Post by MGB01 on Jul 21, 2005 14:50:48 GMT -5
NEW YORK (5-3) AT DALLAS (3-5)
Sat 4:00 ET Spike TV
Line: Vipers by 2
All-time series: Vipers by 2
Last meeting: Vipers won 29-7 in East Rutherford, N.J. July 10, 2004
Out: NY C/G Omar Smith DAL WR Shannon Culver
Preview: Vipers in seemingful must-win position from this point out, even in the weak south, after consecutive losses on road to Memphis and Orlando. Vipers are 3-1 at home though, and have beaten Hitmen 69-29 in two matchups. Hitmen on franchise-best four-game winning streak, and have won five of six. Hitmen quarterbacks Michael Bishop and Tim Couch have thrown just two interceptions in that span, both coming last week (Couch) in 29-26 win over Detroit.
SAN FRANCISCO (4-4) AT DETROIT (4-4)
Sun 1:00 ET NBC-R
Line: Mustangs by 1
All-time series: Mustangs lead 1-0
Last meeting: Mustangs won 48-21 in San Francisco, CA. June 5, 2004
Out: DET CB Delvin Hughley QB Rob Johnson
Preview: In what takes on the appearance of a playoff-like elimination game for both teams, both having lost consecutive games, it also could be described as the resistable force against the movable object with the Demons third from the bottom offensively (315 YPG) and the Mustangs at the bottom defensively (406 YPG). The Demons are 3-1 away from San Francisco, while the Mustangs have the same mark at Ford Field.
BIRMINGHAM (3-5) AT KANSAS CITY (2-6)
Sun 1:00 ET NBC-R
Line: Bolts by 2.5
All-time series: Bolts lead 3-0
Last meeting: Bolts won 40-10 in Birmingham, AL. June 5, 2005
Out: BIR OLB Donnie Spragan KC SS Tyrone Carter TE Kevin Everett TE Tim Euhus (ques) OLB Kevin Burnett
Preview: The Bolts seemed to salvage their season and turn a corner with their 51-21 thrashing of Detroit two weeks ago, then fumbled it away in a 38-30 loss to then-winless Carolina last week. Like their fellow underachieving southerners the Vipers, the Bolts are pretty much finding themselves in must-win position from this point. The Monarchs, hamstrung by the preseason losses of Everett and Burnett, expected to be impact rookies, and without Carter for the last four games, are seemingly in next year mode. But the Bolts are hardly in position to overlook anyone if last week is any indication.
CHICAGO (6-2) AT MEMPHIS (2-6)
Sun 1:00 ET NBC-N
Line: Enforcers by 2
All-time series: Enforcers lead 3-2
Last meeting: Enforcers won 51-20 in Chicago, IL. May 23, 2004
Out: MEM CB Shawn Byrdsong FB Matthew Tant CHI TE Bryan Fletcher
Preview: How does a 2-6 team get national coverage? When two years ago they beat an eventual X-Bowl champion 36-14 and a repeat is highly possible, especially with the defending two-time champs perhaps at their most vulnerable at any time during their run. However Enforcers fans would like to point out that Ricky Ray will be the quarterback Sunday on Beale Street, not David Rivers as in 2003. Still the Enforcers have trailed in the fourth quarter five times (although they've won four) and been taken to overtime three times (although they've won all three). Travis Stephens is back for the Maniax for the first time since turning an ankle in week three against Birmingham.
WASHINGTON (4-4) AT LOS ANGELES (5-3)
Sun 4:00 ET NBC-R
Line: Xtreme by 4
All-time series: series tied 1-1
Last meeting: Xtreme won 40-37 (OT) in Los Angeles, CA. July 6, 2003.
Out: none
Preview: For the stretch run, the Glory need not oustanding but steady quarterback play from Joe Hamilton, however in this showdown of ex-ACC quarterbacks, the Xtreme come in on fire, having won five of six. Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians plans to use Renaldo Works, Marion Barber, and Jarrett Payton all equally in an effort to work around the league's top rushing defense (65.9 YPG). Hamilton may have success in jumpstarting a league-worst pass attack with a young secondary that's sort of learning on the fly, but that hasn't stopped the Xtreme, who have been more than able to depen on their front seven.
