Daniels, beleaguered LSU defense come through when needed to top Missouri

LSU is back on track.

Fans ready to jump off the ledge can come back inside for now.

Playing outside in a matinee morning start, the No. 23 Tigers awakened late in a 49-39 victory at previously unbeaten Missouri, ruining Homecoming in Columbia.

A team with one of the worst defenses in the country for much of the season won a game with defense when it mattered most Saturday.

With the game on the line as LSU held a very precarious 3-point lead,.

Bradyn Swinson got a huge sack, stripped Brady Cook of the ball and forced a huge 26-yard loss. Missouri then failed on fourth down and LSU got the ball back with 1:52 to play in the game.

While the Tigers failed to make a first down, they forced Missouri to take all three timeouts.

Jay Bramblett punted out of bounds at the 5-yard line with 45 seconds left and no timeouts.

Major Burns then put the game away, stepping in front of a Cook pass, intercepting and taking it to the house for beleaguered defensive coordinator Matt House, 17 yards for the game-clinching score.

It was a heroic, humongous performance by a quarterback with a huge heart.

Jayden Daniels overcame being knocked out of the game with an apparent rib injury to engineer touchdown drives of 92 and 75 yards with the game on the line.

Daniels was simply brilliant. The senior completed 15-of-21 passes for 259 yards with three touchdowns and rushed 15 times for 130 yards and another score.

Logan Diggs was excellent again with 24 rushes for 134 yards and a touchdown. Malik Nabers had six catches for 146 yards and a score.

LSU amassed 533 yards but Missouri racked up 527.

The difference was turnovers. LSU created a pair, including an interception by Harold Perkins and the Tigers did not commit a turnover.

For a while, it looked eerily like the last trip LSU made to Columbia.

On Oct. 10, 2020, Missouri outscored LSU, 45-41. Myles Brennan was injured in the game and his career was never the same. LSU gave up 586 yards that afternoon.

Ed Orgeron’s coaching career was injured in that game and was never the same.

Following the same script for more than three quarters, LSU flipped the script and provided a lift to its players, coaches, fans and its season.

While the defense came through late in the game, it was still woefully poor most of the way, unable to cover Missouri receivers, unable to tackle well again, and unable to get off the field on third down.

Three weeks ago, LSU outscored Arkansas. Last week, LSU could not outscore Ole Miss. LSU managed to outscore Missouri.

Again, you cannot count on outscoring opponents weekly. With its offense, LSU is going to score plenty though.

A concern is Charles Turner III, who went down injured and never returned. Marlon Martinez relieved him and struggled quite a bit.

Time will tell if there is any reason to be concerned with Daniels.

While Garrett Nussmeier is a capable, solid player, he is not Daniels, who showed toughness, determination and his vast ability to lead LSU to a big come-from-behind win.

Despite the defensive woes exhibited way too often, LSU is now 4-2, including 3-1 in SEC play.

Finally, it was a poorly, make that very poorly officiated game throughout by a crew that made wrong calls, missed calls and had to reverse a call made on the field.

Fortunately, LSU overcame the officiating crew and overcame Mizou and the hope of a good or very good season is still alive. Remember, LSU was 4-2 after six games a year ago and went on to win the SEC West and the Citrus Bowl in a 10-win season.

While there is a long way to go with this year’s defense, the hope of a similar season is still alive, thanks to Daniels and a defense that finally showed signs of life.