CFFL Round 2 and Fantasy Bowl Preview

The stage is set.  Round 2 is complete and we head into Fantasy Bowl Week.  Fantasy Bowl XXXIII will be played entirely on December 31.  Here is how the teams got there...

Animals 28  Roulette 10
MOSCOW - In the cold of the Russian air, the Roulette's luck had run out and they lost all their chips with an Animal spin of the wheel.  Even had the Roulette started Jimmy G and his 14 points instead of Hundley, they still would have lost.  Not much production from the Roulette team, deflated once again with the loss of Rodgers.  Their only points came from their kicker Vinatieri. 

It was a happy Cam day for the Animals

It was a happy Cam day, as Newton ran one in for a TD, leading the Animals to their first ever Fantasy Bowl.  Ingram added a TD and Hauschka added another 10 points.  Then the defense capped it off with a TD of their own, almost to the surprise of the Animals owner Alex.  The game wasn't really close all day as it was an easy win for the Animals, punching their ticket to another all Cherry Fantasy Bowl...

Killers 35  Titans 31 (OT)
TAMPA -  Truly the best game of the two as the Killers had to hang on to the end to survive this one in over time.  The Titans came to this game with the big guns;  Tom Brady, Kareem Hunt, Julio Jones, while the Killers had Blake Bortles.  Certainly the Titans would prevail.  Tom Brady got his two TDs, Hunt got his TD.  Jones got his TD, oh wait... not he didn't, or did he.  He caught a pass right on the goal line, but the refs marked it down on the one inch line.   No soup for you!  Titan kicker Lutz would  kick 11 points however. 

Baldwin what he thought was the game winner

The Game would be tied at 25 a piece when Doug Baldwin scored for the Killers late to make the game 31-25 with plenty of players to play yet on Christmas Day.  The day started with Lamar Miller for the Killers.  He would not find the end zone at all.  Then the night game.  It was the Titans' Ertz and Eagle D vs. the Killers' Agholor.  Time was ticking away for the Titans as Ertz could not manage to get a TD catch, but either did Agholor.  With time running out and the Killer's beginning to celebrate on the side lines, the Eagle D picked up a fumble with no time left and ran it in for a TD tying the game 31-31!  Killer's being the home team would rely on their back up kicker Tavecchio.  He barley kicked enough points, with the game winner ultimately being a 3rd quarter 25 yard FG Christmas Night. 

Titans' Eagles D scored to put game into OT.

Fantasy Bowl XXXIII Preview

Alex's Animals (9-7) at Cam's Killers (10-6)

Fantasy Bowl XXXIII will pit the sons of the founding fathers of the CFFL.  Animals, son of the Chislers and Killers, son of the Wrecking Crew.  This is the first trip for the Animals and the Killers with his being the very first year the Killers were in the League.  This marks the 18th Fantasy Bowl where a Cherry was in the Fantasy Bowl and 4th time it has been an all Cherry Bowl. 

Owners of the Animals and Killers 

The first all Cherry Fantasy bowl was in 1991 as the Crew defeated the Jewels 32-16 in FB VII.  The second was in 2003 pitting the brothers against each other as the Crew beat the Chislers 36-33 on a last minute Ahman Green TD run for the Crew in FB XIX.  The Chislers would get their revenge in 2011 as they beat the Crew 55-39 behind Stafford's (yes Stafford, not Rivers) record breaking 21 points in a Fantasy Bowl. 

But enough about the history of the Cherry's in the Cherry Fantasy Football League.  I know.  You all want to hear more about the Cherry owned storied franchises, but I need to talk about next weeks' Fantasy Bowl Match up...

QB - The Animals will hope to have happy Cam once again.  He will be on the road against the Falcons, with both teams playing for a playoff spot.  The Killers will likely go with Blake Bortles, who lately has been coming up big for the Killers.  They play the Titans who will be playing for a playoff spot.
Edge:  Animals

Will it be happy Cam in the Fantasy Bowl?

