I need to jump on the media train and there have been some really great DSFL articles this season. Now that the playoff picture is starting to really take shape let's look at these teams and what to look at as we head down the stretch of the regular season.
SFC South
Myrtle Beach Buccaneers
- 1st Place (9-3) - 4 Game Lead over 2nd Place
SOS (71-73) 49.3% - 4th
SOV (51-57) 47.2% - 2nd
PF-20.2 - 2nd
PA-17.3 - 6th
Overview
One of the only two teams that have guaranteed a playoff spot already, Myrtle Beach has secured their spot in playoffs and the #1 seed in the South division. Backed by a fantastic offense and a solid defense Myrtle Beach has been in the driver seat in the South all season. The only question for them is who will end up with the #2 seed in the North division. Currently they have records of 2-0 against London, 1-1 against KC, 1-1 against Minnesota, and 1-1 against Portland. They have done a good job of beating up on their own division as you can see from their SOV and SOS. With 2 wins against the top team from the North, and splitting with every other team in that division, they have played very well against top talent. Plus beating up on the lower teams is important as well. 2 of their 3 losses have been blowouts but other than that they have been tough to beat. Their defensive numbers would look a lot better if you take away a 34 and a 38 point loss. Their final two games of the season are against Norfolk and Tijuana, with Tijuana needing to win 1 of their last 2 games to secure the final spot in the South.
Offensively, The Bucs have a potent passing attack led by Jackie Daytona. Daytona currently leads the league in passing, passer rating, and boasts an excellent 13/6 touchdown to interception ratio. Their run game is no slouch either. Ozymandias is currently just under 1k yards and has 7 touchdowns on the season. Chungus has chipped in an additional 725 yards and 4 touchdowns. Receiving wise, Crossley leads the league in yardage despite only 2 touchdowns, with Tight End McJimmerson not far behind. Daytona has spread the touchdowns around which makes it hard for defenses to focus on one player. Another interesting stat is that they never let Daytona get hit. Keeping the pressure off of the signal caller has definitely been a recipe for offensive success. This offensive unit can slice you and dice you anyway they want. Defensively, Myrtle Beach is no slouch. They rank last in the league in pressuring the quarterback but rank near the top in interceptions, fumbles forced/recovered, and pass deflections. They do enough and capitalize on the the mistakes of others. CB James Hoffman leads the league in interceptions and is tied for second in deflections. He is currently the leader of this defense and is the main playmaker of the bunch.
As the season comes to a close they will have eyes on the North to figure out who their first round matchup will be.
Tijuana Luchadores
- 2nd Place (5-7) - 2 Game Lead over 3rd Place
SOS (70-74) 48.61% - 5th
SOV (20-40) 33.33% - 8th
PF-13.1 - 7th
PA-15.5 - 4th
Overview
The Tijuana Luchadores are an interesting team. They control their own destiny in the playoff hunt with a 2 game lead over 3rd place Dallas. However, they play Kansas City and Myrtle Beach in the final two weeks. With only 1 win needed to guarantee a playoff position they may be hoping for a Dallas loss instead to secure their position. They haven't beaten many good teams with their only wins against winning competition coming against Minnesota and 6-6 Portland. Outside of those two wins they have done a great job of beating up on the teams lower then them in the division.
Their offense ranks next to last in almost every category. This is definitely a team that relies on their defense to set the tone with their offense doing just enough. They have never scored more than 20 points in a game, but have scored 20 twice. Their quarterback Mike Boss Jr., despite owning a lackluster 5:5 touchdown to interception ratio, has a pretty solid passer rating, ranking in the upper half of the league. While not very explosive he is efficient and minimizes mistakes. The run game is spearheaded by Mills and Gilbot. They have run for 1,000 and 700 yards respectively with 9 touchdowns between the two. This puts them near the bottom of the league as a team. Quavious McGrady is their top Wide Receiver and has a receiving line of 62/703/2. McGrady ranks top 6 in both catches and yardage so the opportunities are there as well as the volume. Tijuana will look to get the ball in his hands as one of the few play makers they have along with their backfield. The offensive line has done a solid job of protecting Boss Jr. While not a potent offense they definitely have done a good job of utilizing their play makers and not making mistakes. On defense is a different story. The Luchadores are relentless and have the #1 sack unit in the league. They also rank second in interceptions and first in fumbles recovered. This defensive front will make quarterbacks pay and are always looking to turn a tackle into a turnover. The Luchadores possess multiple defenders with 4 or more sacks on this defense. 1st year linebacker Vincent Jones leads the way with 7, good enough for 4th in the league. Ben Alexander-Arnold is second in the league in pass break ups and has proven himself to be as close to a shut down corner as can be.
