Playoffs: RD2 Preview

In a high scoring NFL showcase, it was a play it by the book weekend for our playoffs. All the top seeds won, and none of the games were close. In fact, three of the games featured one team over 100 points while their opponents were 80 or under. The closest margin of victory? 100 Acre Wood Pooh Bears 108-70 victory over Detroit Players (and that featured only a MNF “chance” for Demarco Murray to gain over 50+ points for the comeback win). Fun trivia: If Squirtle Squad could have taken down Mandalorian Warriors, there could have been a Lake Village Final Four featuring Brian, Alvin, Chris, and J. A roommate battle from over fifteen years ago! Alas, Matt put the kibosh on that with his 133-81 drubbing of Squirtle Squad. So, it looks like our conference championships will feature four high powered teams who are each coming off high scoring weeks. We’re looking at possibly the best conference final round in Maize and Blue history!

Western Conference
Morrie’s Pogiboys (10-3) vs Jedi Knights (8-5)
One of these teams will make history after this weekend. Neither Alvin nor Chris have ever made the Super Bowl so the winner of this matchup is going to have a chance to win a title for the first time ever. Last week, Alvin survived the snow game that blanketed Calvin Johnson and DeSean Jackson by having the Chiefs DST score 26 points. The thing is, Chris’ DST, Cardinals, put up a not too shabby 20 points themselves last week.

Jedi will need another big week from his receivers to fend off Pogiboys’ Johnson and Jackon, but that could be difficult with Wes Welker out via concussion. Can Marques Colston duplicate his big numbers from last week, or will Steve Smith come through in the clutch? It looks like Emmanuel Sanders will replace Welker, and he’s been steady, averaging one touchdown in each of his past three games. Pogiboys have the run game edge too, with Eddie Lacy and Rashard Mendenhall versus Alfred Morris. The biggest hurdle facing Jedi is that Peyton Manning only notched 17 points on Thursday Night Football, eliminating their biggest advantage. Now Tom Brady will have to just play to his average to cancel out Manning. Before the weekend has even started, Jedi Knights already have their backs against the wall but there's a lot of football left to be played...

Eastern Conference
Mandalorian Warriors (11-2) vs 100 Acre Wood Pooh Bears (9-4)
Well, last year’s Clash of the Titans matchup is back once again for another round. Both teams have been playing well of late, with the Warriors dropping 133 points (their season high) behind Drew Brees and LeSean McCoy’s combined 61 points last week. Pooh Bears rode Shane Vereen, Jimmy Graham, and Antonio Brown to their own century plus game, and could easily do it again with more scoring balance. J can breathe a little easier too knowing that Knowshon Moreno dropped a dud on Thursday night. The marquee Brees versus Cam Newton matchup is mostly a wash, with Brees facing an easier matchup but coming off more inconsistent performances. McCoy versus Vereen is surprisingly not that much of an advantage, and what we’re looking at is basically a showdown between the passing game.

Dez Bryant, Antonio Brown, and rookie x-factor Cordarrelle Patterson suit up for Pooh Bears versus Brandon Marshall and Larry Fitzgerald. The edge is toward the former group for quantity but the big names are all over on Warriors’ side. The huge advantage for Pooh will be at TE, with Graham versus Greg Olsen. Warriors is rolling the dice a bit with Bears DST, who are facing putrid Cleveland, but the Bears have put up two negative scores in thier last three weeks. Scary stuff. Pooh isn’t fielding a strong defense either, but Bills DST versus Jacksonville is as good as matchup as could be hoped for in this primetime game. Can J avenge his loss from last season? Can he stop the Warriors' repeat bid in its tracks? Let’s suit up and find out!