Divisional Round Playoff Preview: Rematches Galore

To Hot Boys Hotline, Genie, DG Goons, Jaguars, and Been There Done That, thanks for playing. We hope to see you next season.

To everyone else, welcome to the real season. I don’t think I really need to say much more at this point. Let’s jump right into the previews.

 

Predictions:

5A Divisional Round

 

Conference A:

Tomahawk Nightmare (4) vs. Dope Boys (5)

Previous meeting: Dope Boys 31, Tomahawk Nightmare 20

Their first matchup took place only in Week 6, but it feels like a lot has changed for these two teams since then. For Dope Boys, Eric Lalonde’s offense looks to have lost its magic over the past few weeks, with struggles not so much moving the ball but punching it in once in the red zone. That may prove to be a problem against a Tomahawk Nightmare team that has done anything but struggle offensively in recent weeks: J-F Marquis’ squad has put up a whopping 103 points over their last three games, with most of those points coming against two of the best defenses in the division.

And that’s without even mentioning that Tomahawk were missing their best receiver, Olivier Savage, in that Week 6 loss to their upcoming opponent. If Savage is there this week, you can rest assured that Tomahawk will score a lot more than just 20 points this time around. I’m not sure I can say the same for Dope Boys. 

 

Watch Me Whip (2) vs. Gators (7)

Previous meeting: Watch Me Whip 37, Gators 21

I think Gators have shown a lot of improvement down the stretch, including big games versus Les Verges Folles and Woofpack to close out the season. I’m still not sure they have what it takes to compete with Jordan Bellemare and company.

Gators QB Corey Walwaski’s gunslinging approach to the position works wonders when top receivers Eddy Martinez, Evan Cook and Kevin St-Pierre are able to find room to run downfield, but that’s something that simply will not happen against WMW’s secondary led by safety Danny D’Amour. There will be turnovers forced by D’Amour, there will be touchdowns scored by James Nowakowski and Alex Grey, and this will be a win for Watch Me Whip.

 

X-Men (1) vs. Blackshirts (8)

Previous meeting: X-Men 31, Blackshirts 19

I don’t think we’ll be seeing many surprises in this one. For Blackshirts, the key is for QB Emilio Pampena to hit his intermediate and deep throws to top receivers Dylan Taylor and Brendhan Birch, the latter of whom has exploded for 15 receptions for over 170 yards and 7 TDs over the past three weeks. Meanwhile, victory for X-Men lies in QB Gautama Swaminadhan’s ability to buy time in the pocket to get the ball out to Kevin Boustany and let him do what he does best – make would-be tacklers look foolish out in open space.

As efficient a rusher Birch has been this season, I’m not sure he’s quite reached game-changer level at the position. And so far, that’s the only thing that’s proven to slow Gautama down this season.

 

Top Sauce (3) vs. Supply and Command (6) (N/A)

Previous meeting: Top Sauce 39, Supply and Command 24

I would have paid to draw any other matchup, I’m dead serious. The first time around, SnC got just the good Vince Nardone, who tore up our defense to the tune of 252 yards and 6 TDs through the air. A few weeks later, we get the good and angry Vince Nardone, whose loss to Obamacare is surely still fresh in his mind. Joy.

 

 

Conference B:

BMS Goats (4) vs. Flagrant Fouls (5)

Previous meeting: none

When I first looked at this matchup, I wondered why I was having so much time trying to predict a winner. Then I realized: it’s because these two teams look so similar on paper. Both are 6-4, both are averaging just over four touchdowns a game and giving up just over 20 points per game, and both are coming off a string of strong performances to end the season.

That being said, I think the key difference-maker in this one may be Flagrant Fouls QB Ross Olshansky versus safety Anthony Lazzara. Lazzara has been a force defensively this season, racking up 12 PDs and 10 picks, two of which he returned to the house. Olshansky has never shied away from taking his shots deep downfield, and I wonder how well he will adjust once he sees the 40-bombs aren’t there. Knowing the damage snapper Marty Freedman and wideout Zack Goldstein can do underneath, I’m predicting Flagrant Fouls to eek out a win here.   

 

Team Rocket (3) vs. Sphinx (6) 

Previous meeting: none 

This one has all the makings of one of those low-scoring defensive battles that comes down to whoever makes the one convert of the entire game. Team Rocket have hit the 30-point mark only twice this season, once versus the hapless Pardon My Swag and another versus the even more hapless Fat and the Furious. Sphinx, meanwhile, have hit the mark all of zero times this season. Both have mostly made their money with clock-eating, ground-and-pound style offenses matched with defenses that get off the field on 4th down drive after drive.

