DeKALB | You knew this was coming, and deservedly so.

NIU quarterback Phil Horvath and the Huskies’ passing game has looked worse than actress Kirstie Alley in a two-piece bathing suit.

How can you be that bad when even your opponent’s band’s tuba player’s grandmother knows NIU running back Garrett Wolfe is getting the ball?

Seven touchdowns and six interceptions are all Horvath has to show for this year. And his two touchdowns against Ball State shouldn’t count because Wolfe was running like a man possessed with 353 yards on Sept. 30.

Even the Michelin Man could throw for a touchdown with a whole defense keying in on Wolfe.

Coach Joe Novak, your fifth-year senior has not showed the leadership and experience you say he possesses.

And with the nation’s top rusher in NIU’s backfield and an interception on Western Michigan’s opening drive caught by NIU linebacker Tim McCarthy, what does your offensive coordinator do?

He calls for your wide receivers to run deep routes down the sideline in an attempt to hit the home run ball after a turnover. Result: an interception after Horvath threw a lob pass to 5-foot-11 receiver Marcus Perez.

Perez is good, but why is Horvath throwing a lob pass to him when wide receiver Britt Davis has god-like leaping ability and is three inches taller than his defender?

In the second quarter, Horvath made the same throw to Perez. Result: interception. Learn from your mistakes, for crying out loud.

And in the third quarter Horvath threw his third pick into triple coverage. If that’s a play by a veteran quarterback, then this writer’s past stories are enough to get a job next year at the New York Times.

NIU tried to commit to Wolfe on multiple occasions Saturday, but it didn’t work. And it’s not going to when your passing game is non-existent, and your offensive line is playing like (insert expletive).

It’s more apparent than ever how much Wolfe is going to miss tight end Jake Nordin’s blocking after he suffered a broken left fibula at Ball State, ending his NIU career.

Novak said at the beginning of this year the competition for the quarterback spot between back-up Dan Nicholson and Horvath was so close, it simply came down to having to pick one.

But Nicholson delivered NIU’s first win against Toledo in 16 years last season, and led the Huskies to a MAC Championship victory before former safety Ray Smith and the defense were beat by Akron with 10 seconds.

Yes, WMU’s defense is ranked No. 10, but NIU’s offense had this guy named Wolfe playing for them, and he’s the kind of player that allows for other teammates to shine because of the attention he draws.

A whole lot of stuff needs to happen for NIU to win the rest of its games and make it to the MAC title game.

Putting Nicholson back at quarterback would be good for starters.

Sean Connor is an NIU football beat reporter for the Northern Star.