Two plays after Corey Ballentine intercepted Jaren Hall, Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love hit rookie Jayden Reed for a 34-yard touchdown pass that gave the visitors a 10-0 lead over the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday night.
Reed got behind the coverage from a slot alignment and Love hit him between two deep safeties for the score.
Ballentine, who is starting in place of Eric Stokes, picked off Hall on a deflected pass off the hands of tight end Johnny Mundt to give the Packers the football inside Vikings territory. The ensuing scoring drive required just two plays.
Reed’s touchdown was his ninth total touchdown and seventh receiving touchdown of the season. He returned Sunday after missing last week’s win in Carolina with toe and chest injuries.
Here’s the Love-to-Reed touchdown:
Jordan Love to Jayden Reed for the seventh time this year!
📺: #GBvsMIN on NBC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/cOt1Gy93Av pic.twitter.com/edDNVK1f9y— NFL (@NFL) January 1, 2024
Love now has 28 touchdown passes, or the same amount Aaron Rodgers threw during his first season as the Packers starter in 2008. And Love didn’t need the extra game; his touchdown pass came in the first quarter of Game 16.
The Packers took a 3-0 lead on their second possession after going on a 12-play, 64-yard drive.
Matt LaFleur’s team needs to beat the Vikings and Chicago Bears to clinch a playoff spot. Sunday night’s first test is off to a good start.