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