Playoff Preview

[Brother Brian]

Well folks, the regular season is over, and we look ahead to this week's playoff brackets.

Game 1: The Wiley Corn Trolls vs. the Trifecta Wookies

In the opening game, the Wiley Corn Trolls take on the Trifecta Wookies. The Wookies are seeking to defend their championship, but face the regular season champions.

Here's how it breaks out:

100 Point Games: Advantage WCT.

The Trolls have a clear upside advantage, scoring over the century mark in 8 of 14 regular season weeks. The Wookies by comparison have only 3.

Peak Score: Advantage WCT

The Wookies peak score was 117.3 in a loss in week 4. The WCT have 3 games with higher scores, including the amazing 135.4 they scored against the Fighting Friars.

Minus 70: Advantage WCT

The Trolls did not have a single game this season in which they didn't score at least 70 points. The Wookies have 4, including a season low 52.6 last week.

Streak: Advantage WCT

The Wookies had their 5 game win streak broken by the Friars in week 14. Included in that streak though was a piece of luck as the Wookies won a 62.5-59.5 victory over the Fallen Angels, the third lowest score of the week.

The Trolls have won two in a row, returning to form after back to back losses, neither of which was horrible.


There is no real roster advantage this week, I don't expect teams to be resting players yet.

Conclusion: The Wiley Corn Trolls should beat the Wookies. The Wookies will need big help both for and against distractions. If the Giants are still distracted by the Burress situation, it might help their QB, Tony "Any Month but December" Romo. On the other hand, the distraction of Clinton Portis mouthing off on FM radio needs to not stop him from running over the Bengles D.

But with big playoff impilactions on the line, I expect Warner and Fitzgerald to step up and put points against the Vikings D.

Game 2: Zohan's Possee vs. The Neanderthals

Two 8 and 6 teams go at it, in what may be the closest game of the week.


100 Point Games: Advantage Zohan's Possee

This is a close one, with Zohan's Possee scoring over the Century Mark 5 times to 4 for the Neanderthals.

Peak Score: Neanderthals

In weak 13, the Neanderthals put up 121.4 against the Tribbles. Zohan put up 119.9 against the Tribbles in week 5.

Minus 70: Tie

Both teams have only 1 sub 70 game, the Neanderthal's coming in week 2 (59.7), and the Posse throwing up 69.7 last week.

Streak: Neanderthals

Zohan finds his Posse limping into the playoffs after posting 2 of their season's three lowest scores in week's 13 and 14. Meanwhile the Neanderthals won their way in with their top 2 totals of the season.

Conclusion: The Neanderthals are coming on strong, and the hold that Zohan had as leagues #2 team is precarious. The 2 of the Neanderthal's starting RB, Thomas Jones, and Steve Jackson, are going up against weak D's in Buffalo and Seattle. The Posse's best poing hope is the Indy D going against the NFL's living defination of failure, the Lions.

So in the first upset prediction, I expect that the Neanderthals will beat Zohan's Posse by 10 points.

The consolation bracket to come.

[Detritus]

According to the Thursday Yahoo projection lines, it'll be WCT by 30, and Neanderthals by 21. Something tells me both games will be closer than that.

[Brother Brian]

And onto the consolation bracket.

Our first game is the "How did this happen" game between the 2nd helping skillets and Demolition.

100 Point Games: Advantage Demolition

Demoliton laid down some huge games this year, including 6 over the century mark. The Skillets crossed 100 points only three times.

Peak Score: Advantage Demolition

The Neanderthal's top score this year is 129 points, which is quite respectable. The Dems have eclipsed it twice, with a top score coming against the skillets in week 2 at 145.9 points.

Minus 70: Advantage Demolition

The skillets had 4 games under 70 points, which amazingly included 2 wins! The Demolition had 2 falters in the regular season, with a low in week 3's game against SnakeBitten.

Streak: Skillets

The Skillets carry 4 straight wins into the playoffs with all three of their 100+ point games coming down the stretch. The Demolition also have 3 100+ games.

Conclusion: Has there ever been a team with less luck than the Demolition? They consistantly face teams playing their best weeks, and could easily be a contender in the top bracket.

To win, the skillets need a big week from an inconsistant Peyton Manning against Detroit, and Wes Welker against a sometimes stingy Oakland pass D.

Demolitions keys are Brian Westbrook in Cleveland, and Matt Forte tonight in Chicago.

Pure numbers say the Demolitions will win. But I can't help but thinkint the curse continues. I look for the skilets to sneak out a victory by a couple of points in a high scoring game.


And in the final game, the Fighting Friars take on the Tribbles.

100 Point Games: Advantage, Friars

The inconsistant Friars have had 7 100 point games thus far this year, while the Tribbles had 2.

