Semi-Bye-Week, and the Super Bowl

Welcome to Week 5, or the unofficial bye-week of the FlagPlus Football Winter Season.

Last week, I said that I would write a mid-season report for this week’s article. After thinking about it, I realized it didn’t exactly make sense, as no team has played five games yet, and even after this coming Monday’s slate of matches, that will still be the case for nearly half of Division 3, so let’s put it off for one week.

Seven games are on tap for Monday night.

The Alpha-T’s vs BearSkins

Two veteran teams, with championship pedigree throughout, and only one loss between them.

Whether by blowout, or a close affair, The Alpha-T’s, simply just know how to win. If you shutdown Alexis Gaumont, and Mathieu Houle, Emile Beaudoin, Anthony Lapointe, Mike Pierrecin, and company, have no problem stepping up and making a play.

The BearSkins, have a solid record at (3-1). The only issue that pops up, is who have they really beat? No disrespect to Olympia Performance, The Magicians, or Scored your GF, but they have a combined record of (3-8). Not exactly a murderer’s row.

In fact, the only time the BearSkins played a winning team, the Blue Chips blew them out (38-19). Not exactly a good look.

Also, another issue facing the BearSkins, is can they contain The Alpha-T’s offense?

 

South Harmon Institute of Technology vs Big Ballers

Having played against the Big Ballers last week, I came away thinking, that these guys are really fast. With Gabriel Poisson, they have a legit big play Wide Receiver, who can stretch the field.

Their Quarterback David Polynice, is extremely athletic. If he just put a bit more touch on his deep ball, he can turn into a really effective QB.

On the other side of the ball, while they have some weaknesses, it’s nothing more reps won’t help sort out for the most part.

Unfortunately, for the first year squad, they are running into a veteran South Harmon Institute of Technology squad, that is coming off of a tough, and shocking (38-14) loss to The Magicians.

Naturally, the South Harmon Institute of Technology, will definitely look to get back on track. With the clear advantage at Quarterback, Wide Receiver, and on defense, I don’t like odds for the Big Ballers.

 

Martine et le flag vs Les Maloudes

This has the potential to be an exciting game.

After up a combined 60 points the first two weeks of the season, Les Maloudes, have only surrendered 6 the last two games, including posting an impressive shutout victory (19-0) over Top Sauce.

Despite their obvious talent, and (2-2) record, Martine et le flag, haven’t beaten anybody impressive (TOPSZN, and Freshmen).

After losing by 26 points to KGP last week, Martine et le flag, need to step up and show they can hang with one of the top teams in Division 3. Can they?

 

The Crew vs Blue Chips

Two fast and aggressive teams, I have a feeling this will be the best game in Week 5.

The Crew, come into the contest, having won two games in a row, and have scored 30 points in each game.

The question of course, is will that be enough to beat a red hot Blue Chips team, who is undefeated, and has scored more than 30 points in all four games this season?

I have a feeling this one will turn into a track meet.

 

Junkyard Dogs vs Les Studs

This should be a good one, as Les Studs’ top rated offense, goes up against the number two defense, in the Junkyard Dogs.

The injury bug is creeping it’s ugly head yet again, as JYD, who re already without the services of Johnathan Williams, will also be missing their defensive play-caller in Robert White.

With such a key loss on defense, it looks like JYD, will have to turn this game into a shootout if they want to win. Can they keep up with the top offense in Division 3?

 

Scored your GF vs Dirty Dawgs

Whether it be Jordan Panetta, Sahar Cohen, Cal Pienaar, 4-time All-Star Dave Chitayat, over the last few weeks, the Dirty Dawgs offense, have let teams pick their poison, as it relates to choosing which receiver opposing defenses try to stop. Obviously, the tactic has worked, as the teams is (3-1), and is averaging 33 points a game.

This one has the potential to get ugly, if Scored your GF, can’t find a way to slow down the Dirty Dawgs’ offense.

Let’s see if they can.

 

KGP vs The BrotherHood

Two veteran squads that know how to win, this one should be fun.

KGP comes in to this one, fresh off of a (44-18) beat down of Martine et le flag.

The BrotherHood, come into tomorrow’s game having snapped a two game losing streak, with a (26-12) win over LGM.

After losing to The Alpha-T’s, and Cougars, by a combined 3 points, The BrotherHood, are headed in the right direction.

Will it be enough however, for the defending Div. 3 champs, to knockoff an impressive KGP squad, who appear to be firing on all cylinders?

