American Conference playoff matchup breakdown

#2 Avalon Park Assassins vs. #1 Wings of Pastrami

You figured that at least 1 of these team would be in the Conference Finals, and it cant be too surprising that both are fighting it out for a chance to go to the Super Bowl. WOP won the low-scoring, head to head in the regular season. But that was with a still healing Tony Romo and a healthy Marion Barber. Those roles are now reversed, but can APA find an other way to pull through? Lets see...

QB -
Romo vs. Garrard - After last weeks debacle, WOP just wants his QB to stay in the whole game. GB DEF's has not been great lately, but Garrard doesn't have many weapons and cant be expected to do much. Since coming back from injury, Romo has been hot and cold. Posting two games of 50+ points, but also two games of sub 20 points. He faces a pissed off NYG this week and the 'boys are the verge of self-destructing. Prediction - Garrard will be just less than average, throwing for a scoring and for less than 200 yards, but also an INT. Romo might have to will his team to a victory this week. He wont throw for 300 yards, but count on at least 2 TDs.

RBs -
Matt Forte / Maurice Jones-Drew v. Marion Barber / Chris Johnson. - Forte played already, posting a good score, but not great, which was expected against a weak NO DEF. MO Jones-Drew's ship has come in; fred taylor went on the IR this week and plays against a soft GB run DEF. If he doesn't get 20 carries and 5 catches, its will be disappointing. Will he or wont he? That is the big questions surrounding Marion Barber this week. Guts tells him to play, his body might so no. Whatever his choice, its a risk putting him in the lineup against a tough NYG DEF. Chris Johnson faces a HOU DEF that held him in check earlier in the season, but that was before he melted some faces throughout the year. Back to back 100+ games should be the norm for him. Prediction - I predict Forte will have low yardage and get a td, about 14.8 points. MJ DREW will blow up and 30+ total points, thanks to the bonus and 2 tds. Barber plays, but doesn't reach 10 carries or 10 points. Chris Johnson does what he do, going for 110 yards and 1 td.

WRs -
Randy Moss/Reggie Wayne/Steve Smith v. Brandon Marshall/Laveranues Coles/Steve Breaston - WOP's squad should be considered the best in the biz. Though a little inconsistent, each guy on this corp has the ability to blow up, no matter the defense. They have combined for 12 bonuses this year. In comparison, APA boasts a team with talent, but a little underachieving, tallying only 6 bonuses between the 3 players. Each WR plays with a QB that can get them the ball, but not usually enough to be dominating. Prediction - Wayne bounces back and Smith continues his hot streak as both grab the bonus and TDs against very weak DEFs. Moss gets slowed down and shutout of the end zone, but still get 5 catches for 57 yards. Marshall does the damage out of the 3, getting 80 yards and a TD. APA's other have average games, neither topping 70 yards or a TD.

TE -
Tony Gonzalez v. Owen Daniels - This position is the big separator - if Tony Gonzo can have another huge game compared to the average game expected from Daniels, it will a big step in APA's journey to a win. Gonzo plays a SD team that allows the most points to TE's, a great sign that he'll blow up. Daniels struggled as late, but had a nice game with Schuab back. TENN is average against TE's, which is the type of game you can expect from Daniels. Prediction - Gonzo goes Gonzo; expect a bonus and a TD grab. anything less would be uncivilized. Daniels will get his standard 55 yards from 5 catches. Anything more would be gravy.

D/ST
Indy v. Washington - At this writing, the WOPs are going with the Colts, who have posted back to back huge games, 35 and 40 points, and are facing a horrible Detroit Lions that actually do have a few weapons. With Bob Sanders back, the colts have been real nasty and stingy. The Redskins also face a weak offensive team in the CINCIN Bengals. They have never had a dominant game this season, but rarely get smoked. Consistent and average is what they are, which is not bad. Prediction - INDY D/ST comes back to earth a little, but still post a 20+ game with 2 ints and 3 sacks. Washington has their best game of the year, but since they don't get many TOs, a 15 point posting will be the ceiling.

K - Gostkowski v. Mare - The New England kicker sits on top the points ladder going into the last weeks of the season. 3 of the past 4 weeks, he has topped 10 points. Count on that again when facing a terrible Oakland team. Mare is facing a team that will allow him to get lots of kicking opportunities, but maybe not many FGs chances. Prediction - Gostkowski gets a few of each, just reaching 10 points. Mare goes a little more wild in a shootout, reaching 12 points.

FINAL PREDICTION - Both teams do better than last week and both show why they made it this far. WOPs dont get much from the QB spot, but the rest of the team shows up with 3 bonuses and multiple TDs, 4 more than last week. APA gets expected great showings from a few players, but a questionable stud RB and just an average D/ST are the difference. Final Score - 175 to 156