Ultimately however, I feel like you have to be able to score if you want to win games, and the team that has actually shown they can do that between these two is Team Rocket. 

 

Les Verges Folles (2) vs. Get On Deck (7)

Previous meeting: Les Verges Folles 33, Get On Deck 26 

Looking strictly at the product both teams have put on the field this season, I just can’t bring myself to make a confident prediction for this game. LVF have been frustratingly inconsistent all year long, most notably highlighted by their three-game winning streak –including handing Obamacare their only loss of the season – heading into week 7, when they were promptly beaten to a pulp by Top Sauce.

Meanwhile Get On Deck have two big wins to their name, over Dope Boys and BMS Goats, but have also struggled against top competition, as they did versus Flagrant Fouls, X-Men, and LVF themselves.

If LVF come out and play to their potential, I think this game is theirs for the taking. Otherwise, it wouldn’t surprise me one bit to see Get On Deck move on to the next round.  

 

Obamacare (1) vs. Trapstars (8)

Previous meeting: Obamacare 45, Trapstars 34

Apologies in advance to Trapstars, but I just don’t see it happening here. Obamacare have too many ballers, too much speed, just too much everything.

I feel like Trapstars’ best hope is to start on defense and somehow get a stop, and then work the clock to score just before the half and then score again to start the second half. Otherwise this one has the potential to become a shootout rather quickly, and that will leave Vincent Richard with no choice but to try to catch up with some big plays downfield – and big plays don’t come often against a secondary featuring the likes of Jordan Mcinnis and Mike Ambrosino.

 

5B Divisional Round

Conference A:

 

Flying Weasels (3) vs. Ghosts (6)

Previous meeting: Flying Weasels 39, Ghosts 26 

I guarantee you Ghosts’ gameplan is a sheet of paper with one line printed on it: Stop Alexandre Girard. It’s something much easier said than done. QB Jonathan Lemieux has depended heavily on Girard to move the ball, with a whopping 52 passes having gone his way this season. If there was ever a time for Ghosts to make the most of top division talent Zach Zwirn, this would be it. Girard burned Ghosts for over 100 yards and two TDs on just four catches the last time these two teams met. I’d be surprised to see him put up those numbers again if he were shadowed by Zwirn from start to finish this weekend.

And yet, even if Girard is successfully contained, there would still be the problem of figuring out how to slow down David Faucher and Jean-Sebastien Renaud, who combined for 68 receptions this season. Ghosts are a good team, but I’m not sure they have what it takes to match up with the Weasels’ three-headed monster.

 

St. Lunatics (4) vs. Les Pitriotes (5)

Previous meeting: none

I want to believe St. Lunatics are the real deal, but I now have serious doubts after their sloppy 12-6 loss to Ghosts to close out the season. It doesn’t help that only two of their seven wins on the season have come against teams who ended up with winning records. On the other side, a week after being sold on Les Pitriotes following their hype win over Junkyard Dogs, I’m left with a major case of buyer’s remorse after they let Creamsicles put 40 on them.

Nonetheless, Les Pitriotes have proven to be a destructive team when they’re on their game. Eli Saleh’s mobility has given rushers nightmares this season as he’s been able to find the time necessary to throw, and connect on, his deep balls more than most other QBs in 5B. With no clear top tier rusher on St. Lunatics’ roster, I think Saleh gets his way for yet another week.  

 

Takeover (1) vs. Creamsicles (8) 

Previous meeting: Takeover 20, Creamsicles 19 

I never thought I’d see a team get shutout in a season and end up as the no. 1 seed. Yet here we are as Takeover are getting ready to face a Creamsicles team that sneaked into the playoffs thanks to 12 fewer points allowed than Jaguars.

I think Takeover are secretly celebrating the fact they’re playing a team they’ve already beaten, but that doesn’t make this game a gimme for them. It took nine weeks for QB Anthony Pitoscia to get his offense going, but when it did so it exploded, notching up 74 points scored over the past two weeks. WR Jordan Allard is always a threat to go deep while snapper Anthony Da Silva has been the chain-mover week after week. Put that all together and you know what, give me Creamsicles for the upset. They’re on a roll, Takeover have struggled in their few games versus top talent, and it’s the playoffs. What’s the playoffs without some crazy Round 1 upsets?   