RB - The Animals will likely go with Ingram and Collins once again.  Ingram is a threat to score every week.  Collins has been a nice addition as of late, and could add another TD.  The Killer's however are not that great at RB, and can't seem to get the right combination between Miller, Gore, and Cohen.  It will be a tough call.  Gore has only scored 4 times this year, but one was last week.  Miller has 6 TDs but nothing since Week 12.
Edge:  Animals

Ingram has been solid for the Animals this year

WR - Name wise, the Animals seem to have the edge, with Mike Evans, Tyreek Hill and Thielen.  All seem like they should score at any given time.  However Evans has only scored 5 times, Thielen 4 this year.  Hill does have 7.  When you look at the Killer's WR corp of Agholor, Baldwin, Landry and Kelce, you think meh...But Agholor, Landry and Kelce all have 8 TDs a piece.  Agholor might not score as the Eagles have every thing wrapped up. 
Edge:  Slight edge to Killers

Kelce is hoping for a big game in FB XXXIII

Special Teams/ Defense - Animals have Hauschka and the Killer's have Forbath.  Defense will be the Titans vs. Falcons.  Not much to write home about with either one of those Defenses.  But Forbath has been solid all year, scoring double digits 8 times, including 10 points the past three straight weeks. 
Edge:  Killers

Outlook:  This should be a close one.  I could see another OT game in which case the Killers would have the advantage as the home team.  The difference will be happy Cam or sad Cam.  If Happy Cam it will be 10 points for Cam, including a run.  Sad Cam will just be 4 points and the loss.  I see happy Cam this week and the Animals winning their first Fantasy Bowl.
Animals 32-30

I like Animals...

CFFL Playoffs Round 1

The first round of the playoffs have resulted in potentially new teams in the fantasy bowl as the Titans, Killers, Animals and Roulette survived Round 1.

Animals 46  Chislers 44

Gurley did all he could to help the Chislers scoring 4 times!

CHICAGO - Battle between Father and Son.  The Animals came into this game after scoring only 7 points and backing into the playoffs.  They used the 2014 Round 2 loss to the Chislers 42-26 as their motivation.  It started out as if they would destroy the Chislers as they took a big lead early on as Cam Newton scored 16 points and Mark Ingram had 2 scores.  But the Chislers, even though they figured it was over, stormed back as Todd Gurely scored 24 points tying 5 others for second most all time in the playoffs.  (Marshall Faulk did it 3 times, twice in the 2000 playoffs)  The score was 44-40 in favor of the Chislers going into Monday Night Football.  It was Sanu for Chislers vs. Mike Evans for Animals.  The Chislers just needed to hang on for one more half and they would advance.  However Evans finally caught a TD pass as he leaped over the two defenders to haul in the game winning TD and eliminate the Chislers, avenging the 2014 loss. 

Evans catches game winning TD for Animals!

Titans 30  Dragons 18
MIAMI - Battle between brothers.  In the Titans very first playoff appearance they defeated their brother Dragons in a game that wasn't ever close.  Titans came out firing with 2 TDs from Kareem Hunt and eventually was up 30-0 and this game was over.  Had Crabtree and Lynch combined for more than 12 points, maybe there would have been a glimmer of hope with kicker Matt Bryant going Monday night.  But down 18 points going into Monday Night, an 18 point performance from their kicker was unlikely.  The QB issues with the Dragons haunted them to the end with Cutler and Manning.  They would have won had they started Manning over Cutler.  However, who would have gone with Manning who was playing the Eagles instead of Cutler.  Either way, the Titans advance and the Dragons have to wait yet another year to win its first playoff game.

Hunt scored 2 TDs to help the Titans advance

Roulette 25  Krauts 15
MOSCOW - Its hard to beat a team in back to back games.  But just like in WWII, the Krauts couldn't survive the winter in Russia as the Roulette pushed the Krauts out of Moscow, Russia and back to Berlin where they belong.  It was the return of Aaron Rodgers.  He said he wasn't coming back to save the Roulette season, but we all know winning a championship will be hard with Brent Hundley at the helm.  Rodgers didn't disappoint scoring 12 points in the win.  This game also saw both kickers score only 1 point each.  To say the Roulette have had some luck this year is an understatement.

When will those Krauts learn...

Killers 28  Sinistars 27
SEATTLE - In the upset of the week, the upstart, first year Cam's Killers defeated the Sinistars who looked like, on paper, had the most dangerous team (Russell Wilson, Jimmy Graham, Melvin Gordon, Alvin Kamara).  Those names alone seem like they could win a Fantasy Bowl.  Specially compared to Bortles, Lamar Miller, Bawldwin, and Agholor.  But as is typically of this league, just get in the playoffs and anything can happen.  Bortles came up big scoring 12 points and Forbath kicked in 10.  The difference in this game was the fact that Russell Wilson and Jimmy Graham only combined for 4 points as the Rams hammered the Seahawks up in Seattle. 

