Playoff Weekend!

Dynasty @ Bill’s Team

The luckiest team in the league (by a lot), the Bill’s, open their bid for a FLoF Bowl appearance against the Middle Division winning Dynasty. The Bill’s somehow managed to be in the bottom 4 of the Power Rankings, but still crank out 10 wins, for the 2^nd best total in the league. Dynasty has also had a charmed, inaugural season as well, and this has every appearance of being a tightly fought game.

Positional observations:

QB – Newton (Bill) vs. Cutler (Dynasty): Advantage – Bill. Cutler has a good matchup at PHI and Newton has N.O. at home. It almost feels like a push since I cannot shake the feeling that Cutler is due for a big game. Still, Cam can add some rushing points and hasn’t been on the shelf like Cutler - who may yet still be shaking off some rust - so I like him better this week.

RB – Moreno (Bill) vs. McCoy (Dynasty): Advantage – Dynasty. This position almost feels like another push. Despite last week, McCoy is the still the best RB in FLoF and the matchup for McCoy is CHI, which has been giving up the rushing yards of late. On the other side, Moreno has a good match up against a floundering HOU squad and should see a lot of carries once DEN starts trying to protect their lead.

WR – Marshall, Fitzgerald (Bill) vs. A. Brown, V. Davis (Dynasty): Advantage – Bill. Marshall has been great this year, and should remain strong with Cutler back in the lineup for CHI. The matchup is great as well, and Marshall could end up as the point’s leader for the WR position this week. Newly acquired Fitzgerald is also an elite receiver, but he does have a hard go of it in SEA, which in my mind sort of evens the advantage out for Dynasty. Davis and Brown are very, very good, but not elite, but I really like their matchups this week, especially Davis.

K – Sturgis (Bill) vs. Bailey (Dynasty): Advantage – Dynasty. Bailey had a great week last week and now gets WAS. Only issue I have with Bailey may be that all he does is kick PAT’s. Sturgis should do fine as well, but the matchup in BUF is a little more challenging with the weather this weekend.

DF – C. Jones, V. Miller (Bill) vs. Burfict, David (Dynasty): Advantage – Dynasty. Dynasty has two of the top-10 DF’s in FLoF and is #1 in overall points at the position.  Jones has been good, but not great. The recent addition of Miller does even this out for Bill. I think Miller could have a big game here.

DB – Ward, Vaccaro (Bill) vs. Church, Wright (Dynasty): Advantage – Bill. Ward is top-10 at the DB position this year and Vaccarro is very good. Church and Wright don’t really do a lot for me.

Prediction: With Bill’s recent acquisitions, the luck factor and some really good matchups, it makes it difficult to pick against Bill. I think Dynasty will fight very hard, but I got a feeling that the Bills have just enough luck left in them against a statically better Dynasty team. That being said, I do think it will be close.

Bill 30 - Dynasty 24

 

N.Y. Hamburglers @ Murrysville Drow

In the other playoff game, Drow begins his defensive of lasts year’s title against a pretty good Hamburglers team. Drow has been near, or at the top, of both wins and power all year, only stumbling a little down the stretch. The Hamburglers current sit at 4^th in terms of power, but have been strong for the last few games.

Positional observations:

QB – Brees (Drow) vs. Luck (Hamburglers): Advantage – Drow. Luck looks like a beast in the making, but he isn’t Brees at this point. Both QB’s have hard matchups though. Not going to be stunned if Brees is anxious to shed the whole ‘don’t play well on the road’ label, and has a pretty good game.

RB – Lynch (Drow) vs. Charles (Hamburglers): Advantage – Hamburglers. Lynch has been great this year, but ARI is hard to run on. Charles was a monster last week, and I expect more of the same this week. I think he could be a repeat as a leader in points this week too.

WR – Gordon, Green (Drow) vs. S. Smith, Hilton (Hamburglers): Advantage – Drow. This is a complete mismatch here. Gordon is already a major stud and Green is elite in his own right. It also helps their matchups are great too. Smith and Hilton are just O.K. This position is where Drow totally negates anything that the Hamburglers have as even close to an advantage.

K – Prater (Drow) vs. Bryant (Hamburglers): Advantage – Drow. This is another case where the kicker matchup worries me a little, since Prater may do little more than kick point-afters. Still, I like the matchup a lot better than ATL’s kicker.

DF – Wagner, Levy (Drow) vs. Posluszny, Fletcher (Hamburglers): Advantage: Push. I almost want to go with Hamburglers here solely based on Posluszny. However, Drow has been no slouch with his DF position this year either. Too close to call this one.

DB – Rolle, Berry (Drow) vs. Hall, A. Williams (Hamburglers): Advantage: Drow, barely. Hamburglers have the best DB in FLoF with Hall. Berry was huge last game, which of course, means he will disappear in this one.

Prediction: Drow has the most of the advantages as I see it. I don’t think the game will be a wipe out, but I don’t think it will be particularly close either. I look for Drow to move to his 2^nd consecutive FLoF Bowl appearance.

Drow 44 – Hamburglers 31

FLoF Bowl prediction: Drow vs. Bill