 

Junkyard Dogs (2) vs. I Rep That West (7)

Previous meeting: I Rep That West 37, Junkyard Dogs 14 

These two teams faced off just last Sunday, but don’t be fooled by the final score – Junkyard Dogs were without star QB Jason Rossie for the game. I wouldn’t be so worried about Junkyard Dogs’ chances in this one if it wasn’t for the fact their usually stifling defense let Chris Lapointe go off for 105 yards and 5 TDs on 7 catches just a few days ago.

Then again, I must say it would come as a big surprise to see a full-strength Junkyard Dogs get bounced out in the first round. With Jason Rossie, Junkyard Dogs’ offense is a well-oiled, touchdown-scoring machine. They have already shown an ability to adjust defensively as needed. Along with having the unique advantage of getting to see I Rep That West’s true offense while I Rep That West still haven’t a clue what to expect this weekend, and it’s tough to predict anything but a Junkyard win here.

 

Conference B:

 

Rednecks (4) vs. Green Lantern Corps (5)

Previous meeting: Rednecks 20, Green Lantern Corps 13 

The big difference this time around: Emile Piche out, Jerson Previlon in at QB. The question: will it matter? Considering Previlon is coming off a big game in Week 11, momentum and confidence is certainly high for GLC. Previlon also definitely has the advantage in the chemistry department over Piche given how many seasons he has under his belt throwing to this team’s receiving corps.

Even so, Rednecks simply look to be the more dominant team overall. Frederic Stumpf is sure to give Mendy Cardichon a tough time getting open downfield, while rusher Olivier Godard won’t make things easy for Previlon, who likes to move around in the pocket. Offensively, the issue will be rusher Emile Piche and his average of 2+ sacks a game. However, as long as Darick Forgues gets the ball out quickly to his studs Nicolas-Emmanuel Pierre and Louis Beauchamp and let’s them do the work after the catch, Piche may not get much of a chance to make his presence felt.

 

Small Giants (2) vs. Weapon X (7)

Previous meeting: Small Giants 45, Weapon X 18

Sure, Small Giants whooped Weapon X’s ass the first time around, but that was way back in Week 2. A lot of football has taken place since then. Small Giants’ attack played a disappearing act for much of the remainder of the season, while Weapon X showed signs they could compete with the division’s best.

This time around, SG will be facing off against a Ryan Browne that looks to have figured out a style and attack that works for him. Browne went from a 5:9 TD-to-INT ratio in the first thee weeks of play to going 24:8 the rest of the way, while Jahlani Gilbert-Knorren is the same playmaker he was at the start of the season.

That being said, two ugly games aside, Small Giants’ Justin Lerner has been on absolute fire all season long, and certainly looks to have the better overall supporting cast between the two signal-callers. Barring an absolute monster game from Gilbert-Knorren, I think SG go 2-0 versus Weapon X this season. 

 

Sunshine Island (1) vs. Blue Devils (8)

Previous meeting: Blue Devils 42, Sunshine Island 40

Blue Devils got lucky with a last-second Hail Mary to win it last time. I’m not so sure they’ll get the chance to complete another one the second time around.

As far as I’m concerned, Blue Devils still don’t have a rusher capable of putting consistent pressure on Matthew Cinquino in the pocket. Perhaps even more importantly, nor will they have the services of receiver Savoie Gargiso. Gargiso popped off for 7 catches for 109 yards and 4 TDs in the first meeting, but he won’t be eligible for the playoffs.

Add to that a QB in Gianfranco Ranaudo that has crashed back down to earth with two forgettable performances in a row to close out the season, and it seems all the arrows are pointing to a Sunshine Island win this time.

 

Les Guerriers de l’espace (3) vs. Fuzzy-Kittens (6)

Previous meeting: Les Guerriers de l’espace 30, Fuzzy-Kittens 23

Their last matchup came all the way back in Week 2, so these two squads have had a lot of time to develop since then. However, it’s been a lot of start-and-stop for both these teams all season long. Fuzzy-Kittens started off slow before looking to click on defense around the midway point – only to collapse in back-to-back weeks to end the season. 

Meanwhile, the Guerriers’ attack has been a show-stopper in some weeks and invisible in others. But unlike Fuzzy, one thing the Guerriers been able to count on just about every week is their sticky handed-secondary. Between just Alex Rivet, Antoine Charlebois and Antoine Baril, these boys have talent spread out all around the field. It’ll take a big game from top Fuzzy receivers Gabriel Poisson and Simon Bosquet Beaudoin. But even then, the Guerriers’ defense is sure to force QB Jordan Robert Chartrand into numerous mistakes – mistakes I don’t think Fuzzy will be able to overcome.

 

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As always, tune into this week’s Division 5 podcast at www.youtube.com/flagplus. See you at the fields!