Peak Score: Advantage Friars

With a peak at 129.3, the Friars finish just ahad of the Tribbles top score of 117.6.

Minus 70: Advantage Friars

The Tribbles have had 3 games below 70 points, including a season low in week 1 of 49.10. The Friars tripped up once, in week 4, with a 47.6.

Streak: Tribbles

The Friars were a first half team, and have struggled mightily down the stretch. That said, the Friars outscored a fortunate Tribbles team 4 of the last 6 weeks of the season.

Conclusion: The Friars have been stung by inconsistant QB play, and are going with Jay Cutler this week against Carolina. They are relying on workhorses DeAngelo Williams and Michael Turner to put up points, with additional help needed from Reggie Bush.

The Tribbles will need Maruice Jones Drew to rush well, and for Cleveland to turn the ball over to Philly.

It's tough to call, but the Friars have a better upside, and I predect victory for them this week.

[Brother Brian]

According to the Thursday Yahoo projection lines, it'll be WCT by 30, and Neanderthals by 21. Something tells me both games will be closer than that.

Yahoo's projections are worthless. ;) I'd be 11-3 if I believed them.

I do see the WCT as blowing out the Wookies in all honesty. Warner and Fitzgerald are playing for the division, and possibly a buy week.

[Wook]

I have a couple things that can work to my advantage but the situation is by no means good. The biggest advantage is that Warner+Fitzferald are going against Adrian peterson. It has been my experience that playing yourself is never a good thing for the bottom line. What this makes possible is a scenario where either Warner and Fitzgerald have a great day, the less desirable result, or where peterson has a great day, the preferable result. IMHO to realisticly have a chance I need one half that match up to cancel out the other.

Things I've got going for me:

1. Portis is going to run over the Bengals. Need this to be a true statement.
2. Romo is at home. On turf. Given that it's the Gmen he's going against this is as much as I can hope for.
3. Lendale White is going up against Houston. A monster day for Lendale is within reason.
4. Between Antonio Gates, Dwayne Bowe, and Eddie Royal I need 15-160-2 (27.5 pts). More is good but IMHO that's as low as they can average out to be and me still have a chance. Those numbers mean one of them has a really good day, one has an ok day, and one pushes daisies.
5. Pittsburgh at Baltimore is good for me. Baltimore is more a power running team with a lot of different threats in their backfield. This is the sort of matchup that can result in a low score from the Pittsburgh D.

Things I'm worried about: Ronnie brown could flat our ruin me. West coast teams do HORRIBLE on EST and Brown could just punch my lights out by himself. Also Jacksonville could ruin me as well. I'm banking on the loss of matt jones + distraction to let GM be the better choice for me but really which D I should've started could be a coin toss.

[Brother Brian]

I have a couple things that can work to my advantage but the situation is by no means good. The biggest advantage is that Warner+Fitzferald are going against Adrian peterson. It has been my experience that playing yourself is never a good thing for the bottom line. What this makes possible is a scenario where either Warner and Fitzgerald have a great day, the less desirable result, or where peterson has a great day, the preferable result. IMHO to realisticly have a chance I need one half that match up to cancel out the other.

Things I've got going for me:

1. Portis is going to run over the Bengals. Need this to be a true statement.
2. Romo is at home. On turf. Given that it's the Gmen he's going against this is as much as I can hope for.
3. Lendale White is going up against Houston. A monster day for Lendale is within reason.
4. Between Antonio Gates, Dwayne Bowe, and Eddie Royal I need 15-160-2 (27.5 pts). More is good but IMHO that's as low as they can average out to be and me still have a chance. Those numbers mean one of them has a really good day, one has an ok day, and one pushes daisies.
5. Pittsburgh at Baltimore is good for me. Baltimore is more a power running team with a lot of different threats in their backfield. This is the sort of matchup that can result in a low score from the Pittsburgh D.

Things I'm worried about: Ronnie brown could flat our ruin me. West coast teams do HORRIBLE on EST and Brown could just punch my lights out by himself. Also Jacksonville could ruin me as well. I'm banking on the loss of matt jones + distraction to let GM be the better choice for me but really which D I should've started could be a coin toss.

You're starting Romo in December...good luck with that.

[silverwhisper]

****, i think it's brave of you to start romo against the giants. what are you seeing in the giants' secondary that makes you think that's a good idea; recent weak play or something else?

[Detritus]

****, i think it's brave of you to start romo against the giants. what are you seeing in the giants' secondary that makes you think that's a good idea; recent weak play or something else?
He's kind of married to him, in my estimation. I guess the question is whether you'd have the nerve to start Tyler Thigpen (****'s backup) over Romo. The Chargers' secondary is vulnerable, but I don't know if I could bring myself to bench Romo. From a purely fantasy perspective, Romo can hang a big number on anyone, especially at home. He's not as bad as the Steelers made him look last week.

