Last week was full of big time upsets with the leagues two winless teams earning their first victories.
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ORLANDO APOLLOS @ BIRMINGHAM IRON
SATURDAY 11 AM PT
Will the Apollos ever lose? Last week the ole ball coach and his undefeated team came into snowy Salt Lake City and got the nice road win. Garrett Gilbert is firing on all cylinders and Jalin Marshall and Charles Johnson are the league’s best wide receiver tandem.
The Birmingham Iron must find a way to provide some offense. Offensive coordinator Steve Logan has been feeling the heat after Luis Perez still hasn’t notched a passing touchdown on the season. Add that to the Trent Richardson run game which is just averaging 2.4 yards a carry and you have the reason for concern. Richardson does have 7 touchdowns on the ground though. The Iron defense is as good as any in the league and kept them in the game last week against the Commanders. They’ll need a stout performance to keep the Apollos out of the end zone.
Prediction
Apollos 26
Iron 12
SALT LAKE CITY STALLIONS @ SAN DIEGO FLEET
SATURDAY 5 PM PT
Both these teams are coming off tough losses. Salt Lake City had the undefeated Apollos on the ropes but couldn’t deliver when they needed to. Running Back Brandon Oliver seems to be emerging as one of the AAF’s best running backs. The Stallions are winless on the road this season despite playing the league’s hardest schedule thus far.
The San Diego Fleet are fresh off a road loss at the Memphis Express where the Fleet blew a double digit 2nd half lead to winless Express. Most of the Fleet’s problems occurred when their starting quarterback Philip Nelson went down with a broken collar bone. Nelson is projected to be out 6-8 weeks which leaves the Fleet in quite a bind. Nelson seemed to really grasp the offense and now they’ll be forced to try and get back in rhythm with their backups.
Prediction
Salt Lake City Stallions 22
San Diego Fleet 19
MEMPHIS EXPRESS @ ATLANTA LEGENDS
SUNDAY 1 PM PT
The two lone winless teams both found wins despite being large underdogs. Both these teams also got their first win at the helm of their backup quarterbacks. The Memphis Express and Zach Mettenberger finally looked like an offense that might actually be able to score. Head coach Mike Singletary really has the Express defense playing great ball.
The Atlanta Legends earned a huge road victory last week in Arizona against the Hot Shots. What sparked the Legends otherwise awful offense was former Georgia Bulldog QB Aaron Murray who really sparked the Legends offense. The Legends defense has improved each week and could really play a role in challenging the Memphis quarterback Zach Mettenberger.
Prediction
Atlanta Legends 19
Memphis Express 15
SAN ANTONIO COMMANDERS @ ARIZONA HOT SHOTS
SUNDAY 5 PM PT
The San Antonio Commanders came up with a huge road win last week against the undefeated Birmingham Iron. Quarterback Logan Woodside played a much more complete game against the Iron and seems to be on the right track moving forward. The highlight of last week’s game for the Commanders was defensive coordinator Jim Grobe’s stout defense which challenged the Iron in every way possible.
Who could have predicted that the Arizona Hotshots would come out that flat against the Atlanta Legends and lose the game. John Wofford was once looking like a MVP candidate but has now struggled in back to back games. If the Hot Shots want any chance at winning this game they must take better control of the ball and limit the turnovers.
Prediction
San Antonio Commanders 23
Arizona Hot Shots 19