2) This week will see the S23 Ultimus and Ultimini races finally come to their conclusion. In 800 words or more, recount any of the previous playoff cycles of either league. How did each team arrive at the playoffs? Were there any dark horse or Cinderella teams that went unexpectedly far, or any presumptive favorites that fell flat? How did the title game play out, and which players made their mark on the field? Tell the story of those playoffs as completely as you can. Do not simply recount your own experience in those playoffs or that of a singular team.
At the time of writing this, we are just a couple of hours away from the Ultimus game. The journey that all the teams took to get just to the playoffs is more than enough to talk about on its’ own though. With the new NSFL expansion in full swing, this was the first season that the top league had 12 teams in it. The first question to ask is that fact even relevant? I certainly think so. For one, half of the league will miss the playoffs each season now. Before, we had over half the league getting in with 6/10 being the dividing line. Now, with the inclusion of two more teams, it does really feel like more than just a couple bottom feeders missed the playoffs. We had quality teams in Philadelphia and San Jose coming up short. The latter of those posted a record of 8-5, usually a mark high enough to get into the playoffs in most seasons. Philadelphia, for their part, also had plenty of games where they very much looked the part of a playoff level team. The Liberty had a week 11 date at home verse Baltimore that sealed their fate. Losing to them 13-9 ultimately lead them to having the same record as Sarasota and losing out on tie breakers. Flipping back to the SaberCats, their season came down to the final game. A trip to Austin held playoff implications as the winner would get in and the loser would likely miss out. Austin thrashed San Jose, bumping a quality team out. After briefly mentioning the teams who missed out, we’ll shift gears and look at the 6 teams that did make it in.
At the top of the NSFC we have the Yellowknife Wraiths once again. Yes, the Wraiths did it once again. They have a stranglehold on the NSFC being the top team for at least half a decade now. Yellowknife started off on the wrong foot getting destroyed by Colorado 34-12 to start the season. They bounced back in a big way week 2 to destroy Sarasota. The next few weeks didn’t look great for them either, though. They played some teams that would not make the playoffs and were barely winning, beating Chicago, Baltimore and Philly all by less than a touchdown. A couple more somewhat close wins came before Yellowknife got their second loss of the season. This was at home to a solid New Orleans team by a score of 21-19. This would be the Wraiths’ last loss of the regular season, as they turned things on in a big way. They finished with a record of 11-2, claiming the best record in the league while also posting a huge point differential.
In second place in the NSFC is Colorado. The Yeti have a very different story than the Wraiths. They started off read hot, albeit mostly against non-playoff caliber opponents. Some games were quite close and maybe the writing was on the wall, but it’s hard to fault wins. Things came off the rails in a big way come week 6 though. The Yeti would lose the next four games. Things were starting to look dire, but a week 10 win at home over Philly partly righted the ship. Week 11 came along and a win here pretty much guaranteed Colorado a playoff spot. Sarasota played well in a low scoring game at home and beat the Yeti, keeping everything up in the air. Luckily for Colorado, dates against bottom feeders Chicago and Baltimore helped them into the playoffs. The Baltimore game was almost a disaster though. The two teams were in a back and forth game the whole way through, with Baltimore winning for plenty of it. Colorado hit a 54-yard field goal at the end of the game to secure the win and the #2 spot.
In the final spot in the NSFC we have the expansion Sarasota Sailfish. This is a feel-good story in a lot of ways. Most people did not project Sarasota or Honolulu to be in the playoffs unless they lucked their way into it. Sarasota did no such thing, though. Most of their wins were hard-fought and it didn’t feel like they got lucky. Like the other playoff teams, they were able to put away Chicago and Baltimore twice each. Winning games “you are supposed to win” can often times be the difference in the making the playoffs. Sarasota did just that, while also pulling out a nice underdog win late in the season over Colorado.
Switching over the to the ASFL, things look a bit different. Orange County reigned in at the top yet again. The evil Otterman empire always seems to be a force to be reckoned with and this season was no different. Finishing with a record of 10-3, OCO had a solid season all the way around. Their defense is as good as they come, and the offense wasn’t far behind. The Otters biggest wins including twice against NOLA, at Austin and home against Colorado. Two of their three losses came to San Jose, so they might be slightly lucky they don’t have to face them in the playoffs.
Claiming the two seed in the ASFC is the Austin Copperheads. Like mentioned earlier, Austin had a pivotal final week that they needed to win in order to make it into the playoffs. They did just that, beating San Jose 35-14. The start of Austin’s season was as bad as it could be, though. They tied week 1 in Arizona before losing two more games. A close win at home over NOLA gave them their first win of the season, but it was shortly followed by 2 more loses. Austin’s playoff chances were looking slim as could be, but they went on to win their final 7 games of the season and ready for the playoffs.
Lastly in the ASFC we have the New Orleans Second Line. The defending champs had what probably has to be considered a disappointing season. Like Austin, NOLA got off to a slow start although not to the same extent. Sitting at 2-3, things weren’t as bleak but they certainly weren’t super bright either. NOLA then went on their own run, winning 4 straight games and looking more like the Second Line from a season ago. They would finish 2-2 in the last month of the season, sneaking in on a tiebreaker over San Jose.
This season’s playoff teams all have quite a different story. From the Sarasota candelilla feel, to the two reigning powers still finishing at the top of their conference to teams making big runs to get in. It’s had it all. The Ultimus game has Orange County facing off against Colorado to see who will be crowned S22 champions. I think many will be rooting for the Yeti, but we shall see what the sim has in store for us.
