Packers bench Aaron Rodgers for Jordan Love as Jameis Winston torches Green Bay in Week 1

Aaron Rodgers insists he by no means supposed to trigger any distractions to the Packers‘ 2021 season by staying away from the workforce and taking part in coy about his future in Inexperienced Bay for many of this offseason. But when anybody regarded distracted, or no less than unprepared, in Sunday’s Week 1 video games, it was Rodgers and the Packers — a lot in order that coach Matt LaFleur despatched Rodgers to the bench with slightly below 11 minutes left within the membership’s highway opener in opposition to the Saints, changing the reigning MVP with second-year backup Jordan Love after Jameis Winston torched the Packers’ protection for 5 landing passes en path to a 38-3 blowout win.

Rodgers was not the one one at fault throughout Inexperienced Bay’s ill-fated debut, with LaFleur’s total offense struggling in opposition to the Saints “D” and Winston repeatedly and efficiently airing it out in opposition to the Packers secondary. Coming into the yr as one of many NFL‘s most achieved (and, maybe, entitled) QBs, nonetheless, Rodgers’ efficiency was notably muted: 15 of 28 for 133 yards, zero touchdowns and two interceptions, together with a red-zone choose. His early exit from Sunday’s sport assuredly had extra to do with preserving his well being than punishing poor play, nevertheless it simply tops the listing of Week 1 happenings that no person noticed coming.

Love, for what it is price, fared solely mildly higher in restricted motion in opposition to the Saints. The previous first-round choose, whose arrival escalated Rodgers’ need to both reconcile or break up with the Packers entrance workplace, went 6 of 8 and accomplished the workforce’s first third-down conversion but in addition fumbled in Saints territory.

Rodgers will get his likelihood at redemption when the Packers play host to the Lions subsequent Monday night time in Week 2.