MichiganCardinal

That was WAY too easy. Where’d the defense go?

Defense has to keep doing what they’ve been doing.

WHAT A DRIVE

Good quarter. Big 3rd down upcoming.

Deliver Ford Field’s retractable roof to Ann Arbor

That is a touchdown. No way that’s not a touchdown.

If they get a 2nd and short on this drive I expect them to take a shot

I think that’s the right call in this game. Trust your defense.

I think if that throw is in front of him he picks up the first. The back shoulder throw forced him outside

I think a lot of this is right, but he didn’t do himself a lot of favors. Installing your scheme - one that is completely foreign to the school and conference - at the expense of going 3-9 and losing to Toledo isn’t a recipe for a long leash. Part of that job too has to be politicking. You don’t get and keep a job at Texas, USC, or LSU without shaking hands with the right people and getting an invite to the good boys club. I don’t think he had much interest in any of that. He just did his own thing, which, when combined with losing a lot of games, let the good boys club draw their own conclusions about this perceived outsider. It didn’t help having Captain Domino’s Dave Brandon as AD. That dude was just the epitome of failing upwards. And then they over-corrected by hiring a guy in Brady Hoke that cared more about being at that good boys table than winning games.

I think they would regret dumping Ryan Day for the next decade if they force him out. Lloyd Carr was better than Rich Rodriguez and Brady Hoke.

I don’t think the signs had anything to do with their wins the last two years, nor do I think not having them will have anything to do with the result today. Everything else I pretty much agree with.

Unless Washington manages a spectacular collapse in the Apple Bowl, the PAC-12 looks poised to send its first team to the playoff since 2016.

It’s Penn State outgaining MSU by 518 yards for me.

Going out on a limb here but I don’t think Boston would love to see us in the playoffs.

Imagine giving up a home game to play at Ford Field and getting shut out in the process.

I expect a very different affair than the last two years have been. I expect a low scoring, extremely physical game where the team that wins is the one who first and foremost takes care of the ball. Ultimately, I think JJ is rattled early by the pass rush, thanks in part to the revolving door that is Karsen Barnhart. Without his coach there to settle him down he gets into turnover trouble and costs Michigan a close one. Ohio State 27 Michigan 21 I do think there is a path to victory for Michigan. It starts with establishing the run like it’s 2021, putting a TE on the line as your 6th offensive lineman full-time, using play action like your life depends on it, and generating pressure on McCord in a way he hasn’t experienced this season. Finally, I think the National Champion will be the winner of this game. Either of these teams can beat Georgia head to head.

I seriously doubt it. Not that it's not possible, of course it is, but the highs are too high, even during this frustrating slump. The Lions for three quarters today were clearly the better team. They put up 41 on the Chargers. They had three masterful drives against the Bears. It's obvious that the talent is there, both players and coaches. It's a matter of putting it all together for 60 consecutive minutes that's the problem. Even playing like they are now they should be able to sneak another 3-4 wins out. I'd love to see them go put a beat down on the Saints. It would really assuage my worries. How they did the Panthers and Packers (first game) this year, or the Jaguars last year. Go out and be the clearly better team we know they can be.

This was really the turning point last year. They lost a close one to the Bills to drop to 4-7 and got dramatically better from that point on, only losing one more game (the Panthers turf game). If they can do the same thing and turn it on for the homestretch, we will have a fun next two months (or more!). If they keep looking like this though, I think they're heading straight for a first round exit, if not even a heartbreaking collapse to lose the division.

I don't think the offense can be said to run through the left guard, but I do think it speaks to how badly Jared Goff relies on having a healthy offensive line. If there is a single missing piece, he folds, which causes the entire offense to fold... When you're considering giving him an extension, you might as well sign the entire offensive line with him or you're screwed. As for the defense, Glenn has to shoulder some of the blame (for the third straight season), but Holmes does too. It bears repeating that the defensive weaknesses that are prevalent are not some new problem. This board was clamoring three weeks ago at the deadline for a pass rusher across from Hutchinson and for secondary help and Holmes didn't address either. 8-3 isn't time to even approach the panic button, but 8-5 isn't inconceivable at this point with road games against New Orleans and Chicago upcoming. At that point, I would be worried.

It’s not as if they played much better against the Chargers (at least on defense) or Raiders. That’s five weeks dating back to the Ravens. They’re lucky to be 3-2 in that stretch. Averaging 2.25 turnovers per week and giving up 27 points per game isn’t a recipe for success.

What team is this? Is it the one that went into Arrowhead and won, beat the Falcons and Panthers easily, and got the Packers booed off Lambeau? Or is it the one that’s had 11 turnovers in the last five games? That couldn’t get a stop to save their lives against the Chargers or Bears for most of the day? I’m not mad that we are 8-3 and I’m not mad we lost to the Packers. Going 6-0 in-division is almost as hard as going 17-0. But I don’t think it’s unfair to ask for four complete quarters on offense and defense.

I think the first quarter cost them the game.

Defense allowed 9 points after the first quarter and 6 of them came from that failed attempt.