Tweet
Now with its own thread! (Because a playoff race this good deserves better than slumming around on page two of that other thread)
Coming into week 15 only all four divisions in the NC were still in play and 13 of the 16 teams were still fighting for a playoff spot. Although Gainesville's thin playoff hopes were kept alive only because I was simply too lazy to check every possible outcome for the three games remaining for the 10 or so teams ahead of them. After week 15 only one division had been decided and 10 teams are still playing for something more than just pride.
NC NORTH
Another week, another loss by the Totems. That 10-1 start must be feeling so far away by now. All they need to do is win one more game and the division is theirs, but they just haven't been able to get it done. Could this be the true revenge of Brent Colombo? Should Dakota fail to win in the next two weeks, and should Saint Paul keep up their winning ways, it may indeed be a dish served as cold as the frozen tundra.
Saint Paul's win this week keeps their division title hopes alive, and perhaps more importantly solidifies their standing in the Wild Card hunt. They are still a game back of the two current leads in that race, but that is a world better than being two games back.
Speaking of two games back, Chicago's loss to North Liberty has likely dealt a lethal blow to their playoff chances. While they could still finish 9-7 vs. a possible 9-7 finish by Yuma or Pearl Harbor there's a problem looming within their own division. Both North Liberty and Saint Paul currently have 8 wins, the two teams play each other in week 17. This means, barring a tie, one of those two teams will finish no worse than 9-7. Because the first step in tiebreakers for the Wild Card is to eliminate all but one eligible team in each division, and because both North Liberty and Saint Paul would hold tiebreakers over Chicago, the Hitmen could be sent to the sidelines before the game even starts.
Beating Chicago not only eliminated a potential Wild Card rival, it also kept North Liberty's own Wild Card chances alive. The Enforcers, along with a host of other 8 win teams, are circling just behind Yuma and Pearl Harbor should either of those two teams falter.
NC SOUTH
With a win over Gainesville, Charlotte did the deed Dakota didn't do. They have won their division and secured a playoff spot, but if the season ended today they would still only be the #2 seed behind Dakota and potentially the #3 seed behind San Francisco. It would come down to Common Games there and with two weeks left that is a tiebreaker I can't be bothered to try and figure out. This means the Sentinels still have plenty to play for and more reasons that just the single season passing record to keep those starters in there.
Speaking of Gainesville, that loss to Charlotte put them out of my misery and made official their playoff stay-cation plans. They join division mates Morgantown and Columbus in the home for the holidays club after the Maniacs beat the Catfish to end that team's slim playoff hopes. Welcome to life without Bobby Tubbs Columbus fans, last year was just a dream.
NC EAST
Camden's win over Boston pushes them back into the lead of what is still a very competitive NC East. But the Cutters cannot be sitting easy at the top, as both Boston and Brooklyn are still in striking range and the dangerous and potentially desperate Ohio River Sharks are on deck.
All three teams facing off against AC East opponents this week, but while Brooklyn and Camden get Lake County and Ohio Valley, both teams fighting for their own playoff standings, Boston gets comparative creampuff Punxsutawney. This could work out in Boston's favor. Both Brooklyn and Camden currently hold tiebreakers over the Irish, so a win this week and a loss by one (or both) would be just the thing to improve their playoff chances.
As for South Maryland, at 3-11 the Jaguar/Bull/Jaguar/Maulers have only one question to be asking themselves. What is more important; a chance at the #1 pick in next year's draft, or a chance to completely screw with a division rival's playoff dreams come week 17?
NC WEST
San Francisco's win over Pearl Harbor vaults them back to the top of the NC West and into contention for a first round playoff bye. But before that can happen they still have to get past the Kalispel Stags, who are still fighting for their own playoff dream, and the ever dangerous Yuma Aces.
Yuma plays San Francisco in week 17. This means they could not only catch right up to the Bayhawks with a win, they could also lock down the #1 tiebreaker (Head to Head) with a season sweep. It would also ensure their Division Record (tiebreaker #2) would be better than Pearl Harbor's no matter what happens during the Defender's season ender against Las Vegas.
So to sum up for week 16.
WHO'S IN?
Charlotte
WHO'S OUT
any team in the NC South not named Charlotte, South Maryland, Las Vegas and Chicago (probably)
WHO'S STILL GOT SOMETHING TO PLAY FOR?
All 10 teams who haven't already been eliminated and 4 of the 6 who have but still want to play spoiler. Sorry Morgantown and Gainesville, not even your games against Port City and New Orleans matter.
WHO CAN GET IN WITH A WIN?
Dakota (anybody got Roy Parish's number?)
WHO IS OUT WITH A LOSS?
Nobody. North Liberty, Saint Paul and possibly Boston (depending on Common Games vs Camden) would be left grasping at Wild Card straws if they were to lose, everyone else could still have some sort of shot at division crown. A Pearl Harbor loss and San Francisco win would end any chances for the Defenders to take the NC West, but they would still be in the Wild Card hunt.
