Zielinski Packers will feel the effects of Love’s absence

By DAN ZIELINSKI

The Packers’ season didn’t start as planned, with a tough 34-29 loss to the Eagles in Week 1’s game in Brazil. The defense struggled to get stops, and quarterback Jordan Love left the game with an injury.

At a minimum, Love will miss Sunday’s home opener against the Colts (0-1) at Lambeau Field. This puts the Packers in a challenging position, as they can’t afford to fall to 0-2 while trying to keep pace with the Detroit Lions in the competitive NFC North.

Sunday’s game will come down to quarterback play. Second-year QB Anthony Richardson is back after playing four games before undergoing season-ending surgery last year. He returned in Week 1 and showed encouraging results. He threw for 212 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. He showed his elusive running ability, gaining 56 yards and one score on six carries. Richardson has the physical tools to be a star in the NFL, but the biggest question mark remains his accuracy.

On the other sideline, the Packers are turning to Malik Willis in place of Love. The former third-round pick is a significant downgrade from Love. He has made three starts in his career and has never thrown for more than 100 yards in any start.

The Packers need this win and aren’t an easy team at home. But the lack of Love under center hurts the Packers’ chances significantly in this contest.

Prediction: Colts 27, Packers 17