The Blue Devils’ defense enforced its will upon Middle Tennessee on Saturday, holding the Blue Raiders to 295 yards of total offense and forcing four turnovers in opposing territory.
The story of the team, once again, came behind the line of scrimmage. Duke made 12 tackles for loss in Week 4, moving them back past East Carolina for the most in the FBS.
The Blue Devils have 46 tackles for loss through four games, two more than the Pirates. Mississippi (43) is the only other program with more than 40 as of Sunday, and no other ACC school has more than 34 (Miami).
Linebacker Alex Howard, who excelled again against MTSU, already has 8.5 tackles for loss through his first four games with the Blue Devils. No Power Four defender has more this season, and only Buffalo’s Shaun Dolac (9.5) has more in the entire FBS.
Fellow linebacker Cameron Bergeron also has 6.5 TFLs, and four other Blue Devils already have at least three on the season.
Defensive end Wesley Williams made his impact with two sacks on Saturday, and the Blue Devils’ 15 sacks as a team are second to only the Hurricanes among FBS programs.