7 games in and we finally at the halfway point here in the DSFL. For some teams that is a welcome site, things have been going smoothly and playoffs seem to be a certainty. However, for others time is running out and dreams of playoff glory seem to be hanging on by a thread. Today we are going to give you the breakdown of each team, where we think they will end up, the strength of their remaing schedule and the player that will be key to their success.
Norfolk Seawolves
Current Record: 6-1 (1st in the SFC South)
Strength of Remaing Schedule: 7/10
Key Player: Shepherd Marshall (LB)
The Seawolves had a fantastic first half to the season. Recording a league high 6 wins. They are well in control of a playoff position but, do they have what it takes to finish first in the SFC South? Our experts seem to think it will be hard for the Norfolk to have the same level of success in the final half of the season. However, we believe that Norfolk is up to the task. With a couple of away games to start the second half of the season off they get two home games agains the strugling Royals and Pythons. They end with 3 straight divisional mathups with a crucial home game against the Dallas Bird Dogs that could have some serious play off implications. The only team to beat them this year was Dallas, but will home field advantage be enough to get them their revenge?
Projected Finish: 11-3 (1st in the SFC South)
London Royals
Current Record: 2-5 (Last in the NFC North)
Strength of Remaining Schedule: 7/10
Key Player: Juan Domine (LB)
It has been a rough start to the first half of the season for the Royals. However, there is some hope for the team out of London. The NFC North has been much weeker than the SFC South and even though they have only won 2 games this season the Royals still only find themselves 2 games back from first place Kansas City. The bright side for London is that all of their remaining divisional games are home games. They start off this second half of the season with 2 crucial home games against the Coyotes and Grey Ducks. If they can win those and survive the demanding matchups at Dallas and Norfolk then this team will be right back in it. The first two games back look to decide their season and I am just not sure they have what it takes to get it done.
Projected Finish: 4-10 (3rd in the SFC South)
Tijuana Luchadores
Current Record: 3-4 (3rd in the SFC South)
Strength of Remaining Schedule: 6/10
Key Player: Crowbar Theeks (RB)
Not the first half that the defending champions wanted to have but, in this reporters opinion it was very strong considering the away games that they had to play at places like Dallas and Norfolk. Now the defending champions come into the easier half of their schedule and get to play every divisional opponent on the beaches at Tijuana and only have away games against teams with a combined record of 9 wins and 12 losses. Im not saying that Tijuana is going to definitely make the playoffs but, they seem to have the most favorable schedule to do so in the unforgiving SFC South. I think before the season is over Dallas will be having quite the scare. Especially if ol' Ben Slothlisberger and Crowbar Theeks keep playing to the potential we all know they can.
Projected Finish: 8-6 (2nd in the SFC South)
Portland Pythons
Cureent Record: 3-4 (2nd in the NFC North)
Strength of Remaining Schedule: 8/10
Key Player: Omar Wright Jr. (LB)
The Pythons could not have had worse start to the season. Starting out 0-4 with 2 of those losses coming at home. It seemed like the season was going to be a wash. Then something crazy happened. The Pythons got good and have won 3 straight to end out this first half of the season. Oh, and did I mention that their 3 wins were all against their divisional opponents? Yeah this team seems to be firing on all cylinders at the moment. However, with more away games than home games coming up in this last part of the season they are going to have to really buckle down in order to keep up these kind of performances. Luckily I do not see to much of a challenge coming out of the NFC North and I think that Portland has enough to get the job done and make the playoffs.
Projected Finish: 6-8 (2nd in the NFC North)
Dallas Birddogs
Current Record: 5-2 (2nd in the SFC South)
Strength of Remaining Schedule: 9/10
Key Player: Zoe Watts (RB)
The only team to hand Norfolk a loss this season is very scary at home. Outscoring their opponents 94 to 28 when they are in Dallas this team is definitely a force to be reckoned with. However, I believe Dallas has one of the hardest, if not the hardest remaining schedules coming up and although I believe this team is up to the task I think its going to be close. They start off away against a talented Tijuana team and the Birddogs just have not been the same away from home. Sure, they got a win against Kansas City but, that was by 1 point. Too put it in better perspective the birdogs have only scored a single offensive touchdown away from home. And let me remind you that was as time expired in a huge loss to the Royals. I think this team is good but, I think they will fall flat this final half of the season.
