In the DSFL, 9 weeks in, both leagues are starting to look very similar to each other, which is a far cry from how it was 4 weeks ago when I did stocks.
Pretty much every team has had a turning point in their season that could make or break it, let's dive into each team so far.
Dallas Birddogs
Well, except for the Birddogs. In their effort to have a perfectly patterned L-W-L pattern all the way until the end of the season, they had their second win, blowing out the Grey Ducks, before losing a close one at Myrtle Beach. Following that, the Birddogs hit their probable low point of the season losing 38-3 to the Pythons, before beating the Luchadores and losing a close one away at Kansas City. Of course, it's only the probable low point since 6 weeks ago the Birddogs had their probable low point when they lost 31-0 against the Royals. Right now, the Birddogs are 2 games back of the playoff spots with 5 weeks to go, and unfortunately they need to leapfrog 2 teams during that time. It seems that in a very up for grabs conference, the Birddogs are out of it.
Myrtle Beach Buccaneers
The Buccaneers opened themselves up for a playoff push in weeks 5 and 6, where they beat the Pythons and the Birddogs. As the best rushing team in the league, as well as the best defenders against the rush, the Buccaneers main issue is that their passing game and passing defense is almost as bad as their rushing defense is good. Since that point, the Buccaneers blew out the Grey Ducks before falling off the pace a bit with back to back losses against the Kansas City Coyotes and the Tijuana Luchadores, not even looking competitive in the Coyotes game. Myrtle Beach is currently on the outside of the playoffs, looking in, but they do control their own destiny considering they have a game against the Seawolves. I'd put their turning point right now as Week 5, with that 3 game win streak to get themselves strongly into the playoffs, but if they don't end up making it then their new turning point might be Week 8 with this disastrous 2 game skid including a loss at home to the Luchadores.
Their next three games are extremely tough; at London, vs Norfolk, at Portland. If they can get out of that section with a couple wins then their schedule clears up after that immensely.
Tijuana Luchadores
The Luchadores were in a bit of a state heading into weeks 5 and 6, losing to hapless Coyotes and Grey Ducks teams that put them in trouble for the playoff push. However, weeks 5 and 6 were a resurgence for the team, beating the Royals and the Pythons in close games, putting them at 4-2. In the last 5 games, the Luchadores have faced all the other teams that could possibly hold the title of best team in the league and beaten all of them, having wins against the Seawolves and Buccaneers in there as well. Week 5, the start of this run, is definitely their turning point, as they now have the best record in the league in part due to it. However, I must question their loss to the hapless Birddogs, during this run of beating their toughest opposition.
Their next three games, vs Kansas City, vs Minnesota, at London, are going to be interesting. Kansas City is hot and could give them trouble, Minnesota should be easy but beat them last time, and at London should be a nightmare.
Norfolk Seawolves
This...is the easiest turning point to pick in the entire league. 4 weeks ago, Norfolk was at the top of the world. They were at least 2 games above all the other teams in their conference, they were undefeated, they had 1s across the board in terms of their rankings. Their QB was the frontrunner for MVP, their kicker was on pace to kick the most extra points in league history, and they were a powerhouse. Since Week 5, they have lost all of those. Their only top of the League stats left are least yards given up, and least passing yards given up. They have not won a single game, and only one of those was even close. They lost handily to London and Tijuana away, and then lost to Portland at home and at Minnesota, and have gone from 2 up on everyone else in their conference to in the midst of a 3 team fight for 2 spots.
Their next three games are vs Dallas, at Myrtle Beach, and at Kansas City. This isn't the toughest slate of games and Norfolk needs to win at least 2 of these to hang on for the playoff push.
Kansas City Coyotes
The Coyotes are the mirror image of the Seawolves. They went into week 6 with a 1-4 record, having just lost to the Seawolves ironically. Their top scoring offense paired with a bottom 2 scoring defense was not winning them games. The Coyotes are now 5-4 and are in a playoff spot, only out of the top on tiebreakers. This winning streak is probably a bit better on paper than on the field, to be frank. Multiple times, it looked like they would lose, and the competition wasn't the strongest, with 3 of the 4 games on their own ground and 2 of those games being against bottom feeders. However, they're in the playoffs right now and can conceivably be the top team in the conference at the end of it all.
Their next 3 games are at Tijuana, at Portland, and vs Norfolk. If the Coyotes are on fire due to their skill and not their schedule, then after this the should have at least 2 wins and be in the driver's seat for a playoff spot. If their run is due to favorable schedules rather than a sudden burst of skill, then the fact that 4 of their last 5 games are against contenders, all but Norfolk away, will be extremely worrying.
Minnesota Grey Ducks
Did you know the Ducks used to be in a playoff spot? That's probably kind of hard to believe, but led by a linebacking corps that swore it would win DROY and DPOY, they were 2-2 after week 4. Week 5 started a 4 game losing streak in which they looked competitive in maybe one of their games. Recently they beat the Seawolves in free fall to finally snap the losing streak, and in doing so have put themselves in a situation where they are only 2 games back of the playoffs as opposed to 3. With 5 weeks left, however, they are going to have to leapfrog 3 teams in the process.
