Offensive Line Dooms Nebraska as Blackshirts Do Their Job – The Morning After

Offensive Line Dooms Nebraska in 17-14 Loss to Oregon as Defense Stands Tall

It is clear that Nebraska Football is in a better place under head coach Matt Rhule.

However, he has yet to pull the program through the door to win a big game. Too many times over the past several seasons the big win is sitting right there for Nebraska to take but yet again, it eludes them because they cannot finish the deal for whatever reason. Last night in the loss against Oregon there was a lot of talk about the defense gassing out on the final drive. However, we can in no way blame the defense for the loss on Saturday night. The defense was flying around, hitting and making plays.

I would place last night’s loss squarely on the offensive line for the inability to run the ball or protect Colandrea. Particularly, when it was time to finally shut the door on an opponent and get a big win in a big moment.

To the credit of Oregon, their defense looked like a national championship caliber defense. We may look at Oregon’s loss against UCLA last week as an argument that this is a wounded Oregon team. On the contrary, UCLA continues to show that it is one of the top teams in the Big Ten. Last week against UCLA, Oregon had seven turnovers and lost by only two points.

So a little perspective might be helpful on this crappy Sunday morning. I am saying that to myself as well.

Additionally, if in July you would have delivered a VHS to me of our first seven games of the season I would have taken it in a heartbeat. That still does not relieve Matt Rhule and this team of the infuriating loss last night. I merely want to illustrate that with everything that has happened over the last two weeks it does not mean that this cannot or is not a good football team. They came up short against two preseason top five teams and they should’ve won both games but they didn’t.

I am frustrated just like every other fan. Normally I would suggest to “sleep on it” so we don’t make any irrational judgments. But that is hard to do, when the game ended at two o’clock in the morning.

The Late Morning After

Nebraska vs. Oregon: Final takes and grades
EUGENE, Oregon – Nebraska had Oregon right where it wanted, leading 14-6 entering the fourth quarter at Autzen Stadium. Instead, former Husker quarterback Dylan Raiola came off the bench and helped lead the Ducks to a stunning 17-14 comeback victory. What looked like a signature road win for Matt Rhule turned into another heartbreaking loss.

Nebraska’s defense played well for most of the night, but the Huskers couldn’t finish the job when it mattered most. Here are our final takes, grades, and what stood out from Saturday’s frustrating loss in Eugene.

Steven Sipple: Once again, Nebraska left to mull a missed opportunity
EUGENE, Oregon — Missed opportunity.

Another colossal missed opportunity.

Last week, “missed opportunity” was a common theme emanating from Nebraska’s camp following a close-shave home loss to then-No. 7 Indiana.

Here we go again.

This time, though, Oregon’s 17-14 victory Saturday night/early Sunday was particularly galling for Nebraska fans because once again the Huskers outplayed the opponent for a large share of the game.

Another late-game heartbreak leaves Nebraska searching for finishing answers
Football’s a beautiful game, but its cruel side is wearing on those who attach themselves to Husker football.

Saturday’s version was every bit as cutting as the three-point loss to Indiana seven days earlier.

“I’m angry, mad. I want to get back out there and finish the job,” Husker tight end Luke Lindenmeyer said after the 17-14 loss to Oregon.

Dylan Raiola, one week after benching, rallies Oregon past former team Nebraska
EUGENE, Ore. — Just a week ago, Dylan Raiola had turned the ball over three times when he was benched before the fourth quarter of Oregon’s game against UCLA.

His replacement, Brock Thomas, and the Ducks fell short in their comeback attempt against the Bruins, but Raiola still faced the music after the game.

Rhule postgame comments after Nebraska’s 17-14 loss to Oregon: ‘We have a pretty devastated football team’
That’ll feel like a hammer to the Husker soul.

As the game moved toward 2 a.m. Sunday back home, the drama unfolded with Nebraska’s former quarterback called into action, finding just enough yards piece by piece until he hit the one that really hurt.

The Ducks got some useful runs and a couple of timely throws, then the crusher: a 4-yard touchdown pass from Dylan Raiola to Jamari Johnson in the back of the end zone with 28 seconds left.