With the Season winding down and a lot of playoff implications riding on this week's games, things could get even more crazy than they have been already. I'm also adding a new feature when I have time, which is the Lion Conference GOTW. This week was a no-brainer.
Chicago Wheelhouse 2-11 @ Russian Tractor 11-2
The Wheelhouse may have run out of options after losing rather convincingly to the Death last week. I'm pretty sure I mentioned relegation at the beginning of the season. Oh and here's Coach K's response:
"BET!
The wheelhouse will score 14 in the 1st QR alone!
Keep thinking we are going to AA......
K"
Well here we are and Coach K has disappeared from the boards. Maybe he's making friends in his new home in AA because that is all but certainly where they'll be. Who would have though it? A week 1 loss to the Blazes comes back to bite them. Oh yah, and the Tractor look forward to next week's final challenge of the season for them against the eXtreme. This one...ZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Tractor 38 Wheelhouse 0
Gold Coast Corsairs 10-3 @ New Jersey Blazes 2-11
Another match up of one of the league's best against one of the league's well...not so good teams. GC has two tough ones down the home stretch with Morocco and Nigeria and if they lose both and either the Jinx, Bees, or Beavers win out, could find themselves on the road all post-season. Well, one thing's for sure, they won't lose here.
Corsairs 55 Blazes 10
Los Angeles eXtreme 10-3 @ Congo Death 5-8
A mildly scary game here for the eXtreme as it always is when you aren't great at stopping the pass and you're going against a team that airs it out. It's time for Fiorentino to get back into his normal groove and notch up at least 5 QB pressures (sacks + hurries) and the eXtreme need to work a little on their running game before the playoffs or they'll be one and done again this season. The Death bring the conference's 4th worst rush defense to the table so it should be a good opportunity. I don't expect the eXtreme to let another game slip by as they prepare for their big show down with the Tractor.
eXtreme 31 Death 13
San Dimas Saints 10-3 @ Somalia Wildcats 6-7
No sooner do I proclaim Somalia dead in the water and out of the playoff picture than do they pull off a magic trick to beat the eXtreme. Was it a fluke or can these guys really compete with the conference big boys? The Saints have really proven themselves to be one of the conference big boys this season and will almost certainly improve on their #7 seed for the playoffs this season. They have clinched a playoff spot but with a lot of big games coming up, could find themselves almost anywhere on the playoff chart. This is a game they can't let get away from them and I don't expect them to.
Saints 27 Wildcats 10
GOTW 1*Eaton Beavers 8-5 @ African Killer Bees 9-4
Two teams that couldn't be more similar clash here. The Bees run it more and pass it less than any other team in the conference. The Beavers are 2nd in both categories. Both teams also bring stout rush defenses to the table. Expect a really boring, grind it out kind of game here. That is, unless one of the team's decides to take it to the air for a change to throw off the other defense. Will one team take the risk knowing the importance of this game for playoff seeding? Last season the Beavers won this matchup 15-13 and expect a lot of aching bodies on the field after this one. Trenches vs. Trenches. A man's football being played here fellas. May the best team win.
River Styx Jinx 8-5 @ Lake M'Zumba Cannibals 0-13
The Jinx are for real baby! With wins over the Corsairs, Beavers, and Bees, they have to like their position in the tiebreakers. This team has drawn a very tough Lion opponent in the Zimbabwe Beavers and need to pull off a win there to maintain their high standing come playoffs. One way or another, this team will be in the post season this time around and should be proud of their accomplishments this season. They may be one of the scariest teams to face as they seem to have found a ridiculous efficient passing game coupled with solid D and solid ground game. Look out for these guys come playoff time.
Jinx 55 Cannibals 0
GOTW 2*Mogadishu Malice 6-7 @ Morocco Camels 7-6
Wow! Who would have thought that this game would be for the #8 seed in the playoffs at the start of the season? Anybody? KellerFox's Preseason power rankings had the Camels numero uno and the Malice way down at 16. The Camels went out in the pre-season and beat two great Lion teams and then started 4-0. Since then, complete disaster for them. 3-6 over their last 9 games and the only teams they hold a tiebreaker on is the Jinx and the Bees. If they lose this game, they are in real danger of missing the post-season. What happened to these guys? I know I expected to compete with them in our last game but for my defense to completely shut them down and hold them to 8 count them 8 yards rushing on 20 attempts. Oh, how the mighty have fallen. The Malice on the other hand surprised us by beating us. That said, you can't ignore the level advantage Morocco has. If they get their heads out of their asses, they should win this one fine. If not, the Malice are back in the playoff picture.
