It seems as if anytime Nebraska gets any momentum rolling, they manage to find a way to stop it themselves. Not that other teams don’t have good coaching, solid NIL money and lots of Big Ten television money to build with. It does seem though, that anytime Nebraska is in a tight game, the other team just has to wait for the meltdown, and they can come out with a win.
Not only is Nebraska 0-10 in their last 10 overtime games, but they also don’t get first downs. Other teams score at will on the Blackshirts, and the offense gets penalties and sacks that drive it so far back it might as well punt. And yes, I do recognize that punting in overtime is never something you do.
Nebraska has a big bullseye on it’s back. You can see it as far away from Lincoln as Scottsbluff and other Big Ten teams continue to use it to their own advantage. I could sense it from head coach Matt Rhule after the game. How do the Huskers continue to lose tight games over and over? The bullseye is that Nebraska will fold themselves in a game if you can keep it close.
Someday, Coach Rhule will get if figured out, or else he will follow Bill Callahan, Mike Riley and Scott Frost into the pile of coaches that couldn’t figure out the code to win in Lincoln.
Don’t get lost in the loss though. Nebraska could have and arguably should have led against Illinois 28-10 at halftime last Friday. If two pass plays wind up as touchdown drives, instead of a field goal and an interception, Illinois is hoping not to lose two in a row in Penn State this weekend.
Instead, Nebraska hits the road with their rooking quarterback, trying to get back on track. An all too familiar feeling in Husker Nation. Now would be a great time for the Huskers to respond to something with positive momentum.
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| Bleed Husker Red Tees |
ON WITH THE REWIND…
Last game prediction was Nebraska 28, Illinois 10. The actual score was Illinois 31 Nebraska 24 in overtime. Nebraska had multiple chances to win this game. A terrible missed pass interference call in the first quarter that made Nebraska settle for a field goal and a questionable play called a touchdown on the field, but overruled into an interception on replay were both plays that altered the course of the game. And the final drive in regulation that wasn’t a kneel down included a wide open Husker in the end zone and a just missed field goal try that wasn’t necessarily the right call. I won’t question the coaches on the field goal, because they had a touchdown call the play before. Either way, Illinois did a great job of handling the Blackshirts and held on for dear life that Nebraska’s wunderkind quarterback wouldn’t get the Huskers to the promise land.
Quick Notes:
Dylan Raiola…You could easily argue this was Raiola’s coming out party. He dominated a good Big Ten defense through the air for four quarters. Long pass plays to Isaiah Neyor, Thomas Fidone and Jacorey Barney Jr. were simply breathtaking to watch. He converted third and long multiple times, and made NFL throws throughout the game. Never mind the overtime, he made some errors, but without him, Nebraska would have lost that game by 3 touchdowns. Raoila is a problem for the Big Ten, and Husker fans better just enjoy the ride, he won’t be in Lincoln more than 3 years.
Isaiah Neyor…Neyor continues to find the end zone for Nebraska. He has made arguably the biggest plays for the Huskers through the air in the first third of the season. If Neyor had been able to make the crazy catch in the end zone count on Friday, he would have had three touchdowns and likely the player of the week in the Big Ten. He has that type of potential.
John Bullock…I’m not sure that Bullock is the best player on Nebraska’s defense, but I’d argue he has been the best player the last two games for sure, and likely all season. His attention to detail includes batting down passes, making sacks and covering short catches across the field and bulleting in to make a tackle. The rest of the Blackshirts could use some of the effort that Bullock has given week in and week out.
Ceyar Wright…When Tommi Hill went out of the game in the first half, Wright was the next man up. Not only did Wright play well, but he also actually played himself into a starting role. Even if Hill can play this week, or next, Wright played so well that Marques Buford Jr. should be able to move back to safety or even nickel. Wright looked like a top 100 player coming out of high school. If that lasts, Nebraska may have found their next high draft pick.
Score Prediction: Nebraska 24, Purdue 20
I was way off last week. I thought Nebraska was ready to springboard into Big Ten play and show that they are a top 5 conference team. They aren’t there yet, and probably aren’t this season. That doesn’t mean there isn’t still plenty to play for. Heck, if Nebraska can win all but two more games, they would have an outside shot at the expanded playoffs this season. Unfortunately, they travel to Purdue, and honestly, that place has not been good to Nebraska. I expect another ugly game, where the Huskers need to run out the clock to win on Saturday. There are always three to four plays in West Lafayette that seem like they are from a bad fairy tale. I think the Huskers will survive and advance this week. And that will be good enough, GBR!!!
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