Michigan football: 3 takeaways from blowout win over Western Michigan

Michigan football played its first game of the season at the Big House Saturday and won in dominating fashion over Western Michigan.

One week after Michigan football was humbled by Notre Dame, the Wolverines played their home opener and looked sharp in a 49-3 domination of Western Michigan.

Yes, it was just Western Michigan, a team that went 6-6 a season ago and lost 55-42 to Syracuse in the first week of the season. No one is saying this takes the pressure away to win a big game or to contend for a Big Ten championship.

But for one day at least, this Michigan football team played the way we expected it to. The Wolverines racked up 451 yards of total offense and that was with an offense that was very safe in the second half. The defense surrendered just three points and 202 yards. The special teams even got in on the act, blocking a punt in the first half that led to a Chris Evans touchdown, he had two on the day.

Maybe the biggest relief was the play of Shea Patterson. He was sacked just one time, completed 12-of-17 passes and threw three touchdowns. He even found a wide receiver in the end zone twice, as both Nico Collins and Donovan Peoples-Jones caught touchdowns. Collins touchdown catch in the second quarter was the first by a Michigan football receiver in 364 days, since last season against Cincinnati.

But as I said, this wasn’t Notre Dame and it’s not even Nebraska or Northwestern. So what can we learn from the Wolverines 49-3 beatdown of Western Michigan? Well here’s a look at the three key takeaways.