May 31, 2024
By Sam Weiger
Atlanta Hustle at Colorado Summit | Super Series
Friday, May 31 - 9:00 PM/ET - Watch link
The Atlanta Hustle return to the Super Series for the first time since their historic upset against the New York Empire in Week 2. This time, they face a Colorado Summit team who needs a win. The West Division playoff race is tight, and a victory against Atlanta could be crucial to their postseason hopes.
Buckle up for this epic clash, a jewel in the crown of Week 6's jam-packed 14-game slate.
This is the second game in a challenging six-game stretch for the Summit, and their final home game before a daunting road trip. With four other playoff contenders in the West, Colorado’s playoff hopes could hinge on their performance in the next five games.
Colorado’s last game was against Salt Lake, and it wasn’t pretty. They can't afford a similar performance against Atlanta. All eyes will be on Alex Atkins, Colorado's QB1. Atkins had a forgettable performance against Salt Lake, the worst of his three-year UFA career. Uncharacteristically bad throws and questionable decisions plagued him. Can he bounce back and silence his critics?
Atlanta’s early season has been a rollercoaster, but they’re probably not hitting the panic button yet. An underwhelming opening game was followed by a stunning upset over the New York Empire. Injuries derailed their momentum momentarily, but fully healthy, they dismantled the Indianapolis AlleyCats. Now, nearly halfway into the season, Atlanta’s true form remains a guessing game.
This week, Atlanta is fully healthy and has no rust to shake off. The Hustle are undefeated this year when Brett Hulsmeyer, Justin Burnett, and Jeremy Langdon are in the lineup. This showdown will provide a much-needed gauge of their standing amongst the league's best.
One Big Number:
7 - Atkins had seven throwaways against the Shred in Week 4, more than he’s had in any other game as a member of the Summit.
78.5 - The Hustle score on a remarkable 78.5 percent of O-line points in games when Hulsmeyer, Burnett, and Langdon are all playing.
Boston Glory at New York Empire
Friday, May 31 - 7:00 PM/ET - Watch link
After two heartbreaking losses to New York and DC, the Glory are hungry for redemption. This week offers two opportunities for Boston to get revenge, starting with a rematch against the Empire.
Despite New York’s three-game winning streak, questions linger about New York's dominance in the UFA. Last week's win over Philly was convincing, but defeating a tough Boston team for the second time this month would be a significant statement.
Since the Atlanta loss, New York's adjustments have been evident. They moved Liam Haberfield to a permanent role on the D-line. This switch has paid off, with Haberfield registering four blocks in three games, including two big blocks against Boston two weeks ago.
One of the most exciting developments for the New York offense is the rise of Charles Weinberg on the offensive line. While veterans Jack Williams, John Randolph, and Ben Jagt were expected to be the anchors, Weinberg has stepped up in a big way.
Break chances will likely come at a premium for Boston, so their O-line will be in the spotlight. Struggling to score all season, Boston gets a much-needed boost with the return of Orion Cable.
Can the offense rise to the occasion and deliver a much-needed performance? They’ll likely need to, since their defense will be tested with Ben Katz and Gustav Haflin sidelined.
One Big Number:
2,032 - Weinberg leads the Empire with 2,032 total yards this season.
3 - The number of times Cable has scored five or more goals in his last seven starts.
Carolina Flyers at Austin Sol | Game of the Week
Friday, May 31 - 8:00 PM/ET - Watch link
A major challenge awaits a championship hopeful in this week's Game of the Week.
Despite a short two-game season so far, the Carolina Flyers have looked impressive. They cruised past the reigning South Division champions, Atlanta Hustle, in both outings. Now, they seek revenge against Austin, the team that ousted them from the playoffs last year.
The Carolina Flyers look like a completely different team this year. A key factor is Anders Juengst, who's enjoying a career-best start. He's been the driving force behind one of the league's most, if not the most, powerful offenses.
The Flyers' offense thrives on a combination of talent. Juengst and Allan Laviolette orchestrate the plays, feeding speedy threats like Jacob Fairfax and Terrence Mitchell. When you watch Carolina’s offense, you’ll notice that they excel at generating scoring chances from deep throws and in tight spaces with smart red zone cuts. Their red zone efficiency is the league's best despite a tricky opening schedule.
Carolina's strength isn't limited to a few stars – their roster is stacked. Sol Yanuck and Henry Fisher will miss this game, but the Flyers have plenty of other weapons to replace them. Roster depth is a key factor tipping the scales in the Flyers' favor for this clash with Austin.
The Sol are more top-heavy, but their top is heavy with talent. Evan Swiatek, Kyle Henke, and Mark Evans have each finished with 60 scores (goals + assists) in both 2022 and 2023. The only other trio to accomplish this is Babbitt, Jagt, and Ryan Osgar.
Evans' sloppy performance against Chicago last week has put him in the hot seat, particularly since head coach Steven Naji made him the QB1. Completing passes at a rate below his already underwhelming career average raises concerns. A poor showing against Carolina could force a change at QB1 much sooner than anticipated.
One Big Number:
97 - The Flyers have converted nearly 97 percent of their red zone opportunities this season.
89.52 - Evans has managed to complete just 89.52 percent of his throws this year.
DC Breeze at Boston Glory
Sunday, June 2 - 1:00 PM/ET - Watch link
Indeed, this is the weekend of death for Boston.
A daunting task awaits: the Glory will square off against their two toughest divisional foes in the same weekend, a situation they’ve never faced before.
Friday's game against New York could be a double-edged sword for Boston. The Glory might be mentally prepared for DC after facing New York on Friday night, but pushing themselves too hard against the Empire could leave them physically drained for Sunday. DC also plays twice this weekend, but their Friday matchup is against the less-demanding Toronto Rush.
Boston will want to focus on stopping DC from getting breaks. Opposing D-lines have found little success against the Glory this season, and DC’s D-line has struggled to capitalize on break chances against playoff-caliber teams.
DC's O-line, on the other hand, is humming again. While Tyler Monroe, Andrew Roy, and Jonny Malks are performing as expected, Elliot Bonnet is the breakout player to watch this week.
Bonnet's emergence as a thrower was a key factor in DC's thrilling double-overtime victory against Philadelphia. With a new weapon in their arsenal, it’ll be intriguing to see how involved Bonnet is in the passing game on Sunday.
Another Breeze player to watch is Jasper Tom, making his long-awaited 2024 debut this weekend.
Glory fans can expect Cable and Haflin to play in this game, but Katz remains out.
One Big Number:
21.79 - Boston holds D-lines to a meager break rate of 21.79 percent, ranking fifth in the league.
240 - Bonnet exploded for 240 passing yards in his last game, surpassing his combined total from the first three games of the season.
