CFHL is back!

 The CFHL is back!  Hopefully we will be able to complete the season.  Last year will be forever known as the "Lost Year".  The season got cancelled with only a few weeks to go in the regular season, after weeks of competition and god forsaken blogs!

Here is brief look at the upcoming season and analysis of the two divisions.  This year we have 10 teams and only 2 divisions, but should be lots of fun!

The Cherry Division

The Cherry Division is comprised entirely of, you guessed it, Cherry family members.  Cherry's Checkers and son Alex's Assassins.  R.C. Goon Crew and his son the Skull Crushers, and California Raisins, nephew of the Checkers and Crew.  

Two best teams:  Checkers (of course) and the surprising Raisins.  Both teams have strong goaltending.  Raisins have Jarry and Vasilevskiy while the Checkers have Binnington and Samsonov (and Quick as backup, of course).  I like the Raisins' Centers and Fowards.  Crosby, Wheeler and Landeskog are strong.  And you got to love the tandem of Bergeron and Marchand for the Checkers.  

Andrei Vsilevskiy

Middle team:  Assassins will compete with the top two. Pretty solid front lines with Couture, Lindholm and Voracek.  They do have some injury questions at the time, but should work out.  Zibanejad is a powerful scorer too.  Goaltending might be up and down.  Anderson is solid.  Blackwood unproven over course of entire season.

Logan Couture

Bottom two:  Not liking either the Crew or the Crushers.  Crew will need a big year out of David.  They probably have the strongest blue line in the division with an all star line up of Burns, Hamilton, Klingberg and Pietrangelo.  Goalies, not so good.  MacKinnon will anchor the Crushers squad along with Stamkos and Backstrom, but they are not getting any younger.  Not a lot of help on the bench for the Crushers.  They loaded up on goalies and have 5 to chose from!

Burns looking good as always

The Smythe Division

Okay nobody from the Smythe division with the Smythe name, but an eclectic mix as always.  The two most recent champions; Mayhem on Ice and Who Gives a Puck.  Krampus Carols are joined by the Soviets USSR and White Mambas.  

Two best teams:  Looks like it could be USSR or Who Gives a Puck division.  I will give the edge to the Soviets.  They are real strong on the front end.  Eichel and Kuznetsov anchor the center and are flanked with all kinds of goal scoring talent with the likes of Kane and Laine.  A little weak on the blue line and in net, but still pretty solid.  Who Gives a Puck has a real nasty pair at forward with Ovechkin and Pastrnak.  Pastrnak is coming off injury and once he is full strength, Who Gives a Puck can put up some goals.  Slight edge to Puck in net with Rask and Hart.

Ovechkin looks ready!

Bottom three:  The rest of the division is a hounds breakfast.  Krampus has some fire power with Draisaitl, Tavares and Malkin.  Time will tell with their blue line defenders.  And you thought the Crushers had a lot to chose from in goal?  The Krampus has 6 goalies to chose from, so we will see how that plays out.  Mayhem not as dangerous on the front line, but are deep.  Better at the blue line with Hedman and Krug and slightly better in goal with Hellebuyck and Lehner.  White Mambas have lots of Centers and Fowards led by Aho and Matthews.  Plus Point and Nugent-Hopkins can put up some points.  No depth on the blue line and will have to shore that unit up.  Plus they have a goalie that has just quit the game (Corey Crawford).

Victor Hedman

Byes to go to division champs USSR and Checkers.  

Wild Card Teams:  Raisins, Who Gives a Puck, Assassins and Krampus

On Bubble:  Goon Crew and Mayhem

Puck Drops tomorrow!!!  Good Luck everyone!

CFFL 2020 Year End Awards

 CFFL 2020 MVP:  Aaron Rodgers, QB, Krauts - 210 points

Aaron Rodgers, in his 16th season he had a career best 48 passing TD, plus 3 rushing TDs!  He hadn't thrown 40 TDs since 2016.  Rodgers went in the 3rd round with the 10th pick. Pretty good steal.

All CFFL Team:

QB - Aaron Rodgers, Krauts - 210 points

RB - Alvin Kamara, Legion - 126 points

RB - Dalvin Cook, Chislers - 108 points

WR - Devante Adams, Sinistars - 108 points

WR - Tyreek Hill, Cocktails - 102 points

WR - Adam Thielen, Mayhem - 86 points

K - Younghoe Koo, Juggernauts - 144 points

D/ST - Colts, Crew - 42 points

All CFFL Nickname Team:

QB - Justin "Pizza Face" Herbert - Chislers

RB - Derrick "King Rat Tail" Henry - Chislers

RB - Josh Jacobs "Jingleheimer Schmidt" - Cocktails

WR - Tee "Mrs. Sue" Higgins - Animals

WR - Stefon Diggs "Dig Dug" - Chislers

WR - David "T.C." Moore "Bookkeeping - Ferrets

K - Younghoe "Cream Sum Yung Guy" Koo

Amazingly this 2020 season has come to an end.  A season, that back in the spring we were not even sure would happen.  Then we were not even sure we would finish, or the season could get extended, or a game would be cancelled.  Kudos to the NFL for marching on throughout the season and getting it done!  See everyone in August for the 37th season of the CFFL!

