Gophers coach P.J. Fleck said critical miscues in November games often go under the microscope for further examination.

“You can’t make mistakes, and I thought we played really clean football for a long time, but there are some catastrophic things that happen,” Fleck said after a 27-26 loss to Illinois at Huntington Bank Stadium. “Whatever happens in November, good or bad, gets magnified.”

There were plenty of slides to move under the lens for a much closer look after Saturday loss. Here are some of the biggest miscues:

— Gophers kick returner Sean Tyler continued to be plagued by fumbling issues this season when he coughed up the opening kickoff. Illinois recovered the ball and took a 7-0 lead three plays later.

Fleck showed faith by going back to Tyler after he fumbled yet again in the Michigan State win last week, but after his latest fumble, Tyler was immediately replaced on kickoff returns and didn’t have any carries as a running back Saturday.

— Linebacker Cody Lindenberg and safety Tyler Nubin said a miscommunication led to Illinois’ game-winning 46-yard touchdown pass with 50 seconds left. There was more to it than that.

“I will have to go back and check it and look at it, but it was pretty obvious we weren’t deep enough,” Fleck said.

While Lindenberg could be seen gesturing pre-snap to Nubin and safety Aidan Gousby, Nubin let Isaiah Williams run past him for the score.

— Minnesota had other lapses in coverage on the Illini’s first two touchdowns. Linebacker Devon Williams and defensive back Tyler Bride were the nearest defenders to open Illini pass catchers.

“Communication,” Lindenberg said. “Whether that be loud or hand signaling or on the sideline, pre-snap stuff, alerting stuff. … It all takes into consideration when something like that is going on.”

— The Illini faced a fourth and 11 with its backup quarterback John Paddock coming into the game for the first time. With less than 90 seconds left, the cold QB found Williams in a soft spot in the U’s zone to keep the comeback bid alive.

— The offense had its own setbacks. A third-quarter takeaway from the U defense gave them the ball at the Illini 12-yard line. But on first down, receiver Corey Crooms dropped a touchdown pass.

Then Illini star defense tackle Jer’Zhan Newton had a tackle and sack on second and third down to force a 34-yard field goal to extend a 20-14. With that field position, netting only a field goal is a letdown.

— At the end of the first half, Fleck ran the ball on third and long instead of being more aggressive and passing.

On third and 9 from Illinois 22, Fleck and offensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh called a run and Jordan Nubin gained four yards.

At that time, quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis had completed nine of 11 passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions.

“When they were getting into two safety defense, I thought we were going to pop a run,” Fleck said. “That was the thought process. If we get sacked there, we are out of field goal range. It was more of we were going to run the ball to get the first down. We have run the ball on third and medium, third and long at times and got first downs.

“That wasn’t safe,” Fleck said. “We wanted to take the lead going into halftime. … If you are not getting the ball (after halftime), you want points.”

Dragan Kesich kicked a 36-yard field goal for a 17-14 halftime lead, but failing to maximize scoring chances cost as much as defensive breakdowns Saturday.

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