Stanford defeated Oregon 31-24 in overtime at Stanford Stadium on Saturday.
Here are 12 takeaways from the game as the No. 8 Ducks (4-1, 1-1 Pac-12) head into their bye week.You’re not being fair if you blame Anthony Brown Jr.’s entire performance on a stupid decision not to throw the ball to CJ Verdell at the conclusion of the first half, something the quarterback and head coach have both recognized. However, it wasn’t Brown’s only terrible mistake on Saturday, and he is well aware of it based on his postgame self-evaluation.
Brown’s first interception of the season was an incredible gift for Gabe Reid, resulting in Stanford’s first touchdown and a 10-0 deficit. It also came in the midst of Brown’s 0 for 5 start to the game, during which he could have made better throws or decisions on each of those incomplete passes.
What will be ignored is Brown then completed his next six straight and eight of his next nine, including a cross-field ball to Kris Hutson and escaping pressure to reach Travis Dye, and he ran for a touchdown.
The choice to continue with the option run to end the half was obviously incorrect and costly, and it was a replay of the Arizona game. That is not encouraging as Brown is supposed to be the
Veteran and seasoned decision-maker.
He started the second half with a pass that Reid should have intercepted again.
Had the Ducks held on, Brown would have had two of three rushing touchdowns, including the game-winner for the second time this season. That’s not to suggest everything would have been forgotten; he delivered a poor performance. However, he did not do everything wrong on Saturday.
