If one steps back and looks from a strictly analytical viewpoint, the defense certainly didn't play a great game. However, putting the entire game in context (last season, the last 5 seasons, the 'trend' of the program and etc.), I think one can argue quite confidently that the defense and the entire team played very well! This game was 'a big one' and loomed large on the schedule for a long time. Many would have penciled it in as one of several losses without giving it much more thought. And after giving a bunch of thought, would have still penciled in a loss. Some didn't want to get embarrassed and would have been happy to have kept the game reasonably close.