Robbed: Write about why a team that failed to make the playoffs should have over somebody else.
The Yellowknife Wraiths really ruined their season by starting off with 3 consecutive losses, one of them against the Arizona Outlaws at home. While the defending champs may have been underdogs in 2 of those, that game against the Outlaws was really poor with the offense only putting up 6 points, and, with YKW finishing 1 game back from a playoff spot, the game turned out to be extremely costly. Nevertheless, YKW still played well enough in their next 11 games with a record of 7-4, including wins @COL, @NOLA, and OCO at home. I'd take YKW over COL in the playoffs, as I think YKW would have a greater chance at knocking off BAL. YKW's defense is 1st in the league against the running game, impressively holding their opponents to below 100 yards per game. YKW's defense can always keep them in a game, and Akselsen is still capable of putting on a show with his running potential. While YKW did have a chance to cement their spot in the playoffs with a Week 13 matchup that they lost at home, 34-23, I believe they deserved a spot in the playoffs given their dangerous defense and potential to wreak havoc.
Matchup Nightmares: Pick an offensive and defensive player who will be going up against each other and why it will be a nightmare for one of them.
Carlito Crush had an astounding year for OCO, as did Westfield, Atwell, and even running back Jordan Yates. This quartet of offensive weapons seriously carried OCO's league-best passing offense to the playoffs. However, with a matchup against NOLA's unbelievable secondary, featuring shutdown corners Benson Bayley and Vladimir Fyodorovich, as well as safeties William Harrison and Blackford Oakes, OCO's potent offense has its hands full. I will focus on the matchup between Crush and Bayley. Crush led the league with an astounding 100 catches on the dot, and also led the league with 1532 receiving yards. And, with no surprise, Crush also led the NSFL with 17 TDs on the season. Lockdown corner Benson Bayley, who has established his own "Bayley Island" for isolating and systematically stopping opposing WRs, has 24 passes defensed, 4th in the league, and 4 interceptions, tied for 5th in the league. Bayley typically prevents opposing QBs from even throwing at his man, so Crush will have his work cut out for him to get free for Mike Boss. Crush may have a real challenging day against the blanketing, suffocating Bayley, so expect Boss to target his other weapons come game time. After a dominating regular season, Crush may have to fight through this game against Bayley and aim to simply create space for his teammates.
Playoff Predictions: Give a short write up on each of the playoff matches (including the championship game). Must be completed before the simulation of the Conference Finals
In the NSFC, the Colorado Yeti make a long anticipated appearance in the playoffs, but have the unfortunate, monumental task of taking on the Baltimore Hawks in Baltimore. With Avon Blocksdale commanding the Hawks to a dominant 11-3 regular season, and receiver Trey Willie and running back Owen Taylor both putting up monstrous numbers, the Hawks certainly have the firepower to shred the underwhelming Yeti defense. Taylor's 23 TDs would have set a new NSFL record if not for NO's Smallwood, and the Yeti's 7th ranked rush defense will struggle to cope with Taylor's blazing speed. My prediction: BAL 31, COL 17
And in the other matchup in the ASFC, the Orange County Otters have a similarly tough task in taking on the New Orleans Second Line in New Orleans. Featuring the league's best defense and best offense in points against and points for respectively, New Orleans cruised to a dominating 12-2 record during the regular season. Orange County's quartet of Jordan Yates, Carlito Crush, Bradley Westfield, and Tegan Atwell, however, will be key to any upset. Against NOLA's own legion of boom secondary, however, Mike Boss will have one of his greatest challenges yet as he heads into retirement. My prediction: NO 28, OCO 24
And with NO and BAL making it to the championship game, we have a clash of the titans between the league's top regular season teams. Two well oiled machines on offense meet, with Blocksdale meeting Borkus Maximus III in the Ultimus. Baltimore's 5th best rush defense will have to do well to manage Darren Smallwood, who led the league in rushing for NO and set the record with a ridiculous 27 TDs. In the end, I think this turns into a shootout and NO's defense makes a stand in the closing moments of the game. My prediction: NO 38, BAL 34
Root for the Underdog: Pick an away team in an upcoming game and try to convince yourself (and us) why they can win.
While I predict New Orleans will overcome Orange County in the conference championship game, the Otters certainly have the firepower to compete and complete the upset. Wide receiver Carlito Crush had one of the most prolific seasons ever in NSFL, with 100 catches and over 1500 yards. Jordan Yates remains as prolific as ever as a dual threat both out of the backfield and lined up out wide. Lastly, Tegan Atwell and Bradley Westfield round out the WR corps for OCO. While New Orleans has some serious ballhawks in their secondary, OCO's variety of options should give QB Mike Boss plenty of options to target throughout the game. I expect Benson Bayley to mostly lock down Crush on the day, perhaps giving up 4 possession catches for short yardage. But, Fyodorovich could be a weak link against Atwell and Westfield. The best way for OCO to win this game will be to create a scoring shootout. Orange County has the firepower to keep up in a shootout, and a shootout would largely neutralize New Orleans RB Darren Smallwood, who set the NSFL record for TDs and led the league in rushing. If OCO can jump out to an early lead, they definitely have a sizable opportunity to lessen the impact of NO's running game and force Borkus Maximus to make some challenging throws.
