(S25) - PT 5 - Playoffs? You Kidding Me?

[RansackTheUniverse]

Entering the season, expectations around the league weren't exactly high for the Baltimore Hawks. However, that didn't mean that there wasn't plenty of optimism within the locker room. The Hawks managed to surprise many people around the league, as their record didn't dip below .500 at any point in the season, and they were in the playoff race right up until the final game of the season. The Hawks were largely carried to that point based on the strength of their team - their passing offense. Their quarterback, Chika Fujiwara, was just entering her prime this season, and it showed on the field as Chika was among the league leaders in passing yards and passing touchdowns. Arguably the biggest contributor to Chika's success however, is the Hawks impressive trio of wide receivers. The trio of Doug Howlett, Joshua Campbell, and Korbin Brown terrorized defenses all season long, and helped keep the Hawks in the playoff hunt all season long. Doug Howlett especially was a difference maker for Baltimore, as he essentially rewrote the record book for rookie wide receivers. In addition, tight end James Lewandowski had the best season of his young career, and added yet another weapon for Chika to throw to. Unfortunately for the Hawks, their impressive passing offense wasn't enough to get them into the playoffs, as the missed out to Chicago, due to tiebreaker. Had the Hawks been able to add a little more production in the run game, or had they been able to slow down opposing quarterbacks just a little bit more, it is probable that their season would have ended differently. Instead, they find themselves on the outside looking in, and trying to figure out how to improve for next season.