Keys to the game: Michigan football vs. Northwestern 

Michigan will face Northwestern in the last home game of the year, and some would say the final “winnable” game of the regular season, as well. Ohio State looms, and while this would have been a warm-up game in recent years past, it’s now a battle for bowl eligibility against a team pretty similar to the Wolverines. 

RELATED: Staff predictions: Michigan football vs. Northwestern

To their credit, Northwestern continues to play hard — the Wildcats just aren’t very good, especially on offense. The Wolverines need to match the intensity or they’ll be in a game, and head coach Sherrone Moore knows it. They also can’t look ahead to the Buckeyes.

“They know the focus that we have to have, because they’re a good football team, and we’ve got to win this one [for bowl eligibility],” Moore said. “And then I think the motivation that you have to go play that team down there [at OSU], it’s always burning in you. You’re always thinking about it, regardless of who you’re playing. 

“So, we’ll be prepared for that one, but we’ve got to go win this game. Both of these games mean a lot, right? One, the Northwestern game is a trophy game. We’re 2-0 in trophy games. It allows us to be bowl eligible, which is a huge piece, and then obviously the last one … there’s not much motivation you need for that one, so I think these two games are huge for us.”

But … one at a time. Here are the keys to beating Northwestern Saturday … 

Michigan Key No. 1: Keep quarterback Jack Lausch in the pocket  

This Michigan defense should feast on this Northwestern offense, and Lausch is only completing 54.6 percent of his passes. But the one potential equalizer is if they let him out of the pocket to do some damage with his feet.

“He’s a dual-threat guy,” Moore said. “He can pull the ball and run it if you allow him to …  not really a pocket passer, but he can make plays in the pocket and he does a good job making scramble plays and the off-schedule plays.”

Michigan has had issues with that at times this year when the line gets too far upfield. Lausch had one game this year — Wisconsin (10 carries, 55 yards) in which he really had success, but he’s capable.

“Keeping him in that pocket, being disciplined in our rush lanes and making sure we’ve got a plan for it so he doesn’t get out and contain or through the B gap or the A gap … is going to be a huge piece,” Moore said.

Key No. 2: Take some shots on offense, which means better pass protection

Michigan came out throwing against Indiana and seemed to catch the Hoosiers off guard a bit before the protection broke down. The offense struggled as a result, quarterback Davis Warren limited to throwing off his back foot. He wasn’t good, but he could have been better with more help. 

“You know, their pass rusher, No. 4, is a really good player. He comes off the edge; he’s violent,” Moore said. “The linebackers are tough, run downhill, so they’re a team that plays really good team defense, tries to keep everything in front of them. 

“We’ve got to do a good job attacking their safeties and trying to get the ball over their head when we can, and sustain a good running game.”

It would be the first time in a while. We’re hopeful, but not optimistic … but if they do, they could blow this team out.

Michigan Key No. 3: Win special teams

If it does come down to the fourth quarter, this is going to be the difference. We like Michigan with kicker Dominic Zvada, but can punter Tommy Doman be consistently good to help with the field position? That’s been a struggle this year. Not surprisingly, the games in which U-M has overachieved (USC, Indiana), Doman had good games (minus one kick against the Hoosiers). 

Hidden yardage could be key Saturday. Here’s where you pick some up.

The breakdown: Michigan football vs. Northwestern

This one has all the makings of a rock fight, as our Anthony Broome calls games like these — solid defenses, offenses that might have a hard time moving the ball across the street when there’s no traffic. Nobody should be expecting the scoreboards to light up Saturday since a) they haven’t all year. The Wolverines haven’t put up 30 since the opener vs. Fresno, when the defense scored some points, too, and have been under 20 five times. And b) the offensive line hasn’t shown it can do the job. 

This group will have another challenge on its hands Saturday. It’s not that Northwestern is elite up front, but there’s enough there to give this group problems. Davis Warren is going to need to protect the ball, and the line is going to have to do a better job than it did at Indiana protecting him. 

But the Wolverines need to get more out of the run game, too, to have any shot to compete with Ohio State next week. This weekend is a good place to start to get it back on track. For some reason, we expect a better showing this week from a group that’s struggled much of the year — if not, those who decide to attend Saturday will be on the edge of their seats in the fourth quarter.