Jordan Love threw a touchdown pass on the only series he played, and the Green Bay Packers beat the Denver Broncos 33-13 in a Friday night preseason game.
One series. That's all Love needed to give the Packers their most encouraging moment of the young exhibition season. He took the huddle once, directed a scoring drive, and finished it with a touchdown pass. Then he took a seat. Green Bay didn't need him again.
The game wasn't particularly close. The Packers stretched the lead and kept Denver at arm's length throughout, finishing with a 20-point margin. The Broncos couldn't find much on either side of the ball, and the gap only widened.
Preseason numbers don't carry into the fall, but the Packers have to be pleased with what they saw. Love's brief appearance showed quick decision-making and a clean throw. For a franchise counting on its quarterback to lead a contending season, that's the box they wanted checked.
Denver leaves with questions. A 33-13 loss in any exhibition matchup tells you the depth isn't where it needs to be. The Broncos will use the remaining preseason weeks to sort out their roster and their rhythm.
Green Bay took care of business. The scoreboard doesn't mean everything in August, but the starter's efficiency is a legitimate takeaway. Love played one possession and made it count. That's the story from this one.
Maybe the most meaningful part: the Packers didn't need to overwork their franchise quarterback. He got his reps, threw his touchdown, and took a seat. That's the smart move for a team with real September ambitions.