Their next 3 games are vs Portland, at Tijuana, and vs Dallas. If they are to get into the playoffs, they need to win the Portland game and at least one other, if not both.
Portland Pythons
Surprisingly, the team with the best point differential in the league is in the NSFC. Or perhaps unsurprisingly, since all but one of their losses seemed to be the result of getting screwed by the sim. The Pythons have been in the playoff hunt for the entire season, and I don't think they've actually fallen out of it since week 2? However, there is a clear turning point for them nevertheless. Week 6 led to the Pythons going 2 games under .500 for the first time all year. Week 7 was the start of a 3 game win streak in which their defense performed like the best unit in the entire league. Beating Dallas 38-3 isn't nothing, even if it was at home, and against, y'know, Dallas, and holding the Seawolves to 9 points and London to 10 points for 3 straight wins has put them in the driver's seat at the top of the NSFC. The interesting thing is, unlike most of the other teams in the playoff push, their schedule doesn't really have a difficult part, at least not one that they haven't already gotten past.
Their next three games are at Minnesota, vs Kansas City, and vs Myrtle Beach. Nowhere near a difficult slate of games, with the only away game being Minnesota. Kansas City and Myrtle Beach could be a bit difficult however. If Portland wins against the Coyotes and at least one of their other games, they will have guaranteed the Head to Head tiebreaker against both London and Kansas City, with at worst a tied record. Losing all of these games, however, could lead to them crashing out of the playoffs.
London Royals
London is another team that really doesn't have a turning point, they have hovered around .500 for the entire season. That being said, there is something they will definitely rue if they do not end up making the playoffs, or even if they do end up making the playoffs in the wild card. Against teams with winning records in their division, they have 3 losses and no wins. Specifically, their most recent game against the Pythons is going to be agonizing to go over. They outgained the Pythons, 375-246. They held the Pythons to 3-10 on 3rd down. They held them to 3.3 yards per carry, and had over 10 minutes more possession. So what cost them the game? 3 turnovers, one leading to a touchdown, one taking a drive away that was within the Portland 10, and one to seal the game. 3 goal line stands for 10 total points put them out of the playoff spots and 3 in conference losses, not a mark that the Royals will be happy with.
Their next 3 games are vs Myrtle Beach, at Dallas, and vs Tijuana. The Royals have been incredibly strong at home, only losing to the Pythons, but they will be put to the test as the team that looks as if it is the best team in the league comes to town. They do have an easy game at Dallas, and should be favored against Myrtle Beach due to home field, but they have already had their second game against one of the easier teams in the Ducks, and after Dallas their schedule is rough. They better make the most of it or they could be out of the playoffs.
Pretty much every team has had a turning point in their season that could make or break it, let's dive into each team so far.
Dallas Birddogs
Well, except for the Birddogs. In their effort to have a perfectly patterned L-W-L pattern all the way until the end of the season, they had their second win, blowing out the Grey Ducks, before losing a close one at Myrtle Beach. Following that, the Birddogs hit their probable low point of the season losing 38-3 to the Pythons, before beating the Luchadores and losing a close one away at Kansas City. Of course, it's only the probable low point since 6 weeks ago the Birddogs had their probable low point when they lost 31-0 against the Royals. Right now, the Birddogs are 2 games back of the playoff spots with 5 weeks to go, and unfortunately they need to leapfrog 2 teams during that time. It seems that in a very up for grabs conference, the Birddogs are out of it.
Myrtle Beach Buccaneers
The Buccaneers opened themselves up for a playoff push in weeks 5 and 6, where they beat the Pythons and the Birddogs. As the best rushing team in the league, as well as the best defenders against the rush, the Buccaneers main issue is that their passing game and passing defense is almost as bad as their rushing defense is good. Since that point, the Buccaneers blew out the Grey Ducks before falling off the pace a bit with back to back losses against the Kansas City Coyotes and the Tijuana Luchadores, not even looking competitive in the Coyotes game. Myrtle Beach is currently on the outside of the playoffs, looking in, but they do control their own destiny considering they have a game against the Seawolves. I'd put their turning point right now as Week 5, with that 3 game win streak to get themselves strongly into the playoffs, but if they don't end up making it then their new turning point might be Week 8 with this disastrous 2 game skid including a loss at home to the Luchadores.
Their next three games are extremely tough; at London, vs Norfolk, at Portland. If they can get out of that section with a couple wins then their schedule clears up after that immensely.
Tijuana Luchadores
The Luchadores were in a bit of a state heading into weeks 5 and 6, losing to hapless Coyotes and Grey Ducks teams that put them in trouble for the playoff push. However, weeks 5 and 6 were a resurgence for the team, beating the Royals and the Pythons in close games, putting them at 4-2. In the last 5 games, the Luchadores have faced all the other teams that could possibly hold the title of best team in the league and beaten all of them, having wins against the Seawolves and Buccaneers in there as well. Week 5, the start of this run, is definitely their turning point, as they now have the best record in the league in part due to it. However, I must question their loss to the hapless Birddogs, during this run of beating their toughest opposition.
