LIVESTREAM: AFLC Championship – Shanghai Titans vs. Shanghai Warriors Sat. Jan. 13 @1:30p (6:30a CET, 12:30a EST)

It all comes down to this.

The Shanghai Titans will take on the Shanghai Warriors in the same venue where the two teams played their season opener, Zhangjiang Sports Center, for the chance to become the American Football League of China’s first two-time champion. Two high-flying offenses, two capable defenses, and some of the best football players that China has to offer will be on display on Saturday, January 13th, at 1:30pm.

The Titans are undefeated at 6-0, and are looking to become not only the first two-time AFLC champions, but the first team to go undefeated through an entire season. Standing in their way are the Warriors, at 5-1, whose only loss came at the hands of the Titans, 29-22 in the first game of the regular season.

Offensively, the Titans have been using two quarterbacks, both Matt Smith (#3) and Kyle Moran (#13). Smith is fast, agile, and throws the deep ball very well, while Moran is more of a pocket passer who is very accurate on short throws. If Moran plays, Smith can also be a major threat at wide receiver, in addition to the rest of possibly China’s best receiving corps, which includes Cam Shubert (#4), Eason Chen (#47), Frank Ma (#11), and newcomer Jibril Rasheed (#16), who lit up the Nighthawks in the semifinals for 2 touchdowns. Lane Shen (#1) and Erwin Wu (#5) are both tough running backs to bring down, and will try to keep the Warriors defense off balance in the run game. Tackle Dwight Wozich (#72) is a force on the offensive line, and the Titans should be able to find some success running the ball behind him.

The Warriors will have their hands full on defense trying to account for all of the Titans’ offensive weapons, but they possess the personnel to slow them down. Warriors defensive tackles Thomas Piachaud (#50) and Allen Zhang (#78) are massive forces in the middle of the line, and should be able to plug up the middle of the field, forcing the Titans to rely more on runs to the outside. Linebackers Hou Xiaoqing (#13) and Dennis Bridgeforth II (#27) will have the difficult job of covering the Titans’ quick slot receivers. Defensive back Curtis Good (#1) has been a clutch performer for the Warriors in the past, and he will be depended on heavily to stop the Titans’ numerous aerial threats.

The Warriors have the offensive firepower to match the Titans blow for blow however. The rushing and passing ability of quarterback Chris Gardner (#2) was difficult for the Titans to counter in the teams’ first meeting this season, and stopping him will remain a tough task. Wide receivers Johnson Lu (#11), Joe Zhou (#16) and Tim Gomez (#22) will be a lot to handle for the Titans’ defense, while running back Andrew Crook (#7) is an effective outside rushing threat.

Defensively, the Titans will counter the Warriors offense with a small, but quick defensive line, led by defensive end Cuz Chan (#53), as well as a talented group of linebackers led by Paco Lam (#50) and Lawson Luo (#54). Diao Xiaoming (#21) might be the Titans’ best cornerback, and he will be depended on to make sure the Warriors don’t complete any long passing plays. His interception return for a touchdown in the first game between the two teams truly swung the momentum in favor of the Titans.

In a season full of surprises and exciting moments, this game may end up being the most entertaining one of all. The Titans and Warriors both possess potent offenses, and the game has the potential to be a high-scoring shootout. The onus will be on the defenses to come up with a big stop or turnover at a crucial moment of the game, and whichever defense can do that should be able to earn the victory, and the title of AFLC champion.

The game will be free to attend, but for those who can’t make it to the game, it will be streamed live on Migu Livestream, at https://0x7.me/tiyusaishi, with PPTV and AliSports NFL commentator Yan Li providing play-by-play commentary and analysis on the broadcast.

Watch the game live here. LIVESTREAM: AFLC Championship – Shanghai Titans vs. Shanghai Warriors Sat. Jan. 13 @1:30p (6:30a CET, 12:30a EST) The livestream may be geo-restricted in certain areas.