The magic number is 1 for this club. A Dallas loss or any Tijuana win over the next two weeks propels this team into postseason play, where they look to take on one of the teams from the Northern Gauntlet. Assuming they get in they will most likely play London who has beaten them handily both times. They will be hoping third time is truly the charm.
Dallas Birddogs
- 3rd Place (3-9) - 2 Games back from Third
SOS (82-62) 56.94% - 1st
SOV (14-22) 38.89% - 6th
PF- 15 - 6th
PA- 21 - 7th
Overview
The numbers may not be in their favor but Dallas' playoff hopes are alive for another week. They have played a brutal schedule to start the year. Five of their first six games came against teams that have winning records. They have been better down the stretch and are hoping that they can change their fortune as they move into the final two weeks. They have wins against two of the other bottom feeders in the South and an impressive win against Norfolk. If Dallas wants to get into the playoffs they first need to beat Portland who is also trying to keep their playoff hopes alive. That game is a must win for both parties. If they end up winning and Tijuana loses in Week 13 they then need to win on the road against Norfolk. It's a tall task but it's definitely not impossible. Like Tijuana this team struggles to score. They have only eclipsed 17 points one time this year, where they scored 23 against.... you guessed it Tijuana.
On offense this team likes to pound the rock, and then run the ball some more. Matthias Caliban is a veteran in the DSFL but is having a season to forget. Dallas runs to keep the ball away from the defenders, and to also prevent Caliban from throwing interceptions. His 14 interceptions lead the league and he only has 7 touchdowns to show for it. An inverse ratio indeed. Mark Callous is his for sure number 1 wide receiver on the field and ranks near the top of all receiver statistics. The real play maker on offense is Cobra Kai. Kai is third in the league with 1249 rushing yards and averaging a tick over 5 yards a carry. His 6 touchdowns also put him near the top of the running back rankings. This backfield group is leading the league in yardage which is a little weird considering their record. They like to wear you down and make you stop them. This is one of the better lineman groups as they have only given up 11 sacks on the year. The defense is a little weak, as is evidenced by their 21 points given up per game. They actually stop the passing attack fairly well, but if their offensive run game is strong that is only equaled by how bad their run defense is. They give up around 173 yards a game on the ground which is 7th worst in the league. They have trouble getting to the quarterback and don't cause many turnovers.
As they head into the final two weeks of the season, this is a squad that is going to need the defense to step up as they look to beat a Portland team trying to stay alive.
Norfolk Seawolves
- 4th Place (2-10) - 3 Games back from final playoff spot in the South
SOS (80-64) 55.56% - 2nd
SOV (14-22) 62.50% - 1st
PF- 7.9 - 8th
PA- 21.5 - 8th
Overview
There really isn't that much to say about this team. As the only team mathematically eliminated from playoff contention they are playing for pride and draft position. They have the worst offense and the worst defense in the league. In their 10 losses they have lost by an average of 17.1 points per game, being held to 7 points or less in 8 games, including their last 4. The final two weeks are weeks to see what works and to hopefully play spoiler. Two division games to end the season in Myrtle Beach and Dallas. Winning even one of these would be a nice finish to this brutal season. On one hand they have a good amount of young players to build around, assuming they don't get yoinked up to the ISFL, and with the 1st pick almost certainly secured it can give them time to look at the draftee landscape.
At quarterback, Emi Rune has had a rough but not awful first year at the helm of the offense. While they haven't turned the ball over too much, they also haven't pushed the ball downfield either. Their leading receiver, Raphael Delacour, has just 48 catches for 541 yards and no touchdowns. Mr. Forty-Two, their leading rusher, has really been the one bright spot on this offense. He somehow leads the league in rushing. After first glance we can see that this is due to the fact that they are attempting almost all of their rushing attempts which is driving down their per carry average. While this squad may not look like much right now each of these 3 players was taken in this past DSFL draft. Given another year they could be an offensive group to watch out for, but for now they are just learning how to win. For what it's worth, Emi has been sacked more than any other QB this season, and the O line is last in pancakes. Big upgrades along the front could probably take this squad to a new level. Defensively they are middling when causing turnover and rushing the quarterback. Their defense has tried it's best to keep them in games but when your offense can only muster 7 points or less you are going to be put into bad positions.
It's not your year Norfolk, but there are some pieces here that can make an impact next season.
