ESPN AFL

Monday, May 14, 8:30 p.m. ET
ESPN2, ESPN360
This could easily be a preview of ArenaBowl XXI and that's the reason ESPN chose to air this game with the flex scheduling option. These are well-coached, veteran teams that are fully aware that even though it's only May, this is a big game! We will see two of the best QB/WR duos this league has to offer in Chicago's Matt D'Orazio and Bobby Sippio and Dallas' Clint Dolezel and Marcus Nash . These offenses are creative, the coaches make great adjustments and both teams can put up points in a hurry. It is no coincidence that both teams also have excellent defenses capable of making key stops. This game will likely come down to which defense can force offensive mistakes and it will go right down to the wire. This could be the best regular-season game of the year!

When Chicago has the ball
The best way to slow down Chicago's offense is to take Sippio out of the game -- but nobody has done that yet in the 2007 season. D'Orazio is a wide receiver's best friend because he holds on to the ball longer than any QB in the league. His patience allows his receivers an extra second or two to separate and that puts a lot of pressure on the Dallas secondary to hold its coverages longer than usual. D'Orazio will absorb a lot of hits, but he's a tough guy. Still, he'll have to deal with a good Dallas pass rush that may not sack him, but will hit him. Look for the Rush receivers to use double moves and run a lot of post-corner routes in a deeper passing game than usual to take advantage of D'Orazio's style of play. However, if he gets hit too much, he can simply dump the ball off to Sippio on short crossing routes or quick bubble screens and let his big receiver eat up yards after the catch. And make no mistake about it, Sippio is the best YAC receiver in the league. The Rush can also run the football effectively with their jumbo formation and are adept at pounding the ball when they get close to the goal line. The Dallas defense is a tough matchup for Chicago because the Desperados not only have playmakers on all three levels, but they also do a great job of making adjustments during the game.

When Dallas has the ball
The Desperados have one of the most sophisticated passing offenses in the AFL and Dolezel has two excellent targets -- WRs Marcus Nash and Will Pettis -- to throw to. Dallas' receivers do an excellent job of running their routes across the formation and putting the opposing DBs in a trailing position. Chicago has two excellent pass rushers in veteran DEs E.J. Burt and John Moyer and Dallas' O-line will be tested. Pass protection is very important because Dolezel will need time for his receivers to separate from an aggressive Rush secondary that features three quality DBs (Jonathan Ordway, Jeremy Unertl and Dennison Robinson). All three are excellent tacklers and cover guys. Dolezel may use some pump fakes and get his receivers to run some double-move routes if the Rush start gambling and jumping routes, which is sometimes their tendency as the game goes on. Dallas will try to use motion to avoid the press coverages, but the Rush are well equipped to matchup in the secondary. Chicago's pass rush must at least hurry Dolezel because if he has time to throw, he can pick apart this defense no matter how good it is in coverage. Dallas is also capable of running the ball in close and the Rush are not an elite run defense unit.

Chicago keys to success
1. Pass protection for D'Orazio. He may get hit more than any other QB in the league and part of it is his own fault because he holds on to the ball so long. Dallas has a good pass rush and if the Rush offensive line (and fullbacks) can protect D'Orazio, he can make plays versus Dallas' secondary.

2. Change up secondary coverages. The Rush like to play man-to-man schemes and get physical. They seem to get more aggressive as the game goes on. The Rush face a very smart Dallas pass offense, which can adjust to what it sees. The Rush need to change up their coverages with some occasional zone or off schemes and then concentrate on closing on the ball and tackling.

3. Get the ball to secondary offensive weapons. Everybody knows that Sippio is going to get the ball, but the key to the pass offense may be finding second and third receivers. Both will get favorable man-to-man coverages from Dallas. Andy McCullough could have a big game and D'Orazio has a lot of faith in him. At the very least, he will take some attention away from Sippio.

Dallas keys to success
1. Receivers must separate from tight man-to-man coverages. Chicago has an excellent secondary, which features three guys who can play aggressive man-to-man coverages with some press techniques and they get bolder as the game goes on. Nash and Pettis must avoid getting held up at the line of scrimmage, especially when they are the motion receiver.

2. Try to neutralize Sippio. He is big, physical and may be the best in the league at getting yards after the catch. He cannot be handled in single man-to-man coverage and he is too big to jam, so look for Dallas to play combo coverages and change up their secondary looks to try to confuse him. They also must close on the ball and tackle well.

3. Hit D'Orazio and play tight man-to-man schemes. D'Orazio takes a lot of hits because he holds on to the ball to give his receivers time to separate and come out of their breaks. Dallas' defensive line needs to wear him down with hits even if it doesn't sack him. The secondary must stay with their coverages longer than usual because of the late release by D'Orazio.

Prediction
These are two elite teams that are fully aware that this game could be a preview of the ArenaBowl in July. Both teams are loaded with veteran players who never panic and their ability to handle adversity and pressure leads to a lot of come-from-behind wins. Chicago seems to be totally focused and has reeled off eight straight wins. Dallas has been living on the edge a little more, scrambling in several games to pull out a win in the closing seconds. The Rush have a great passing duo of D'Orazio to Sippio and they are almost unstoppable. Dallas has a great passing attack also with Dolezel throwing to two great targets in Nash and Pettis. If these offensive similarities weren't enough, these teams also mirror each other on defense. Both have a good pass rush, solid linebacker play and ballhawking secondaries. So, who has the edge? Even though the Rush are playing on the road, their professionalism and composure right now are top notch. Both teams will score and this will be a highly entertaining game, but the difference may be the playmaking abilities of the Rush secondary. They are a good matchup unit and have good man-to-man skills. They will make enough big plays and stops to upset the Desperados in their own building.

Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN.com.