The Joe Burrow Touchdown Bracket: Day 18

We’ve reached the midway point of the Joe Burrow touchdown bracket’s opening round. You the readers have filled out the first 16 participants that will make up the Round of 32, now we’ll need to fill out the other half of the bracket.

Today we’re introducing a new region, which we’re calling the Get the Nat region. Fittingly, the region’s No. 1 seed features the first touchdown of the night the 2019 Tigers sealed their destiny as the greatest team of all time.

No. 1: Ja’Marr Chase’s 52-yard go route vs. Clemson

The context:

Maybe I’m in the minority, but I wasn’t feeling especially confident heading into the national championship against Clemson. We as a staff have been talking the past two days about truly great teams LSU has fielded in all sports and one unfortunate trait they all have: coming up short of a national championship. And considering how poorly the last time LSU played for a championship inside the Superdome, I was worried the ghosts of that night would haunt the ‘19 team.

My fears weren’t alleviated when the game started. The LSU offense was spinning its wheels, thanks in large part to starting drives backed up against its own end zone and Clemson was able to draw first blood on its third possession.

But it doesn’t take LSU long to counterpunch. After only mustering 17 yards on its first three drives, LSU goes 70 in four plays. Burrow hits Thad Moss for seven and this time there’s no flag nullifying the play. LSU then calls upon Clyde Edwards-Helaire who picks up 11 yards on two carries and puts the Tigers right at midfield.

Then, finally, on its 15th snap, Burrow uncorks a deep pass. Ja’Marr Chase beats Clemson’s AJ Terrell off the line and, with no safety able to provide help, Burrow hits Chase in stride. Terrell falls haplessly to the ground and can only watch as Chase puts LSU on the board and emphatically states that the nightmare that was January 9, 2012 is a thing of the past.

No. 16: Thad Moss 8-yard screen vs. Utah State

The context:

While our region’s No. 1 seed was the opening score of a game, the 16 seed is the final score of another.

This is a pretty cool design by LSU and one I don’t remember them using ever again. It’s almost like a bubble screen combined with a slant route. Burrow’s alone in the gun with five receivers to choose from. Moss is lined up widest of the three receivers to Burrow’s left. He takes a few stutter steps before cutting hard inside. Stephen Sullivan sets a pseudo-pick for Moss and the Utah State defender covering Moss reacts far too late to make the stop. Moss bounces off the would-be tackle attempt and scores his first touchdown of the 2019 season.