#6 San Diego Lions (+11) @ #3 Dallas Gladiators

These Taylor division mates split their games during the regular season; Dallas won at home 35-7 in week 5 and San Diego won at home 20-14 in the final week.   Dallas Offense vs San Diego Defense   The Gladiators have an above average offense, among the top 10 in most categories. QB Aaron Rodgers throws plenty of touchdown passes (23) but shares the wealth with opposing defensive backs (16 interceptions). RB Steve Slaton handles most of the ground game. Dallas leans toward pass a bit more but Slaton has a good average (4.5) and keeps opposing defenses honest.  San Diego has a very good pass defense (5th in yards allowed) but a bad run defense (#17 in yards allowed, #19 in rushing TDs). Their success against the pass is because of the pressure they can put on QBs with DT Jay Ratliff (8 sacks),  DE Julius Peppers (13 sacks) and OLB Calvin Pace (8 sacks).     San Diego Offense vs Dallas Defense   Dallas has the advantage here. They are capable of throttling a Lion offense who was last in the league in rushing yards. San Diego uses the cadre of RBs "led" by Corey Buckhalter's 102 carries, 3.4 avg, 1 td and RB Deuce McAllister's 99 carries, 2.1 avg and 4 tds. QB Peyton Manning would be a bigger threat except that he has no other targets with more than 34 receptions except for Donald Driver (87 for the year). That 13th ranked passing attack will have problems against the 4th ranked defense in passing yards. The Gladiators don't have much significant talent on defense except for safeties Adrian Wilson and Brian Dawkins.   There's no reason why San Diego can't recreate the week 16 defeat of Dallas where the defense directly scored 14 points on fumble recoveries and setup another 3. The other field goal was set up by a pass interference penalty against Dallas. Dallas outgained San Diego 334 yds to 160 but with a defense like that, it doesn't matter. If the Gladiators can limit turnovers, the game is theirs.