Week 9 Matchups
Both Phoenix (7-2) and Pawnee (4-5) ended up playing down a Mike in this one, as Brian Cushing and Patrick Willis were both negative game time decisions. It resulted in a game sapped of any real drama- the Pride fell behind early, and their efforts to continue their winning streak proved futile. They're not in prime playoff position, but their schedule is finally softening: if they can get past Manitoba this week, they have Oakwood, Oniontown, and Saskatoon ripe for the picking. Winning out would clinch a spot in the dance- three wins might do it too.
Indiana (6-3) did themselves a solid by dropping the Swag (5-4) and slotting in as the four seed with four games left to play; They really need to split the remainder of their matchups, as their point total is so noncompetitive that seven wins would likely see them out on tiebreak. Their matchup this week with HCM City is every bit a trap game: The Lead Farmers have outscored the Turbanators over the last three weeks. California hasn't lost two in a row all season- they will need to bounce back quickly once again, as they're currently the first team out from the seven hole.
New York (6-3) has won five straight and is officially the hottest team in football. This one came down to the wire, but as it has more often than not this season, Hill Valley (3-6) came up just short of inching out a W. Barring a miracle, the McFlys will miss the playoffs for the first time in their six years of existence. It will also be only the second time in six years that the Crazy 88's do not finish in the top three in points. New York is pursuing it's third playoff berth in six years- they lost the inaugural Larkspur Bowl in '09, and lost in the Semis in 2012. 2013 Was their best power ranking, and resulted in winning the top draft pick in the Consolation bowl.
Oakwood (4-5) is quietly having a very impressive season, which continued as they buried the Sasquatch (2-7) and soldiered forward. They're only one win short of last season's total, and while their talent level would seem to preclude them from a playoff run, their misfit toys might still have a Cinderella run in them. The same cannot be said of Saskatoon, who have are destined for another cellar dweller season: 2009 and 2013 both finished the same way, 13th in the standings and 14th in points. Week 9's defensive MVP Brent Grimes rocked the brown on brown in a losing effort; Always one of the ballsiest teams, Saskatoon/Atlanta's aggressive risk taking makes them one of the league's ultimate wild cards.
Don't count out Manitoba. Now 5-4 and currently owners of the final playoff spot, the Moosecrew are a scary team trending upward. Their RB situation has not clarified itself, but with that WR corps intact, they continue to get it done via aerial assault. Who wants to face Demaryius Thomas, Jordy Nelson, Rob Gronkowski, and Sammy Watkins in the playoffs? The answer of course, is no one. They put Oniontown (3-6) in a precarious position- The Massacre are on the brink of missing the playoffs for the fourth time in five years. Outside of their superb 2011 season, O-Town has always been a competent squad that has come up just short in big spots, one difference maker short. After picking RBs in the first round five years in a row, might we see a different strategy from the notorious 'draft dodgers' in 2015?
Toronto (5-4) is following up on its quality 2013 season nicely, plugged into the five slot with a month left to play. Staying patient on RB Terrance West seems to have proven a shrewd decision, his return to prominence providing DeMarco Murray a capable sidekick. Dez Bryan and Jeremy Maclin are both elite WRs, and Week 9 offensive MVP QB Ben Roethlisberger has turned in back to back monster performances, seizing what has been a fluid quarterback situation to date. M-Ville drops to a surprising 4-5: You look at their roster and you see a lot of quality depth- they need to optimize that. Every game is a playoff game down the stretch for the underachieving Parrotheads.
Early on, it almost looked like HCM City might stun the Cows with back to back defeats- but that thought was quashed quickly. The Cows turned in an A+ effort rebounding from their only defeat on the season, finishing off the Lead Farmers with a flourish. HCM Has actually been reliably competitive, rarely scoring enough to win, but never turning in an absolute dud either. The Cows are doing it without an elite QB option, an impressive feat- the Larkspur Bowl champion QBs have been Peyton Manning, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, and Philip Rivers. With Andy Dalton and Eli Manning currently at the helm, will we see one of them (or someone else?) lead South Park's championship drive?
WEEK NINE OFFENSIVE MVP:
QB Ben Roethlisberger, Toronto Les Tres Petites - 33.70pts
WEEK NINE DEFENSIVE MVP:
CB Brent Grimes, Saskatoon Sasquatch - 24.80pts
No comments:
Post a Comment