With just 5 games to go, 7 teams are within 2 games of 1st. Also, only 1 team is statistically eliminated from the playoffs. This week brings some interesting match ups and we're starting off with a big one.
GOTW 1*San Dimas Saints 9-2 @ African Killer Bees 8-3
Two teams that are jockeying for playoff position now. The Bees started the season off with a tough first two games and then a devastating loss to the Death in week 5. Many believed it may have been over for them after that. Then, they bounce back and beat the Tractor, go on a roll, and last week soundly defeated LAX. Their new commitment to the run will be a challenge for the Saints. On the other side, the Saints have a very balanced offense this season capable of dominating in either phase of the game. The Bees have struggled somewhat to stop the pass this season and their loss to the Death is testament to that. So you have Saints strength to the Bees weakness and the Bees strength to the Saints weakness (if you can call it that). The difference in this game could come down to turnovers as it so often does in close games and the Bees lead the conference in forcing them. The Saints have been somewhat prone to them. My brain tells me the Saints are the slightly better team, but my instinct is telling me the Bees keep the momentum going here. Can't wait to see how this one turns out!
Bees 24 Saints 23
Los Angeles eXtreme 9-2 @ Lake M'Zumba Cannibals 0-11
The eXtreme fought through the toughest stretch of their schedule fairly well. They look forward to their week 15 clash with the Tractor for what will likely be the #1 seed in the playoffs. The Cannibals should enjoy AA where they will be more competitive. They really aren't a bad team...they just aren't quite up to the rest of the league yet.
eXtreme 51 Cannibals 0
New Jersey Blazes 2-9 @ Russian Tractor 9-2
Tractor also should dispatch their next 3 opponents with ease and are looking forward to their match up with LAX. The Blazes have yet another disappointing season. Their season opening win over the Wheelhouse could be what keeps them in AAA for another season.
Tractor 45 Blazes 10
Gold Coast Corsairs 8-3 @ Mozambique Thundercats 5-6
Gold Coast is on a 3 game slide and look to end that here and finish the season strong. Mozambique had a tough loss to Somalia 2 weeks ago that hurt their playoff chances, but with 3 possibly 4 winnable games after this one, and tiebreakers over the Camels, Jinx, and Malice, don't count them out. I'm not sure really how this game will go. Gold Coast is the stronger team, but not by a lot. Maybe the Thundercats can find some of that magic they found against the Camels and keep GC on their slide, or maybe not.
Corsairs 24 Thundercats 13
GOTW 2*River Styx Jinx 7-4 @ Morocco Camels 6-5
The tale of two teams here. The Camels have grossly underperformed their pre-season #1 ranking. They haven't beaten a team worth noting since their week 1 victory of the Bees. The Jinx on the other hand have been great. With recent victories over the Gold Coast, Eaton, and Mogadishu, this team really has their stuff together at the right time. The infamous bars give Morocco a slight edge and their conference rankings are almost identical.
Pass offense
Camels 9
Jinx 10
Rush offense
Camels 6
Jinx 7
Pass defense
Jinx 14
Camels 15
Rush defense
Jinx 7
Camels 8
I mean. It's ridiculous how close these two teams are. I'm going Camels because we need them to break our tie with the Jinx and no other reason. This game should be great!
Camels 24 Jinx 19
Eaton Beavers 7-4 @ Mogadishu Malice 5-6
The Beavers had a much needed victory to stop a 3 game slide last week and their first over a top team. The Malice are still looking for that marquee upset and would love to make the Beavers it. Good luck MM! Should be fun!
High Plains Drifters 3-8 @ Congo Death 4-7
Believe it or not, this is actually an interesting match up. Both teams feature great wide receivers and solid passing attacks. The Drifters since their upset over the Camels are 6-1 (including friendlies) after starting 0-7. Both of these teams are scary to play against and this could be a fun game. Drifters have the better pass defense. They take this in a shoot out.
Drifters 38 Death 31
Chicago Wheelhouse 2-9 @ Somalia Wildcats 4-7
This may be the Wildcats last opportunity for a win with the schedule they have coming up. The Wheelhouse need a win to get a leg up on the Blazes in the don't get relegated contest. Actually could be a good match up but I'm too lazy and uninterested to delve into this match up.
