Some things in football are just meant to be. Referees suck, St. Louis deserves a team, and New York has no idea what they are doing in the sport. The Giants and Jets year in and year out have issue after issue after issue so if you were thinking the Guardians were going to be an exception, you are sorely mistaken. Which is fantastic news for the BattleHawks as they face off against the New York Guardians. Last week Guardians quarterback Matt McGloin mentioned during the halftime interview that the issue with the game was the play calling. That, coupled with his inability to throw the ball to the correct team, led to McGloin being sat in the fourth quarter. Not an idea situation going into a hostile environment like St. Louis.
It is, however, very ideal for the BattleHawks. St. Louis is hosting it’s first professional football game since 2015, and as excited the fans are for this one, I can only imagine the players’ excitement to put on a show for the city. What better team to do it against than a team that is in shambles with a quarterback controversy? The Guardians have to choose between Matt McGloin and Marquise Williams as their starter for this one. To be honest though, I don’t think it matters to the BattleHawks defense that is out to make a statement that they are the best defense in the league.
How is the Guardians defense, you ask? Not great. In two games they average 389 yards per game. Going up against the BattleHawks offense, that is averaging 382 ypg, is a recipe for success for this offense. Yet again, they will pound the ball on the ground, with whichever set of running backs available, until otherwise needed. I would also be surprised if this was the game that Jordan Ta’amu’s efficiency drops at all against this porous defense.
This team is good. They make great in game adjustments on both sides of the ball and have shown the ability to move the ball with ease. With a crowd eager to watch a football game in their home city for the first time since 2015, it will be an exciting atmosphere with drunken “KaKaws” echoing throughout the dome. Something I personally cannot wait to witness (even if it is at a bar due to tickets being so much).
Prediction
BattleHawks 34
Guardians 12
Injury report (as of Thursday)
WR L’Damian Washington / Ankle / DNP
DL Will Clarke / Calf / Limited
RB Matt Jones / Knee / Limited
DB David Rivers / Head / Limited
RB Keith Ford / Knee Full
WR Brandon Reilly / Back / Full
Cracked Pavement Sports 