LSU's win was about more than Joe Burrow, but, boy, he was the biggest part of it
This was about much more than just Joe Burrow.
But, boy, he was the biggest part of it.
Burrow essentially won the Heisman Trophy on Saturday during No. 2 LSU’s 46-41 victory over No. 3 Alabama in Bryant-Denny Stadium.
He threw 39 passes. He completed 31, including his first 13. He threw for 393 yards and 3 touchdowns (with no interceptions). He ran 14 times for 64 yards.
He did lose a fumble, but so what?
Burrow did what he has been doing all year – making excellent decisions, demonstrating poise and toughness, picking apart opposing defenses with surgeon-like precision, answering every threat to his team with clutch play after clutch play.
But this was different.
This was Alabama. The program that had beaten LSU 8 times in a row. Nick Saban’s program. Nick Saban’s team. Nick Saban’s defense.
When Saban went for it on 4th-and-1 at the LSU 49, down just 16-7 early in the 2nd quarter, the Alabama coach was admitting he didn’t know how to slow down Burrow and the LSU offense. He was saying he needed to try and keep that drive alive and get points because he had no margin for error in trying to keep up.
The Crimson Tide didn’t get the first down. And they couldn’t keep up, though they did get within 3 points later in the quarter.
Then Burrow answered with a drive to a field goal. Then a drive to a touchdown.
Then Saban felt it slipping away and showed his anxiety again when Bama took over at its 29 with just 26 seconds left in the half. Feeling a desperate need to try and add some points before the half, the Tide went to the air.
Patrick Queen intercepted Tua Tagavaolia and after Queen’s return and a penalty on Bama, the Tigers had the ball at the Bama 13. Time for one play, maybe two before a field goal. Burrow needed one – a 13-yard touchdown pass to Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
That made it 33-13 at the half. Remember Clemson blowing out Bama in the title game last year? It had 31 at the half.
Sure the Tide were going to come back. They actually held Burrow and the Tigers scoreless in the 3rd quarter and got within 13.
They got within 6 and Burrow produced a touchdown. They got within 5 and Burrow produced a touchdown.
Bama’s best chance of winning the game actually came after it fell seemingly helplessly behind 46-34 with less than 2 minutes left.
That’s when Derek Stingley Jr. inexplicably let Bama’s DeVonta Smith get behind him for an 85-yard touchdown pass.
But it was so late that the Tide had to try an onside kick. Only by not giving the ball back to Burrow could they get the consecutive scores they needed to win. That was true because of the time constraints, but it basically had been true throughout the game.
It was a long shot, but not as long a shot as sending the defense out there to try and force a 3-and-out. It didn’t matter when Justin Jefferson secured the onside kick, Edwards-Helaire bulled his way to a first down and Burrow kneeled it out.
How good was Burrow? He was so good that Edwards-Helaire was only the second-best Tiger on the field.
Edwards-Helaire had as good a game as an LSU running back has had in recent memory – 20 rushes, 103 yards, 3 touchdowns, 9 catches, 79 receiving yards, 1 touchdown catch.
It wasn’t just that he made a big play virtually every time he touched the ball, it was that nearly every big play came at a crucial point in the game and prevented the Tide from getting the game turned in their favor.
It’s easy to focus exclusively on the offense when LSU scores the most points it ever has against Alabama, which it did. And the receivers and tight end Thaddeus Moss and the offensive line also deserve atta-boys.
But there were defensive heroes on a unit that allowed 541 yards. The defensive line played its best game of the year and its best against Alabama at least since the 10-0 loss in 2016 if not since the epic 9-6 overtime win in 2011 that preceded the 8-game losing streak that ended Saturday.
The defense was outstanding in the first half and struggled in the second half, not unlike the win against Texas back in the September, but this was a much more formidable opponent. Rashard Lawrence, Tyler Shelvin, K’Lavon Chaisson and others set the tone
Dave Aranda had near-perfect balance by blitzing and not selling out. LSU pressured Tagovailoa without putting too much pressure on its defensive backs against Bama’s elite receivers.
Yeah, there were lots of yards and points by Bama in the second half, but the defense had helped produce a cushion that Burrow would never let get away.
The special teams had some hiccups, but Cade York, who has had a shaky freshman season, was 2-for-2 on field goals in a game decided by 5 points.
There was more.
LSU had fewer turnovers than Alabama.
LSU had fewer penalties than Alabama.
LSU was less confused than Alabama.
Ed Orgeron was less confused than Saban.
Joe Burrow cemented his place in LSU lore.
And he brought a lot of friends with him.
“Let” Devonta get behind him? B**** please! If we had been doing this from the 1st qtr, you would have just said, “Bama wins again”. Bama wounded themselves & almost found a squatting on a lead Tiger bunch on their heels. If LSU doesn’t win the NC, BAMA fans will be pissed…that is if the 4 best teams dont include Bama! “Finally, LSU wins”, should have been your lead story!