NFC North
London Royals
- 1st Place (9-3) - 2 Game Lead over 2nd Place
SOS (65-79) 45.14% - 8th
SOV (45-63) 41.67% - 4nd
PF-21.8 - 1st
PA-14.2 - 2nd
Overview
Now that we are out of the South, this is where the real fun begins. We start with the reigning champion Royals as they look to win back to back titles since Minnesota in Season 17-18. This roster boasts some top end talent as shown by their #1 offensive ranking and #2 defensive ranking. 2 of their 3 losses have come at the hands of the other 1st place team, the Myrtle Beach Buccaneers, with the other loss surprisingly to 2-10 Norfolk. They are in the driver seat heading into Week 13 action but have two tough games left. Luckily they have hold field for both games. A win in either game OR a loss by both Kansas City and Minnesota will solidify their #1 seed. They have locked up the post season but dropping to #2 would see them on another collision course with Myrtle Beach. A win over Minnesota would lock up that top spot and sent the Grey Ducks reeling heading into the final week.
Where to start with this offense? They are good. How good? Their quarterback Charlemagne Cortez has a pristine 14 to 7, touchdown to interception ratio and has the second best passer rating behind Jackie Daytona. He constantly finding his favorite targets, Tugg Speedman and Frank Mitchell. Mitchell ranks second in the league in touchdown with 6 and Speedman ranks around the top 6 or 7 in wide receiver categories with a line of 60/702/3. He's a threat to score from anywhere on the field and Mitchell is a mismatch in the redzone. However, it is truly a balanced attack as Benny Hana and Terry Yaki both find themselves with over 800 yards a piece. They have scored 30 points 4 times. The only team to do so. The one area where they seem to struggle is on the offensive line. Not a lot of pancakes and the second most sacks given up. If they let Cortez get hit early he will have trouble getting the ball to his play makers. On defense they can do it all. They rush the passer very well, 3rd in sacks and 2nd in tackles for loss, they also create turnovers with 10 picks and 7 fumbles recovered. L'Gazzy Burfict is a freaking machine. This guy is second in the league in tackles with 124, 5 tackles for loss, 1st in the league in sacks with 10 and even has a pick and 9 pass breakups. Burfict has to be a favorite for Defensive Player of the Year, or at least on the shortlist. He sets the tone for this defense and is followed up by two stud defensive ends in Ernest Lover and Mattress Cadaire.
As one of the favorites to win it all, they still have two tough games to close out the season so they can't relax. However, this is a solid group of players that can make another championship run.
Kansas City Coyotes
- 2nd Place (7-5) - Tied for 2nd Place
SOS (70-74) 48.61% - 5th
SOV (31-53) 36.9% - 7th
PF-18.9 - 4th
PA-16.6 - 5th
Overview
The Coyotes are currently hanging onto the last playoff seed in the North and have a big match up looming in Week 14. Their Strength of Victory (SOV) suggests that they have struggled against top competition which you can see by only 2 wins against teams with a winning record (Myrtle Beach and Minnesota). They face off in a trap game against Tijuana in Week 13, whom they beat by 6 in Week 6 and then Minnesota. That Week 14 game at the Grey Ducks could settle who gets the final seed in the North. There is no shot they get the #1 seed as they lost both games to the Royals and they can only tie them at best so it's #2 seed or bust at this point. They did split with Buccaneers this year so they definitely have a shot if they make it to the playoffs.
On offense Kansas City likes to run the ball. They are currently the 2nd best rushing team in the league and middle of the road passing. Matt Peterson currently has 9 touchdown and interceptions, but is one of the most accurate passers in the league. if he can limit the mistakes and rely on the running game the Coyotes can finish the season strong. Kitchens and Tutankhamun split the rushing workload and form a two headed beast that can wear down a defense. Arthur Naught is their leading receiver with 53 catches for 620 yards and 1 touchdown. Kansas City also possesses a below average offensive line. They rank 6th in pancakes and have given up the 3rd most sacks in the league. On defense this group plays pretty similar to London. They get after the quarterback and can cause turnovers setting up their rushing attack to wear down the opposition. Thomas Rose is another player to look at for Defensive Player of the Year. He currently is 5th in tackles with 101, which includes 8 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 3 interceptions and 7 passes defended. He has been the do it all back for this Coyotes defense.
The Coyotes will have to rely on Rose and this defense, plus their sound ground game to beat a tough Tijuana team and then take on Minnesota in a winner take all game to end the season.
