Allen has take RW McQuatters
and turned him into a big play offensive threat.
|
|
|
This Could Be Allen's Year
After getting off to a blazing start, then cooling a bit, the Niners
are primed to make a serious title run. While front running Minnesota
and Green Bay are getting all of the glory, the Niners are quietly
making their move. They took care of the first step, upending division
champion Gresham to win the AFC West. Now they must handle their
nemesis, Green Bay. The Packers slid by Allen's Niners in the regular
season winning 29-24. But it was in the kickoff classic that Allen
made his biggest statement, defeating the Pack soundly 42-14. That
could have been the turning point of Green Bay's season as they
returned to regular season play to post a 14-2 record. Second best
in PFL history. Now these two must collide for the right to play
for the conference championship.
Why Allen Can Win
The Packers caught the Niners in the midst of their midseason
lull. The Niners dropped 3 straight in two weeks but then began
to return to form in the finals weeks posting an 11-5 finish winning
5 of his last 6. And since his loss to St. Louis in week 14, the
Niners have retooled the offense. The evidence is in the 39-14
win over Kansas City and the 76 point barrage they unleashed on
Seattle. "The Niners offense is potent," Seattle coach
Darrin Taylor stated after the loss. "He has a couple of
plays where guys are just wide and it's just extremely difficult
to defend all of his options." This is an offense that Green
Bay hasn't seem. The core of the philosophy is basically the same,
but the options have changed. The Niners must first contain explosive
Dorsey Levens to have a chance at slowing down the Packer offense.
This is key #1 to the Niners pulling the upset.
You still have to favor Green
Bay in this one, just because they have the ability to win the
big games and have proven it. All of the Niners losses came to
the teams that remain in the playoffs, St. Louis, Green Bay and
Minnesota, in addition to NFC foes, Buffalo, and Tampa Bay. Now
the chips are down, and Allen must play his best game, vs. a Packer
sub par performance to win.
After the dismal 8-8 finish
last season, San Fran is now back to where he is used to being...one
of the marquee ballers in the PFL. But why settle for just a good
season, when he has a chance to win it all? That is exactly what
Allen is thinking. If he can get passed the Packers, and the Minnesota
- St. Louis winner, there isn't anyone in the NFC he can't beat,
although he loss close games to Drake and Brown. For now, all
thoughts are on the Packers. However, if he plays his hand right,
this could be Allen's year. But that is the question that must
be answered.
How The Game Will Be Played
As mentioned earlier, the key
to the game will be the Niners ability to stop Dorsey Levens.
Fox will want to get his running game off early as he did in the
last matchup. Then he will want to get Levens involved in the
passing game especially on 2nd or 3rd and long. Allen's plan will
be to unleashed the Niner passing attack, mixed with custom plays.
Fox must be concerned with Garrison Hearst, Allen's big play receiver.
PREDICTION
You have to like Fox as the
favorite simply because he has earned the respect. But just like
in the Minnesota - St. Louis Game, the favorite is no lock to
win, and Allen has as good a chance to win this game as Green
Bay does. However, the San Francisco errors may be the cause of
the Niners demise. Green Bays safeties are the best in THE LEAGUE
and San Fran loves to go deep. San Fran will keep it close, but
Green Bay wins on crucial turnovers by the Niners late in the
game.
|
|