Through three weeks of play, Northwestern has made the argument that it’s a contender in the Big Ten West.

The Wildcats sit at 3-0 and have pulled of consecutive come-from-behind victories. With those now in the rear-view mirror, head coach Pat Fitzgerald addressed the media in his regularly scheduled press conference.

Northwestern’s next challenge is another undefeated opponent, Purdue. The Boilermakers are 2-0 and were off last week due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the Wisconsin program.

While there has been plenty to like about the Wildcats’ strong start, the defense has been particularly impressive. Especially given the fact they have yet to allow a point in the second half of a game this season.

One of the challenges facing Northwestern’s defense this week is Purdue wide receiver David Bell. Fitzgerald had strong praise for the breakout Boilermaker wideout.

So far, it seems like both these teams have won in similar ways. The defense does its part and the offense does just enough to pull out a victory. We’ll see which squad can better execute that strategy on Saturday.