Their next three games, vs Kansas City, vs Minnesota, at London, are going to be interesting. Kansas City is hot and could give them trouble, Minnesota should be easy but beat them last time, and at London should be a nightmare.
Norfolk Seawolves
This...is the easiest turning point to pick in the entire league. 4 weeks ago, Norfolk was at the top of the world. They were at least 2 games above all the other teams in their conference, they were undefeated, they had 1s across the board in terms of their rankings. Their QB was the frontrunner for MVP, their kicker was on pace to kick the most extra points in league history, and they were a powerhouse. Since Week 5, they have lost all of those. Their only top of the League stats left are least yards given up, and least passing yards given up. They have not won a single game, and only one of those was even close. They lost handily to London and Tijuana away, and then lost to Portland at home and at Minnesota, and have gone from 2 up on everyone else in their conference to in the midst of a 3 team fight for 2 spots.
Their next three games are vs Dallas, at Myrtle Beach, and at Kansas City. This isn't the toughest slate of games and Norfolk needs to win at least 2 of these to hang on for the playoff push.
Kansas City Coyotes
The Coyotes are the mirror image of the Seawolves. They went into week 6 with a 1-4 record, having just lost to the Seawolves ironically. Their top scoring offense paired with a bottom 2 scoring defense was not winning them games. The Coyotes are now 5-4 and are in a playoff spot, only out of the top on tiebreakers. This winning streak is probably a bit better on paper than on the field, to be frank. Multiple times, it looked like they would lose, and the competition wasn't the strongest, with 3 of the 4 games on their own ground and 2 of those games being against bottom feeders. However, they're in the playoffs right now and can conceivably be the top team in the conference at the end of it all.
Their next 3 games are at Tijuana, at Portland, and vs Norfolk. If the Coyotes are on fire due to their skill and not their schedule, then after this the should have at least 2 wins and be in the driver's seat for a playoff spot. If their run is due to favorable schedules rather than a sudden burst of skill, then the fact that 4 of their last 5 games are against contenders, all but Norfolk away, will be extremely worrying.
Minnesota Grey Ducks
Did you know the Ducks used to be in a playoff spot? That's probably kind of hard to believe, but led by a linebacking corps that swore it would win DROY and DPOY, they were 2-2 after week 4. Week 5 started a 4 game losing streak in which they looked competitive in maybe one of their games. Recently they beat the Seawolves in free fall to finally snap the losing streak, and in doing so have put themselves in a situation where they are only 2 games back of the playoffs as opposed to 3. With 5 weeks left, however, they are going to have to leapfrog 3 teams in the process.
Their next 3 games are vs Portland, at Tijuana, and vs Dallas. If they are to get into the playoffs, they need to win the Portland game and at least one other, if not both.
Portland Pythons
Surprisingly, the team with the best point differential in the league is in the NSFC. Or perhaps unsurprisingly, since all but one of their losses seemed to be the result of getting screwed by the sim. The Pythons have been in the playoff hunt for the entire season, and I don't think they've actually fallen out of it since week 2? However, there is a clear turning point for them nevertheless. Week 6 led to the Pythons going 2 games under .500 for the first time all year. Week 7 was the start of a 3 game win streak in which their defense performed like the best unit in the entire league. Beating Dallas 38-3 isn't nothing, even if it was at home, and against, y'know, Dallas, and holding the Seawolves to 9 points and London to 10 points for 3 straight wins has put them in the driver's seat at the top of the NSFC. The interesting thing is, unlike most of the other teams in the playoff push, their schedule doesn't really have a difficult part, at least not one that they haven't already gotten past.
Their next three games are at Minnesota, vs Kansas City, and vs Myrtle Beach. Nowhere near a difficult slate of games, with the only away game being Minnesota. Kansas City and Myrtle Beach could be a bit difficult however. If Portland wins against the Coyotes and at least one of their other games, they will have guaranteed the Head to Head tiebreaker against both London and Kansas City, with at worst a tied record. Losing all of these games, however, could lead to them crashing out of the playoffs.
London Royals
London is another team that really doesn't have a turning point, they have hovered around .500 for the entire season. That being said, there is something they will definitely rue if they do not end up making the playoffs, or even if they do end up making the playoffs in the wild card. Against teams with winning records in their division, they have 3 losses and no wins. Specifically, their most recent game against the Pythons is going to be agonizing to go over. They outgained the Pythons, 375-246. They held the Pythons to 3-10 on 3rd down. They held them to 3.3 yards per carry, and had over 10 minutes more possession. So what cost them the game? 3 turnovers, one leading to a touchdown, one taking a drive away that was within the Portland 10, and one to seal the game. 3 goal line stands for 10 total points put them out of the playoff spots and 3 in conference losses, not a mark that the Royals will be happy with.
Their next 3 games are vs Myrtle Beach, at Dallas, and vs Tijuana. The Royals have been incredibly strong at home, only losing to the Pythons, but they will be put to the test as the team that looks as if it is the best team in the league comes to town. They do have an easy game at Dallas, and should be favored against Myrtle Beach due to home field, but they have already had their second game against one of the easier teams in the Ducks, and after Dallas their schedule is rough. They better make the most of it or they could be out of the playoffs.