Minnesota Grey Ducks
- 3rd Place (7-5) - Tied for 2nd Place
SOS (66-78) 48.61% - 7th
SOV (33-51) 39.29% - 5th
PF-18.3 - 5th
PA-13.4 - 1st
Overview
Defense, defense, defense. This has been the Grey Ducks mantra all season long. Currently tied with Kansas City, but 0-1 against them Head to Head, Minnesota firmly controls their own destiny. They have arguably the toughest end of the season compared to any other team. They play London in Week 13 and follow that up with a game against Kansas City to find the last seed in the North. If both teams go 1-1 with Minnesota taking the Week 14 bout between the two they would head to the second tiebreaker since they split the season series. If they lose the game in Week 14 they will miss out on the playoffs. If it wasn't for a 4 game losing streak in the middle of the season, where they scored 8.75 points a game, this team could be fighting for a #1 seed, but currently find themselves on the outside looking in.
On the offensive side of the ball rookie signal caller Ryan Negs, has had an up and down first year. Despite having the 2nd most passing yards in the league, he has a 11 touchdowns and 11 interceptions and the lowest completion percentage in the league. There is a lot of boom or bust in his arm but he has the backing of an elite defense. His number 1 target, Lebby Newton, has 63 catches for 774 yards and 5 touchdowns. He is their go to receiver, and when he isn't open he finds rookie Jalen Washington who has also caught 52 passes for 572 yards. Their rushing attack isn't nearly as good but still settles into the middle of the league. Mike Rotchburns has the second most rushing yards in the league and gets all of the touches around the goal line. He has a league leading 11 touchdowns rushing. While this offensive line gets a lot of pancakes they have had blips of letting Negs take sacks. While nothing about this defensive unit jumps off the paper at you, they rank at least middle or higher in most defensive categories. They lead the league in interceptions and do all of the other things well. They give up less than 14 points a game and will have to depend on that for the last 2 weeks of the season.
With a brutal schedule to end the season they need to lean on their defense and a must win game against Kansas City looms large.
Portland Pythons
- 4th Place (6-6) - 1 Game back from last playoff spot
SOS (72-72) 50% - 3rd
SOV (33-39) 45.83% - 3rd
PF-19.3 - 3rd
PA-14.9 - 3rd
Overview
Despite being last in their division, Portland is very much alive in the playoff race. At 6-6 they are only 1 game back of Kansas City and Minnesota. They hold the tiebreaker over Kansas City after winning both meetings, and Minnesota has the tiebreaker in their series since they took both games. The only path for Portland to make the postseason is both Kansas City and Minnesota have to go 1-1 over their next two games with Kansas City winning the Week 14 showdown. If this happens and Portland can run the table these last two weeks the last playoff spot would come down the tiebreaker that they own over Kansas City. A 1-5 stretch from Weeks 4-9 really dropped them into the cellar in the North division. They are looking to climb back into the playoff picture in these final two weeks.
As close to air raid as it gets. These guys love to ball out and throw it up. Rookie Lebron James lll has had a good rookie year despite just 12 touchdowns to 10 interceptions. He leads the league in completion percentage and by a wide margin as well. His favorite target? Rookie Mario Messi has had an insane rookie year. He has 14 catches more than the second leaving receiver and is in second in yardage. Messi is also pacing the league in touchdowns for wide receivers. The Pythons also have a great running attack between Parma and Christiansen. This is definitely an underrated offensive group. Some of their losses in the middle of the year were when they were having trouble scoring points. This could be the byproduct of some growing pains with the quarterback play. Their offensive line is one of the best in the league with their league leading 215 pancakes. On the other side of the ball, Portland finds themselves in the middle when it comes to sacks, interceptions, and fumbles caused/recovered. They rank more towards the bottom in tackles for loss and pass deflections but overall this is a solid group. Their defense is lead by Cornerback Ben Anabender and linebacker Donald McBobby. McBobby is the team leader in sacks and tackles, while Anabender ranks near the top of the league in interceptions and pass breakups. They will look to shut down opposing teams in these final two weeks.
This team has a very potent offense, and an above average defense, but they must rely on the rookie quarterback and can only goes as far as their rookies take them.
Playoff Predictions
Myrtle Beach versus Portland
Tijuana versus London
Myrtle Beach versus London
Myrtle Beach champion
I'd love to see some craziness coming into Week 14. I think Kansas City loses Tijuana, Minnesota beats London and Portland beats Dallas in Week 13. Heading into Week 14 I think Kansas City takes the big match up with Minnesota and Portland beats London causing some weird 3 way tie and by some unknown force they get the tiebreaker to jump into the playoffs. Then the #1 seeds take each game and Myrtle Beach goes on to complete the 3 game season sweep of London, denying them back to back titles.
