Wausau Blue Bombers (+2) vs New England Generals

The home team Harris division winner Wausau (10-6) are 2 point underdogs against New England (9-7), the Tony Dorsett division champ. Before I chew on the strengths and weaknesses of these teams, the DTC would like to congratulate Wausau on an excellent season. They just missed the cut of making the playoffs in the Center's pre-season simulations. Yet here they are. Colossus is not pleased. And we like that. Now on to the nitpicking... New England Offense vs Wausau Defense The Generals only averaged 20.2 pts per game during the season which is surprising when you look at the personnel involved. QB Jay Cutler (3162 yds, 62.7%, 17 tds). WRs Reggie Wayne (80 recs) and Braylon Edwards (73 recs). The running duties are shared between RB Pierre "Who?" Thomas (762 yds, 4.4 avg, 4 tds) and RB Maurice "Who?" Morris (731 yds, 4.2 avg, 5 tds) behind a very good offensive line. There's some defense in their division, mainly NW Missouri but, on average, nothing extraordinary. I checked their defensive coaching accuracy - no glaring weaknesses there. I should've checked their schedule first - losses to Tillman, Real Charleston, Steeltown, Hermitage, NW Missouri. Yes, NW Missouri. Say what you want about their showing this season, they still had one of the best defenses. The "Who?" duo are the strength of the General offense which ranked 4th in rushing, 125.1 yds per game although ranking only 10th in TDs on the ground is odd. The passing game is, putting it generously, average. The only pass stats they make the top 10 in are yards per completion (9th at 11 per) and pass completion percentage (ranked 9th at 63%). But, heh, if you rely on your ground game, maybe you don't need to pass that much. It's just important, that when you do, you make it count. If the Generals get in your red zone - fogetuhboutit 88.4% scoring (3rd) and booyah! a 53.5% Red Zone TD scoring %, ranked 7th. But, oh, what have we on the other side with the Wausau defense? What's that stat? 2nd ranked against the run, allowing only 75.6 yds per game? Hmmm? DE Kyle Vanden Bosch and DT Shaun Rogers eat unsuspecting RBs that come their way. OLB LaMarr Woodley finishes any remnants that may remain if they get by those grinders. The defense is much more lenient against the pass but, overall, they don't like people scoring (5th in the league) only giving up 17.9 points per game. So, we have strength (run) going into strength (run). But If New England can crank up that passing game ala that 4 TD party against SoCal in week 13, the Blue Bombers will be blown out of the sky. Wausau Offense vs New England Defense The Blue Bombers have a solid, if not spectacular offense headed up by QB Brett "The Immortal" Favre (3503 yds, 66.1%, 23 tds, 18 ints, 18 sks, 86.8 rating) in his prior incarnation. Mr. Favre has a high TD% (4.6%, ranked 5th) but also a high pass INT% (3.6%, ranked 20th). Yeah, remember THAT Brett Favre? The one who liked to just heave it up there, sometimes making Packer and Jet fans cringe as it made a parabola right into the hands of an opposing DB without a wide receiver in a 20 yard radius? Favre tosses it to WR Larry Fitzgerald (108 recs, 8 tds) when he's not tossing it to opposing DBs. Unfortunately, that's about the only WR of consequence on Wausau's roster. *Cough* Double team *Cough*. Sorry. A little cold there. RB Steven "Ugh the Rams" Jackson (1068 yds, 3.5 avg, 5 tds) handes the running attack. Well, not attack, more like "suggestion". A 3.5 yard average really couldn't be called an attack, could it? One of the worst in the league. They boast that and one of the worst rushing TD% in the league as well. The do score, averaging 20.5 pts per game (9th rank) but it looks like they do it from long range because their Red Zone scoring and TD% is terrible. It would be the bottom if the "Death" in Death Valley didn't refer to their own Defense. New England keeps opponents 3 points less than that, ranked 4th in the league. They have an aversion to allowing running backs much, ranking in the top 5 in all rushing categories. What a D-line: DE Justin Tuck (10 sks, 27 hurries), DT Vince Wilfork (2 sks, 6 hurries), DE Mathias Kiwanuka (8 sks, 17 hurries, 4 forced fumbles) that take down QBs with the same success they stop RBs in their tracks. 36 sacks overall. Wausau's offensive line can't keep Favre from an passing during an A.D.D. but they do keep him upright to do it. The Blue Bomber offensive line smashing against the General defensive line will be a sight to behold. And speaking of errant passes (I've mentioned Favre is prone to the occassional INT, haven't I?), General CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (4 ints, 1 for a td) will be on hand to accept any of Brett's gifts that give coaches ulcers New England is vulnerable through the air. If Favre can stay focused, not get bored, not argue with his coach, not call an audible every time coach sends in a Jackson run, not throw to Rodgers-Cromartie, CB Carlos Rogers, S Donte Whitner, nickel and dime and quarter platoon backs, the sideline judge, a Wausau cheerleader or that fat guy whose face is painted in Blue Bomber colors - then Wausau will pull an upset.