Bortles has become the leader of the Killers

Playoff Round 2 Preview:

As the remaining 4 teams prepare, there is another chance of a complete Cherry Fantasy Bowl as the sons of the Crew and the Chislers have a chance to both make it to the Fantasy Bowl...

Alex Animals (-5) at Russian Roulette 

Looks to be Happy Cam this week...

Moscow, Russia - This game will be cold and bitter for the Animals, who are used to it playing home games in Buffalo.  The Roulette will be without Rodgers for good this time.  He did what he could helping the Roulette advance but is now on IR.  It will be up to Brent Hundley to lead the team.  Adams is a question mark as well after sustaining a concussion last week.  Roulette are facing other issues as well.  Put Duke Johnson back in the line up?  Keep Rod Smith in even though Elliott is back?

Animals line up looks to be about the same as last week.  Newton likely to lead the Animals onto the field after his 16 point performance.  Mark Ingram is solid at RB and the Animals WRs all could score (Evans, Hill, and Thielen).

Outlook:  Roulette luck is running out.  Animals truly have the better team on paper and just need to perform up to expectations.  Take the  Animals and swallow the points.
Animals 38-24

Toledo Titans (-3) at Cam's Killers 

Tom Brady will be all smiles too...

Tampa, FL - Beginning of the season, this match up in Round 2 no one would have predicted.  The Killers are in their inaugural season.  The Titans have been the worst team since entering in the league.  But after a good draft wearing orange shorts, the Titans put together a good team, even if they did almost blow it and not make the playoffs.  This team doesn't always rely on Tom Brady, but does rely somewhat on Kareem Hunt.  He started the league on fire as a rookie and seems to have found his groove again in the playoffs.  Add to that Brady and if Hogan comes back, a very viable 10 point connection makes this team dangerous. 

The Killers on the other hand scored 4 points in the first week and it was looking like a long year for the expansion team Killers.  Bortles will likely get the start for the Killers and has been a pleasant surprise after owner favorite Winston got injured and was disappointing this season.  This Killers team wins with Bortles and kicker Forbath.  If they can get some production out of some other players they might have a chance to make it to the Fantasy Bowl.

Outlook:  Titans will prove to be too much for the Killers.  Brady, Hunt and Julio Jones have big games and the Titans go from worst to Fantasy Bowl.
Titans 36-22

CFHL Week 10

Here is what happened last week as we wrapped up the 10th week in the CFHL.  Only 14 weeks to go till playoffs.  Longest. Season. Ever. 

Krampus 4  La Femme Nikita 3
Despite not winning goals, assists or PPP, the Krampus Carols managed to defeat Nikita thanks to some solid goal tending from Anderson and Fleury.  Krampus are only a game out of first in the Smythe Division.  The loss knocked La Femme Nikita down to .500 and 2 games back.

Krampus fans arriving at the game.

AshBusters 4  USSR 3
The AshBusters continued to roll even though the USSR "gooned up" to play USSR.  Well they beat them in hits that's for sure, but it wasn't enough.  AshBusters swept the goalie categories and had 7 PPPs, all from different players.  Anders Lee for the USSR had 3 goals, 3 assists, +1, 2 PPP and 4 hits in the losing effort.  AshBusters remain on top of the Smythe Division.  USSR are in last, but thankfully for them we are not even to the half way point of the regular season.

MacKinnon scored 4 goals for Assassins

Assassins 4  Mayhem on Ice 2
The Assassins get back in the win column taking down the Mayhem, preventing them from keeping hold of first place in the Smythe.  MacKinnon for the Assassins had 4 goals helping them win goals with 11 total.  They needed some offensive production wince Price and Bobrovsky were pedestrian in net.

Goon Crew 4  Who Gives a Puck 3
This was the battle for first in the Norris.  The Crew can credit this win all to Corey Crawford who on Sunday won the game giving the Crew both goalie categories and the win.  It wasn't an impressive performance by either team as they had -11 and -10 respectively. 

Checkers 3 White Mambas 2
There were some pretty impressive performances in this game.  Tavares continues to lead the Mambas as he had 1 goals and 7 big assists.  Josh Bailey for the Checkers had 4 goals, 4 assists  and 3 PPPs!  But the big story was James Neal for the Checkers.  With 38 seconds left, James Neal scored a goal, giving them the +1 that broke the tie in +/- and gave the Checkers the win!

