Cornerback Will Likely carries the ball during the Terps’ 38-31 win over Iowa on Oct. 18, 2014 at Byrd Stadium. 

The Terrapins football team has gotten blown out in three games this season, but they’ve also earned several hard-fought road victories.

So Saturday with the Terps and Michigan tied at 16 in the Big Ten, it wasn’t too surprising that the Terps stayed level-headed, that their defense clamped down and that the offense delivered a late drive to seal a 23-16 win.

Such triumphs have become a staple of the Terps’ 2014 season, and they’re padding coach Randy Edsall’s job security. Let’s break it down.

PROPS TO C.J.

Quarterback C.J. Brown has taken his share of deserved criticism this year, and entering Saturday’s game, Edsall even brought up the possibility of replacing the senior under center.

After Saturday, though, Brown deserves some praise.

Look, Brown is never going to be the kind of quarterback that rips apart opposing defenses with arm. He is, though, a player that help win games with his legs and can make a few throws in the right situation. And that’s exactly how things unfolded in Michigan Stadium.

Brown was the Terps most effective offensive weapon Saturday, rushing for 87 yards on 18 carries and completing 13 of 24 passes for 165 yards. Plus, he was huge down the stretch.

He dove for a first down on the Terps’ game-winning drive and then threw a pretty pass to wide receiver Amba Etta-Tawo to set up Wes Brown’s score that sealed the victory.

The Terps wouldn’t have this game without Brown, and he proved he’s the team’s best option to helm the offense.

LIKELY AND CRADDOCK

The Terps are pushing two players as All-Americans this season and both cornerback Will Likely and Brad Craddock stepped up to help the team topple the Wolverines.

Likely intercepted a pass — his sixth pick of the year — in the second quarter to set up one of Craddock’s three field goals. The spunky 5-foot-7 sophomore also broke up several passes, made six tackles and had a several electric returns.

Craddock, meanwhile, hit all three of his field goals to improve to a perfect 17 of 17 on the season.

When it all shakes out, the Terps have two — and only two — players on their roster deserving of All-American consideration. But neither of those guys have let their performance dip a bit.

SLUGGISH TO START

Usually Terps fans’ headaches early in games come from quarterback Brown’s overthrows and misfires. But Saturday, things were different.

Brown rifled a couple nice passes on the Terps’ first few drives but wide receiver Jacquille Veii dropped them in a string of events that set the tone for the entire game.

From drops to an ineffective running game to mediocre quarterback play, the Terps had too many issues to sustain any offensive rhythm in the first half. The Terps recorded just five first downs in the opening two quarters and posted nine points on three Brad Craddock field goals, one of which was set up by an interception from cornerback Will Likely and the other from Likely’s best punt return of the afternoon.

In total, the Terps finished with 312 total yards, which is far from impressive.

The defense was great, and held off Michigan in the win. The Terps, though, need to improve on offense moving forward for the final regular-season game and into the future if they hope to grow as a program.

RANDY’S BIG WIN

Just like Brown, Edsall’s faced his share of criticism through his tenure in College Park, but he’s led the Terps to five road wins this season. The Terps have matched their win total from last season and carved an imprint in their first Big Ten season.

To make a long story short, Edsall’s program is making progress. And with his contract entering its final two seasons, Athletic Director Kevin Anderson has got to be thinking about offering him an extension.