GREEN BAY, Wis. — Sunday’s divisional bout in Minnesota will mark yet another chapter in the rivalry between the Vikings and Green Bay Packers, but just the sixth meeting between quarterback Jordan Love and twisted defensive coordinator Brian Flores.
Flores, who is entering his fourth season leading the Vikings’ defense, is renowned for his relentless and often chaotic pressure packages that throttle opposing quarterbacks. He’s been at the helm in Minnesota for as long as Love has been the Packers’ starting quarterback, but with each meeting, his efforts to conjure up a tumultuous four quarters are becoming increasingly difficult.
“I mean, his growth and development has been outstanding,” Flores said of Love Thursday, according to The Athletic. “I think he sat for three seasons. When I got here, I don’t remember if that was the first year starting, but he’s just grown and grown. His command of the offense, whether it’s cadence or on the ball or no huddle, he’s got total command and understanding of what they’re trying to do.”
Love has blossomed into everything and more since taking the reins under center for the Packers, succeeding Aaron Rodgers and his Hall-of-Fame resume after a 15-year tenure as the starter. Most notably, his judgment at the line of scrimmage has improved to such a degree that Love is among some of the best quarterbacks in the league when it comes to understanding what’s being presented to him pre-snap.
While the Packers have a losing record (2-3) against the Vikings with Love, two of those three losses have been by just two points. None of the Packers’ starters played in last season’s Jan. 4 finale in Minnesota—their playoff seeding was already locked in place—but the Vikings won 16-3. The Nov. 23 matchup at Lambeau Field, however, saw the Packers clobber the Vikings 23-6.
Love completed 14 of his 21 passing attempts for just 139 yards on an afternoon that was headlined by running back Emanuel Wilson. Wilson accumulated 125 yards from scrimmage and a pair of touchdowns while Josh Jacobs was sidelined by a knee injury, earning FedEx Air and Ground Player of the Week honors for his performance. Even so, Love picked apart Flores’ blitz packages, completing 11 of his 18 passing attempts for 109 yards. He faced some form of blitz on more than 83 percent of his dropbacks.
Since Matt LaFleur became the Packers’ head coach in 2019, the two teams have split the series at an even 7-7 across 14 matchups. The Packers have lost three of the last four meetings, however, and haven’t beaten the Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium since New Year’s Eve in 2023. Sunday’s opener will provide LaFleur and Love the opportunity to recalibrate the rivalry in their favor.
“He’s got a great coach, and they work extremely well together,” said Flores. “A great rapport with his receivers. He’s always been super talented, a naturally gifted, accurate thrower of the football. It’s actually been fun to watch him grow. So, [he’s] a big, big challenge for us. No doubt about that.”
Flores could very well be licking his chops when he sees the state of the Packers’ offensive line. Three of their preferred starters—left tackle Jordan Morgan, left guard Aaron Banks, and right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele—are currently listed on the injury report with knee issues. Banks sustained his injury during the offseason program and opted against surgery, while Bako-Bewele is still working his way back from the partially torn patellar tendon he suffered in December. There’s optimism that both players will be available, but Morgan’s injury is both surprising and somewhat concerning.
LaFleur confirmed on Thursday that the knee injury currently hindering Morgan is one that he’s been dealing with throughout the summer. He played in each of the Packers’ first two preseason games with the rest of the No. 1 offense, so it’s unclear whether that’s when the injury occurred or if he was playing through it.
“For me, no matter who’s out there, I want to go out there and execute my job at a high level on every play,” Love said Wednesday. “For everybody, the receivers—you don’t have to go out there and do anything fancy or try to do anything more. Just go out there and do your job, make plays.”
Nevertheless, the offensive line could make or break the Packers on Sunday, and like a shark smelling blood in the water, that’s just how Flores prefers it. That’s not only true when it comes to pressuring Love, but the Packers may be hard-pressed to run the football. Sans Jacobs, who is on the Commissioner’s Exempt List, the Packers have MarShawn Lloyd, Chris Brooks, and newcomer Kaleb Johnson in the stable. Pierre Strong Jr. and Damon Bankston are on the practice squad, but Bankston was signed this week, and Strong is dealing with a hamstring injury.
For all of the strides Love has made in the pre-snap recognition department, he’ll have to be at his absolute best if he’s going to once again overcome Flores’ tenacious and downright maniacal blitz.
“I think that area is definitely where I’ve grown the most since I got here,” Love said Wednesday. “Understanding protections, how to protect myself, how to make certain calls to pick stuff up, knowing when I’m out and how to get the ball out of my hands. I’m always trying to avoid the negative plays—sacks, not seeing a blitz and getting hit from behind, things like that.
“That’s where I’ve elevated my game the most. Since I’ve been here, that’s where I put the most time in, I feel like. Just trying to understand this stuff. When I got here, I didn’t do a whole lot of that in college, so definitely an area of my game that’s improved.”
Zachary Jacobson is the author of The Packer Dispatch. He is entering his 12th season covering the Green Bay Packers after spending seven as the Editor-in-Chief of Packer Report. He is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America. Follow him on Twitter @zachjacobson or contact him via email at itszachariahj@gmail.com.