[12.07.04]
Written by: PWFSI Associated Press

Playoff Crunch

Week 13 -- It's do or die time again in PWFFL. Thirteen weeks have passed and the hopes of owners to raise the Bribin Cup at year end has been crushed for all but seven lucky teams. Seattle, Rhode Island, and Kalamazoo have all clinched a spot in the big dance and are awaiting their final partner to arrive to the party.

The Rocko Bengals lead the pack of four for the final spot. The Bengals amazing victory in week 13 over the Kalamazoo Vikings killed the hopes for Wisconsin and W. Palm Beach, but it put this team from New Hampshire in control of their own destiny. With a win or tie over league-leading Seattle, they are into the postseason for their third straight year. They can still make the playoffs with a loss, but they will need to either outscore a winning Detroit and Green Bay team, or hope that the other three teams lose.

If Rocko loses, Timbuktu is next in line to control their own destiny. Despite being near the bottom of the league in points scored on the season, the Buccaneer's tie in week 13 with Rhode Island leaves them only a half game behind Rocko. Timbuktu needs a win to have a shot at the postseason. In order to get in, they will also need a Rocko loss. Timbuktu plays eliminated Wisconsin in the final week of the season.

The final piece of the puzzle left in the race for the last playoff spot is Green Bay and Detroit. If both Rocko and Timbuktu lose in week 14, Green Bay and Detroit will both need to win in order to force a tiebreaker between the three teams (Rocko). Whichever team has the most fantasy points on the season of the teams tied at 8-6 will earn the final playoff spot. Currently, Green Bay (1182) holds a twenty-two point lead over Detroit (1160) with Rocko (1123) needing a huge day despite a loss to prevail in the tiebreaker. If either Green Bay or Detroit lose in week 14, they are eliminated from playoff contention.

The seeding is also up in the air. The team winning the fight for the last spot will be seeded number four and play the top seed in the first round of the playoffs. Seattle, Rhode Island, and Kalamazoo all still have a shot at the number one seed and they are assured of a top 3 finish.

Seattle will earn the number one seed with a win over Rocko. The Slugs could still lose and earn the top seed with a Rhode Island loss and a Kalamazoo loss or tie.

Rhode Island needs a win AND a Seattle loss or tie to earn the top seed in the playoffs. Rhode Island could still snatch the number one seed with a tie by a Seattle loss and a Kalamazoo loss or tie. The Ricidule could manage to earn the #1 with a tie and Kalamazoo win by scoring 40 more points than the Vikings.

Kalamazoo, the long shot for the top seed, needs to win and have both a Seattle loss and Rhode Island loss (or tie with a 39 point edge in fantasy points).

Now that the playoff picture is clarified, onto the games...

Rocko 155, Kalamazoo 134
The Bengals are still on fire. They needed a huge day in order to beat the Vikings and they got it from all phases of their team. McNabb, C. Johnson, and T. Holt all had huge days to give the Vikings their second straight loss. A win next week will earn this team a trip into the postseason.

Seattle 68, England 57
Tomlinson was the difference in this low scoring affair. Seattle owner Jabin had a big sigh of relief when he saw Teaser Q. Morgan put in a poor performance Monday night to give Seattle control of their own destiny for the number one seed. The Teaser fans can't wait until week 14 is over to end this horrible season for this once lucky franchise. Hopefully next year England will be able to field a competative team while they get relief in a much lighter schedule.

Rhode Island 93, Timbuktu 93
Ridicule-Buccaneer games are always fun ones to watch as these two teams always battle it down to the wire. This one was another classic as a Manning lost fumble was the difference in this one. Drew Bennett, the Buc's 2nd pick of the year came up huge in this one scoring 27 points while the defense scored another quarter to make up for Timbuktu's lack of decent quarterbacking.

W. Palm Beach 116, Wisconsin 99
This game was huge for the Chads as they needed a win to keep their hopes alive, but the Rocko win over Kalamazoo killed their slim hopes. Wisconsin is severly disappointed by their fifth straight loss that in turn knocked them out of contention for the playoffs. Losing Priest Holmes would on the surface look to be the cause of the Wannabes' problems on the season, but it was actually their poor passing and recieving game that has killed them down the stretch.

Detroit 105, Green Bay 59
The Drive have been inconsistant all year long, but they finally managed to put together their first winning streak in a long time when they needed it the most. J. Jones, a mid-season FA pickup casted away by the Yoopers, came up huge scoring 30 points monday night. Those points could very well make the diference if it comes down to the tiebreaker with Green Bay for the last playoff spot. The Drive are a very dangerous team right now and could become the first #4 seed to make it to the Puck Bowl if they get their foot in the door.

N. Michigan 110, Benton Harbor 89
This game didn't mean anything come for the playoffs this year. However this game will very well impact the 2005 draft and with a couple other bounces the schedule for next season. The Yoopers could move into the 2nd tier schedule with a win next week and Wisconsin and W. Palm Beach losses. Jon will also get a chance to kill Green Bay's playoff hopes if they are able to knock off the Slackers in week 14.

Coach of the Week: Rocko Bengals
Player of the Week: Donovan McNabb (QB-Roc)