Projected Finish: 7-7 (3rd in the SFC South)
Minnesota Grey Ducks
Current Record: 2-5 (3rd in the NFC North)
Strength of Remaining Schedule: 10/10
Key Players: Samuel L Sackson Sr. (LB) and Alejandro Chainbreaker (LB)
A very rough first half of the season looks to only get worse for the Grey Ducks. To me they have the toughest remaining schedule and it looks like they just do not have it this year. They are on a 4 game losing streak and both of their victories this year were by only one possession. To top it all off they start with a home game against the Seawolves and I just do not see how homefield advantage is going to help them in this matchup. There just does not seem to be much oppurtunities for wins in this part of the season for them and I think that will show. Even with thier dangerous LB duo Minnesota is just missing too many pieces this year.
Projected Finish: 3-11 (Last in the NFC North)
Myrtle Beach Buccaneers
Current Record: 3-4 (Last in the SFC South)
Strength of Remaining Schedule: 8/10
Key Players: Leeroy Jenkins (WR) and Garfield Despacito Jr. (WR)
The Buccaneers just seems to have drawn the short straw this season. With the SFC South being stronger than ever I just do not see how this team makes the playoffs. Sure they get 4 home games to end the season out but, all 4 games are against the weaker NFC North which means the games that really matter against divisional oppnents will all be away from home. I just do not see how they win enough games away from home in order to make that final playoff spot. Especially going into the halfway poiint on a 3 game lossing streak. I believe this team is going to have a slightly better second half to their season but, I just do not think it will be enough to get them to where they want to be.
Projected Finish: 7-7 (Last in the SFC South)
Kansas City Coyotes
Current Record: 4-3 (1st in the NFC North)
Strength of Remaining Schedule: 8/10
Key Player: Reginald Covington III
The Coyotes look poised to be the ones to take advantage of a weak NFC North this year. After just missing out on the playoffs last year the team the team revamped their defense and is allowing the second fewest points against this season. If you take away a few blunders by the Kansas City Star Reginald Covington III then this team would be sitting with plenty of breathing room moving into the last half of the season. With some tough away games to come it will not be easy sailing for the Coyotes but, I believe they have enough to get it done and that is all that really matters at this point.
Projected Finish: 7-7 (First in the NFC North)
Well there you have it. My thoughts for what the rest of the season will look like. While a lot remains uncertain for these teams there is one thing we can all know for a fact. That this final half of the season will be filled with plenty of action!
Norfolk Seawolves
Current Record: 6-1 (1st in the SFC South)
Strength of Remaing Schedule: 7/10
Key Player: Shepherd Marshall (LB)
The Seawolves had a fantastic first half to the season. Recording a league high 6 wins. They are well in control of a playoff position but, do they have what it takes to finish first in the SFC South? Our experts seem to think it will be hard for the Norfolk to have the same level of success in the final half of the season. However, we believe that Norfolk is up to the task. With a couple of away games to start the second half of the season off they get two home games agains the strugling Royals and Pythons. They end with 3 straight divisional mathups with a crucial home game against the Dallas Bird Dogs that could have some serious play off implications. The only team to beat them this year was Dallas, but will home field advantage be enough to get them their revenge?
Projected Finish: 11-3 (1st in the SFC South)
London Royals
Current Record: 2-5 (Last in the NFC North)
Strength of Remaining Schedule: 7/10
Key Player: Juan Domine (LB)
It has been a rough start to the first half of the season for the Royals. However, there is some hope for the team out of London. The NFC North has been much weeker than the SFC South and even though they have only won 2 games this season the Royals still only find themselves 2 games back from first place Kansas City. The bright side for London is that all of their remaining divisional games are home games. They start off this second half of the season with 2 crucial home games against the Coyotes and Grey Ducks. If they can win those and survive the demanding matchups at Dallas and Norfolk then this team will be right back in it. The first two games back look to decide their season and I am just not sure they have what it takes to get it done.
Projected Finish: 4-10 (3rd in the SFC South)
Tijuana Luchadores
Current Record: 3-4 (3rd in the SFC South)
Strength of Remaining Schedule: 6/10
Key Player: Crowbar Theeks (RB)
Not the first half that the defending champions wanted to have but, in this reporters opinion it was very strong considering the away games that they had to play at places like Dallas and Norfolk. Now the defending champions come into the easier half of their schedule and get to play every divisional opponent on the beaches at Tijuana and only have away games against teams with a combined record of 9 wins and 12 losses. Im not saying that Tijuana is going to definitely make the playoffs but, they seem to have the most favorable schedule to do so in the unforgiving SFC South. I think before the season is over Dallas will be having quite the scare. Especially if ol' Ben Slothlisberger and Crowbar Theeks keep playing to the potential we all know they can.
