CFFL40 Playoffs Round 2 and FB XL Preview

 What a semifinal round!  Two close games!  One coming down to a final kick!

Krauts 43  Cheislers 40

It didn't look good for the Chislers most of the game.  The Krauts came rumbling down the streets in their Panzer tanks and blitzkrieged the Chislers.  Mahomes had 10 points followed by 12 big points from Bijian Robinson.  In fact almost all of his players scored, getting TDs from Adams and Williams.  Before you knew it, it was 43-18. 

But not to fear, the Chislers had Superman Josh Allen.  The past two weeks Allen scored 20, 30, and 20 points!  However this week he would struggle getting only 4 points.  However one of his passes went to James Cook for a big sideways 10-point connection!  Smith-Njigba would score late and suddenly they were only down 4 points!  Could Allen throw one more?  He heaved it into the end zone, but the receiver dropped the potential game winning score.  

The Chislers quest for Number 8 will have to wait another year.  The Krauts move on to play in their 4th Fantasy Bowl and looking to go 4-0 in the title game.

Animals 32  Warbirds 31

The Warbirds started out pretty strong getting 12 points from Joe Burrow plus a TD from Brian Thomas Jr.  The Animals countered with 10 points from Kyler Murray and a TD from "Flying" St. Brown.  But after a 50 yard TD run by Achane and 7 points from their kicker Carlson (he also missed a FG) the Warbirds led 31-22.  

The Animals were not dead yet with "A, B,"CeeDee Lamb left Sunday night and their kicker Monday night.  CeeDee Lamb caught a bomb and appeared to score, but was actually down just short.  The remainder of the game Lamb would not find the end zone.  So the Warbirds still held onto the 9 point lead.  Animals kicker Brandon McManus started kicking XPs.  One, two, three. Then a FG.  Score was now 31-28.  It was squeaky bum time for the Warbirds.  Then late in the 4th McManus kicked a 46 yarder to tie the game!  Then with just over two minutes left he would kick the game winning XP!  

With the Animals making it to the Fantasy Bowl, both top seeds will face off in Fantasy Bowl XL.  This is the Animals 4th trip to the Fantasy Bowl as well, looking to earn their 3rd title.  

1st Round Pick Tourney:

Crush 25  Wrecking Crew 22

Legion 42  Sinistars 21

Crush play Legion for the Number 1 pick in next years draft.

Fantasy Bowl XL

So here we are.  The 40th Fantasy Bowl in history of the Cherry Fantasy Football League.  The Animals will fly to Berlin to take on the top seeded Krauts.

Past Fantasy Bowls:

Fantasy Bowl I:  Crickets 34 Scumbags 11

Fantasy Bowl II:  Stooges 17  Maulers 9

Fantasy Bowl III: Jewels 35  Bums 29

Fantasy Bowl IV: Astronomicals 40  Jewels 17

Fantasy Bowl V:  Mooches 38  Maulers 27

Fantasy Bowl VI: Mooches 14 Twins 2

Fantasy Bowl VII: Wrecking Crew 32  Jewels 16

Fantasy Bowl VIII: Jewels 36  Whammers 23

Fantasy Bowl IX:  Maulers 42  Power 40

Fantasy Bowl X: Geriatrics 26  Mooches 16

Fantasy Bowl XI:  Chislers 42 Twins 29

Fantasy Bowl XII:  Bombers 34  Twins 20

Fantasy Bowl XIII: Twins 17  Apes 7

Fantasy Bowl XIV: Maulers 43  Chislers 27

Fantasy Bowl XV: Power 31  Chislers 26

Fantasy Bowl XVI: Power 45  Twins 34

Fantasy Bowl XVII: Crickets 26  Bums 12

Fantasy Bowl XVIII: Bees 24  Chislers 23

Fantasy Bowl  XVIV: Wrecking Crew 36  Chislers 33

Fantasy Bowl XX:  Mafia 28 Crickets 27

Fantasy Bowl XXI: Chislers 41  Strikers 26

Fantasy Bowl XXII: Crush 41 Wrecking Crew 37

Fantasy Bowl XXIII: Krauts 38  Ferrets 28

Fantasy Bowl XXIV: Yard Dogs 32  Chislers 30

Fantasy Bowl XXV: Krauts 38  Wrecking Crew 23

Fantasy Bowl XXVI: Mayhem 22 Mafia 19

Fantasy Bowl XXVII: Chislers 55  Wrecking Crew 39

Fantasy Bowl XXVIII: Chislers 32 Bees 25

Fantasy Bowl XXIX:  Wrecking Crew 35  Bums 23

Fantasy Bowl XXX:  Chislers 30  Crush 13

Fantasy Bowl XXXI: Crush 28  Juggernauts 26

Fantasy Bowl XXXII: Mayhem 46 Mafia 42

Fantasy Bowl XXXIII: Animals 28  Killers 21

Fantasy Bowl XXXIV: Chislers 46 Cocktails 31

Fantasy Bowl XXXV: Sinistars 34  Cocktails 18

Fantasy Bowl XXXVI: Chislers 69  Dragons 28

Fantasy Bowl XXXVII: Krauts 51  Animals 22

Fantasy Bowl XXXVIII: Whales 39  Crush 23

Fantasy Bowl XXXIX: Animals 58  Sinistars 32

Fantasy Bowl XL Preview:  Alex's Animals (-4) at Kretz Krauts

Weather shouldn't be a factor in Berlin for Fantasy Bowl XL with temperatures in the low 40s with little chance of precipitation.   So let's take a look at this match up.

QB:  Animals' Kyler Murray vs. Krauts' Patrick Mahomes.

Clearly the advantage goes to the Krauts Mahomes.  Murray can certain put up comparable points, but you can't go against Mahomes.

Advantage: Krauts

RB:  Animals' Joe Mixon and Tyrone Tracy vs. Krauts' Derrick Henry and Bijan Robinson.

Pretty good match up between RBs here.  Mixon has 72 points on the year, but has only 1 score in the past 5 weeks.  Tracy has been a surprise getting 3 scores in past 4 weeks.  Henry similar to Mixon as he has 90 points but hasn't scored a TD since week 11.  Robinson has been lighting it up though for the Krauts.

Advantage: Krauts

WR:  Animals' Lamb, St. Brown, and Andrews vs. Krauts' Adams, Williams and Worthy.

Another close one.  Veterans Lamb and Adams pretty much a wash.  Then you have St. Brown and Williams both for the Lions.  Both pretty even.  Andrews has scored in 4 straight games.  Worthy is a dangerous 10 point connection.

Advantage:  Even

Special Teams and Defense:  Animals' McManus and Bengals vs. Krauts' Butker and 49ers.

Another hard call here.  McManus was the hero for the Animals last week.  Butker is back from being on IR and Christmas could be a big day for the Krauts with the Chiefs playing...

Prediction:  I would take the points and the Krauts.  Krauts could win outright in a tough match up of top seeds in Fantasy Bowl XL!  Krauts 38 Animals 36

Merry Christmas!!

CFFL40 Playoffs

 There was a glitch in the Matrix causing the Bees to actually make the playoffs not the Legion...Krauts were thankful for that glitch...

Playoffs Round 1:

Krauts 35  Bees 23

The Bees certainly tried to take advantage of getting in the playoffs and gave the Krauts a game.  After Davante Adams scored 14 points, the Krauts only led 28-23 going into the Monday double header.  Bees had Jordan Addison "Not Mattison" but the Krauts had Bijan "Mustard" Robinson and Younghoe "Cream on Sum Yong Guy" Koo.  7 points from Koo eliminated the Bees and the Krauts move on.

Adams scores one of his two TDs

Animals 42  Dragons 38

This was the most exciting playoff game of the week!  Lamar Jackson of the Dragons did all he could to help the Dragons defeat the defending champ Animals by scoring 20 points from 5 TD passes!!  Dragons led 38-36 going into Sunday Night Football and the Animals only had one player left.  But late in the game that player, Charbonnet "I like Charbonnet" would break loose for a 24 yard game winning TD for the Animals! Their title defense continues on.

Charbonnet scores the game winning TD!

Warbirds 24  Cocktails 20 

Sunday Night wasn't as good for the Cocktails however.  They had a chance to beat the Warbirds whose 24 points came from just two players (Burrow and Chase Brown).  He didn't even get a single point from his kicker.  What an opportunity for the Cocktails with Jordan Love, Jayden Reed and Tucker Kraft Sunday night.  Love would throw 2 TD passes but neither of them went to Reed or Kraft.  Just one to either of them and they would have moved on.  

Chase Brown scores twice in the win

Chislers 44  Whales 32

The game wasn't nearly as close as the score indicated.  The Chislers just continue to roll on with Superman Josh Allen,.  This week he scored 20 more points in the win along with 12 points from James Cook.  Last three week point totals for Allen?  20-30-20!!  The Whales would get 12 points late from kicker Will "John Luke" Reichard on Monday night but the game was over by then.

This dude cannot be stopped!

Here are the scores in the #1 Pick in the 2025 Draft Bracket:

Crew 23  Juggernauts 12

Legion 34  Titans 11

Sinistars 38  Killers 32

Crush 58  Ferrets 45

Round 2 Match Ups

Chislers at Krauts (+14) - You have to be kidding me?  The Krauts are a 14 point dog at home in Berlin?  The Chislers do have Superman Allen and Mahomes is banged up for the Krauts. I have a feeling the Kraut ground game will come alive in this one, but Allen will pull some ridiculous point total again.

