Oregon Gets Stanford Monkey off Its Back, Can Ducks Avoid Late-Season Letdown?

Three possessions. Three 75-yard touchdown drives. That’s all it took for the Oregon Ducks to rid themselves of the “Stanford Problem."

The Oregon Ducks (8-1, 5-1) took two years of frustration out on the Stanford Cardinal (5-4, 3-3), to the tune of 45-16, and firmly planted themselves in the top four of the College Football Playoff poll. However, the Ducks' toughest test of the season may lie ahead.

The Ducks rode a strong running game and the arm of Marcus Mariota all night long as they gained 525 total yards on Stanford. Coming into the night the Cardinal were ranked No. 1 in the country in total defense and had allowed an average of only 250.6 yards per game. They were also ranked No. 2 in the country in scoring defense, having allowed only 12.5 points per game this season.

Well, Oregon dispelled the idea that Stanford’s D was infallible. The Ducks outpaced the Cardinal's average points allowed in the first 8:43 of the first quarter.

While the Oregon offense stalled at times against Washington State and Arizona, it's been absolutely unstoppable since left tackle Jake Fisher returned from injury. In four conference games since Fisher came back, the Ducks are averaging 47.7 points per game, and their average margin of victory is 21 points.

The question coming into this game was whether Oregon’s offense could finally do damage against a Stanford defense that had dominated it the previous two seasons. It answered that question and a few more with its 45-point performance.

This was the second time that the Ducks have faced a top-five ranked defense this season—the other being Michigan State on Sept. 6. Against the Spartans, who are ranked No. 5 in total defense, the Ducks scored 46 points and gained 491 yards. The Ducks' average offensive output against Stanford and Michigan State was 45.5 points and 518 yards of offense. Those are some gaudy offensive statistics for a team that has folded against top-ranked defenses the past couple of seasons.

Ultimately, the Ducks offense finally figured out a way beat Stanford with the running game, and their defense delivered when it needed to.

Let’s start with the running game because quite frankly, the Ducks have underperformed on the ground against Stanford over the past two seasons. True freshman Royce Freeman, Oregon’s starting running back, once again proved that he’s a difference-maker for the Ducks.

Andy Staples of Sport Illustrated described Freeman as a "Theatre of Pain.” Freeman isn’t afraid to terrorize opposing defenses with a physicality that Oregon’s running game has lacked in previous years. On the night, he ran for 98 yards on 19 carries.

While Freeman has been Oregon’s most consistent runner this season, he wasn’t the star of the show tonight despite his 98-yard performance. Thomas Tyner broke out against the Cardinal after struggling for most of the season.

Tyner, who rushed for 63 yards on 10 carries and scored two touchdowns, not only was a stabilizing force for Oregon’s offense, but he also capped the victory with a beautiful 21-yard touchdown run that gave the Ducks a 31-16 lead and effectively put the game out of reach. 

And, of course, there’s the performance of quarterback Marcus Mariota. Last year against the Cardinal, Mariota had a sprained MCL, which limited his ability to escape the pocket and do what he does best: make something out of nothing.

Despite the fact that Mariota threw an interception for the second consecutive game, he made play after play and led the Ducks offense up and down the field versus one of the nation's finest defensive units. He threw for 258 yards and two touchdowns; however, it was his ability to escape the pocket and make plays with his legs that was special against Stanford. He ran the ball nine times for 85 yards and also scored two rushing touchdowns while escaping the pocket with regularity in order to make plays downfield with his arm. 

Coming into the game, the Stanford defense had allowed only four rushing touchdowns all season. The Ducks scored four rushing touchdowns all by themselves. Moreover, the Cardinal had allowed just 11 touchdowns through eight games. The Ducks scored six touchdowns on the night against Stanford, which accounts for 35.3 percent of the touchdowns Stanford has allowed this entire season.

All in all, the Ducks rushed for 267 yards on 46 carries. Compare that to Oregon’s rushing performances against Stanford in 2012 and 2013, and it becomes clear how impressive of a performance this was for the Ducks. In Oregon’s previous two losses to the Cardinal, the Ducks rushed for a combined total of 260—including a 62-yard performance in 2013. They exceeded that two-year total against Stanford on Saturday night.

To say this was a masterful performance by the Oregon offense may be an understatement. However, the Ducks don’t have much time to celebrate this win, nor do they get bonus points for beating Stanford.

When asked if there was any special significance to beating Stanford, head coach Mark Helfrich said, “If there’s any added significance it’s mental. We don’t get extra credit for winning this game.”

He's right. The Ducks have to keep moving forward because Oregon's next opponent, the Utah Utes, may prove to be its biggest roadblock to a spot in the College Football Playoff.

Not only is Utah—ranked No. 17 by the College Football Playoff committee—a much-improved team this season, it possesses one of the best home-field advantages in the entire country. When asked about the Ducks' win over Stanford, Helfrich quipped, “Our reward is a tough opponent in a great venue.”

Indeed, Utah’s home field, Rice-Eccles Stadium, sits 4,657 feet above sea level, and the Utes pose a serious threat to Oregon’s postseason aspirations. The Utes will challenge the Ducks with a very competent defense, great running game and one of the best special teams unit in the entire nation.

The Utes are led by outstanding junior running back Devontae Booker, whom an NFL scout has compared favorably to Houston Texans star Arian Foster. Through his first eight games this season, Booker has rushed for 990 yards and eight touchdowns on 183 carries.

Utah’s defense, which is ranked No. 27 in the country in scoring and No. 60 in total yards allowed, will present similar challenges to those posed by Stanford’s defense. While the Utes' D may not be as highly ranked as that as Stanford in terms of statistics, it is legitimate enough that the Ducks should be concerned.

Lastly, Utah’s special teams have been absolutely deadly so far this season. While the Ducks did a good job of containing Stanford’s Ty Montgomery—one of the best special teams players in the entire country—they’ll be hard-pressed to totally stop Utah’s special teams units on Nov. 8.

The Utes are No. 2 in kickoff returns, No. 3 in punt returns, No. 3 in punting and may have the best kicker in the country in sophomore sensation Andy Phillips.

It’s going to be difficult for the Ducks to put this victory over Stanford behind them and immediately move on to preparing for Utah. However, if they want to earn a bid into a College Football Playoff semifinal, they’re going to need to win out. It all starts with Utah.

The Ducks have three more regular-season games—Utah, Colorado and Oregon State—and must impress the committee in each and every game. If they are able to win their next three games, they’ll be rewarded with a spot in the Pac-12 championship game. If they win the Pac-12 title and finish the season at 12-1, they’ll undoubtedly earn a spot into the College Football Playoff.

Oregon made a loud statement against Stanford, and the program should be taken as a very viable playoff candidate. However, the Ducks would be wise not to overlook any opponent at this point in the year.

For the Ducks it’s simple: You win and you’re in. 

In reality, it's going to take more than that. 

Statistics courtesy of cfbstats.com unless otherwise stated. All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise stated.

Jason Gold is Bleacher Report’s lead Oregon writer. Follow Jason on Twitter @TheSportsGuy33.