PITTSBURGH (4-4) AT ORLANDO (6-2)
Sun 4:00 ET NBC-N
Line: Rage by 5
All-time series: Rage lead 2-1
Last meeting: Rage won 30-17 in Orlando, FL July 19, 2003.
Out: ORL FS Quentin Harris
Preview: Dave Wannstedt had pledged in the second half to take a look at third-rounder Jared Allen in the second half of the season, that was before the Ironmen's shocking victory in Chicago two weeks ago, but losing to Seattle last week was a huge blow to their momentum. Either the Ironmen come up with the road shocker (as they memorably did in their inuagural game down in Orlando in the 2002 season opener) or it's time to start looking to 2006. The Rage look at this as a must-win game in their home finale with three straight games in hostile territory to close the regular season.
LAS VEGAS (6-2) AT SEATTLE (4-4)
Sun 4:00 ET NBC-R
Line: Outlaws by 1.5
All-time series: Outlaws lead 2-0
Last meeting: Outlaws won 33-20 in Las Vegas, NV. July 3, 2005
Out: LV RB Hodges Mitchell DE Kelvin Kinney FS Sam Brandon SEA OLB Anthony Simmons
Preview: Winning in Pittsburgh last week was huge, but the Reign's three-game slide at Qwest Field is unlikely to continue against an Outlaw team that's in a bad mood after squandering a 20-point lead against the Xtreme last week. Ken Simonton moves up into the starting spot with Mitchell out perhaps for the rest of the regular season.
CAROLINA (1-7) AT JACKSONVILLE (5-3)
Sun 8:00 ET UPN
Line: Predators by 1
All-time series: series tied 1-1
Last meeting: Predators won 29-24 in Raleigh, N.C. July 3, 2005
Out: CAR QB Kyle Orton (ques) JAX DE Erik Flowers DE Gabe Nyenhuis
Preview: Hurting the Colonels' chances for two in a row is the fact that the Predators are three-for-three at Alltel Stadium with three of four at home to end the season. Although Jason Fife, the likely starter with Orton still somewhat banged up, led the Colonels to a 34-24 upset win in Jacksonville last June 27 that helped keep the Predators out of the playoffs.
Sat 4:00 ET Spike TV
Line: Vipers by 2
All-time series: Vipers by 2
Last meeting: Vipers won 29-7 in East Rutherford, N.J. July 10, 2004
Out: NY C/G Omar Smith DAL WR Shannon Culver
Preview: Vipers in seemingful must-win position from this point out, even in the weak south, after consecutive losses on road to Memphis and Orlando. Vipers are 3-1 at home though, and have beaten Hitmen 69-29 in two matchups. Hitmen on franchise-best four-game winning streak, and have won five of six. Hitmen quarterbacks Michael Bishop and Tim Couch have thrown just two interceptions in that span, both coming last week (Couch) in 29-26 win over Detroit.
SAN FRANCISCO (4-4) AT DETROIT (4-4)
Sun 1:00 ET NBC-R
Line: Mustangs by 1
All-time series: Mustangs lead 1-0
Last meeting: Mustangs won 48-21 in San Francisco, CA. June 5, 2004
Out: DET CB Delvin Hughley QB Rob Johnson
Preview: In what takes on the appearance of a playoff-like elimination game for both teams, both having lost consecutive games, it also could be described as the resistable force against the movable object with the Demons third from the bottom offensively (315 YPG) and the Mustangs at the bottom defensively (406 YPG). The Demons are 3-1 away from San Francisco, while the Mustangs have the same mark at Ford Field.
BIRMINGHAM (3-5) AT KANSAS CITY (2-6)
Sun 1:00 ET NBC-R
Line: Bolts by 2.5
All-time series: Bolts lead 3-0
Last meeting: Bolts won 40-10 in Birmingham, AL. June 5, 2005
Out: BIR OLB Donnie Spragan KC SS Tyrone Carter TE Kevin Everett TE Tim Euhus (ques) OLB Kevin Burnett
Preview: The Bolts seemed to salvage their season and turn a corner with their 51-21 thrashing of Detroit two weeks ago, then fumbled it away in a 38-30 loss to then-winless Carolina last week. Like their fellow underachieving southerners the Vipers, the Bolts are pretty much finding themselves in must-win position from this point. The Monarchs, hamstrung by the preseason losses of Everett and Burnett, expected to be impact rookies, and without Carter for the last four games, are seemingly in next year mode. But the Bolts are hardly in position to overlook anyone if last week is any indication.
