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No. 2 Clemson didn't lose solely because of on Friday night, butthat's the biggest reason the Tigers fell 27-24 on the road at Syracuse, shaking up the College Football Playoff picture in the proce s.Bryant came into the game hobbled by an ankle injury, one that limited Clemson's offensive play-calling. Bryant then left shortly before halftime after a nasty hit, forcing the Tigers to Willie McGee Jersey turn the ball over to Zerrick Cooper in the second half.That's when Clemson learned what a few other playoff contenders have already discovered:Sometimes, you're only as good as your healthy starting quarterback.MORE: Ask Florida State, which has lost two gamesafter in theseason-opening lo s to Alabama. Ask Michigan, whichlost Wilton Speight for multiple weeks and is coming off another . The Seminoles and Wolverines were New Year's Day Six teams last season.You can only stre s a talented defense which Florida State, Michigan and Clemson have for so long before the offense becomes a liability.Ohio State's run to the College Football Playoff championship in 2014 with Cardale Jones is the exception to a time-honored rule Harrison Bader Jersey : Once the starting quarterback goes down, anything goes. Ask Chris Weinke, Sam Bradford, Colt McCoy and countle s others. And it can derail a national championship run just like that.Would you like Oklahoma's chances without Baker Mayfield, or USC's without Sam Darnold? Of course not. Georgia hasn't seen a drop-off from Jacob Eason to Jake Fromm, but it's clear those two are close in talent level.Bryant and Cooper are not, otherwise the former wouldn't have started.Bryant's injury coming into the game limited what the Tigers could do in the running game he had four carries for minus-8 yards in the first half. That's dangerous against any team, let alone an up-tempo offense like Syracuse, which kept Clemson off the field for most Jedd Gyorko Jersey of the second quarter.At that point, Dabo Swinney was forced to play Cooper in e sentially a 50-50 game. The Tigers made too many mistakes around the backup, includinga mi sed field goal from 38 yards with 45 second left in the third quarter. Cooper didn't play bad, but that's a tough situation for any backup.Syracuse took the lead, and a bizarre fake punt attempt from midfield was Clemson's last offensive play. The Orange ran the last 12 and 6:10 off the clock in a drive where they converted three third downs. The Tigers, even with that talented defense, couldn't give the offense one more chance.It's fair to wonder if itwould have even mattered at that point.MORE: That's why the focus of Clemson's bye week must be get Bryant back to 100 percent for ann ACC stretch that includes Georgia Tech, Marcell Ozuna Jersey N.C. State and Florida State. There's no margin for error now, and the Tigers need the Orange to lose another game in the Atlantic Division.Clemson is good enough to win with Bryant. They piled up top-15 victories against Auburn, Louisville and Virginia Tech with him under center, and it was enough to forget about the legend of Deshaun Watson for a while. With his injury, however ...well, you saw what happened. The Tigers became the latest victim in a landscape where are only 11unbeaten teams remain in the FBS, and only seven from the Power 5 after Cal beat Washington State 37-3 in the second half of Friday's doubleheader.You can Keith Hernandez Jersey lose one, but history tells everybody not to lose two. And you better have your No. 1 quarterback in there when it matters.