CFFL Fantasy Bowl XXXVI

 FANTASY BOWL XXXVI

Cherry's Chislers 69  Monclova Dragons 28

CHICAGO, IL - Fantasy Bowl XXXVI was a match up between the Dragons, playing in their very first Fantasy Bowl ever against the mighty Chislers, who were playing in their 12th Fantasy Bowl, most of any team in the CFFL.  The result was exactly what you would expect.

The Dragons won the South at 7-7 behind the leadership of Deshaun Watson.  It was a struggle all year for the Dragons, and up until nearly the end of the regular season, the South was still up for grabs.  The Dragons would upset the Crew in round 1 36-32 behind 2 TD from rookie RB D'Andre Swift.  In the semis they pulled off another upset, beating the red hot Cocktails, 29-24.  They would need another monumental upset to win Fantasy Bowl XXXVI against the Chislers.

D'Andre Swift played will in the playoffs for the Dragons

The Chislers, led by Josh Allen and the RB duo of Henry the Rat Tail and Dalvin Cook, would win the North for their 15th Division Title.  The playoffs were a breeze for the Chislers beating the expansion Whales 42-25, behind 20 points from Allen, and then the Krauts 55-35 (Allen had 16 more plus Diggs had 3 TDs).  

Josh Allen, not happy about being benched

The Chislers would completely surprise the world by benching many of his starters, including Allen who had 20 and 16 points the past two games.  "We just want to show the world we can win with anyone in our line up" Chisler owner Rick Cherry declared.  But per usual, Chisler Luck would prevail as Justin Herbert, in for Allen, would out score Allen 19-12 in points...

This game was over before you could get up and get a beer or have some halftime popcorn.  It was 20-6 at half time as another back up, "Billy" Mattison, in for Dalvin Cook, scored two times in the first half.  Things would only get worse for the Dragons in the second half.

"Billy" Mattison scored twice for the Chislers

The scoring rained down on the Dragons, as Herbert would throw 3 TD passes, run one in and throw a 2 point conversion.  Derrick "King Rat Tail" Henry ran all over the Dragons and scored twice.  To add insult to injury, Chislers also got a TD from AJ Brown and then 2 TDs from Tyler Lockett.  Lockett hadn't scored a single point since Week 11!  

Herbert earned FB XXXVI MVP Honors

The one small, and I mean small, bright spot for the Dragons was Deshaun Watson.  He was able to score 12 points in the second half, but needed help from the rest of the team to at least make it a game.  Either way it would have been hard to score 70 points just to win.

The Chislers would go on to win their 7th Fantasy Bowl, more than any other CFFL franchise (Crew next with only 3).  They scored the 2nd most points in the regulars season with 635 and broke the record for most points in the post season (165) and points in a Fantasy Bowl (69).  

This team was based on a ground and pound with Henry and Cook and they were able to grab Diggs then Allen, in a draft where not many were expecting that type of performance out of Allen.  The Chislers are always looking for those "diamonds in the rough" and seem to be able find them all the time.

Congratulations to the Chislers winning their 7th Fantasy Bowl Trophy!

CFFL History: Fantasy Bowl XXVIII

 

The Fantasy Bowl in 2012 could have been one of the more exciting Fantasy Bowls to date.  But of course why not.  The Chislers would be in it, and they have a history of playing in games with fantastic finishes.  

The Chislers led by long time Chisler QB Philip Rivers would only finish 8-6 behind the North Division Champ Ferrets.  But they would get by the Bums 38-36 getting 18 points from WR James Jones.  In the semis they would face off with the Twins.  A  team they had faced 6 pervious times in the post season.  Chislers would defeat the Twins 33-24 on their way to their 9th Fantasy Bowl.

The Bees were looking to get in their second Fantasy Bowl led by league MVP Drew Brees.  Could a CFFL MVP finally win a Fantasy Bowl?  The Bees would coast to a 55-14 win against the Mayhem in Round 1 and a 38-31 win against the Ferrets in the semi-final round.  They would move on to Fantasy Bowl XXVIII and a Fantasy Bowl XVIII rematch with the Chislers.

Witten scores the tying score for the Bees

Back in 2002 the Chislers and Bees faced off in a classic battle with the Bees winning on a final second Jeff Wilkins XP.  This game would prove to be just as exciting.  It started out with Brees once again throwing 4 TD passes giving the Bees an early lead.  The Chislers would come back with 2 TD passes from Rivers, one going to Gates for a 10 point connection.  The Chislers led 25-19 and just needed to get through the final game between Washington and Dallas, of which the Bees had Jason Witten.  In the second quarter Witten would score to tie the game 25-25!!  Were the Bees going to do it again to the Chislers?  There was a lot of time left for Witten to score again.  He would not and for the first time in CFFL history we had overtime in the Fantasy Bowl.  Chislers being the home team got 7 points from kicker Greg "The Leg" Zuerlein to win it's 4th title!