FIN
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3,863 Words plus some statistical excel stuff to calculate SOS and SOVSFC South
Myrtle Beach Buccaneers
- 1st Place (9-3) - 4 Game Lead over 2nd PlaceSOS (71-73) 49.3% - 4th
SOV (51-57) 47.2% - 2nd
PF-20.2 - 2nd
PA-17.3 - 6th
Overview
One of the only two teams that have guaranteed a playoff spot already, Myrtle Beach has secured their spot in playoffs and the #1 seed in the South division. Backed by a fantastic offense and a solid defense Myrtle Beach has been in the driver seat in the South all season. The only question for them is who will end up with the #2 seed in the North division. Currently they have records of 2-0 against London, 1-1 against KC, 1-1 against Minnesota, and 1-1 against Portland. They have done a good job of beating up on their own division as you can see from their SOV and SOS. With 2 wins against the top team from the North, and splitting with every other team in that division, they have played very well against top talent. Plus beating up on the lower teams is important as well. 2 of their 3 losses have been blowouts but other than that they have been tough to beat. Their defensive numbers would look a lot better if you take away a 34 and a 38 point loss. Their final two games of the season are against Norfolk and Tijuana, with Tijuana needing to win 1 of their last 2 games to secure the final spot in the South.
Offensively, The Bucs have a potent passing attack led by Jackie Daytona. Daytona currently leads the league in passing, passer rating, and boasts an excellent 13/6 touchdown to interception ratio. Their run game is no slouch either. Ozymandias is currently just under 1k yards and has 7 touchdowns on the season. Chungus has chipped in an additional 725 yards and 4 touchdowns. Receiving wise, Crossley leads the league in yardage despite only 2 touchdowns, with Tight End McJimmerson not far behind. Daytona has spread the touchdowns around which makes it hard for defenses to focus on one player. Another interesting stat is that they never let Daytona get hit. Keeping the pressure off of the signal caller has definitely been a recipe for offensive success. This offensive unit can slice you and dice you anyway they want. Defensively, Myrtle Beach is no slouch. They rank last in the league in pressuring the quarterback but rank near the top in interceptions, fumbles forced/recovered, and pass deflections. They do enough and capitalize on the the mistakes of others. CB James Hoffman leads the league in interceptions and is tied for second in deflections. He is currently the leader of this defense and is the main playmaker of the bunch.
As the season comes to a close they will have eyes on the North to figure out who their first round matchup will be.
Tijuana Luchadores
- 2nd Place (5-7) - 2 Game Lead over 3rd PlaceSOS (70-74) 48.61% - 5th
SOV (20-40) 33.33% - 8th
PF-13.1 - 7th
PA-15.5 - 4th
Overview
The Tijuana Luchadores are an interesting team. They control their own destiny in the playoff hunt with a 2 game lead over 3rd place Dallas. However, they play Kansas City and Myrtle Beach in the final two weeks. With only 1 win needed to guarantee a playoff position they may be hoping for a Dallas loss instead to secure their position. They haven't beaten many good teams with their only wins against winning competition coming against Minnesota and 6-6 Portland. Outside of those two wins they have done a great job of beating up on the teams lower then them in the division.
Their offense ranks next to last in almost every category. This is definitely a team that relies on their defense to set the tone with their offense doing just enough. They have never scored more than 20 points in a game, but have scored 20 twice. Their quarterback Mike Boss Jr., despite owning a lackluster 5:5 touchdown to interception ratio, has a pretty solid passer rating, ranking in the upper half of the league. While not very explosive he is efficient and minimizes mistakes. The run game is spearheaded by Mills and Gilbot. They have run for 1,000 and 700 yards respectively with 9 touchdowns between the two. This puts them near the bottom of the league as a team. Quavious McGrady is their top Wide Receiver and has a receiving line of 62/703/2. McGrady ranks top 6 in both catches and yardage so the opportunities are there as well as the volume. Tijuana will look to get the ball in his hands as one of the few play makers they have along with their backfield. The offensive line has done a solid job of protecting Boss Jr. While not a potent offense they definitely have done a good job of utilizing their play makers and not making mistakes. On defense is a different story. The Luchadores are relentless and have the #1 sack unit in the league. They also rank second in interceptions and first in fumbles recovered. This defensive front will make quarterbacks pay and are always looking to turn a tackle into a turnover. The Luchadores possess multiple defenders with 4 or more sacks on this defense. 1st year linebacker Vincent Jones leads the way with 7, good enough for 4th in the league. Ben Alexander-Arnold is second in the league in pass break ups and has proven himself to be as close to a shut down corner as can be.
