The 3-2-1: Purdue's loss to Iowa
For the second time in as many outings, Purdue absorbed a rough Big Ten West loss on Saturday, being handled by Iowa 24-3 in Ross-Ade Stadium. The defeat evened Purdue’s Big Ten record at 3-3 and serves as a considerable setback to its divisional title hopes
In a game that amounted to a low-scoring blowout, Purdue managed its fewest points of the Jeff Brohm Era and totaled only a little more than 250 yards of offense.
Here are three points from the game.
PURDUE HAS NOT REMEDIED ITS FATAL FLAWS
When Purdue won at Minnesota and Maryland to stoke Big Ten West title talk, it did so largely in spite of itself. The Boilermakers were turning the ball over too much and allowing too many big plays on defense due to messy, undisciplined play.
You can’t do that sort of thing against Wisconsin and Iowa and the past two games have illustrated that in no uncertain terms.
Purdue walked right into the classic Iowa mouse trap on Saturday, turning the ball over twice in the first half, giving this the feel of a game that was decided before halftime.
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PURDUE’S DEFENSE HAS REAL PROBLEMS
Purdue give up big plays during the first half to fall behind 17-3 — a deep enough hole — but Elvis left the building a few snaps into the second half. With a chance to give its team a chance, Purdue gave up a 75-yard touchdown run by freshman Kaleb Johnson.
This is an Iowa that exceeded its season averages for both points and yards before halftime.
A Boilermaker defense that did so many positive things to start the season looks broken right now.
THE PASSING GAME
Obviously, Aidan O’Connell came into this season as Purdue’s best chance and the player the offense would be built around, but that’s not going as hoped. O’Connell’s now thrown nine interceptions vs. seven touchdowns in Big Ten play. With his injury from a few weeks back now presumably in the rear-view mirror, his five interceptions during a game-and-a-half vs. Wisconsin and Iowa were debilitating to the Boilermakers’ chances.
When you throw the ball as much as Purdue does, there are going to be turnovers, but Maryland and Minnesota were one thing, and Wisconsin and Iowa something totally different. Wisconsin and Iowa haven’t been great this year, but they still play like Wisconsin and Iowa and Purdue played right into both of their hands.