 

Picks

 

The Alpha-T’s vs BearSkins – The Alpha-T’s

South Harmon Institute of Technology vs Big Ballers – South Harmon Institute of Technology

Martine et le flag vs Les Maloudes – Les Maloudes

The Crew vs Blue Chips – (My pick for Game Of The Week)

Junkyard Dogs vs Les Studs – Les Studs

Scored your GF vs Dirty Dawgs – Dirty Dawgs

KGP vs The BrotherHood – KGP

Last Week: (6-5)

Season: (31-15)

 

Super Bowl Pick

 

Anyone that knows me, knows that I hate the New England Patriots, and Tom Brady. Just to be clear, I respect what the organization has done, but I think all the talk about the Pat’s being the greatest franchise, and Brady being the best Quarterback of all time, is a joke.

The Patriots play in the AFC East, which is by far the worst division in football.

Yes, the Buffalo Bill’s made the playoffs last year (with Andy Dalton and Tyler Boyd’s help) but what happened the prior 16 years? 

The Dolphins, have been running in quicksand forever, as they don’t haven’t had a legitimate QB since Dan Marino.

The Jets, are the Jets. Just my opinion, but Sam Darnold, didn’t look all that impressive this year.

With a guaranteed 5-6 wins every year, New England has leg up on other AFC teams for one of the top two seeds in the conference. Obviously, it’s not their fault, but there’s no denying it helps them.

 

As far as TB12 is concerned, I will admit, that he is the greatest Quarterback of this generation without a doubt, but he is not better than Joe Montana.

One QB is undefeated in the Super Bowl (4-0), with a flawless 11 touchdown passes, and no interceptions.

The other passer, has 18 TDs, and 5 INTs.

Eighteen, is obviously more than eleven, but keep in mind that Brady has been to the Super Bowl six times, to Montana’s four.

While those numbers are great, the ones that matter the most, are (4-0) versus (5-3), and how they got there.

The Hall-Of-Fame inductee, beat Dan Marino, John Elway, and Boomer Esaison twice to capture the Lombardi Trophy. Two of those QBs are legends and have their busts in Canton, while the latter, was a 4-time Pro Bowler, and the 1988 NFL MVP.

Out of Matt Ryan, Donovan McNabb, Jake Delhomme, Russell Wilson, and Kurt Warner, only two were/are considered among the best at their craft.

Montana, also had to go through Tom Landry’s Dallas Cowboys, the Lawrence Taylor led New York Giants, and a slew of other good to great teams.

Let’s be honest, the Pats own the Steelers, and the Ravens, Chiefs, Colts, Chargers, and Texans, simply aren’t on New England’s level.

The former 49ers star, also didn’t have the benefit of illegal contact, ridiculous roughing the passer penalties, that pretty much force defenses to play flag football, or the Falcons, stupidly calling back-to-back passing plays when they were already in field goal range, that resulted in a sack, and holding penalty that forced them to punt near the end of regulation, and the Seahawks outsmarting themselves and deciding to call a pass, even though they had arguably the best Running Back in football waiting for a handoff. Or the Tuck Rule, deflate-gate, or spy-gate. I am just saying…

Anyways, on to tonight’s game.

The top passing team in the Patriots (346 yards per game), versus the best rushing team (175 per game).

With names like Brandin Cooks (think he’ll be motivated), Rob Gronkowski, Robert Woods, Julian Edelman, Todd Gurley II, and Sony Michel, both teams have multiple playmakers, who can make a huge play at any time.

Jared Goff, has been impressive this post-season, as he has made a number of big throws when his team has really needed him to, while Brady has been, well, Brady.

As is usually the case when playing the Patriots, you need to get pressure up the middle on the golden boy to beat them.

Aaron Donald, Ndamukong Suh, Michael Brockers, and company, will have to control the line of scrimmage.

One of the potential matchups that will be interesting to see, will be Julian Edelman against Aqib Talib. I guarantee there will be some trash-talking, and, hopefully a play or two, that will leave us entertained.

I wonder how the Rams will choose to cover Gronk. Will it be former Safety turned Linebacker Mark Barron, Corner/Safety LaMarcus Joyner, or the underrated John Johnson?

How effective will Todd Gurley II be? Naturally, he said he is 100%, but anyone who has watched the Rams the last month plus, knows he clearly isn’t.

No matter how many points an offense can score, defenses always slow them down in the playoffs. I think tonight won’t be any different.
I see the Rams getting a late score, then getting a defensive stop to seal the game.

 

Last Week: (1-1)

Playoffs: (5-5)

That’s it for this week. My apologies for the shorter article, but with only seven games, and the Super Bowl, there’s only so much to talk about.
If you loved the article, hated it, or simply felt like I left something out, please feel free to contact me at [email protected], or on Twitter @BADNEWSB51

 

Good luck to everybody on Monday, and enjoy the Super Bowl!