After a phenomenal 4-0 start the New Orleans Breakers have seem to hit a wall. The offense is still clicking as the QB under center McLeod Bethel-Thompson still leads the league in passing yards, and star running Wes Hills still leads the league in rushing yards. As we go into the week 8 matchup against the Michigan Panthers you can't help but look at those numbers and ask, what gives? Despite their offensive stats after week 4 those stats seem empty as the Breakers have fallen to being tied for last in their division dropping the last 3 games with two of those losses coming against opponents with a losing record. The Breakers must turn it around this week against the Panthers as the Showboats and the Stallions are both on 4 and 3 game win streaks in their division.

        The Panthers come into the matchup one game below .500 but still sitting at 2nd place in their division. The Panthers will likely come in hungry for the win as league sack leader Breeland Speaks will look to disrupt Bethel-Thompson. The Breakers need to come in hungrier but both teams have something to play for coming near the end of the 10 week season. A win for the Breakers would not move them from last place in the division unless the Memphis Showboats beat the New Jersey Generals. On the flip side, a win for the Panthers would put them in the 1 seed in the respective division. Only the top 2 teams in each division make it to the playoffs in just 3 weeks, so it is beginning to feel like now or never for luck, and controlling your own destiny for the Breakers. While controlling your own destiny this week would help, a loss for the Showboats would boost the Breakers up tied for 2nd place in the division with the Houston Gamblers.

        So what exactly went wrong? At the start of the season the Breakers surpassed 20 points in all 4 wins, but fell to just over 13 points in their last 3 losses. The offense is still hot, but they can't seem to turn stats into 6. The Breakers turnover differential may not be dead last in the league, but it is in the bottom 3 at -1. In their 4 wins, they turned the ball over less than once on average across the 4 games, but the losses present a number north of 2.5 for turnovers per game. The other notable stat is "Red Zone Attempts", the Breakers had 5+ in all 4 wins, and only 9 total in the 3 losses. The ball is moving, but not where we need it to be. Ball security and better decision making seems to be the key to success in professional sports in general, but the Breakers are learning the hard way just how important it is. Despite this increase in turnovers their biggest loss was only by 7 points.

        There is no better time for the Breakers to get it together as they a win could tie them for second. On top of that, the Breakers face off against the Showboats in week 9 and could extinguish their playoff hopes. Even better? A controlling destiny moment could cement their playoff chances in week 10, as we would face off against the Houston Gamblers to cap off the season. If the Breakers find one stroke of good luck with a Showboats loss tomorrow, all they need to do is win to get in. It feels like New Orleans sports has seen that trend this year; red hot start, to fizzling out and ruining your own destiny. Will the Breakers break the pattern? Tune in Sunday, Jun 4 @ 3:00PM CDT and see for yourself.