CHICAGO (6-2) AT MEMPHIS (2-6)
Sun 1:00 ET NBC-N
Line: Enforcers by 2
All-time series: Enforcers lead 3-2
Last meeting: Enforcers won 51-20 in Chicago, IL. May 23, 2004
Out: MEM CB Shawn Byrdsong FB Matthew Tant CHI TE Bryan Fletcher
Preview: How does a 2-6 team get national coverage? When two years ago they beat an eventual X-Bowl champion 36-14 and a repeat is highly possible, especially with the defending two-time champs perhaps at their most vulnerable at any time during their run. However Enforcers fans would like to point out that Ricky Ray will be the quarterback Sunday on Beale Street, not David Rivers as in 2003. Still the Enforcers have trailed in the fourth quarter five times (although they've won four) and been taken to overtime three times (although they've won all three). Travis Stephens is back for the Maniax for the first time since turning an ankle in week three against Birmingham.
WASHINGTON (4-4) AT LOS ANGELES (5-3)
Sun 4:00 ET NBC-R
Line: Xtreme by 4
All-time series: series tied 1-1
Last meeting: Xtreme won 40-37 (OT) in Los Angeles, CA. July 6, 2003.
Out: none
Preview: For the stretch run, the Glory need not oustanding but steady quarterback play from Joe Hamilton, however in this showdown of ex-ACC quarterbacks, the Xtreme come in on fire, having won five of six. Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians plans to use Renaldo Works, Marion Barber, and Jarrett Payton all equally in an effort to work around the league's top rushing defense (65.9 YPG). Hamilton may have success in jumpstarting a league-worst pass attack with a young secondary that's sort of learning on the fly, but that hasn't stopped the Xtreme, who have been more than able to depen on their front seven.
PITTSBURGH (4-4) AT ORLANDO (6-2)
Sun 4:00 ET NBC-N
Line: Rage by 5
All-time series: Rage lead 2-1
Last meeting: Rage won 30-17 in Orlando, FL July 19, 2003.
Out: ORL FS Quentin Harris
Preview: Dave Wannstedt had pledged in the second half to take a look at third-rounder Jared Allen in the second half of the season, that was before the Ironmen's shocking victory in Chicago two weeks ago, but losing to Seattle last week was a huge blow to their momentum. Either the Ironmen come up with the road shocker (as they memorably did in their inuagural game down in Orlando in the 2002 season opener) or it's time to start looking to 2006. The Rage look at this as a must-win game in their home finale with three straight games in hostile territory to close the regular season.
LAS VEGAS (6-2) AT SEATTLE (4-4)
Sun 4:00 ET NBC-R
Line: Outlaws by 1.5
All-time series: Outlaws lead 2-0
Last meeting: Outlaws won 33-20 in Las Vegas, NV. July 3, 2005
Out: LV RB Hodges Mitchell DE Kelvin Kinney FS Sam Brandon SEA OLB Anthony Simmons
Preview: Winning in Pittsburgh last week was huge, but the Reign's three-game slide at Qwest Field is unlikely to continue against an Outlaw team that's in a bad mood after squandering a 20-point lead against the Xtreme last week. Ken Simonton moves up into the starting spot with Mitchell out perhaps for the rest of the regular season.
CAROLINA (1-7) AT JACKSONVILLE (5-3)
Sun 8:00 ET UPN
Line: Predators by 1
All-time series: series tied 1-1
Last meeting: Predators won 29-24 in Raleigh, N.C. July 3, 2005
Out: CAR QB Kyle Orton (ques) JAX DE Erik Flowers DE Gabe Nyenhuis
Preview: Hurting the Colonels' chances for two in a row is the fact that the Predators are three-for-three at Alltel Stadium with three of four at home to end the season. Although Jason Fife, the likely starter with Orton still somewhat banged up, led the Colonels to a 34-24 upset win in Jacksonville last June 27 that helped keep the Predators out of the playoffs.