Playoff Push and Power Rankings

As we enter the last quarter of the season, wins and losses take on that much more significance. This is crunch time for everybody, but more so for teams who are on the outside of the playoffs looking in, and others that are clinging with their lives to the last post-season spot.

In Division A, this scenario applies to KGP and The Apocalypse. Coming into this weekend, (2-4-1) KGP held a 3-point lead over (1-6) The Apocalypse. Both teams split the two meeting this year, with the latter winning by five points to kickoff the season, while the former more than tripled that total, winning by 16 a week later.

When looking at both teams, each side is oozing with talent, but it is their lack of execution that is holding them back. For The Apocalypse, look no further than the last three games, all losses that were decided by a combined total of nine points. In the last two of those contests, the team’s offense had the ball last with a chance to either win or tie the game, and each time they failed. If you take the glass half full approach, the three losses came against the Braves (twice) and Allstars.

Looking at their remaining schedule, The Apocalypse play the Party Crashers, sandwiched in between two games against Mo’ Khans, Mo’ Problems. In their Week 1 meeting, the Party Crashers dismantled The Apocalypse (52-33). That of course was all the way back at the beginning of June. We are now halfway through July. Despite their record, TA is playing their best ball of the season. They will need to continue the trend while needing some help along the way to qualify for the post-season.   

For KGP, they finish with a game against the Braves tonight, followed by back-to-back meetings with the Allstars. For this team it is simple. Best case scenario, win two out of three and they’re in. The next best thing would be winning at least one of their remaining three games. If they can’t pull off either of those two outcomes, then they will need to hope that The Apocalypse lose out. Their record says they could very well do just that, but if you are KGP, do you really want to lay all your eggs in that basket?   

In Division B, the playoff picture is even murkier, as four teams are all within reach of each other. Those are of course, the Junkyard Dogs, Moretti Crime Family, Touch It Catch It, and Mangoose.

Mangoose, is coming off a big upset over the Moretti Crime Family, Thursday night in Brossard. The win helped them jump into a playoff spot. Now in the driver’s seat, they control their own destiny. They can catch Touch It Catch It for the seventh spot, if they end up with identical records, due to Mangoose having the edge in points in head-to-head meetings with TICI, as the former won their Week 3 contest by one point, and the former captured the rematch by 20. Both teams sit at (2-6). The only thing separating them is divisional record, as Touch It Catch It has the slight 1-game edge at (2-5). They also have a game in-hand, but Mangoose has the edge in points allowed (212-251).

For Mangoose, they are at a disadvantage, as they only have two games left, compared to three for everybody else. Despite that, their path is as simple as win out and get in the playoffs 100%. With games remaining against the Silent Ticklers and Brand New, that will be easier said than done, but this team is playing their best ball of the season, so you can’t count them out.

Touch It Catch It, finishes the regular season with the B-Raves, Thor’s Hammer, and an all-important game against the Moretti Crime Family stuck in between. Winning at least one of those games will effectively guarantee they make the playoffs. The other side of that line of thinking of course, is do you trust this team to win any of those remaining contests? This team has speed and a lot of talent, but they lack execution. In their defense, they have played some better football over the last two games, and their offense which disappeared during a three-game stretch at the end of June, has seemingly found itself again, despite still having lapses of inconsistency. The team’s success depends on which Fred Mallette shows up. Will it be the one who is decisive, accurate, and able to beat teams with both his arm and his legs, or is it the one we have seen too many times this year, that looks indecisive at times in the pocket, and lacks accuracy and timing with his Receivers? No one can doubt Mallette’s talent, as when he is on, there aren’t too many Quarterbacks that can match his skill level, but he has not been consistent with it all year, which is a big reason why the team is struggling.

After weeks of talking them up, it looks like I might have to pump the breaks on the Moretti Crime Family. A tough loss to the B-Raves, followed by a shocking defeat to Mangoose, takes all the positivity out of the former, as it relates to showing that MCF belongs with the big boys of Div. B. In all honesty, it is an inexcusable and eye-opening loss for a team like this.

They rebounded and stopped the bleeding last night with a big win over Brand New. The thrill will be short-lived however, as they get prepared to take on Touch It Catch It, in a huge matchup this Thursday in Brossard. This is a statement game for this team, as a win would at the very least lock down sixth place for them, and allow MCF, to potentially catch Brand New and Thor’s Hammer for fourth place. Let’s see what happens.

The Junkyard Dogs are a scrappy bunch, that fights tooth and nail. Pun intended. Currently one point behind Mangoose for the final playoff spot, the formula for them to make the post-season is simple, win at least one out of their final three games, and they should get in. The tricky part is their competition, as they have back-to-back games against Thor’s Hammer (this is the worst schedule in the history of FPF), and a regular season finale showdown with the B-Raves.

Despite their spot in the standings, this team can play. Look no further than their (19-19) tie versus BYOB. They also came within one play of beating the Silent Ticklers, Moretti Crime Family, and Brand New. The team’s problem is that they make crucial mistakes at the wrong time, which costs them points and wins.