Projected Finish: 8-6 (2nd in the SFC South)
Portland Pythons
Cureent Record: 3-4 (2nd in the NFC North)
Strength of Remaining Schedule: 8/10
Key Player: Omar Wright Jr. (LB)
The Pythons could not have had worse start to the season. Starting out 0-4 with 2 of those losses coming at home. It seemed like the season was going to be a wash. Then something crazy happened. The Pythons got good and have won 3 straight to end out this first half of the season. Oh, and did I mention that their 3 wins were all against their divisional opponents? Yeah this team seems to be firing on all cylinders at the moment. However, with more away games than home games coming up in this last part of the season they are going to have to really buckle down in order to keep up these kind of performances. Luckily I do not see to much of a challenge coming out of the NFC North and I think that Portland has enough to get the job done and make the playoffs.
Projected Finish: 6-8 (2nd in the NFC North)
Dallas Birddogs
Current Record: 5-2 (2nd in the SFC South)
Strength of Remaining Schedule: 9/10
Key Player: Zoe Watts (RB)
The only team to hand Norfolk a loss this season is very scary at home. Outscoring their opponents 94 to 28 when they are in Dallas this team is definitely a force to be reckoned with. However, I believe Dallas has one of the hardest, if not the hardest remaining schedules coming up and although I believe this team is up to the task I think its going to be close. They start off away against a talented Tijuana team and the Birddogs just have not been the same away from home. Sure, they got a win against Kansas City but, that was by 1 point. Too put it in better perspective the birdogs have only scored a single offensive touchdown away from home. And let me remind you that was as time expired in a huge loss to the Royals. I think this team is good but, I think they will fall flat this final half of the season.
Projected Finish: 7-7 (3rd in the SFC South)
Minnesota Grey Ducks
Current Record: 2-5 (3rd in the NFC North)
Strength of Remaining Schedule: 10/10
Key Players: Samuel L Sackson Sr. (LB) and Alejandro Chainbreaker (LB)
A very rough first half of the season looks to only get worse for the Grey Ducks. To me they have the toughest remaining schedule and it looks like they just do not have it this year. They are on a 4 game losing streak and both of their victories this year were by only one possession. To top it all off they start with a home game against the Seawolves and I just do not see how homefield advantage is going to help them in this matchup. There just does not seem to be much oppurtunities for wins in this part of the season for them and I think that will show. Even with thier dangerous LB duo Minnesota is just missing too many pieces this year.
Projected Finish: 3-11 (Last in the NFC North)
Myrtle Beach Buccaneers
Current Record: 3-4 (Last in the SFC South)
Strength of Remaining Schedule: 8/10
Key Players: Leeroy Jenkins (WR) and Garfield Despacito Jr. (WR)
The Buccaneers just seems to have drawn the short straw this season. With the SFC South being stronger than ever I just do not see how this team makes the playoffs. Sure they get 4 home games to end the season out but, all 4 games are against the weaker NFC North which means the games that really matter against divisional oppnents will all be away from home. I just do not see how they win enough games away from home in order to make that final playoff spot. Especially going into the halfway poiint on a 3 game lossing streak. I believe this team is going to have a slightly better second half to their season but, I just do not think it will be enough to get them to where they want to be.
Projected Finish: 7-7 (Last in the SFC South)
Kansas City Coyotes
Current Record: 4-3 (1st in the NFC North)
Strength of Remaining Schedule: 8/10
Key Player: Reginald Covington III
The Coyotes look poised to be the ones to take advantage of a weak NFC North this year. After just missing out on the playoffs last year the team the team revamped their defense and is allowing the second fewest points against this season. If you take away a few blunders by the Kansas City Star Reginald Covington III then this team would be sitting with plenty of breathing room moving into the last half of the season. With some tough away games to come it will not be easy sailing for the Coyotes but, I believe they have enough to get it done and that is all that really matters at this point.
Projected Finish: 7-7 (First in the NFC North)
Well there you have it. My thoughts for what the rest of the season will look like. While a lot remains uncertain for these teams there is one thing we can all know for a fact. That this final half of the season will be filled with plenty of action!
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