Week fifteen was fascinating with a bunch of big matchups and fun, down to the wire finishes. Congrats to everyone who picked up big wins. But, as fun as last week was, this week is even more interesting. Let me show you.
FAMILY DIVISION
This is the last week of the regular season. The Olney Ospreys (Kirsi) have locked up a spot in next weeks Championship game. But with only one week remaining, three other teams still have a shot at joining the Ospreys.
The defending Champion Farmville Furies (Maddie) and the Poultry Platoon (Erika) are currently tied for second place.
Now, if both teams win this week there would be a tiebreak. The Poultry Platoon currently own the tiebreak advantage thanks to a 2-1 head-to-head record. So, if the Platoon win this week, they would be the second team in the Championship next week. However, if the Platoon lose, and Farmville wins, then Farmville would get a chance to defend their championship next week. Here are those two big matchups.
12-3 Olney Ospreys versus 9-6 Farmville Furies
9-6 Poultry Platoon versus 8-7 Seymour Hoosiers
But wait, it does not end there. There is still a third possibility. If both Farmville and the Platoon lose, there would be a three-way tie with the Seymour Hoosiers (Myiah). And, in the three-way tiebreak the Hoosiers have the advantage and make the Championship game. How awesome is that? Three teams, two games, one spot in the Championship. One last sprint to the finish. What fun!
FIRST DIVISION
Let’s begin with a quick look at the standings.
There are two teams officially in the playoffs. The Salisbury Auto Drafts (Dakota) and the defending Champion Louisiana Lycanthropes (Kiley) have secured their spots in the final four. The other two spots come down to the three teams tied at 9-6. Here are the three games involving those teams.
9-6 Dakota Dragons versus 5-10 Woodsboro Corn Snakes
9-6 Kobe Beef versus 13-2 Salisbury Auto Drafts
9-6 Allegheny Alligators versus 3-12 Baltimore Bulldogs
Now, the two teams that control their own destiny are the Dakota Dragons (Butch) and the Kobe Beef (Kobe). With wins, they are in. Also, both teams would make it to the playoffs if the Allegheny Alligators (Cody) lose their game. The Alligators need to win, and have either the Dragons or the Beef lose. If that happens, the Alligators would then jump that team in the standings and get into the final four.
One last chance for these three teams to earn a shot at the Championship. Good luck to all.
DYNASTY DIVISION
PLAYOFFS
The Dynasty Division began its playoffs and playdowns last week and it was fun right down to the end. One game wasn’t decided until late on Tuesday. The DC Braves (Shehbaz) needed two second half Matt Stafford to Cooper Kupp touchdowns (plus the Matt Gay XPs for 10 point plays) to track down the Myrtle Beach Wave (Rob D), and move into the playoff semi-finals. The game was much closer than the 46-27 final score.
The other two playoff matchups were not as close. The West Virginia Blacklungs (Rob S) put on an impressive display led by Justin Herbert and Mark Andrews, plus 25 points from their defense. In the end they defeated the defending Champion Minnesota Blizzard (Geri) by a final score of 85-45.
The third playoff game saw the Montana Mountaineers (Chuck) crush the West Virginia Rednecks (Wayne) 72-22. The Mountaineers got strong, balanced production from their lineup with TDs from six different players. Cam Newton, Johnathan Taylor, Antonio Gibson, Tyreke Hill, Deebo Samual, and Dalton Shultz all found the end zone. Very nice balance and an impressive victory.
This week is the playoff semi-finals with the winners meeting next week in the Super Bowl.
DC Braves (10-4-1) at Montana Mountaineers (10-5)
West Virginia Blacklungs (9-6) at New Orleans Hurricanes (11-2-1)
The DC Braves won their first ever playoff game last week and are looking for their first Super Bowl appearance in only their 3rd year in the Dynasty Division. With a victory this week, the Braves would become the first promotion team to make it to the Super Bowl.
The West Virginia Blacklungs are looking to make their second Super Bowl appearance after a loss in Super Bowl XXIII, back in 2012.
Those two teams will be matched up against two of the league’s blue bloods in Montana and New Orleans. Both teams have extensive Championship pedigree. Both have won multiple Super Bowls, and also lost multiple Super Bowls in their history. 2011 was the last time Montana won the championship (Super Bowl XXII) and their faithful believe they are due for another.
New Orleans suffered very disappointing opening round playoff loses the last two years. They are looking to avoid running that streak to three years. Expectations are always high in New Orleans, so head coach Bill Belichick is expected to right the ship, and put Da ‘Canes back in the Super Bowl.
One more interesting note. The last seven years have seen seven different teams win titles. That includes five first time champions. So, recent history may favor the Braves and the Blacklungs breaking through and getting their first titles.
PLAYDOWNS
Okay, now let’s talk about the playdown semis. Last week’s games were very competitive with all four teams putting up strong point totals.
Phoenix Heat – 55, Virginia Pioneers – 51
Louisville Leafblowers – 59, Minnetonka Chippewas – 47
Interestingly, all four of these teams outscored five of the seven playoff teams. Like I said last week, all four of those teams were good enough to be in the playoffs. But now, two of them are in the playdown semis and one bad loss from the Toilet Bowl.
Congrats to the Phoenix Heat (Steven) and the Louisville Leafblowers (Shane) for surviving. They will both finish with 8-7 records. And, of course, their locker rooms broke out with….
Now, let’s look at this week’s matchups.
4-10 Oregon Lumberjacks (Jeremy) at 6-9 Minnetonka Chippewas (Greg)
Falling into the playdowns is usually about things going sideways, which tends to happen in fantasy football. For example, 8 weeks into the season the Lumberjacks sat at 4-4, right in the middle of the playoff chase. A close loss in week nine was followed by the whole team slumping at the same time. Next thing you know, six straight losses and a bye into the playdown semis. One of those losses was a 1-point defeat in Week 14 to the Chippewas, so maybe this is payback week.
And then there is the case of the Chippewas. Just last year they were in the Super Bowl. And their two Super Bowl appearances in the last three years is the most of any team. With a still talented roster that was top seven in overall scoring, the Chippewas just missed the playoffs. But now, playdown semis.
4-10 Saskatchewan Speedsters (Zach) at 6-9 Virginia Pioneers (Dave)
The Phoenix Heat (Steven) were the 4th highest scoring team in the league and only a point behind number 3. But somehow, they just could not get wins. Why do I mention the Heat? Because the Pioneers played them three times, including a loss in week 14 to eliminate them from the playoffs, and then a second straight loss in week 15 in the first round of the playdowns. That’s bad luck having that loaded team keep falling to you.
The Pioneers have two Super Bowl appearances in the last five years, including a Championship in Super Bowl XXVII (2016). But now, the Pioneers are in the playdown semis. OUCH!
And then there is Saskatchewan. They opened the season at 0-4, but that does not tell the tale of those four games. The Speedsters were 3rd in scoring during that period. But they had 302 points (average of 75 a game) scored against them during that stretch. Basically, everyone they played went off. Then, injuries combined with bye weeks, plus whatever happened to Calvin Ridley. The Speedsters started struggling to consistently score points, and here we are. The epitome of how fantasy football can be so frustrating.
Two of these teams will survive this week, and the other two will fall into the Toilet Bowl next week. Good luck to everyone.
And, MERRY CHRISTMAS!