The magic number is 1 for this club. A Dallas loss or any Tijuana win over the next two weeks propels this team into postseason play, where they look to take on one of the teams from the Northern Gauntlet. Assuming they get in they will most likely play London who has beaten them handily both times. They will be hoping third time is truly the charm.
Dallas Birddogs
- 3rd Place (3-9) - 2 Games back from ThirdSOS (82-62) 56.94% - 1st
SOV (14-22) 38.89% - 6th
PF- 15 - 6th
PA- 21 - 7th
Overview
The numbers may not be in their favor but Dallas' playoff hopes are alive for another week. They have played a brutal schedule to start the year. Five of their first six games came against teams that have winning records. They have been better down the stretch and are hoping that they can change their fortune as they move into the final two weeks. They have wins against two of the other bottom feeders in the South and an impressive win against Norfolk. If Dallas wants to get into the playoffs they first need to beat Portland who is also trying to keep their playoff hopes alive. That game is a must win for both parties. If they end up winning and Tijuana loses in Week 13 they then need to win on the road against Norfolk. It's a tall task but it's definitely not impossible. Like Tijuana this team struggles to score. They have only eclipsed 17 points one time this year, where they scored 23 against.... you guessed it Tijuana.
On offense this team likes to pound the rock, and then run the ball some more. Matthias Caliban is a veteran in the DSFL but is having a season to forget. Dallas runs to keep the ball away from the defenders, and to also prevent Caliban from throwing interceptions. His 14 interceptions lead the league and he only has 7 touchdowns to show for it. An inverse ratio indeed. Mark Callous is his for sure number 1 wide receiver on the field and ranks near the top of all receiver statistics. The real play maker on offense is Cobra Kai. Kai is third in the league with 1249 rushing yards and averaging a tick over 5 yards a carry. His 6 touchdowns also put him near the top of the running back rankings. This backfield group is leading the league in yardage which is a little weird considering their record. They like to wear you down and make you stop them. This is one of the better lineman groups as they have only given up 11 sacks on the year. The defense is a little weak, as is evidenced by their 21 points given up per game. They actually stop the passing attack fairly well, but if their offensive run game is strong that is only equaled by how bad their run defense is. They give up around 173 yards a game on the ground which is 7th worst in the league. They have trouble getting to the quarterback and don't cause many turnovers.
As they head into the final two weeks of the season, this is a squad that is going to need the defense to step up as they look to beat a Portland team trying to stay alive.
Norfolk Seawolves
- 4th Place (2-10) - 3 Games back from final playoff spot in the SouthSOS (80-64) 55.56% - 2nd
SOV (14-22) 62.50% - 1st
PF- 7.9 - 8th
PA- 21.5 - 8th
Overview
There really isn't that much to say about this team. As the only team mathematically eliminated from playoff contention they are playing for pride and draft position. They have the worst offense and the worst defense in the league. In their 10 losses they have lost by an average of 17.1 points per game, being held to 7 points or less in 8 games, including their last 4. The final two weeks are weeks to see what works and to hopefully play spoiler. Two division games to end the season in Myrtle Beach and Dallas. Winning even one of these would be a nice finish to this brutal season. On one hand they have a good amount of young players to build around, assuming they don't get yoinked up to the ISFL, and with the 1st pick almost certainly secured it can give them time to look at the draftee landscape.
At quarterback, Emi Rune has had a rough but not awful first year at the helm of the offense. While they haven't turned the ball over too much, they also haven't pushed the ball downfield either. Their leading receiver, Raphael Delacour, has just 48 catches for 541 yards and no touchdowns. Mr. Forty-Two, their leading rusher, has really been the one bright spot on this offense. He somehow leads the league in rushing. After first glance we can see that this is due to the fact that they are attempting almost all of their rushing attempts which is driving down their per carry average. While this squad may not look like much right now each of these 3 players was taken in this past DSFL draft. Given another year they could be an offensive group to watch out for, but for now they are just learning how to win. For what it's worth, Emi has been sacked more than any other QB this season, and the O line is last in pancakes. Big upgrades along the front could probably take this squad to a new level. Defensively they are middling when causing turnover and rushing the quarterback. Their defense has tried it's best to keep them in games but when your offense can only muster 7 points or less you are going to be put into bad positions.
It's not your year Norfolk, but there are some pieces here that can make an impact next season.
