Notre Dame Football: 3 takeaways from much-needed win vs. Purdue

SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 18: Kyren Williams #23 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates with teammates after a touchdown against the Purdue Boilermakers during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium on September 18, 2021 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

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Sep 11, 2021; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker JD Bertrand (27) celebrates after recovering a fumble in the fourth quarter against the Toledo Rockets at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /

2. This defense will win Notre Dame some games

For all the flak that the offense gets, Notre Dame’s defense doesn’t get nearly enough credit. The Fighting Irish had a fourth-quarter meltdown against Florida State in the opener and held Toledo to 29 points but made some crucial stops in an ugly game last week, but the Irish suffocated Purdue all afternoon long.

Sure, the Boilermakers passed for nearly 300 yards and a touchdown, but they needed over 50 passes to reach that mark. The secondary was draped all over Purdue receivers all afternoon; even when they made the catch, they were usually swallowed up right away.

Defense was the name of the game for Notre Dame all the way to the final whistle as the Irish picked off Purdue in the end zone to essentially shut the door on the Boilermakers.

Jack Coan and Kyren Williams need to buy the defense some fruit baskets to thank them for making sure they’re in each game, keeping the offense above water.

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