Chip Kelly's Northwestern Offense Looks Unstoppable Again

Northwestern’s offense continues to prove that it is the real deal.

Although the Wildcats entered Saturday’s matchup against Ball State as massive favorites, what they displayed offensively was nothing short of impressive.

Quarterback Aidan Chiles continued to look sharp, taking shots downfield, connecting with his receivers and continuing to build chemistry with Griffin Wilde. Meanwhile, Northwestern’s running game remained dominant, giving offensive coordinator Chip Kelly another balanced attack.

The Wildcats wasted no time getting started, marching 75 yards on seven plays on their opening possession, capped off by a touchdown from Chiles.

Northwestern followed that up with another impressive drive, going 92 yards on nine plays before Chiles connected with Wilde for a touchdown. The Wildcats finished the first quarter with 14 points, their highest-scoring opening quarter of the season.

And they were far from finished.

On their third possession, Northwestern marched another 86 yards on seven plays, with Caleb Komolafe finding the end zone to extend the lead.

The Wildcats added three more points on their fourth possession when kicker Jackson Kleather drilled a 52-yard field goal.

Northwestern’s only other first-half possession came with just 12 seconds remaining, when the Wildcats took a knee to end the half.

That meant Northwestern scored on every first-half offensive possession in which it ran a competitive play, finishing with 24 points and 288 total yards of offense.

It was another impressive showing from Kelly’s offense, which continues to build momentum and demonstrate its ability to move the football in multiple ways.

From Chiles making plays through the air to the running backs continuing to find success on the ground, Northwestern’s offense looked in complete control throughout the first half.

The second half got off to a slower start, as Northwestern went four-and-out on its opening possession.

However, the Wildcats quickly got back on track.

Chiles connected with Drew Wagner for a 12-yard touchdown, capping off a quick scoring drive that covered 36 yards in just 19 seconds.

Northwestern followed that up with another impressive possession, putting together a 10-play, 99-yard touchdown drive that ended with Chiles finding tight end Alex Honig in the end zone.

It was another example of how dangerous this Northwestern offense has become.

Whether it was putting together long, methodical drives or striking quickly through the air, the Wildcats consistently found ways to move the football and put points on the board.

With the game comfortably in hand, Chiles eventually exited during Northwestern’s ninth offensive possession, allowing the Wildcats to slow things down and cruise to victory.

Northwestern finished the afternoon with 436 total yards of offense and five touchdowns, continuing an impressive stretch of offensive production under Kelly.

And while Ball State certainly was not the toughest opponent Northwestern will face this season, the Wildcats’ offensive performance should not be overlooked.

For a program that has struggled to consistently put points on the board in recent years, seeing Northwestern move the football this effectively has been a major change.

The Wildcats are no longer relying on their defense to keep them in games while the offense struggles to find a rhythm.

Instead, Northwestern is showing it can control games offensively, attack through the air and establish a dominant rushing attack when needed.

Chiles continues to grow more comfortable in Kelly’s system, while playmakers like Wilde, Komolafe, Wagner and Honig are finding ways to contribute.

And perhaps the most encouraging part is that Northwestern continues to improve from week to week.

After rushing for 413 yards against Penn State last week, the Wildcats showed another dimension of their offense Saturday, with Chiles making plays through the air and connecting with several different receivers.

There will certainly be tougher tests ahead, especially as Northwestern returns to Big Ten competition next week against Michigan State.

But the Wildcats are building something impressive offensively.

Regardless of the opponent, putting together this many scoring drives and consistently moving the football is something Northwestern fans have not been accustomed to seeing in recent years.

Kelly’s offense continues to gain momentum, Chiles is growing more confident and Northwestern is proving it has the weapons to score in different ways.