The Yellowknife Wraiths really ruined their season by starting off with 3 consecutive losses, one of them against the Arizona Outlaws at home. While the defending champs may have been underdogs in 2 of those, that game against the Outlaws was really poor with the offense only putting up 6 points, and, with YKW finishing 1 game back from a playoff spot, the game turned out to be extremely costly. Nevertheless, YKW still played well enough in their next 11 games with a record of 7-4, including wins @COL, @NOLA, and OCO at home. I'd take YKW over COL in the playoffs, as I think YKW would have a greater chance at knocking off BAL. YKW's defense is 1st in the league against the running game, impressively holding their opponents to below 100 yards per game. YKW's defense can always keep them in a game, and Akselsen is still capable of putting on a show with his running potential. While YKW did have a chance to cement their spot in the playoffs with a Week 13 matchup that they lost at home, 34-23, I believe they deserved a spot in the playoffs given their dangerous defense and potential to wreak havoc.
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201 wordsMatchup Nightmares: Pick an offensive and defensive player who will be going up against each other and why it will be a nightmare for one of them.
Carlito Crush had an astounding year for OCO, as did Westfield, Atwell, and even running back Jordan Yates. This quartet of offensive weapons seriously carried OCO's league-best passing offense to the playoffs. However, with a matchup against NOLA's unbelievable secondary, featuring shutdown corners Benson Bayley and Vladimir Fyodorovich, as well as safeties William Harrison and Blackford Oakes, OCO's potent offense has its hands full. I will focus on the matchup between Crush and Bayley. Crush led the league with an astounding 100 catches on the dot, and also led the league with 1532 receiving yards. And, with no surprise, Crush also led the NSFL with 17 TDs on the season. Lockdown corner Benson Bayley, who has established his own "Bayley Island" for isolating and systematically stopping opposing WRs, has 24 passes defensed, 4th in the league, and 4 interceptions, tied for 5th in the league. Bayley typically prevents opposing QBs from even throwing at his man, so Crush will have his work cut out for him to get free for Mike Boss. Crush may have a real challenging day against the blanketing, suffocating Bayley, so expect Boss to target his other weapons come game time. After a dominating regular season, Crush may have to fight through this game against Bayley and aim to simply create space for his teammates.
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219 wordsPlayoff Predictions: Give a short write up on each of the playoff matches (including the championship game). Must be completed before the simulation of the Conference Finals
In the NSFC, the Colorado Yeti make a long anticipated appearance in the playoffs, but have the unfortunate, monumental task of taking on the Baltimore Hawks in Baltimore. With Avon Blocksdale commanding the Hawks to a dominant 11-3 regular season, and receiver Trey Willie and running back Owen Taylor both putting up monstrous numbers, the Hawks certainly have the firepower to shred the underwhelming Yeti defense. Taylor's 23 TDs would have set a new NSFL record if not for NO's Smallwood, and the Yeti's 7th ranked rush defense will struggle to cope with Taylor's blazing speed. My prediction: BAL 31, COL 17
And in the other matchup in the ASFC, the Orange County Otters have a similarly tough task in taking on the New Orleans Second Line in New Orleans. Featuring the league's best defense and best offense in points against and points for respectively, New Orleans cruised to a dominating 12-2 record during the regular season. Orange County's quartet of Jordan Yates, Carlito Crush, Bradley Westfield, and Tegan Atwell, however, will be key to any upset. Against NOLA's own legion of boom secondary, however, Mike Boss will have one of his greatest challenges yet as he heads into retirement. My prediction: NO 28, OCO 24
And with NO and BAL making it to the championship game, we have a clash of the titans between the league's top regular season teams. Two well oiled machines on offense meet, with Blocksdale meeting Borkus Maximus III in the Ultimus. Baltimore's 5th best rush defense will have to do well to manage Darren Smallwood, who led the league in rushing for NO and set the record with a ridiculous 27 TDs. In the end, I think this turns into a shootout and NO's defense makes a stand in the closing moments of the game. My prediction: NO 38, BAL 34
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307 wordsRoot for the Underdog: Pick an away team in an upcoming game and try to convince yourself (and us) why they can win.
While I predict New Orleans will overcome Orange County in the conference championship game, the Otters certainly have the firepower to compete and complete the upset. Wide receiver Carlito Crush had one of the most prolific seasons ever in NSFL, with 100 catches and over 1500 yards. Jordan Yates remains as prolific as ever as a dual threat both out of the backfield and lined up out wide. Lastly, Tegan Atwell and Bradley Westfield round out the WR corps for OCO. While New Orleans has some serious ballhawks in their secondary, OCO's variety of options should give QB Mike Boss plenty of options to target throughout the game. I expect Benson Bayley to mostly lock down Crush on the day, perhaps giving up 4 possession catches for short yardage. But, Fyodorovich could be a weak link against Atwell and Westfield. The best way for OCO to win this game will be to create a scoring shootout. Orange County has the firepower to keep up in a shootout, and a shootout would largely neutralize New Orleans RB Darren Smallwood, who set the NSFL record for TDs and led the league in rushing. If OCO can jump out to an early lead, they definitely have a sizable opportunity to lessen the impact of NO's running game and force Borkus Maximus to make some challenging throws.
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223 words