James Neal scored game winning goal for Checkers

Number One Star of the Week:  Josh Bailey, Checkers, 4 goals, 4 assists, +1, 3 PPP and 2 hits

Number Two Star of the Week:  Corey Crawford, Goon Crew,  3 wins, SV% .957

Number Three Star of the Week:  Patrick Kane, Krampus Carols, 4 goals, 1 assists and a +4

Goon of the Week:  Jake Muzzin, Mayhem on Ice, 13 hits.

CFFL Week 14 and Playoff Match ups

Well the season came to a close this week and it felt like we were just drafting in August.  Now the season is over and 8 have survived for the playoffs.  8 will be sitting home.  And this year probably saw the more parity than any other year.

Week 14 Results:

Wrecking Crew 32  Animals 7 - The Crew finished with a victory despite a very disappointing season.  The Animals even with the loss were able to back into the playoffs thanks to losses by the Mayhem and Bums.

Burkhead scores game winner!

Crush 41  Bums 37 - The Crush won in the final minutes with a Burkhead TD to eliminate the dysfunctional Bums.  All this despite Bells' 18 points and Hopkins' 12. 

Killers 36  Sinistars 19 - In the battle for the West the winner would be King of the West.  And the Killers if they didn't win, would have sat home for the playoffs.  Jarvis Landry caught two late TDs to put salt in the wound of the Sinistars.  Might not be wise as these two teams meet again in the first round of the playoffs.

Dragons 28  Bees 24 - In probably the best game of the week, these two teams were locked at 16 going into Monday Night.  Surprisingly Jay Cutler managed to win the game for the Dragons scoring 12 points and giving the South Crown to the Dragons.  In perhaps the first time in CFFL history the worst offense in the league (Dragons) have made the playoffs. 

Dragons finally got some decent production from their QBs

Titans 27  Mayhem 26 - In another great game the Titans looked like they were in trouble trailing 26-23 late in the game with Good Old Tom just looking plain old.  But Brady was able to manage one TD pass to give the Titans the 27-26 lead and secure their spot in the playoffs.

Juggernauts 50  Cocktails 32 - When you play against DeShone Kizer and he scores 12 points including a 10 point connection to Corey "Dog" Coleman you know you are in trouble.  That's what happened to the Cocktails as their bid for a playoff berth came to a close at the hands of Kizer.  Wait what?

Kizer won it for the Juggs

Roulette 54  Krauts 32 - The Krauts slide continues as they dropped their 4th in a row and this time it cost them the East Division Crown.  Are the Roulette peaking just at the right time?  Hundley, Rod Smith (who?), Adams and Coons (who again?) scored 12 points a piece. 

This Rod Smith?

No, this Rod Smith!

Chislers 37  Ferrets 19 - And just playing out the season was the Ferrets and Chislers.  Chislers with everything wrapped up and the Ferrets looking to next year's draft already.  River's once again has lead the Chislers to another North title, their 13th. 

First Round Playoffs:

Merry Christmas

In the first time in history of the CFFL playoffs, each division winner will be playing their division wild card representative.  So all these teams know each other very well.  Here is your Playoff Tuk Preview Special: 

Alex's Animals at Cherry's Chislers (-11)  
This will be the Chislers' 24th playoff appearance. This is only the 7th playoff appearance for the Animals.  The two teams split their season series with the first game going to the Animals 36-35 and the second to the Chislers 50-38 in a game that saw the Chislers get 3 scores from their Ravens D.  The Chislers will rely on once again "Old Man" Rivers and Todd Gurley.  The Animals have a QB controversy going into the playoffs as they benched Newton in favor of Alex Smith, who didn't do any better.  Look to see Newton back in the lineup this week, but if not it will truly be Rivers vs Smith as the Chargers take on the Chiefs this week.
Prediction:  Chislers 38-17

Chisler fans love Rivers in a tuk

Toledo Titans at Monclova Dragons (-3)
The third installment of the Brother Battle of the South.  This is the very first playoff appearance for the Titans who started the season red hot and looked like the team to beat early in the season.  This is the 7th playoff appearance for the Dragons who come into the game with the leagues worst offense.  They split their season series as well with the Dragons winning game one by one point and the Titans winning game two 24-13.  The Dragons have been a shitshow at QB this year between Cutler and Manning.  Titans still have a lot of big names (Brady, Julio Jones, Kareem Hunt) and if they can get them all going at same time should cruise. 
Prediction:  Titans 32-20