Camels 27 Malice 13
High Plains Drifters 4-9 @ Mozambique Thundercats 6-7
A huge game for the Thundercats as they try to claw their way back into the playoff picture. With tiebreakers over the Jinx, Camels, and the Malice, they have a legitimate shot with a little help. They, however, need to worry about the task at hand, which is a very good Drifters team that tested the Tractor to their limits today. The Thundercats have a significant advantage in the running game but the passing contest is virtually a dead heat. I actually think this could be the best, closest game of the day (along with our game vs. the Bees) and it means more to the Thundercats so I hope they're ready for it. That said, I just have this feeling that the Drifters are finally for real and they're going to take this one.
Drifters 24 Thundercats 23
*********************LION GOTW************************
Nigeria Nightmares 11-2 @ Somalia Wasps 12-1
Wow, what a matchup we have here. The Wasps have been on a roll winning 9 in a row, but the competition over that stretch hasn't exactly turned any heads. They do hold the only victory anyone has over Kalahari all the way back in Game 1 and if they somehow hold on down the stretch, will be the #1 seed yet again this season. That, of course, will be quite a task. Not only do they have a tough match up here, but they next face Ethiopia before a tough San Dimas draw in the inter-conference. Nigeria had a strong season going with some very convincing wins before losing a tough one to the Marvins and then getting obliterated by the Knight Riders. They still are 11-2 and in great shape for the playoffs. With their tie breakers, they are guaranteed no worse than the #5 seed, but they have their sights set on something a little higher. Both of these teams have great balance to their teams. Strong running games ranked #2 and #3 in the conference and solid passing games. They also have stout rush defenses ranking 2nd and 4th in the conference. Most of the stats seem slightly slanted in the favor of the Wasps, but Nigeria hasn't had their stat padding meeting with Arhus yet while Somalia still has to face the Marvins. The one clear advantage that I found for Nigeria is their ability to pick the ball off, netting 2 a game so far for 26 on the season. Can Charlie Kalkman limit the turnovers while leading his team to victory? Survey says...
Wasps 34 Nightmares 27
Chicago Wheelhouse 2-11 @ Russian Tractor 11-2
The Wheelhouse may have run out of options after losing rather convincingly to the Death last week. I'm pretty sure I mentioned relegation at the beginning of the season. Oh and here's Coach K's response:
"BET!
The wheelhouse will score 14 in the 1st QR alone!
Keep thinking we are going to AA......
K"
Well here we are and Coach K has disappeared from the boards. Maybe he's making friends in his new home in AA because that is all but certainly where they'll be. Who would have though it? A week 1 loss to the Blazes comes back to bite them. Oh yah, and the Tractor look forward to next week's final challenge of the season for them against the eXtreme. This one...ZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Tractor 38 Wheelhouse 0
Gold Coast Corsairs 10-3 @ New Jersey Blazes 2-11
Another match up of one of the league's best against one of the league's well...not so good teams. GC has two tough ones down the home stretch with Morocco and Nigeria and if they lose both and either the Jinx, Bees, or Beavers win out, could find themselves on the road all post-season. Well, one thing's for sure, they won't lose here.
Corsairs 55 Blazes 10
Los Angeles eXtreme 10-3 @ Congo Death 5-8
A mildly scary game here for the eXtreme as it always is when you aren't great at stopping the pass and you're going against a team that airs it out. It's time for Fiorentino to get back into his normal groove and notch up at least 5 QB pressures (sacks + hurries) and the eXtreme need to work a little on their running game before the playoffs or they'll be one and done again this season. The Death bring the conference's 4th worst rush defense to the table so it should be a good opportunity. I don't expect the eXtreme to let another game slip by as they prepare for their big show down with the Tractor.
eXtreme 31 Death 13
San Dimas Saints 10-3 @ Somalia Wildcats 6-7
No sooner do I proclaim Somalia dead in the water and out of the playoff picture than do they pull off a magic trick to beat the eXtreme. Was it a fluke or can these guys really compete with the conference big boys? The Saints have really proven themselves to be one of the conference big boys this season and will almost certainly improve on their #7 seed for the playoffs this season. They have clinched a playoff spot but with a lot of big games coming up, could find themselves almost anywhere on the playoff chart. This is a game they can't let get away from them and I don't expect them to.