Coming into week 15 only all four divisions in the NC were still in play and 13 of the 16 teams were still fighting for a playoff spot. Although Gainesville's thin playoff hopes were kept alive only because I was simply too lazy to check every possible outcome for the three games remaining for the 10 or so teams ahead of them. After week 15 only one division had been decided and 10 teams are still playing for something more than just pride.
NC NORTH
Another week, another loss by the Totems. That 10-1 start must be feeling so far away by now. All they need to do is win one more game and the division is theirs, but they just haven't been able to get it done. Could this be the true revenge of Brent Colombo? Should Dakota fail to win in the next two weeks, and should Saint Paul keep up their winning ways, it may indeed be a dish served as cold as the frozen tundra.
Saint Paul's win this week keeps their division title hopes alive, and perhaps more importantly solidifies their standing in the Wild Card hunt. They are still a game back of the two current leads in that race, but that is a world better than being two games back.
Speaking of two games back, Chicago's loss to North Liberty has likely dealt a lethal blow to their playoff chances. While they could still finish 9-7 vs. a possible 9-7 finish by Yuma or Pearl Harbor there's a problem looming within their own division. Both North Liberty and Saint Paul currently have 8 wins, the two teams play each other in week 17. This means, barring a tie, one of those two teams will finish no worse than 9-7. Because the first step in tiebreakers for the Wild Card is to eliminate all but one eligible team in each division, and because both North Liberty and Saint Paul would hold tiebreakers over Chicago, the Hitmen could be sent to the sidelines before the game even starts.
Beating Chicago not only eliminated a potential Wild Card rival, it also kept North Liberty's own Wild Card chances alive. The Enforcers, along with a host of other 8 win teams, are circling just behind Yuma and Pearl Harbor should either of those two teams falter.
NC SOUTH
With a win over Gainesville, Charlotte did the deed Dakota didn't do. They have won their division and secured a playoff spot, but if the season ended today they would still only be the #2 seed behind Dakota and potentially the #3 seed behind San Francisco. It would come down to Common Games there and with two weeks left that is a tiebreaker I can't be bothered to try and figure out. This means the Sentinels still have plenty to play for and more reasons that just the single season passing record to keep those starters in there.
Speaking of Gainesville, that loss to Charlotte put them out of my misery and made official their playoff stay-cation plans. They join division mates Morgantown and Columbus in the home for the holidays club after the Maniacs beat the Catfish to end that team's slim playoff hopes. Welcome to life without Bobby Tubbs Columbus fans, last year was just a dream.
NC EAST
Camden's win over Boston pushes them back into the lead of what is still a very competitive NC East. But the Cutters cannot be sitting easy at the top, as both Boston and Brooklyn are still in striking range and the dangerous and potentially desperate Ohio River Sharks are on deck.
All three teams facing off against AC East opponents this week, but while Brooklyn and Camden get Lake County and Ohio Valley, both teams fighting for their own playoff standings, Boston gets comparative creampuff Punxsutawney. This could work out in Boston's favor. Both Brooklyn and Camden currently hold tiebreakers over the Irish, so a win this week and a loss by one (or both) would be just the thing to improve their playoff chances.
As for South Maryland, at 3-11 the Jaguar/Bull/Jaguar/Maulers have only one question to be asking themselves. What is more important; a chance at the #1 pick in next year's draft, or a chance to completely screw with a division rival's playoff dreams come week 17?
NC WEST
San Francisco's win over Pearl Harbor vaults them back to the top of the NC West and into contention for a first round playoff bye. But before that can happen they still have to get past the Kalispel Stags, who are still fighting for their own playoff dream, and the ever dangerous Yuma Aces.
Yuma plays San Francisco in week 17. This means they could not only catch right up to the Bayhawks with a win, they could also lock down the #1 tiebreaker (Head to Head) with a season sweep. It would also ensure their Division Record (tiebreaker #2) would be better than Pearl Harbor's no matter what happens during the Defender's season ender against Las Vegas.
So to sum up for week 16.
WHO'S IN?
Charlotte
WHO'S OUT
any team in the NC South not named Charlotte, South Maryland, Las Vegas and Chicago (probably)
WHO'S STILL GOT SOMETHING TO PLAY FOR?
All 10 teams who haven't already been eliminated and 4 of the 6 who have but still want to play spoiler. Sorry Morgantown and Gainesville, not even your games against Port City and New Orleans matter.
WHO CAN GET IN WITH A WIN?
Dakota (anybody got Roy Parish's number?)
WHO IS OUT WITH A LOSS?
Nobody. North Liberty, Saint Paul and possibly Boston (depending on Common Games vs Camden) would be left grasping at Wild Card straws if they were to lose, everyone else could still have some sort of shot at division crown. A Pearl Harbor loss and San Francisco win would end any chances for the Defenders to take the NC West, but they would still be in the Wild Card hunt.
Comment