Take Krauts and the points but Chislers win close one.

Warbirds at Animals (-2) - This would be a stay away game with that short line.  2 points sounds about right between these two.  Warbirds will once again rely on Burrow to deliver a victory, but will Brian Thomas get in the line up?  Animals riding the backs of Charbonnet "I like Charbonnet" and Mixon.

Lay the points.  Looks like we will have a father-son Fantasy Bowl!

#1 Pick in 2025 Draft match ups:

Crush at Wrecking Crew (+4) Lay points with the Crush.  They are hot.  Crew haven't been all year

Sinistars at Legion (-11) Too many points.  Take it with the Sinistars but Legion prevail.  

CFFL40 Week 14 and Playoff Preview

 

The final week of the regular season ended with a thrilling final game between the Killers and the Whales to decide who would win the west.  The rest of the spots are set.  The Animals begin their title defense and try to be the first team to repeat since the Chislers in 2011 and 2012.

Here is what happened in Week 14...

Animals 41 Wrecking Crew 9 - The Crew pretty much packed it in suffering from multiple injuries and bye weeks.  Zach Charbonnet "I like Charbonnet" led the way for the defending champs with 12 points and Kyler Murray had 10 points in the season finale. 

Charbonnet, I like Charbonnet...

 Chislers 63 Ferrets 33 - As if Superman Josh Allen's performance last week in the snow wasn't enough.  This week he would pass for 3 TDs and run for 3 TDs giving him 30 points on the week!  It  ties the record for most points in a game by a QB set in 1991 by Mark "Cornholio" Rypien.  Rypien  threw for 6 TDs and ran one in for the Jewels.  The Jewels would go on to play in the Fantasy Bowl that year only to lose to the Wrecking Crew.

Allen tied the record for most points in a game by a QB

Killer Bees 42  Dragons 40 - The Dragons failed to beat the hated Bees in the season finale after Jordan Addison "Not Mattison" scored 3 TDs.  The Bees finished 7-7 but missed the playoffs thanks to an inept offense until this week.  Dragons got 12 points from Kyren Williams but had Lamar Jackson on bench due to bye.  

Addison "Not Mattison"

Warbirds 43  Titans 10 - Warbirds came down hard on the Titans who really gave up on the season leaving three players on bye in his starting line up.  Warbirds were hitting on all cylinders with Burrow scoring 12 points, including a 10 point connection to Chase Brown plus 12 points from Jauan Jennings.

Brown donating himself to the Salvation Army

Juggernauts 30  Cocktails 24 - Not a great performance heading into the playoffs by the Cocktails losing to the Juggs.  Juggernauts were led by 12 big points from Puka "Tuukka" Nacua, 10 points from Jake "Master" Bates, no defense and McCaffrey still in his lineup...

Nacua scoring one of his two TDs

Krauts 25  Sinistars 21 - It was just a tune up game for the Krauts as they get ready for the real season.  They haven't played a meaningful game for 3 weeks.  Bijan Robinson did get the octopussy scoring a TD and converting the 2 point try.

Legion 58  Crush 24 - Legion, needing a win and  outscore the Ferrets by 23 if  Ferrets would win brought the heat against the Crush scoring 58 points!  Sam "I'm seeing ghosts"  Darnold had 20 points that included two 10 point connections to Jefferson.  Josh Jacobs "Jingleheimer Schmidt" scored 3 TDs for the second time this year!

"I'm not seeing ghosts anymore"

Whales 34  Killers 31 - In the game of the week the Whales and Killers were playing for the division and the Killers for their playoff lives.  After a 10 point connection by Tua to Hill they had a lead 31-28 heading into the final game of the week.  Both teams had one player left Monday Night.  The Killers had Gesicki.  But the Whales had Brandin Cooks.  Killers couldn't hang on and Cooks would catch a TD pass for the win, eliminating the Killers and winning the West.

Cooks scores the game winner for the Whales

Player of the Week:  Josh Allen, QB, Chislers, 30 points

Playoff Round 1 Preview:

Iron Legion (7-7) at Kretz Krauts (11-3) -7.5

Looking at the teams it would seem this is a miss match.  Krauts dominated the season and clinched the division several weeks ago.  Legion had to win the final game to sneak in.  But looking at the roster, you have to be careful of the Legion.  With Darnold, Jacobs and Jefferson, not to mention Sutton, they will give the Krauts everything they can handle.  Krauts will get Henry back, pairing him with Robinson in one of the leagues most dangerous backfields.  

Take Legion +7.5 in a close one.