Bees QB Drew Brees 2012 CFFL MVP
with 134 points!

CFFL History: Fantasy Bowl XXVII

 2011 in the North, the Animals were the division champs for the first time, while the Crew and the Chislers slipped into the playoffs with 7-7 records.  However it would be the Crew and the Chislers that would face off once again in the Fantasy Bowl and not the Animals. 

The Crew would return to the Fantasy Bowl for the 5th time.  The last two trips to the Fantasy Bowl for the Crew ended in losses.  Now they would face their rival brother the Chislers.  The Crew were led by Tom Brady who had 39 TDs on the season, and two big TEs, Gates and Jimmy Graham who had 11 TDs.  On their way to Fantasy Bowl XXVII they would defeat the Juggernauts and MVP Rodgers 38-23  and then the Bees 43-33 getting 16 points from Tom Brady.

The Chislers making their 8th trip to the Fantasy Bowl were led by Matthew Stafford.  Basically they got Stafford in his only really great season, throwing for 41 TDs!  Stafford would set the record for most points in the postseason with 49! (Brady would be second that year with 42 for the Crew).  Chislers beat the Bums easily 37-20 in the first round and then the Krauts 32-24 in the semi-final round.  

Stafford sets records in the playoffs and Fantasy Bowl!

Fantasy Bowl XXVII would see Stafford score 21 points in the Fantasy Bowl, setting a record for most points scored by a QB in a Fantasy Bowl at the time.  Ray Rice for the Chislers would add two more TDs.  Brady would have 12 points and Gates and Graham would both score.  But Stafford's 21 points were too much to overcome as the Chislers would win their 3rd title defeating his brother the Crew 55-38.  

Juggs QB Aaron Rodgers 2011 CFFL MVP
finishes season with 168 points!

CFFL History: Fantasy Bowl XXVI

 The brand new decade would see an unlikely hero take a team to a title in 2010.  

The Mafia was back looking for their second title.  They won Fantasy Bowl XX against the Crickets back in 2004.  They managed to squeak by the Dragons 28-25 in the first round and then kept the Chislers from their 8th trip to a Fantasy Bowl beating them 28-13.  

The Mayhem had entered the playoffs as a wild card from the South.  They were led by Josh "Jewfro" Freeman, the unlikely hero spoke of earlier.  They would edge the defending champ Krauts 35-32 in Round 1.  In the semi-finals, the Mayhem would defeat the Bums 48-20 behind 20 huge points from Freeman to make it to their first ever Fantasy Bowl. 

Freeman helped the Mayhem to their first title

Fantasy Bowl XXVI was not exactly a thriller.  The Mayhem QB Josh Freeman would throw 2 TDs.  Mafia would get a TD from Jamaal Charles and Reggie Wayne, but it wouldn't be enough as the Mayhem would prevail winning 22-19.  Josh Freeman would end up being the playoff MVP scoring 32 points in the playoffs, good enough for 5th best all time!

Sinistar QB Brad the 2010 CFFL MVP
scoring 122 points

CFFL History: Fantasy Bowl XXV

 

2009 saw a close to yet another decade as the CFFL turned 25.  It also saw three teams from the South make the playoffs (Bees, Dragons and Mayhem).  What's up with that?  None of them made it to the Fantasy Bowl.  Oh alright then.

But the Fantasy Bowl would see two familiar faces back.  The Krauts would return to the Fantasy Bowl for the second time in three years.  Gone was Manning, but in his place was McNabb as well as Jamaal Charles "In Charge".  They were Eastern Bloc Champs and would beat the Dragons 29-23 in Round 1 and the Bees 42-21 in the semis behind a 12 point performance from McNabb.  

The Wrecking Crew were back in the Fantasy Bowl hoping to get the bad taste out of their mouth from their last trip when they lost to the Crush in Fantasy Bowl XXII.  Back was Peyton Manning for the Crew throwing for 33 TDs.  The Crew would edge the Mayhem 41-38 in a barn burner Round 1 game followed by beating bitter brother rival Chislers in the semis 31-26 to move on to Fantasy Bowl XXV.

Longwell kicked 14 points in the Kraut FB win

Fantasy Bowl XXV would not have the dramatics that past Fantasy Bowls had, specially not any of the theatrics Chislers games had.  This game would see points only come from RBs and Kickers.  Crew got 12 points from Thomas Jones and 11 from kicker John Kasay, but that would be it.  Krauts won easily 38-23 behind 24 points from Charles and Frank Gore"s knee" and 14 big point from their kicker Ryan Longwell.  They would capture their second title and remain undefeated in Fantasy Bowls.

Killer Bees QB Drew Brees the 2009 CFFL MVP
with 140 points