To get into the dance, they will have to get out their own way, and execute. The B-Raves and Thor’s Hammer are just too good to give extra possessions to. Jason Rossie is a fighter, and both he and his team had a ton of playoff and big game experience to rely upon. If I had to bet, I might pick them to get the last playoff spot. Will I? You’re going to have to wait until the final article of the regular season for that.

Power Rankings – Division A

Allstars – Tight wins, blowouts, this team simply just finds a way to win. Can they run the table the rest of the way? I wouldn’t bet against them. Last Week: 1st

Party Crashers – Another hard-fought down to the wire victory against KGP. This team is the real deal. The only question that remains is can they keep up their torrid pace offensively come playoff time? Last Week: 3rd

Braves – Is it just me, or does it feel like things are back to normal with this squad? A big win versus The Apocalypse with four plays remaining gave them the regular season sweep versus their opponents and has stretched their win streak to the games in a row. Can they leap over the Party Crashers in the standings and on the list? Last Week: 4th  

KGP – An extremely tough loss against their rivals in the Party Crashers, keeps KGP just inside the edge of the playoff picture. It has been over a month (June 12^th) since their last win. Can they get back on track against a red-hot Braves team? Last Week: 5th

The Apocalypse – Another week, another heartbreaker. Time is running out on their playoff chances. This team needs a win in the worst way. Can they get one this week? Last Week: 6th

Power Rankings – Division B

B-Raves (6-0) – The 27-point beatdown they laid on BYOB, leaves no doubt that the B-Raves are the top team in this division. They have some tough matchups remaining in Thor’s Hammer and the Silent Ticklers, but there is a good chance they could go undefeated. Last Week: 1st

Silent Ticklers (4-1) – They jump to the second spot in the rankings due to a stellar (24-19) win over a short-handed Thor’s Hammer squad. A win is a win. Last Week: 3rd

Thor’s Hammer (4-3) – A loss is still a loss, but credit to them for nearly knocking the Silent Ticklers without starting Quarterback Jeff Rosenblatt. Thor’s Hammer is in tough this week as they take on the B-Raves. Last Week: 2nd

Brand New (4-4) – They rise one spot in the rankings due to surviving a tough showdown with the Junkyard Dogs, and a loss by the next team on the list. Last Week: 6th

BYOB (5-3-1) – The only reason they aren’t dropping further is because all the teams below them except for the next one on the list, lost as well. Last Week: 4th

Mangoose (2-6) – What a difference a win makes. A four-spot jump in the rankings courtesy of their best offensive performance of the season, in a (45-38) victory over the Moretti Crime Family. More importantly, the win propelled them into the eighth and final spot in Division B. Can Mangoose hang on? Last Week: 9th

Moretti Crime Family (3-4) – Speaking of these guys, the upset loss to Mangoose drops them one spot in the rankings. The (45-38) final score is a little flattering, as the MCF scored a touchdown on the last play of the game. Let’s see if this squad can rebound quickly, as they play both Brand New and Touch It Catch It over the next five days. Last Week: 6th

Junkyard Dogs (1-5-1) – They still can’t buy a win, as they followed up last week’s shocking tie versus BYOB, with a stinging five-point loss versus Brand New. Due to Mangoose’s win over to the Moretti Crime Family, JYD finds themselves one point out of the picture with two games remaining. Can they get back in? Last Week: 8th

Touch It Catch It (2-5) – Their remaining schedule looks like this, B-Raves, Moretti Crime Family, and Thor’s Hammer. Pulling off the massive upset and winning one, would all but guarantee this team make the playoffs. Can Touch it Catch It, who hasn’t tasted victory in almost a month, secure a spot to the dance on their own? Last Week: 7th

Picks (favorites in bold)                    

Braves vs Party Crashers – Party Crashers (Upset Special #1)

Braves vs KGP – Braves

Allstars vs KGP – Allstars

Allstars vs Party Crashers – Party Crashers (My pick for Game of the Week Div. A and Upset Special #2)

The Apocalypse vs Mo’ Khans, Mo’ Problems – The Apocalypse (Upset Special # 3)

Moretti Crime Family vs Brand New – Brand New

B-Raves vs Thor’s Hammer – B-Raves

B-Raves vs Touch it Catch It – B-Raves

Touch it Catch It vs Moretti Crime Family – Moretti Crime Family

Thor’s Hammer vs Junkyard Dogs – Thor’s Hammer (My pick for Game of the Week Div. B)

Silent Ticklers vs Mangoose – Silent Ticklers

Brand New vs Silent Ticklers – Silent Ticklers

Last Week: (4-5)

Regular Season: (28-10-2)

Upset Special: (4-4-1)

That is it for this week. Get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather. Good luck to everybody in their games tonight and this week!

My apologies for not getting the article out on Sunday as usual. Work and family got in the way, plus I played last night. To be honest, I finished my picks on Saturday, so to keep it fair, I didn’t change them even though the “Braves” versus KGP game took place on the same field right after my game was done, and I stayed and watched the first half, even though former was not the team we are used to seeing. As I said earlier, a win is a win.

If you liked, loved, or hated the article, or simply feel that I left something out, do not hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected], or reach me on Instagram @brent_b51