At the time of writing this, we are just a couple of hours away from the Ultimus game. The journey that all the teams took to get just to the playoffs is more than enough to talk about on its’ own though. With the new NSFL expansion in full swing, this was the first season that the top league had 12 teams in it. The first question to ask is that fact even relevant? I certainly think so. For one, half of the league will miss the playoffs each season now. Before, we had over half the league getting in with 6/10 being the dividing line. Now, with the inclusion of two more teams, it does really feel like more than just a couple bottom feeders missed the playoffs. We had quality teams in Philadelphia and San Jose coming up short. The latter of those posted a record of 8-5, usually a mark high enough to get into the playoffs in most seasons. Philadelphia, for their part, also had plenty of games where they very much looked the part of a playoff level team. The Liberty had a week 11 date at home verse Baltimore that sealed their fate. Losing to them 13-9 ultimately lead them to having the same record as Sarasota and losing out on tie breakers. Flipping back to the SaberCats, their season came down to the final game. A trip to Austin held playoff implications as the winner would get in and the loser would likely miss out. Austin thrashed San Jose, bumping a quality team out. After briefly mentioning the teams who missed out, we’ll shift gears and look at the 6 teams that did make it in.
At the top of the NSFC we have the Yellowknife Wraiths once again. Yes, the Wraiths did it once again. They have a stranglehold on the NSFC being the top team for at least half a decade now. Yellowknife started off on the wrong foot getting destroyed by Colorado 34-12 to start the season. They bounced back in a big way week 2 to destroy Sarasota. The next few weeks didn’t look great for them either, though. They played some teams that would not make the playoffs and were barely winning, beating Chicago, Baltimore and Philly all by less than a touchdown. A couple more somewhat close wins came before Yellowknife got their second loss of the season. This was at home to a solid New Orleans team by a score of 21-19. This would be the Wraiths’ last loss of the regular season, as they turned things on in a big way. They finished with a record of 11-2, claiming the best record in the league while also posting a huge point differential.
In second place in the NSFC is Colorado. The Yeti have a very different story than the Wraiths. They started off read hot, albeit mostly against non-playoff caliber opponents. Some games were quite close and maybe the writing was on the wall, but it’s hard to fault wins. Things came off the rails in a big way come week 6 though. The Yeti would lose the next four games. Things were starting to look dire, but a week 10 win at home over Philly partly righted the ship. Week 11 came along and a win here pretty much guaranteed Colorado a playoff spot. Sarasota played well in a low scoring game at home and beat the Yeti, keeping everything up in the air. Luckily for Colorado, dates against bottom feeders Chicago and Baltimore helped them into the playoffs. The Baltimore game was almost a disaster though. The two teams were in a back and forth game the whole way through, with Baltimore winning for plenty of it. Colorado hit a 54-yard field goal at the end of the game to secure the win and the #2 spot.
In the final spot in the NSFC we have the expansion Sarasota Sailfish. This is a feel-good story in a lot of ways. Most people did not project Sarasota or Honolulu to be in the playoffs unless they lucked their way into it. Sarasota did no such thing, though. Most of their wins were hard-fought and it didn’t feel like they got lucky. Like the other playoff teams, they were able to put away Chicago and Baltimore twice each. Winning games “you are supposed to win” can often times be the difference in the making the playoffs. Sarasota did just that, while also pulling out a nice underdog win late in the season over Colorado.
Switching over the to the ASFL, things look a bit different. Orange County reigned in at the top yet again. The evil Otterman empire always seems to be a force to be reckoned with and this season was no different. Finishing with a record of 10-3, OCO had a solid season all the way around. Their defense is as good as they come, and the offense wasn’t far behind. The Otters biggest wins including twice against NOLA, at Austin and home against Colorado. Two of their three losses came to San Jose, so they might be slightly lucky they don’t have to face them in the playoffs.
Claiming the two seed in the ASFC is the Austin Copperheads. Like mentioned earlier, Austin had a pivotal final week that they needed to win in order to make it into the playoffs. They did just that, beating San Jose 35-14. The start of Austin’s season was as bad as it could be, though. They tied week 1 in Arizona before losing two more games. A close win at home over NOLA gave them their first win of the season, but it was shortly followed by 2 more loses. Austin’s playoff chances were looking slim as could be, but they went on to win their final 7 games of the season and ready for the playoffs.
Lastly in the ASFC we have the New Orleans Second Line. The defending champs had what probably has to be considered a disappointing season. Like Austin, NOLA got off to a slow start although not to the same extent. Sitting at 2-3, things weren’t as bleak but they certainly weren’t super bright either. NOLA then went on their own run, winning 4 straight games and looking more like the Second Line from a season ago. They would finish 2-2 in the last month of the season, sneaking in on a tiebreaker over San Jose.
This season’s playoff teams all have quite a different story. From the Sarasota candelilla feel, to the two reigning powers still finishing at the top of their conference to teams making big runs to get in. It’s had it all. The Ultimus game has Orange County facing off against Colorado to see who will be crowned S22 champions. I think many will be rooting for the Yeti, but we shall see what the sim has in store for us.
![[Image: rqph9tT.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/rqph9tT.jpg)
![[Image: 6HEXEeb.png]](https://i.imgur.com/6HEXEeb.png)