[silverwhisper]

ah. thank you, det.

[Brother Brian]

He's kind of married to him, in my estimation. I guess the question is whether you'd have the nerve to start Tyler Thigpen (****'s backup) over Romo. The Chargers' secondary is vulnerable, but I don't know if I could bring myself to bench Romo. From a purely fantasy perspective, Romo can hang a big number on anyone, especially at home. He's not as bad as the Steelers made him look last week.

Except in December, where his completion percent drops almost 10 points, and he throws 2 picks for every TD.

The man chokes like Bush eating pretzels.

[carmachu]

It'll be close for me....my team, with the exception of one week hiccup, has been getting better and stronger...reggie bussh going down means I got a solid points coming from the backup....

[Brother Brian]

It'll be close for me....my team, with the exception of one week hiccup, has been getting better and stronger...reggie bussh going down means I got a solid points coming from the backup....

Bush is back and played well last week. Not sure how much that's going to effect Thomas this week.

[Detritus]

Thomas has basically taken over the Deuce McAllister role for the Saints now. He might not catch as many passes with Bush back in the lineup, but he still has a significant role in the Saints' offense. Bush has been back since Week 12, and back in earnest the last two weeks, and here are Thomas's lines from those games:

Week 12 (vs. GB) - 15-87-2 rushing, 3-34-0 receiving
Week 13 (@ TB) - 11-34-0 rushing, 1-20-1 receiving
Week 14 (vs. Atl) - 16-102-1 rushing, 1-7-1 receiving

I think Thomas is here to stay for the rest of the season, and beyond.

[Wook]

I'm very married to romo. There's no way around that for me. Owens-Witten-Crayton-Williams is a powerful set of receivers and Tashard/Barber are real threats to run. On the road I might consider starting Thigpen but I think San Diego is going to hang serious INT'age on him this week. Romo might not be better but he's my boy. Note also that I am trying to exploit the chargers secondary via Dwayne Bowe. But I don't want too many eggs in one basket.

[Wook]

You're starting Romo in December...good luck with that.

I'm going to need it no matter what. So thank you in all sincerity.

[silverwhisper]

****, isn't barber questionable for sunday?

[Detritus]

I'm going to need it no matter what. So thank you in all sincerity.
The X-factor is what is going to happen with the Williamses who anchor Minny's run D. If they both have their drug suspensions upheld in time for them to miss the Cardinals' game, that makes Hightower a much more potent option, and might even siphon away some of the production of the Cards' passing game.

The flip side to that is that it's also possible that Peterson runs amok early vs. the Cards and then Arizona has to play a little bit of catch-up vs. the Vikings. That would be the best of both worlds for me; for example, if Peterson scores the first TD of the game, say within the first five minutes or so of the first quarter, that might be the beginning of huge days from all three of my guys in that game.

[Wook]

****, isn't barber questionable for sunday?

thus my inclusion of Tashard who seems to do good work.

[silverwhisper]

i hope you'll understand that i hope that you get 0 points out of DAL sunday night. :>

[Wook]

i hope you'll understand that i hope that you get 0 points out of DAL sunday night. :>

Nonsense. We can both have our way. I'd rather face the Possee in the championship so I'm going to hope for a giants win and a shootout in Dallas.

[Detritus]

The X-factor is what is going to happen with the Williamses who anchor Minny's run D. If they both have their drug suspensions upheld in time for them to miss the Cardinals' game, that makes Hightower a much more potent option, and might even siphon away some of the production of the Cards' passing game.
The injunction against the doping suspensions has been extended:

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d80d3a02c&template=without-video&confirm=true

That means the Williamses will be playing this week, and likely for the remainder of the season.

[Detritus]

Thomas has basically taken over the Deuce McAllister role for the Saints now. He might not catch as many passes with Bush back in the lineup, but he still has a significant role in the Saints' offense. Bush has been back since Week 12, and back in earnest the last two weeks, and here are Thomas's lines from those games:

Week 12 (vs. GB) - 15-87-2 rushing, 3-34-0 receiving
Week 13 (@ TB) - 11-34-0 rushing, 1-20-1 receiving
Week 14 (vs. Atl) - 16-102-1 rushing, 1-7-1 receiving

I think Thomas is here to stay for the rest of the season, and beyond.
16-82-1/5-41-1 for Thomas, and we're not quite through three quarters in Chicago. That's three of his last four games he's gone multi-score. It's starting to look a little like Thomas will be the first Saints' RB taken in next year's draft, to be honest.