August 21, 2025
By Sam Weiger

Games are listed in chronological order.

Boston Glory vs. Salt Lake Shred
Friday, August 22 - 6:00 PM/ET - Watch link

The first-ever meeting between Boston and Salt Lake is a mouthwatering matchup, but all I can think about is whether any UFA team is capable of stopping a full-strength Glory team.

Boston is without a doubt coming off their best game of the season, a near-perfect game with the deepest roster they’ve fielded all year.

The sample size of games this year that Boston has been that close to full strength is very low, and although the Breeze played well below their capability, there’s no question that this incredibly deep Glory roster overwhelmed them. Would I be surprised if the same thing happens in this game? Not one bit.

Salt Lake enters Championship Weekend with a lot of question marks after an unconvincing playoff win. 

In the West Division Championship Game, the Shred struggled, finishing with their lowest completion, huck, and hold percentages since Week 6. They also had their most turnovers since Week 6 and a season-low D-line conversion rate of just 39 percent.

The offensive struggles are particularly concerning given their upcoming opponent, whose D-line has seen a dramatic transformation. The D-line that the Glory is fielding now is completely different than the one they had earlier this season. While the return of Gus Haflin and Peter Boerth and the addition of Calvin Stoughton have been crucial, that’s just the beginning. When you compare their playoff quarterfinal to their first meeting with DC this year (Week 4), seven new faces played at least 10 D-points.

Against a team as defensively strong as Boston, Salt Lake will likely need their defense to get stops. Tony Mounga stepped up big for the Shred when it mattered most against Oakland in the quarterfinals, his second consecutive game that he was a difference-maker. Another heavy dose of Mounga magic would mean so much to this team on Friday.

Speaking of heavy doses, expect plenty of points featuring Will Selfridge and Chad Yorgason. Bryce Merrill loves maximizing his most talented players, especially guys who can be both offensive and defensive playmakers. If Salt Lake is going to keep pace with a potent Boston offense, they might need the best version of these two players—two guys who occasionally take over games but don’t always reach that level. 

Selfridge and Yorgason were partly responsible for Salt Lake's below-par huck percentage against Oakland two weeks ago, and I would be surprised if the Shred got away with those same huck turnovers when facing a possession hog like Boston. Boston's D-line is physically taller and stronger than Salt Lake's O-line, creating a significant mismatch, especially for deep throws. It will be interesting to see if the Shred stick to their average of 12 hucks per game, or if they reduce that number considerably.

Regardless of how Salt Lake gets to the red zone, the most exciting matchup might be their red-hot red zone offense against Boston's top-ranked red zone defense. The Glory are allowing just 70.95 percent of red zone attempts to be converted, and they just held DC to just 60 percent in the quarterfinals.

Even if Boston’s defense can’t fully contain Salt Lake’s red zone attack, I expect the Glory’s offense to hold their own. Boston’s recent D-line additions allow Jeff Babbitt to spend significantly more time on the O-line, a move that proved effective in the Divisional Championship. Babbitt led his team in completions, and given his success on offense throughout the years in the playoffs, he could be a major contributor to Boston’s attack once again on Friday.

One Big Number: 
43 - Babbitt’s 43 completions in the quarterfinals were the most in a single game throughout his nine-year career.
97 - The Shred have punched in 97 percent of their red zone opportunities in their last two games (playoff quarterfinal vs. Oakland and season finale vs. Minnesota). 

Atlanta Hustle vs. Minnesota Wind Chill
Friday, August 22 - 8:30 PM/ET - Watch link 

I don't want to call Boston vs. Salt Lake the opening act, but the nightcap definitely feels like the marquee matchup. This intriguing rematch between Atlanta's top-tier offense and Minnesota's championship-caliber defense should be a fun one. 

After what we've seen from Minnesota in the past two postseasons, it's hard to bet against them. While some considered their past playoff wins against DC and Carolina to be flukes due to bad weather, their recent upset over the Union has surely silenced the nonbelievers.

Given Minnesota’s history and their “home advantage” in this semifinal, I consider Atlanta a slight underdog on Friday. 

The Wind Chill have far more Championship Weekend experience, with almost their entire team having competed in the final four the last two seasons. In contrast, most of the Hustle team has never advanced this far. While Minnesota was achieving milestones in the past two postseasons, Atlanta was falling short of expectations.

So I wouldn't be surprised if Atlanta's nerves get the best of them, as other recent first-time finalists—DC, Minnesota, and Salt Lake—have been noticeably affected by nervous performances.

The other key advantage for the Wind Chill is the game’s location: Breese Stevens Field. The venue's close proximity to Minnesota will give them a distinct home-field feel. We saw a preview of this when a large number of their fans traveled to Chicago just two weeks ago. This “home advantage” could be a major factor, especially since Atlanta's road record is not as strong.

Despite enjoying more home games than road games since the start of 2023, the Hustle have a lopsided record of seven road losses compared to just two at home.

One of those road losses came against Minnesota this season, where the Wind Chill successfully disrupted Atlanta's normally disciplined offense. In that Week 6 matchup, the Hustle had their second-lowest completion rate of the season (94 percent), their lowest huck percentage (33 percent) and O-line conversion rate (44 percent), and a season-high 19 turnovers.

Justin Burnett made things very difficult for Atlanta in the last matchup between these two teams, and he’s my player to watch once again. This game is the best chance for the former Hustle star to prove that signing with the Wind Chill was the right decision. Nicknamed "Mr. Primetime," will he deliver an MVP-caliber performance on the big stage, even without any prior Championship Weekend experience?

Burnett wasn't the only player who stifled Atlanta in Week 6; Matt Rehder and Blake Krapfl were also impactful. Rehder, with a history of delivering big playoff performances, is due for another one. In his last four postseasons, he's recorded a big game in each. Krapfl's defensive pressure was effective in Week 6 and has only improved. He's averaging nearly two blocks per game over his last seven contests.

Whether it was Minnesota's defensive pressure or something else, the Hustle's uncharacteristic, sloppy errors were a major issue in Week 6. I can’t imagine Atlanta winning if they commit anxious drops and throwaways, regardless of how well Austin Taylor and Brett Hulsmeyer perform.

With almost all top players available for both teams and no major wind in the forecast for Friday, there shouldn’t be any excuses for a turnover-heavy game. The only wildcard might be potential light rain, should it become more significant than expected.

Speaking of top players, guess who's back for the Wind Chill? After a month-and-a-half absence, Quinn Snider is back. In last year's playoffs, Snider averaged over three goals and 200 receiving yards per game.

One Big Number: 
65.29 - The Hustle have allowed a huck completion rate of 65.29 percent, the fifth-worst mark in the league.
41.2 - In their five biggest games this season (three against Chicago, one against Atlanta, and one against Salt Lake), Minnesota has held opponents to a 41.2 percent O-line conversion rate.