NFC North
London Royals
- 1st Place (9-3) - 2 Game Lead over 2nd PlaceSOS (65-79) 45.14% - 8th
SOV (45-63) 41.67% - 4nd
PF-21.8 - 1st
PA-14.2 - 2nd
Overview
Now that we are out of the South, this is where the real fun begins. We start with the reigning champion Royals as they look to win back to back titles since Minnesota in Season 17-18. This roster boasts some top end talent as shown by their #1 offensive ranking and #2 defensive ranking. 2 of their 3 losses have come at the hands of the other 1st place team, the Myrtle Beach Buccaneers, with the other loss surprisingly to 2-10 Norfolk. They are in the driver seat heading into Week 13 action but have two tough games left. Luckily they have hold field for both games. A win in either game OR a loss by both Kansas City and Minnesota will solidify their #1 seed. They have locked up the post season but dropping to #2 would see them on another collision course with Myrtle Beach. A win over Minnesota would lock up that top spot and sent the Grey Ducks reeling heading into the final week.
Where to start with this offense? They are good. How good? Their quarterback Charlemagne Cortez has a pristine 14 to 7, touchdown to interception ratio and has the second best passer rating behind Jackie Daytona. He constantly finding his favorite targets, Tugg Speedman and Frank Mitchell. Mitchell ranks second in the league in touchdown with 6 and Speedman ranks around the top 6 or 7 in wide receiver categories with a line of 60/702/3. He's a threat to score from anywhere on the field and Mitchell is a mismatch in the redzone. However, it is truly a balanced attack as Benny Hana and Terry Yaki both find themselves with over 800 yards a piece. They have scored 30 points 4 times. The only team to do so. The one area where they seem to struggle is on the offensive line. Not a lot of pancakes and the second most sacks given up. If they let Cortez get hit early he will have trouble getting the ball to his play makers. On defense they can do it all. They rush the passer very well, 3rd in sacks and 2nd in tackles for loss, they also create turnovers with 10 picks and 7 fumbles recovered. L'Gazzy Burfict is a freaking machine. This guy is second in the league in tackles with 124, 5 tackles for loss, 1st in the league in sacks with 10 and even has a pick and 9 pass breakups. Burfict has to be a favorite for Defensive Player of the Year, or at least on the shortlist. He sets the tone for this defense and is followed up by two stud defensive ends in Ernest Lover and Mattress Cadaire.
As one of the favorites to win it all, they still have two tough games to close out the season so they can't relax. However, this is a solid group of players that can make another championship run.
Kansas City Coyotes
- 2nd Place (7-5) - Tied for 2nd PlaceSOS (70-74) 48.61% - 5th
SOV (31-53) 36.9% - 7th
PF-18.9 - 4th
PA-16.6 - 5th
Overview
The Coyotes are currently hanging onto the last playoff seed in the North and have a big match up looming in Week 14. Their Strength of Victory (SOV) suggests that they have struggled against top competition which you can see by only 2 wins against teams with a winning record (Myrtle Beach and Minnesota). They face off in a trap game against Tijuana in Week 13, whom they beat by 6 in Week 6 and then Minnesota. That Week 14 game at the Grey Ducks could settle who gets the final seed in the North. There is no shot they get the #1 seed as they lost both games to the Royals and they can only tie them at best so it's #2 seed or bust at this point. They did split with Buccaneers this year so they definitely have a shot if they make it to the playoffs.
On offense Kansas City likes to run the ball. They are currently the 2nd best rushing team in the league and middle of the road passing. Matt Peterson currently has 9 touchdown and interceptions, but is one of the most accurate passers in the league. if he can limit the mistakes and rely on the running game the Coyotes can finish the season strong. Kitchens and Tutankhamun split the rushing workload and form a two headed beast that can wear down a defense. Arthur Naught is their leading receiver with 53 catches for 620 yards and 1 touchdown. Kansas City also possesses a below average offensive line. They rank 6th in pancakes and have given up the 3rd most sacks in the league. On defense this group plays pretty similar to London. They get after the quarterback and can cause turnovers setting up their rushing attack to wear down the opposition. Thomas Rose is another player to look at for Defensive Player of the Year. He currently is 5th in tackles with 101, which includes 8 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 3 interceptions and 7 passes defended. He has been the do it all back for this Coyotes defense.
The Coyotes will have to rely on Rose and this defense, plus their sound ground game to beat a tough Tijuana team and then take on Minnesota in a winner take all game to end the season.
