PLAYOFF SCENARIOS:
Half of the teams still have to lose this week, but we're as close to settling the brackets as we can be: The top six are all in control of their own destiny. Pawnee has secured the top spot (unless Manitoba wins, outscores the Pride by 126.59, and Malibu upsets them, in which case they'll be the two seed) and then we might see the other five teams get in with matching 8-5 records. More likely, we'll see a team in the playoffs at 7-6; At least one team has made the dance at that record every year, and sometimes as many as three seven win teams populate the push.
The Islanders and MooseCrew are the only two teams currently in playoff position that matchup in week thirteen: Manitoba has already clinched a spot and with a win can secure a bye. The Islanders are in with a win, but with a loss, they'll be rooting against Malibu and Saskatoon: They have comfortable margins of 69.85 and 82.17 over each, so it would take a massive turn from either to uproot ISL. On the outside looking in, the Deadbeats have to face League powerhouse Pawnee, while the Sasquatch get an unfavorable date with Hill Valley, the favorite to land the second bye should Manitoba falter. Phoenix is in the six slot after a horrendous penultimate showing, however, defeating Toronto in week 13 gets them into the playoffs for a seventh consecutive year. A loss has them on thin ice: their points margin over Malibu is a mere 26.1 and they stand just 38.42 over Saskatoon. A weak PHX showing against LTP coupled with big days from either team could bounce them to relegation. Hill Valley and Deputy can feel pretty confident about their positioning, as either could move up to the second bye with a big day and an Islander win, but neither is in any real danger of slipping out of the playoffs, even if they do bungle their final regular season game.
If Malibu and/or Saskatoon cannot strum up enough magic to sneak into the big dance, they can count on the consolation bracket's draft seeding tournament for some post season football. Likewise, tough luck HCM City, can't catch a break Savannah, and no bench depth Toronto have all solidified their bids, with credible point totals and a game in hand. HCM is likely to nab a bye with a win and a Malibu or Saskatoon loss; Savannah could do the same if they win and two of the other three teams lose. The final consolation bowl bid is New York's to fumble- a win will get them into competition. However, with the lowest output in the league to date, they'd need to outscore South Park by at least 24.12 in defeat if the Cows can drop the Petes in their final game. South Park is the first team to miss the playoffs in their title defense, and is on track to miss any sort of postseason, a stunning cliff for the champions to careen off of. Oakwood has put up more points than both SPC and NYF, but couldn't get the Ws, and will finish their season this week no matter what- in either 13th or 14th.
Week 12 Matchups
- ISL 239: The Islanders responded to a stat correction loss by posting their best score of the year
- PAW 235: Two teams entered with eight wins- the one at the top of the Power Rankings exited with nine
- HVM 234: All but clinched, the McFlys return to the playoffs after back to back consolation bowl victories
- MDB 235: Unwilling to go without a fight, the Deadbeats have won 3 of 4 and now have a chance to drop PAW
- SAV 233: Rounding into form late in the season: too late. Could make some consolation bracket noise
- MMC 217: A loss but not a bad showing; Securing a bye would mean auto-entry to the semis in 1st ever playoff
- LTP 206: Toronto's up and down season should go consolation bracket, could spoil Phoenix' run
- DVH 197: With a chance to move into position for the two seed, the Van Halens faltered but didn't fall
- HCM 187: This is actually the third worst week for a team that never scored below 178 in a week all season
- SPC 184: The Cows have now had four seperate two game skids this season, unable to get any (good) momentum
- SAS 175: Stat correction victory followed by low scoring victory, but 6 game slide may be too much to overcome
- NYF 174: Weeks 3-7 196+ pts; All other weeks 174 pts or less. Fortunate win gifts them chance at Consolation
- OAK 167: With the loss they will finish in the bottom four for the fourth time in all four years of existence
- PHX 150: Big point hangover is a real thing. Uprising have to hope they don't fall play to Sasquatch malady
