for loss.