Minnesota Grey Ducks
- 3rd Place (7-5) - Tied for 2nd PlaceSOS (66-78) 48.61% - 7th
SOV (33-51) 39.29% - 5th
PF-18.3 - 5th
PA-13.4 - 1st
Overview
Defense, defense, defense. This has been the Grey Ducks mantra all season long. Currently tied with Kansas City, but 0-1 against them Head to Head, Minnesota firmly controls their own destiny. They have arguably the toughest end of the season compared to any other team. They play London in Week 13 and follow that up with a game against Kansas City to find the last seed in the North. If both teams go 1-1 with Minnesota taking the Week 14 bout between the two they would head to the second tiebreaker since they split the season series. If they lose the game in Week 14 they will miss out on the playoffs. If it wasn't for a 4 game losing streak in the middle of the season, where they scored 8.75 points a game, this team could be fighting for a #1 seed, but currently find themselves on the outside looking in.
On the offensive side of the ball rookie signal caller Ryan Negs, has had an up and down first year. Despite having the 2nd most passing yards in the league, he has a 11 touchdowns and 11 interceptions and the lowest completion percentage in the league. There is a lot of boom or bust in his arm but he has the backing of an elite defense. His number 1 target, Lebby Newton, has 63 catches for 774 yards and 5 touchdowns. He is their go to receiver, and when he isn't open he finds rookie Jalen Washington who has also caught 52 passes for 572 yards. Their rushing attack isn't nearly as good but still settles into the middle of the league. Mike Rotchburns has the second most rushing yards in the league and gets all of the touches around the goal line. He has a league leading 11 touchdowns rushing. While this offensive line gets a lot of pancakes they have had blips of letting Negs take sacks. While nothing about this defensive unit jumps off the paper at you, they rank at least middle or higher in most defensive categories. They lead the league in interceptions and do all of the other things well. They give up less than 14 points a game and will have to depend on that for the last 2 weeks of the season.
With a brutal schedule to end the season they need to lean on their defense and a must win game against Kansas City looms large.
Portland Pythons
- 4th Place (6-6) - 1 Game back from last playoff spotSOS (72-72) 50% - 3rd
SOV (33-39) 45.83% - 3rd
PF-19.3 - 3rd
PA-14.9 - 3rd
Overview
Despite being last in their division, Portland is very much alive in the playoff race. At 6-6 they are only 1 game back of Kansas City and Minnesota. They hold the tiebreaker over Kansas City after winning both meetings, and Minnesota has the tiebreaker in their series since they took both games. The only path for Portland to make the postseason is both Kansas City and Minnesota have to go 1-1 over their next two games with Kansas City winning the Week 14 showdown. If this happens and Portland can run the table these last two weeks the last playoff spot would come down the tiebreaker that they own over Kansas City. A 1-5 stretch from Weeks 4-9 really dropped them into the cellar in the North division. They are looking to climb back into the playoff picture in these final two weeks.
As close to air raid as it gets. These guys love to ball out and throw it up. Rookie Lebron James lll has had a good rookie year despite just 12 touchdowns to 10 interceptions. He leads the league in completion percentage and by a wide margin as well. His favorite target? Rookie Mario Messi has had an insane rookie year. He has 14 catches more than the second leaving receiver and is in second in yardage. Messi is also pacing the league in touchdowns for wide receivers. The Pythons also have a great running attack between Parma and Christiansen. This is definitely an underrated offensive group. Some of their losses in the middle of the year were when they were having trouble scoring points. This could be the byproduct of some growing pains with the quarterback play. Their offensive line is one of the best in the league with their league leading 215 pancakes. On the other side of the ball, Portland finds themselves in the middle when it comes to sacks, interceptions, and fumbles caused/recovered. They rank more towards the bottom in tackles for loss and pass deflections but overall this is a solid group. Their defense is lead by Cornerback Ben Anabender and linebacker Donald McBobby. McBobby is the team leader in sacks and tackles, while Anabender ranks near the top of the league in interceptions and pass breakups. They will look to shut down opposing teams in these final two weeks.
This team has a very potent offense, and an above average defense, but they must rely on the rookie quarterback and can only goes as far as their rookies take them.
Playoff Predictions
Myrtle Beach versus Portland
Tijuana versus London
Myrtle Beach versus London
Myrtle Beach champion
I'd love to see some craziness coming into Week 14. I think Kansas City loses Tijuana, Minnesota beats London and Portland beats Dallas in Week 13. Heading into Week 14 I think Kansas City takes the big match up with Minnesota and Portland beats London causing some weird 3 way tie and by some unknown force they get the tiebreaker to jump into the playoffs. Then the #1 seeds take each game and Myrtle Beach goes on to complete the 3 game season sweep of London, denying them back to back titles.
FIN
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