Someones on Suicide watch.
yep, more shoulda, woulda, coulda……
And LSU neeeevvvvveeerrrr has done that! Who doesn’t. Get to 17 and talk brutha!
Wanna bet they play again this year?
Gaters got eating by a mutt…no speak. And to answer, no. Just stupid writers bloviating spew! Everybody is all over Bama. Well, we finally lost. OMG! Shut the program down! Really!
What you smoking bro??? Lol calm down killer, go hit the showers, your done.
I can’t imagine how upset you’re gonna be when you lose to Auburn. Geez.
Some Bammers just have to win every game. It’s Bama.
You get a program like that, you might think the dame
He/she/it is one of those young fans that has only known winning and doesn’t really know what it’s like to be a fan, thick and thin.
Well, the good news is that (barring a miracle) you don’t have to play us again this year.
Would like the rematch. We remember yours.
I bet you do. So does everyone else, which is why it wont happen. Y’alls soft ass schedule, bammer had one job. Beat LSU at home. Bammer failed and now you will reap your reward. Locked out of the playoffs, go to bed.
Ain’t gonna no rematch cause that Auburn D is gonna put some hurt on Bama. Typical give no credit after getting wiped Bama fans
They will always have that.
Don’t be salty man.
Auburn gonna beat y’all too don’t worry
…. Geaux
This was a heck of a win for LSU, Orgeron, and Burrow. Tough loss for a very good Bama team. The Bama playoff streak is in serious jeopardy. Nice.
Nicely put coming from LSU! Thank you sir! A lot of us Bama fans will be mighty pissed you dont win it all, if we dont get in. Shot ourselves in both feet in 1st qtr. Not smart! And you guys almost sat on a lead to long in the 2nd half. Eat those mutts alive! Directions to ATL, if you need.
Win out, win SECC & be ready for OSU! Dont think anybody will beat them. But you read what I said earlier, Bama fans will be pissed tou dont win it all. Great Classic! This one was yours.
What are you talking about? OSU has played nobody! LSU is obviously the team to beat.
That’s a fact…
He won the Heisman tonight
Pretty much. He also earned a job with either Cincinnati, NYJ, or Miami. So…at least he is going to win the Heisman.
Mighty impressive. Glad we won’t have to face them again…..sorta. Watching a team just be THAT good, is fun. Now UGA gets to enjoy facing Auburn and LSU.
Lsu offense was offensive in the 3rd quarter.. This game should have been a blowout.. Alabama is so overrated.. Lsu got nervous..
Punt return shouldn’t have happened.. first bomb on Stingley shouldn’t have happen tigers shoulda win by 3 scores
Typical sit on a lead OC Ensminger. Needs assistants to do his job. When his contract is up just let Brady take over. That 3rd qtr was shameful but at least we finally got a first down to start the second half. Recruiting is looking up. Great time to be a Tiger.
LSU was clearly the best team. Burrow clearly the best QB. Great Win. Saban showed a lot of class in his post game comments. Eddie, not so much. Act like you belong, LSU. You are the number one team in the country, show some class.
That was a hell of a game. Great way for LSU to get the monkey off its back.
Still, I saw a Bama team who lost because their QB was 21 days from surgery. It’ll be an interesting discussion among the CFP committee about how they weigh this loss for Bama should they win out.
It’s easy to see a number of scenarios in which these teams meet again.
After 2011 no way committee makes the same mistakes if OU or Oregon wins our as one loss conference champ they’re in
Grab a pig knuckle and pour yourself a glass of pickle juice….relax & chill Gump.
I listed to heather on ESPN and what an idiot she really is. Alabama is the best 1 loss team in college – Only Clemson is undefeated (that has a good enough record to be in the top 4) so Clemson would go to #3 and Alabama would drop to #4. Alabama and LSU would play again. History repeats itself….
I highly doubt that Bama is four when the next rankings come out. They will need help to get into the top four.
Bama will likely be 5 or 6. Yeah they’re one of the best 4, but the only real team you’ve played, you’ve lost. In spite of their losses, Oregon, Georgia, and even Utah have better resumes. You could argue that more teams do.
Bama should be 4, but the “nation” will go completely nuts if they are.
eitr. I’m not so sure…
Alabama last played a legitimate top 10 team when they faced Clemson in the NCG, and they got boat raced.
Then they skated through a schedule of 8 un-ranked teams.
They had everything in their favor playing at home, etc.
But they lost to the very next ranked team they faced.
If LSU beats UGA, the Dawg’s lose another game somewhere along the way, maybe Bama gets another free pass?
But, Bama has now lost the benefit of the doubt.
Also, looking at how the Committee stacked the first play-off rankings shows a clear B1G bias, and that along with Bama dropping two in a row to ranked teams will likely keep them out.