After a thrilling victory over Penn State last weekend, the Wildcats return home for their final game on the lakefill — ever, perhaps, with the final two “home” games taking place in Wrigley Field in November.
Although NU sits just two wins away from bowl eligibility, the second half stretch is far from an easy one. In fact, Purdue remains the only team on the Wildcats’ schedule currently .500 or below, sitting 2-4 (0-3 B1G) heading into this Saturday’s matchup. For that reason, grabbing a win at home is more important than ever for the ‘Cats this weekend; how can they do it?
Win the Turnover Battle
Although it isn’t the tallest task for the Wildcats, winning the turnover battle is always part of the gameplan and goes a long way towards winning a close game, which this one very well could be. The Boilermakers have struggled mightily to fulfill that task, having given up 12 turnovers this year — nine interceptions and three lost fumbles — while having forced just two. On the other side of the ball, Northwestern is minus-five in turnover ratio throughout the season, but has been on the upswing recently after winning the battle against the Nittany Lions. In what is likely to be a one- or two-score game, an extra turnover or two could be the difference in who comes out victorious.
Competence from the Offense
Another straightforward point, but something that is nonetheless non-negotiable for head coach David Braun and offensive coordinator Zach Lujan headed into Week 8. On Purdue’s side, the offensive capability is assuredly there: Purdue sits in the middle of the pack nationwide, currently 72nd in scoring offense. The defense is what NU needs to take advantage of. The Boilermakers are giving up nearly 40 points per game, good for 103rd in the country and one of the worst among Power Four programs. On Northwestern’s end, the offensive consistency has been slightly lacking; after an extremely slow start that included uninspiring performances against Tulane and Oregon, the ‘Cats have looked more confident in both the passing and run game. Key to that transformation have been Preston Stone, who looks more and more comfortable in the pocket with every passing week, and the emergence of redshirt sophomore running back Caleb Komolafe, who has established himself as a dominant lead back in the offense following the devastating injury ending Cam Porter’s season early. If that recent uptick in performance continues into Saturday, NU will be in great position. If not, it’s going to be a battle.
Contain Ryan Browne
Almost paradoxically, a big reason for the successes and struggles of Purdue’s offense six games into its season has been sophomore quarterback Ryan Browne. He has had some really high highs — three 300-yard passing games already — alongside the low lows. He has matched seven passing touchdowns with seven interceptions, and sports one of the lowest completion percentages in the Big Ten. What makes Browne a threat, however, is his mobility. While he is a very capable passer, he is able to hurt defenses with his legs when necessary. Browne has four touchdowns on the ground and has already ran for 50-plus yards in two games this year. Northwestern will need to make sure to keep an eye on him at all times to avoid letting him escape the pocket and jumpstart Purdue’s offense from there. The biggest key might be getting pressure on him before he’s able to do so, something it did very well last week against Penn State despite missing star defensive end Anto Saka.