Wildcats 24 Wheelhouse 20
GOTW 1*San Dimas Saints 9-2 @ African Killer Bees 8-3
Two teams that are jockeying for playoff position now. The Bees started the season off with a tough first two games and then a devastating loss to the Death in week 5. Many believed it may have been over for them after that. Then, they bounce back and beat the Tractor, go on a roll, and last week soundly defeated LAX. Their new commitment to the run will be a challenge for the Saints. On the other side, the Saints have a very balanced offense this season capable of dominating in either phase of the game. The Bees have struggled somewhat to stop the pass this season and their loss to the Death is testament to that. So you have Saints strength to the Bees weakness and the Bees strength to the Saints weakness (if you can call it that). The difference in this game could come down to turnovers as it so often does in close games and the Bees lead the conference in forcing them. The Saints have been somewhat prone to them. My brain tells me the Saints are the slightly better team, but my instinct is telling me the Bees keep the momentum going here. Can't wait to see how this one turns out!
Bees 24 Saints 23
Los Angeles eXtreme 9-2 @ Lake M'Zumba Cannibals 0-11
The eXtreme fought through the toughest stretch of their schedule fairly well. They look forward to their week 15 clash with the Tractor for what will likely be the #1 seed in the playoffs. The Cannibals should enjoy AA where they will be more competitive. They really aren't a bad team...they just aren't quite up to the rest of the league yet.
eXtreme 51 Cannibals 0
New Jersey Blazes 2-9 @ Russian Tractor 9-2
Tractor also should dispatch their next 3 opponents with ease and are looking forward to their match up with LAX. The Blazes have yet another disappointing season. Their season opening win over the Wheelhouse could be what keeps them in AAA for another season.
Tractor 45 Blazes 10
Gold Coast Corsairs 8-3 @ Mozambique Thundercats 5-6
Gold Coast is on a 3 game slide and look to end that here and finish the season strong. Mozambique had a tough loss to Somalia 2 weeks ago that hurt their playoff chances, but with 3 possibly 4 winnable games after this one, and tiebreakers over the Camels, Jinx, and Malice, don't count them out. I'm not sure really how this game will go. Gold Coast is the stronger team, but not by a lot. Maybe the Thundercats can find some of that magic they found against the Camels and keep GC on their slide, or maybe not.
Corsairs 24 Thundercats 13
GOTW 2*River Styx Jinx 7-4 @ Morocco Camels 6-5
The tale of two teams here. The Camels have grossly underperformed their pre-season #1 ranking. They haven't beaten a team worth noting since their week 1 victory of the Bees. The Jinx on the other hand have been great. With recent victories over the Gold Coast, Eaton, and Mogadishu, this team really has their stuff together at the right time. The infamous bars give Morocco a slight edge and their conference rankings are almost identical.
Pass offense
Camels 9
Jinx 10
Rush offense
Camels 6
Jinx 7
Pass defense
Jinx 14
Camels 15
Rush defense
Jinx 7
Camels 8
I mean. It's ridiculous how close these two teams are. I'm going Camels because we need them to break our tie with the Jinx and no other reason. This game should be great!
Camels 24 Jinx 19
Eaton Beavers 7-4 @ Mogadishu Malice 5-6
The Beavers had a much needed victory to stop a 3 game slide last week and their first over a top team. The Malice are still looking for that marquee upset and would love to make the Beavers it. Good luck MM! Should be fun!
High Plains Drifters 3-8 @ Congo Death 4-7
Believe it or not, this is actually an interesting match up. Both teams feature great wide receivers and solid passing attacks. The Drifters since their upset over the Camels are 6-1 (including friendlies) after starting 0-7. Both of these teams are scary to play against and this could be a fun game. Drifters have the better pass defense. They take this in a shoot out.
Drifters 38 Death 31
Chicago Wheelhouse 2-9 @ Somalia Wildcats 4-7
This may be the Wildcats last opportunity for a win with the schedule they have coming up. The Wheelhouse need a win to get a leg up on the Blazes in the don't get relegated contest. Actually could be a good match up but I'm too lazy and uninterested to delve into this match up.
Wildcats 24 Wheelhouse 20
Good luck to the Bees, it should be a great game...
