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If you're squinting for bright spots in a game against lowly Illinois the Wolverines spent an entire third quarter trying hard to lose, one may have been found where many of us had already given up. 

Patterson's play much of this season hasn't inspired anyone, except future rivalry game opponents. It was expected he would light up scoreboards and stuff the stat sheet in a new "speed in space" offense allegedly tailor-made for his skill-set. But other than one quarter against Middle Tennessee, and not counting Rutgers (because Rutgers doesn't count), Patterson has looked timid and erratic. And those have been his positives. 

Nowhere near the 5-star gunslinger he was as a prized recruit back in 2016. Let alone the competent game-manger he was for the Wolverines as a transfer last season.

Michigan has spent more time overcoming Patterson's play than relying on it this fall. However, maybe, just maybe, the fourth quarter against Illinois was a turning point in that regard? With the Wolverines teetering and the sideline life-less after a 25-0 scoring run by Illinois, the Shea Patterson we thought we were going to see all season suddenly showed up. Guiding the scoring drive that ended up putting the game away. Including key throws, and a 4th-and-3 keeper for a key conversion. 

It was vintage Patterson, with a little bit of this and a little bit of that. And it couldn't have come at a better time. You could almost sense Patterson saying "enough of this bleep" as he took the field for that drive. Well, Michigan fans have certainly said that a time or to watching this offense try to find itself this season. Thankfully, Saturday was the first time the offense won a game rather than getting out of the way or almost losing it. 

Patterson ended up taking every snap at quarterback at Illinois. Probably not what Michigan had in mind going into Saturday, but what it required nevertheless. And though his 11-for-22 passing performance wasn't exactly the stuff of Heisman's, his three touchdowns to no interceptions will beat a lot of teams. Even the lofty ones awaiting the Wolverines with the gauntlet to come. 

It became clear on Saturday that Patterson holds the fate of this season in his hands. He's going to be 2019's ride or die. It doesn't have to be pretty, or even conventional, but if he can keep duplicating Saturday's resourceful 80.9 QBR the rest of the way, it could still turn out to be memorable.