After a 55-49 loss to Ole Miss, it didn’t get any easier for LSU against Missouri. This time, though, the Tigers did enough, beating Missouri 49-39.
It was another shootout, but the defense made enough plays to secure the game. However, the offense was still the highlight, gaining over 500 total yards again.
Here are three takeaways from LSU’s win:
Jayden Daniels’ toughness is his most underrated trait
Throughout the season so far, Daniels’ improvement and development has been clear. While his running ability and decision-making remained elite from last season, his ability to stretch the field was displayed throughout the first five games.
Against Missouri, though, his toughness is what led LSU to the win. He threw for 259 yards and rushed for 130 yards, but the most impressive part of his performance was his ability to play through injury.
In the third quarter, Daniels took a late hit after a designed run, and had to briefly leave the game with a rib injury. He was noticeably in pain on the sidelines, but came out for LSU’s next drive and ran for a 35-yard touchdown. He followed that up with what ended up being the game-winning touchdown drive, where he had a 31-yard run that set up a 29-yard passing touchdown to Malik Nabers.
Head coach Brian Kelly awarded Daniels the game ball after the game for his efforts. Daniels led LSU to another win, and proved he can do it under adverse circumstances.
Special teams wasn’t perfect, but was one of the keys to LSU’s win
LSU’s special teams wasn’t perfect. Damian Ramos missed a 28-yard field goal and Jay Bramblett had a 30-yard shanked punt, but LSU made plays on special teams that it wouldn’t have won the game without.
Despite missing the short field goal, Ramos made a 48-yard field goal in the first half in a spot where LSU badly needed points. It was down 22-7. The kick was a career long for Ramos, and it cut the Missouri lead to 12 before an interception on the next Missouri drive put LSU back in the game.
The next key special teams moment happened late in the game when LSU needed a play. Forced to punt with under a minute left in the game, Bramblett punted the ball 44 yards, and buried the ball on the sideline, going out of bounds at the five-yard line.
That forced Missouri to go the length of the field in the shadow of its own goalposts, and the LSU defense got a pick six to seal the win.
LSU’s defense needs to be aggressive and force turnovers
The LSU defense got carved up again. Missouri had over 500 yards of total offense and 39 points, but the defense did enough to secure a win.
In another shootout, turnovers were the difference. LSU forced two turnovers, including the game-sealing pick six. Before that, Harold Perkins had an interception in the first half, which put LSU back in the game before halftime and seemed to inspire the defense.
That interception led to Missouri settling for a field goal on the next drive, and getting stopped on the next two drives after that. LSU almost forced a third turnover after a fumble in the fourth quarter, and despite Missouri recovering, it created a fourth-and-32 that Missouri couldn’t convert.
LSU’s defense is still going to give up yards. But with how good the offense is, forcing just one turnover could end up being the difference in games.