Dragons (8-6) at Animals (9-4) -3.5

Lamar Jackson is back in the line up and can easily score double digits for the Dragons. This could be an upset in the making with Williams and Jackson for the Dragons.  The Animals are trying to be the first team to repeat since his dad did it in 2011-2012.  Mixon will be back running along side Charbonnet "I like Charbonnet". 

While I think the Dragons can pull off the upset, lay the points with the defending champs.

Cocktails (8-6) at Warbirds (9-5) -6.5

The Cocktails still on a mission to win their first championship, draw the Joe Burrow led Warbirds.  This could be a battle on the ground with the Cocktails running game led by Montgomery who is always a threat to score, and the Warbirds duo of Achane and Chase Brown.  If Cocktails QB Love gets hot and connects with Reed the Warbirds could be in trouble. 

Take the points all day long.  6.5 way too many and I think Cocktails win outright. 

Chislers (9-5) at Whales (8-6) +7.5

Can Josh Allen carry the Chislers all the way to another Fantasy Bowl?  He can't keep up this ridiculous pace of points, can he?  The Chislers hope he does!  They are a hard team to beat if he keeps it up and Ja'Marr Chase keeps finding the endzone.  The Whales are going to need their Eagle trio of Hurts, Barkley, and Smith to step up.  The Whales beat the Chislers by one point back in week 6, 37-36.

Could be the game of the week.  I think the Chislers pull this off with another huge performance from Allen, but still will be close.  So take the points.

CFFL40 Week 13

 Week 13 is in the books.  Only one more week to go.  Hard to believe we are looking at the last week of the regular season and it seems just like yesterday I was hanging with Derek Stevens, Owner/CEO of the Circa Resort and Casino!  All but two teams have clinched playoff spots and two divisions have been decided.  Krauts and Animals are Division champs while Warbirds, Chislers, Cocktails, and Dragons all have punched their post season tickets.

Here is what happened in Week 13:

In the North...Crew had no chance against the Chislers led by Superman Josh Allen who scored 20 points by passing two TDs, running one in and catching one.  He actually had his own 10 point play by throwing a pass and then scoring on a lateral.  So the box score reads Allen 7 yard TD pass from Allen...The Animals needed OT to beat the Ferrets and clinch the North.  Game was tied 34-34 but in OT the home team Animals had Caleb Williams as first back up and he scored 12 points for the win!

Allen flying through the air like Superman

In the South...The Dragons dropped a big game to the Warbirds 42-17, dropping from the number 2 seed to the number 7.  Warbirds completed the sweep of the Dragons and are 5-0 in the South with their sights on the South crown.  Joe Burrow got them 12 points and not that they needed it, but then they got two more pick sixes on Monday Night (Broncos)...Titans just playing out the season took down the Killer Bees with 12 points from Russell Wilson, that included a 10 point connection to Pickens.

Burrow scores 12 points for the Warbirds

In the East...Two more teams just playing the season out, the Juggernauts and the Sinistars.  The Juggs easily won 43-19 behind 2 Njoku TDs and 8 points from superstar Will Levis...Despite the East wrapped up by the Krauts, the Cocktails needed the win to clinch the playoffs.  They would prevail 31-21 led by two Love to Reed 10 point connections!

Love and Reed celebrate!

In the West...The Killers defeated the Legion 41-19 as they continue to make a run at the playoffs.  They were led by 12 points from Terry McLaurin and a 10 point connection from Tua to Hill.  If they can keep it up, this team might be dangerous in the playoffs...The Whales were able to keep a half game distance with the Killers by beating the Crush 36-32.  The Eagles trio of Hurts, Barkley, and Goedert combined for 22 points. 

McLaurin setting his sights on the playoffs

Playoff Picture

Division Leaders                                Wild Card

1. yKrauts 10-3                                    5. xChislers 8-5 (475)

2. yAnimals 9-4                                   6. xCocktails 8-5 (470)

3. xWarbirds 8-5                                  7. xDragons 8-5 (433)

4. Whales 7-6 (454)                             8. Killers 6-6-1

In the Hunt

Ferrets 6-7 (401)

Legion 6-7 (378)

Crew 6-7 (350)

Bees 6-7 (296)

North:

Animals have clinched the North even if they lose and the Chislers win since Animals swept the Chislers.

Ferrets in with win and Killer loss, unless Legion win and outscore the Ferrets by 23 points.

South:

Warbirds clinch the division with a win or a loss by the Dragons.

Dragons need a win and a Warbird loss to clinch division.

Bees in with win and losses from Killers, Ferrets, Legion and Crew.

West:

Killers at Whales for the division. 

If Killers lose they need Ferrets, Legion, Crew and Bees lose.

If Whales lose they need a Ferret loss (Ferrets won head to head) or if multiple teams tied at 7-7 it would go to points and Whales had significant advantage.