Good old Tom and his Tuk with a ball on top

Kretz Krauts at Russian Roulette (-2)
In the first of two rematches from Week 14 the Roulette have to withstand one more attack from the Krauts.  This is the Roulette's 4 playoff appearance since entering the league in 2009 and second in a row.  This is the Krauts' 10th appearance since 2002.  The Krauts beat them 31-7 in Week 1 but the Roulette got the best of them last week stealing the East Division title right out of Berlin.  Biggest question surrounding this game is if Aaron Rodgers comes back or not.  While Hundley did fine last week scoring 12 points, they were playing the Browns.  With Wentz out for the year the Krauts will have to rely on Kirk Cousins.  Can the Krauts stop their losing streak and advance to the second round?  Not if Rodgers comes back.  This could be best game of the week.
Prediction:  Roulette 26-22 

Rodgers hopes to trade in his tuk for his helmet

Stamm's Sinistars (-7) at Cam's Killers 
The second rematch from Week 14 has the expansion Killers who won the west division in their first year, trying to make it 2 in a row over the Sinistars.  This is the Sinistars' 8th playoff appearance and 3rd in a row.  The Sinistars came out flat last week getting only production from Wilson (12 points).  In the first game of this series the Sinistars hammered the Killers 30-4 in Week 1.  This is a different Killer team then Week 1.  But so is this Sinistar team and I wouldn't count on another flat performance as Kamara returns to the line up after sustaining a concussion early in the game last week.  With Kamara, Wilson and Graham, and Gordon, the Sinistars still have a lot of fire power.  Killers will need another performance just like they had last week to have a chance.
Prediction:  Sinistars 42-23

Wilson can wear headphones with a tuk with a ball on top!

CFFL Final Week Playoff Implciations

With the final week approaching fast there are several teams still hunting for a playoff spot and some already crowned division title winners (theoretically).  Let's take a quick look that the four divisions and what is in store for us this final week in the CFFL.

The North:

The Chislers are basically King of the North once again.  "King in the North!  King in the North!"  With a one game lead over the Animals even if they lose, both the Animals and Chislers would be tied in record, head to head and divisional record.  Before kick off the Chislers have a 56 point lead in the PF category.  So unless the Animals can win, and score more than 56 points than the Chislers the North is once again ruled by the Chislers. 

Will the Chislers be "King in the North!"?

The South:

A Dragon is currently ruling the South.  Titans and Mayhem will have to mount their forces to take the South from the Dragons and will require assistance from their sworn enemy the Killer Bees.  Dragons face the Killer Bees and if win; conquer the South.  Titans and Mayhem battle each.  Mayhem basically don't have a shot, since even if they beat the Titans and Dragons lose, the Dragons swept the Mayhem in the regular season.  Now the Titans however have an inside track.  If Dragons do lose, and Titans take down the Mayhem, they will have a better divisional record than the Dragons.  They tied the regular season series.  Hence the South would belong to the Titans.  So Dragons, just win baby. 

"Come and get me! I dare ya!"

The East:

Just like in WWII, the Krauts marched too far into Russia and the late season winter took its toll.  The Krauts have been on the retreat from their Russian foes Roulette and Cocktails, losing 3 in a row, when it looked like they were going to run away with the division at 8-2.  Now at 8-5, and after a resurgence of  Roulette, winners of 2 games in a row, are in trouble.  In a final battle, the Krauts must travel to Moscow for one last effort to prevent further retreat.  If they win, why secure the east for Berlin.  If not, the Roulette can defend the Motherland based on ultimately having the better divisional record.  However it may not be the Roulette's head the East crown rests.  If the Cocktails can win and out score the Roulette in the process by more than 4 points then the East Crown is the Cocktails...and the Krauts will fall from 1 to 3 and may miss the playoffs. 

Krauts traveling to Moscow, not too happy about weather

The West:

The Sinistars have clearly been telling the rest of the division to "Run Coward" as they lead in points scored by more than 80 points over rest of division.    At 8-5 they lead by one game.  But they have to travel all the way from Seattle to Tamp and take on the upstart Killers who are only one game back.  This game is basically for the division.  If the Killers win they win the West!  They would have split the series and have the best Divisional record among all three teams (assuming the Bums win). 

Division Leaders                   Wild Card                                       In the Hunt
Chislers (8-5)                        Titans (7-6)                                     Roulette and Killers (7-6)
Dragons (8-5)                        Animals (7-6)                                 Cocktails (7-6)
Krauts (8-5)                           Mayhem (7-6)                                Bums (7-6)
Sinistars (8-5)                        Roulette and Killers (7-6)             
                                               (tied with 342 PF)

Feel free to figure all the wild card scenarios.....