So
finally, at last, the playoffs are once again amongst us. As is
tradition, the first week of post season play witnesses the first
round of end of season back slapping, and it is with great admiration
that we acknowledge Coaches Peter, Lars and Laurent as the three
divisional winners. A Continental European sweep it should be noted.
It
is also at this time that the award for the best League record is
begrudgingly handed over from Dnickman to the Super Swedes who posted
an excellent 10-4 record despite dropping to 4-3 at the midway point
of the season and also winning their last five games to enter the
playoffs as the hottest team in the CNFLE.
However,
although the trophy for the most points scored takes a similar path
away from Dnickman in the Emerald Isle it winds up this time not in
Scandinavia, but through Le Tunnel sous la Manche, into mainland
Europe and into the cabinet of our sole Gallic representative, French
Leader who mustered an impressive 1638 points total.
But
whilst the plaudits are certainly welcome at this stage, it should be
noted that the biggest prize of all has yet to be dished out, and as
history has shown us that things don’t work out too well in post
season play for the team that performs best over the past 14 weeks.
In
Season I, It’s a Lottery (yes I know, difficult to imagine it!)
scooped both the points scored and best season record on the back of
a Manning -DeAngelo Williams combo, but saw their 11-3 regular season
effort fall to nothing against the eventual winners, The Enforcers in
the first playoff round.
Season
II witnessed the League restructuring that we are still enjoying
today and the new blood certainly made a difference as Tim Riggins
Bench Warmers racked up a record equaling 11 yet were trounced by
Ttttaylor, whilst the now defunct Yoda from Wales posted 1632 points
but fell to Coach Martin, both reverses coming in the first round of
the playoffs.
Last
season, first year Coach and part time potty mouth pixie, Coach
Cullen, took both awards with a 10-4 season record and also posted a
new single season Carlton record of 1671 points. His vocal self
congratulation was cut short quickly however as Coach Ttttaylor
exacted revenge en-route to CNFLE III glory. Once again this defeat
occured, you’ve guessed it, in the first round of the playoffs.
So
whilst a collective doff of the cap should be forthcoming by the
remaining ten CNFLE affiliates to the direction of Coaches Peter and
Laurent, history clearly shows us that the destination of the famous
trophy is far from being a foregone conclusion. If anything, the
previous years illustrate that the final may be destined to be a
battle between the Bears and the Bones!
(4)
PAULS POLARBEARS (9-5) v (1) SUPER SWEDES (10-4)
Coach
Paul never had any doubt whatsoever that his Bears team would make
the playoffs despite turning a 6-1 halfway record into a 9-5 end of
term report card and needing to rely on a win against basement club
Ttttaylor to guarantee a post season berth. Cue a return to form in
week 14 and an impressive return of 135 points to stick two fingers
up at all those pundits who had suggested that the Bears would bottle
it.
With
the division already sewn up, Coach Peter cantered through their
final match against a flailing West Coast Mafia posting a decent
total of 117. More impressive was the fact that this was the Swedes
fifth straight win to ensure that they made the playoffs for the
second consecutive season, both times as Divisional champs.
Having
holstered the red rifle on the bench, the Bears hopes hinge on which
Eli turns up this week. The Giants need to win to keep their ‘real
life’ playoff hopes on track and last weeks multi TD performance
certainly was encouraging however the Falcons are a different
proposition to the hapless Saints secondary which were put to the
sword last week. Coach Paul will also hope that Bennett continues to
see the majority of Eli’s second and third reads. Foster should be
good for a 20 point return against the Colts, but much will depend
for the Bears on whether Ryan can get the ball downfield against a
savage Giants pass rush. If Matty Ice can keep cool then Roddy White
is in line for a big, big day.
The
Swedes have already amassed nearly a half century of points following
the Thursday night game after the Law Firm and Bungles D continued
their recent good form. Beast Mode is in line for a big day against a
soft Buffalo D and with the strong Seahawks D, could be starting
drives with great field position. The receivers all have mediocre
matchups this week but Moss’s potential production will rest with
whether RGIII is able to go. Both Houston & Baltimore have been
poor against the pass in recent weeks which may give Wayne &
Thomas an opportunity to shine.
The
regular season series between these two divisional foes was shared
1-1 with the Bears edging it in the first round of matches and the
Swedes demolishing Coach Paul’s charges in the rematch. Coach Peter
ended up disappointed after his first foray into the post season last
year but should extend his Season IV winning streak to 6 and give
Europe it’s first Carltonbowl finalist.
VERDICT
: SWEDES BY 14
(3)
THE BONE ROCKS (8-6) v (2) FRENCH LEADER (9-5)
In
spite of overwhelming odds at the start of the season and continual
expressions of doubt from most sections of the media, Coach Lars and
his Bone Rocks have made the playoffs for the first time in his three
year stint as head coach after narrowly missing out in Seasons II &
III. As Champions of the Central, Coach Lars matched his win / loss
record from the previous two years, however this year, due to the
paucity in quality of the rest of the division, it was enough to
carry the title by a clear three games.
After
missing out on the final weekend last year due to a mid season
scouting mission, Coach Laurent vowed to make amends this time round.
A great draft saw the Leader installed as one of the pre season
favourites both for the South and for the ultimate prize. In a
division that yielded no losing records, the title was up for grabs
right up until the end of week 13, when only a miraculous set of
events could have prevented Carlton’s own Napoleon from taking the
honours. The week 14 victory for the Leader against the Bones will
have given Laurent some heart, but he must be worried that his team
have peaked too early after posting a massive 161 points last week.
Is
there a QB controversy in Bone-land? Shaub has a good looking matchup
against the Colts but SuperCam’s return to form earns him the QB#1
spot for this match. Fig Newton has a great looking matchup against a
slumping Chargers who are waiting for Norv to get the bullet.
Elsewhere for the Rocks, it’s all about the Saints – Buccs
matchup as four of the remaining 8 players will be pulled from that
game. Coach Lars will be hoping for a high scoring festive bonanza!
Look out for Doc Martin to rip the Saints to shreds. Dre Johnson will
look to get back to his midseason form against a Colts D that has
been susceptible against the deep ball. Is Shonn Greene in line for a
shock recall to the starting line up?
After
last weeks performance, Coach Laurent will be reluctant to change a
winning formula, but lightning very rarely strikes twice, and Eagles
receiver, Maclin’s sub par performance on Thursday is testament to
that. Many more of those kinds of hangover performances and we could
be saying au revoir to the Gallic challenge! Big news is that after
last weeks return to action, Big Ben gets the nod over Colin
‘Keystone Kops’ Kaepernik, although it should be noted the Dallas
secondary are no pushovers. Peterson and Jackson face off against
each other which could be good for neither as both defences have been
pretty stingy against the run. Which leaves Megatron. What price on
the Madden Curse returning just at the wrong moment?
This
is a close game to call, Tough! In fact it could come down to the old
mantra, ‘defences win championships’ and with the Bones seemingly
sticking with his beloved Niners in the face of the Patriot missiles,
the edge in this department is clearly with the Seahawks who will
chase down Professor Fitzpatrick. But even then it could go either
way!
VERDICT
: ROCKS BY 1
So
then Season IV becomes a Valhalla Bowl as both Peter and Lars
negotiate tricky playoff matches to make Carltonbowl IV next week.
Don’t
shoot the messenger.
Just
the facts ma’am.
Latest
odds supplied by Vasco De Gama
Super
Swedes 4-7
Bone
Rocks 5-4
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