like Utah or UW. But it didn’t work against Utah just in premise. It worked in practice. It really gave up 10 points from Utah drives (though I’d even give you 17 with the game-ending drive, even though that was after the offense ensured there was no hope.)

Your next point was that we don’t know how the offense would have done in the 4th quarter and you seemed to imply that the defense never got the ball into their hands. But the offense did get the ball, 3 times, and immediately gave it and 14 more points to Utah (finally scoring 7 themselves).

We can talk about time of possession or rushing yards allowed, but what matters in the end is points on the board. The other stats only contribute to that to varying degrees. I’ll take a defense that gives up fewer points every time. And it ultimately doesn’t matter how they do it.

Our D has done better at limiting the opposition to fewer points per drive than they usually score in every game but Washington.

The offense has only done equal to or better against the oppo’s defense’s average 3 times now. All wins.

So yeah, I’d love the defense to play better. I’d love more three and outs. I’d love even more turnovers. But increasing the rate of any other other indicator on defense is not more important than limiting their rate (per possession) of scoring points. Rushing yards allowed is no exception.

Scoreboard is all that matters.
Getting the offense to “leave points on the field” rather than putting them on the board is the defense’s most important job.