One Round Down ... Two to go

There was not much of a spark in last weeks Round One playoff match-up. The Philly Hitmen knocked off the Sonic Soul Force 91-75. The whole thing was kinda like a slow motion train wreck. RB, Willie Parker, was the only starter in the NFL Network Thursday night rip-off game. Parker lead the Hitmen out of the gate with 27 points and they never trailed.

That setups up the following round two match-ups:
#4 Philly Hitmen at #1 Rando's Razorbacks
This one looks like a close call. The teams split thier two regular season match-ups. It's all about LT for the Razobacks. Does Tomlinson take the foot off the gas after breaking the single season touchdown record? The Hitmen would love to get another 27 point bulge out of Willie Parker this week who faces the slumping Carolina Panthers on the road.

#3 Double D's Flyin' Tigers at # Brooklyn Pitbulls
This match-up is also too close to call. The Pitbulls torched Double D 102-41 in week#11. But the Tigers' have dumped Rex Grossman for Brett Farve and placed their faith in a stellar game from Reggie Bush when he's actually in the starting line-up. The Pitbulls are hoping for a 1-2 punch at RB. Rudi Johnson gets a shot at Indy's porous running defense (ripped for over 300 yards vs the Jags) and Not-so-small Jamal Lewis gets a start against the Cleavland Browns who have already made their golf reservation for the off season.

It's anyone's guess who will make the Championship game. I guess its been that way all year. It's to late for that to change now.

The Post-Season Dance Begins ...

The dust has finally settled on the most competitive (or mediocre) season one could ask for and we're ready for the big dance.

Here's the playoffs seedings

#1 Rando's Razorbacks (8-5) PF/PA 1251/1219 - For the Razorbacks its all about LaDainian Tomlinson. LT leads the league in scoring averaging 28 PPG. Add the #1 ranked Bears defense and the Razorbacks are a formidable force. Thier biggest fear could be the Chargers & Bears record. Rando wants these teams to lose next week. So they have something to play for in weeks 15 & 16.

#2 Brooklyn PitBulls (8-5) PF/PA 1089/966 - Last years champ tip toes into the dance. The meager 73-60 win over the Hitmen was the only way they could have done it. Mind you 1 of those wins was a week #8 tie breaker and their leading scorer is Micheal Vick (19 PPG). Vick plays Dallas & Carolina in weeks 15 & 16. Who knows which Micheal Vick will show up.

#3 DDs Flyin' Tigers (8-5) PF/PA 1036/1013 - Yes, Double D you made it. Even without starting Reggis Bush last week-end. Despite being the lowest point scorer in the post season the Tigers just keep finding ways to win.

#4 Philly Hitmen (7-6) PF/PA 1149/998 - Craigs Hitmen stage a huge charge at the end of the season and land in the playoffs in spite of their week #13 lose.

#5 The Soul Sonic Force (7-6) PF/PA 1080/1041 - Talk about limping into the payoffs, the Sonic Force lose their last game in which the scored a lousy 34 points. It seems they had nothin' left after the week #12 177 point out of body experience. They were lucky to be here at all after landing the last playoff spot by 5 points over the Raiders.

Round #1 Match-ups
#5 The Soul Sonic Force @ #4 Philly Hitmen | Projection Hitmen -20
Romo Smomo the Force are running on fumes. Frank Gore and Joeseph Addai will be hitting the freshman wall this week and the Force will need a miracle to win (not that it hasn't happened before). The Hitmen look to be the better team on paper, but I can't figure out where the point will be coming from.

177 @*!#%&*@ fREAKIN' Points!

The week#12 performance by the Force was unbelievable. 5 TD's from Tony Romo(42), 4 TD's from Joseph Addai(45), heck even the kicker had 13 points. That monster game and a few surprise wins (or losses depending on your perspective) has turned the league on it's ear in week #12. Its wake has left a play-off picture so complicated it will take a super computer to figure out. With 5 teams at 7-5 and 3 at 6-6, 8 teams still have a shot at one of the 5 playoffs spots. Nobody has clinched a playoff berth. The bottom line for these teams is "Score as many as you can". The first tie breaker is points for. Lets look at the week#13 where all 5 games are intra-division match-ups. The FAB Five has had the edge all year, but the BIG five has come on at the end to boast three 7-5 teams.
SANDBAGGERS (3-9) @ RAZORBACKS (7-5)
Rando has the easiest road to the playoffs sittin' at 7-5 and playing this years worst team (the Baggers have the lowest PF, 869). Even with a loss the Razorbacks could squeak by on points (okay ... if that doesn't but the kabash on Rando, nothin' will).

