Bucky Brings Home the Bacon...Or Steak

It's been six years since the Badgers beat ranked teams on consecutive weeks. It's been two years since the Badgers held the Heartland Trophy in Camp Randall. After the win over Iowa, both of those streaks are now over.

In a game that many thought would be a defensive struggle it proved to be the offenses that were the key in the game. While the score was only 13-10 at halftime it had been a offensive football game. The reason for the low score....time of possession.

That proved to be the deciding factor in a game that for a while seemed like the team with the football last would win. We've all heard the phrase, "the best defense is a good offense," and that proved to be the case. By controlling the time of possession the Badgers were able to limit what the Hawkeyes were able to do.

Perhaps the biggest plays of the game actually happened on special teams though. The fake punt by Brad Nortman was a huge play and kept the eventual game winning touchdown drive alive, but it wasn't the biggest special teams play in the game. The blocked punt by J.J. Watt in the first quarter proved to be the ultimate deciding factor.

Coaches always say that missed PATs will come back to hurt you in the end. Ask Iowa and they'll tell you that the saying is exactly right. In a game that ended 31-30 it was that blocked extra point that decided the game. Just like in the Arizona State game earlier this season special teams ended up deciding the game. Even though this one didn't occur in the fourth quarter.

The benefit of the doubt though does have to be given to the defense in this one as well. Last week it was the bend but don't break defense that limited the Buckeyes, and in this one it was the bend but don't break defense that struck again.

Late in the fourth quarter when Iowa was driving to setup a game winning field goal the defense bowed up when it mattered most. First it was J.J. Watt's sack that forced Iowa to take their second timeout. Then Iowa failed to spike the ball, and were forced to take their final timeout. Without Watt's sack that may not have been the case.

Following the Hawkeye timeout the Badger defense once again found a way to come up with a play. With just twelve seconds remaining and no timeouts the idea was pretty simple...keep them inbounds. First the defensive line got pressure on Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi forcing him out of the pocked. Then after he pitched it to his running back, Andrew Robinson, Wisconsin linebacker Mike Taylor made the tackle....keeping Robinson in bounds as well.

While the win may not have been as great as the Ohio State win because of Iowa's ranking, this win is just as sweet for Wisconsin fans. Iowa is a tough place to play for any teams; espcieally if you're wearing cardinal and white. This win solidified the season, and perhaps kept the dreams of a BCS bowl game alive. Not to mention the bronze piece of steak is back...