Saints 27 Wildcats 10
GOTW 1*Eaton Beavers 8-5 @ African Killer Bees 9-4
Two teams that couldn't be more similar clash here. The Bees run it more and pass it less than any other team in the conference. The Beavers are 2nd in both categories. Both teams also bring stout rush defenses to the table. Expect a really boring, grind it out kind of game here. That is, unless one of the team's decides to take it to the air for a change to throw off the other defense. Will one team take the risk knowing the importance of this game for playoff seeding? Last season the Beavers won this matchup 15-13 and expect a lot of aching bodies on the field after this one. Trenches vs. Trenches. A man's football being played here fellas. May the best team win.
River Styx Jinx 8-5 @ Lake M'Zumba Cannibals 0-13
The Jinx are for real baby! With wins over the Corsairs, Beavers, and Bees, they have to like their position in the tiebreakers. This team has drawn a very tough Lion opponent in the Zimbabwe Beavers and need to pull off a win there to maintain their high standing come playoffs. One way or another, this team will be in the post season this time around and should be proud of their accomplishments this season. They may be one of the scariest teams to face as they seem to have found a ridiculous efficient passing game coupled with solid D and solid ground game. Look out for these guys come playoff time.
Jinx 55 Cannibals 0
GOTW 2*Mogadishu Malice 6-7 @ Morocco Camels 7-6
Wow! Who would have thought that this game would be for the #8 seed in the playoffs at the start of the season? Anybody? KellerFox's Preseason power rankings had the Camels numero uno and the Malice way down at 16. The Camels went out in the pre-season and beat two great Lion teams and then started 4-0. Since then, complete disaster for them. 3-6 over their last 9 games and the only teams they hold a tiebreaker on is the Jinx and the Bees. If they lose this game, they are in real danger of missing the post-season. What happened to these guys? I know I expected to compete with them in our last game but for my defense to completely shut them down and hold them to 8 count them 8 yards rushing on 20 attempts. Oh, how the mighty have fallen. The Malice on the other hand surprised us by beating us. That said, you can't ignore the level advantage Morocco has. If they get their heads out of their asses, they should win this one fine. If not, the Malice are back in the playoff picture.
Camels 27 Malice 13
High Plains Drifters 4-9 @ Mozambique Thundercats 6-7
A huge game for the Thundercats as they try to claw their way back into the playoff picture. With tiebreakers over the Jinx, Camels, and the Malice, they have a legitimate shot with a little help. They, however, need to worry about the task at hand, which is a very good Drifters team that tested the Tractor to their limits today. The Thundercats have a significant advantage in the running game but the passing contest is virtually a dead heat. I actually think this could be the best, closest game of the day (along with our game vs. the Bees) and it means more to the Thundercats so I hope they're ready for it. That said, I just have this feeling that the Drifters are finally for real and they're going to take this one.
Drifters 24 Thundercats 23
*********************LION GOTW************************
Nigeria Nightmares 11-2 @ Somalia Wasps 12-1
Wow, what a matchup we have here. The Wasps have been on a roll winning 9 in a row, but the competition over that stretch hasn't exactly turned any heads. They do hold the only victory anyone has over Kalahari all the way back in Game 1 and if they somehow hold on down the stretch, will be the #1 seed yet again this season. That, of course, will be quite a task. Not only do they have a tough match up here, but they next face Ethiopia before a tough San Dimas draw in the inter-conference. Nigeria had a strong season going with some very convincing wins before losing a tough one to the Marvins and then getting obliterated by the Knight Riders. They still are 11-2 and in great shape for the playoffs. With their tie breakers, they are guaranteed no worse than the #5 seed, but they have their sights set on something a little higher. Both of these teams have great balance to their teams. Strong running games ranked #2 and #3 in the conference and solid passing games. They also have stout rush defenses ranking 2nd and 4th in the conference. Most of the stats seem slightly slanted in the favor of the Wasps, but Nigeria hasn't had their stat padding meeting with Arhus yet while Somalia still has to face the Marvins. The one clear advantage that I found for Nigeria is their ability to pick the ball off, netting 2 a game so far for 26 on the season. Can Charlie Kalkman limit the turnovers while leading his team to victory? Survey says...
Wasps 34 Nightmares 27
we couldn`t score 38 and allowed 3. 
