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| Mario Valencia, QB, Detroit |
Detroit Wheels (10-6) at Oklahoma Outlaws (14-2): MFN makes Oklahoma a 4-point favorite. The teams did not meet this season, but the Wheels stomped the Outlaws, 43-6, in 1980 and lead the regular-season series 4-1. Detroit is coming off a 33-3 wild-card thrashing of Denver in which the Gold managed only 119 yards total offense after averaging 365 during the season. Mario Valencia was 27-for-29 and threw four TD passes for Detroit. The bye week helps Oklahoma field an entirely healthy roster for this game. The Wheels will be without two defensive starters due to injuries.
Chicago Blitz (12-4) at Honolulu Hawaiians (14-2): MFN gives the Hawaiians a 3-point edge. The Hawaiians are riding a seven-game win streak. Chicago outlasted the Arizona Wranglers, 30-21, in the wild-card round behind a solid performance from backup QB Eric Pierce. He started instead of veteran Daniel McKee and was 27-for-34 for 279 yards and two TDs. The Chicago defense limited Arizona to 211 total yards as SS David Feng made nine tackles and intercepted a pass. Honolulu has lost both of its previous playoff games. Hawaiians SS Joseph Daughtry is questionable. Blitz LG Aaron Dutton is out with a concussion. The regular-season series is tied 1-1. Honolulu won the most recent meeting, 37-20, in 1979.
Philadelphia Bell (9-7) at Baltimore Stars (14-2): MFN calls this a tossup. Baltimore won its first-ever Atlantic Division title and set a franchise record for victories, but suffered losses to Chicago and Pittsburgh during the final five weeks. Philadelphia won the first playoff game in club history when it dispatched Jacksonville, 13-7, in the wild-card round. Bells LDE Laverne Ashlock recorded three sacks, two on back-to-back plays after the Bulls had driven to the Philadelphia 12-yard line with 2 minutes to play. The Stars lead the regular-season series, 3-1, but the Bell won, 19-7, in 1980. Philadelphia C Michael DeFrancisco (ankle) and RDE Wilbert Sierra (ankle) are questionable. Baltimore RT Jonathan Nash (knee) is doubtful.
Shreveport Steamer (11-5) at New Jersey Generals (13-3): MFN gives New Jersey a 3-point edge. Shreveport is coming off a 10-6 wild-card round win over the New York Stars in which Edgar Jones passed to Ernest Seal for the game's only TD. New York did not run an offensive play on the Shreveport half of the field during the entire fourth quarter. Five Steamer players are either doubtful or questionable, while the Generals are healthy. The Steamer lead the regular-season series, 2-1, including a 13-7 Week 8 victory this season, and beat New Jersey is last year's playoffs, 35-34.