HITMEN (7-5) @ PITBULLS (7-5)
The winner is in ... the loser is counting points. The Hitmen are favored by 14. But they need Steve Smith to really smoke the Eagles this week. Most teams have tended to run the ball on Philly. The PitBuls need Micheal Vick to shake off the dull drums against the Deadskins. Joe Gibbs has put a fire under his team and the could be poised to go on a win streak like last year's charge to the playoffs. Both teams are projected to make the playoffs.

SONIC FORCE (7-5) @ DDS FLYIN' T... (7-5)
The word here is ... Win and your in! This one is a pick 'em. What's the chance that lightning will strike twice for the TSSF? That 4 game win streak is bound to end, right? The force need another good game from Frank Gore. The banged up RB plays the Saints on the road. Double D needs to win. It's that simple. The Tigers have been suffering from QB'itus. Rex Grossman's roller coaster season has created a quandary. DD will probably bench 'em and cross his fingers.

OB'S METHOD (6-6) @ RAIDERS (6-6)
Two teams on the outside looking. Both must win and score enuff points to make the post season. This one's projected to be dead even. Romo is looking for Shaun Alexander to post a big game. OB ... just needs everyone to freakin' score man.

KOYOTES (6-6) @ JETS (4-8)
Look how far the mighty Koyotes have fallen. They are projected to loose this one by a narrow margin and complete the biggest collapse in fantasy football history. At mid-season they were 6-2.A Koyotes loss would be 5 straight. They need LJ and Tory Holt to have monster games. The rest of their squad is pedestrian. Here ya go Chet ... last chance to play the spoiler and Krush Pamela out of the playoffs.

Power Rankings for the stretch run to the playoffs

With the Turkey day games this week it's been painfully slow to watch your match-up unfold. Some of us won't know the finally tally until MNF. So I figured it was a good time to look at the Power Rankings going into the season's stretch run.

#1 Brooklyn PitBulls (7-4) PF/PA 932/811 W2 | The Pitbulls are the idiot savants of Fantasy Football. Their roster is not that formidable at first glance. But they have made the right moves at the right time. No one has scored over 100 more times(5). It seems last year's champ wants to show it is not a fluke. I can't wait to see them tank.

#2 Romo's Raiders (6-5)PF/PA 864/927 L1 | The Raiders are tough despite the loss in week #11. The 4 game win streak without Shaun Alexander has been masterful. You have to think they will at least make it to the championship game.

#3 Rando's Razorbacks (7-4) PF/PA 1023/1000 W4 | The Razorbacks are the Rodney Dangerfield of fantasy football. Despite a 4 game win streak and the highest PF and PA ranking, they don't get any respect. Sure, without LT they would have a losing record. But can't you give them a little credit for moves like sticking with Lee Evans who scored 39 points on two 82 yards TDs last week. Hmmm ... maybe not.

#4 Krushin' Koyotes (6-5) PF/PA 975/931 L3 | How low can you go? Not just losing to the Sandbaggers, but losing McNabb in the process. Time to hit that panic button ... if they can find it.

#5 The Soul Sonic Force (6-5) PF/PA 869/869 W3 | The PF & PA totals speak volumes about the Force. Just about the middle of the pack. Sure they have won 3 straight, but the were against the Jets, OB and the Baggers.

#6 Philly Hitmen (6-5) PF/PA 974/834 W2 ! Great effort to fight thru an up & down season. The Hitmen could make the playoffs by virtue of their PF ranking (because they are in the Big Five).

#7 DD's Flyin' Tigers (6-5) PF/PA 879/908 L2 | The magic is gone. Double D is human after all.

#8 OB's Method (5-6) PF/PA 834/848 L3 | OB ... coming up small down the stretch. I think it's the Payton Manning curse.

#9 Chet's Jets (3-4) PF/PA 861/944 L2 | No comeback this year.

#10 Brown's Sandbaggers (3-8) PF/PA 792/931 W1 | Brownie playin' the spoiler. Nice win over the Koyotes (87-73). But you need to be careful not to screw up next years #1 draft position.