Week 11: Do-Or-Die Time – FlagPlus Football League

Welcome to Week 11, of the FlagPlus Football regular season.

After 11 long weeks, here we are, the final week of the FlagPlus Football regular season.

For some teams, this is the last tune-up before the playoffs, for others, it is a merciful end to a season that has gone horribly wrong, while for more than a few squads, it is the last gasp effort to solidify their spot in the post-season.

For this article, I will look at the playoff chances of each and every eligible team in Division 4A and 4B, as well as their remaining schedule.

Before I begin, congrats are in order for LOB, who got their first win of the season, with a (27-26) win over the Backyard Bullies, last Saturday at Lachine. For a team who lost five games by less than 10 points, and gave a number of top teams a run for their money, it’s nice to see them finally get a win.

Gotham, it’s your turn…

Conference A

1. The Commission (7-2) -14 Points – Firmly entrenched as the number one seed in Conference A, even if they manage to lose their regular season finale versus LOB, this weekend, The Commission, will stay maintain the top spot over the second 69ers, by virtue of their (43-32) over the 69ers, back in Week 6. Remaining Opponent: LOB (Sunday) @Stade Hébert.

2. 69ers (6-3) – 12 Points – They hold a head-to-head potential tie-breaker over the Warhawks, curtesy of (45-20) Week 9 win, and have a one-point lead on Mutation for the second seed in Conference A.

To maintain their spot, the 69ers, will either have to beat Up & Coming this weekend, or hope that Mutation, losses their match-up to Brocassion, and The Alpha-T’s, who currently sit in the five seed (2 points behind), but beat the 69ers (32-25) last week, lose to the Siths, Saturday night.

If the 69ers fail to win, they could drop down to fourth, due to their aforementioned lose to The Alpha-T’s. Remaining Opponent Up & Coming (Saturday) @ Lachine.

3. Mutation (5-3-1) – 11 Points – They can knock the 69ers out of second place, if they beat Brocassion, and the 69ers lose to Up & Coming on Saturday night.

Mutation, also needs to win this weekend versus the Brocassion, to prevent them, and The Alpha-T’s, from overtaking the third seed. Remaining Opponent: Brocassion (Sunday) @ Lachine.

4. Warhawks (5-4) – 10 Points – Due to their (32-30) victory over Mutation in Week 2, the Warhawks, can overtake them for the third seed, as long they beat Les Montagnards, this weekend, and Mutation losses to Brocassion.

Their matchup versus Les Montagnards is huge, as the teams are separated by just two points. If the Warhawks lose, they could potentially fall all the way to the seventh seed. Remaining Opponent: Les Montagnards (Saturday) @ Brossard.

5. The Alpha-T’s (5-4) – 10 Points – After a big win over the 69ers last week, The Alpha-T’s, can finish as high as second, if they beat the Siths, Mutation losses to Brocassion, and the Warhawks lose to Les Motagnards.

Conversely, if The Alpha-T’s lose to the Siths, they can drop all the way to the seventh seed, due to a Week 6 (33-27) loss to Les Montagnards. Remaining Opponent: Siths (Saturday) @ Brossard.

6. TOPSZN (4-4-1) – 9 Points – A blowout loss to The Commission last week, prevented TOPSZN, from climbing all the way up to third in the standings.

Sitting one point up on Les Montagnards, and Brocassion, for the last two playoff spots in Conference A, TOPSZN, needs to win tonight versus winless Gotham, to ensure they make the post-season. If Gotham, were able to pull off the UMBC-like upset (what a game last night!), TOPSZN, could miss the second season entirely, if either Les Montagnards, Brocassion, or Up & Coming win this weekend. Remaining Opponent: Gotham (Saturday) @ Lachine.

7. Les Montagnards (4-5) – 8 Points – Win and they’re in, it’s as simple as that for Les Montagnards, who square off with the Warhawks tonight.
If Les Montagnards, who are currently on a two-game losing streak, make it three losses in a row, they will miss the playoffs, if Brocassion, and Up & Coming, win their games against Mutation, and the 69ers respectively. Remaining Opponent: Warhawks (Saturday) @ Brossard.

8. Brocassion (4-5) – 8 Points – This is where things get a little bit tricky. They are tied with Les Montagnards, and Up & Coming, in points with 8, but they are in possesion of the final playoff spot, due to the fact that they have 4 wins, compared to 3 for Up & Coming, even though Brocassion, lost to them (26-12), in Week 7.

For Brocassion, to nail down a spot in the post-season, they will either have to beat Mutation, or hope that Up & Coming, lose to the 69ers, tonight in Lachine. Remaining Opponent: Mutation (Sunday) Lachine.

9. Up & Coming (3-4-2) – 8 Points – To qualify for the post-season, they have to win versus the 69ers, and hope that either Brocassion, or Les Montagnards, lose their games. Remaining Ooponent: 69ers (Saturday) @ Lachine.

Conference B

1. Mountain Lions (7-2) – 14 Points They have the top spot in Conference B, due to allowing less points against, and having a better +/- than the two other teams they are tied with, in the B.D Bandits, and Jagerbomb. The three-way tie strikes again!

Despite beating the B.D Bandits (27-12) in Week 2, if Jagerbomb, or the B.D Bandits, win their respective games this weekend as well, the Mountain Lions, will have to beat Show Me Your TDs, and make sure they maintain their edge in the points allowed, and +/- department, to hang on to first place. Remaining Opponent: Show Me Your TDs (Sunday) @ Stade Hébert.

2. B.D Bandits (7-2) – 14 Points – Arguably the hottest team in Conference B, due to their 6-game winning streak, the B.D Bandits have a chance to claim the top seed, if they can beat the Jaguars, tomorrow night, and the Mountain Lions, lose to Show Me Your TDs.

As mentioned in the previous section, they can also claim the number 1 seed, even if the Mountain Lions win, as long as the B.D Bandits finish with less points against (they are at a 13 point disadvantage), and they create six more turnovers than the Mountain Lions. Remaining Opponent: Jaguars (Sunday) @ Loyola.

3. Jagerbomb (7-2) – 14 Points – They had first place, and the best record in Division 4A, all wrapped up, until they lost to Friends In Low Places, this past Wednesday night.

In order to get their spot back, Jagerbomb, must beat The Tide tomorrow night, and either hope that the B.D Bandits, and Mountain lose their respective games this weekend, or finish with a better +/- rating, and allow less points. Remaining Opponent: The Tide (Sunday) @ Lachine.

4. Keyport Lock (6-3) – 12 Points – To maintain the fourth seed, Keyport Lock, must beat the Backyard Bullies this evening. A win, could vault KL, into second place, as they have already suffered losses to Jagerbomb, and the Mountain Lions.

If they do lose to the Bullies, the lowest they can drop, is to fifth place (Jaguars), due to the fact that they beat The Tide, (27-25) in Week 1. Remaining Opponent: Backyard Bullies (Saturday)@ Lachine.

5. Jaguars (5-3-1) – 11 Points – If they win tomorrow night versus the B.D Bandits, the Jaguars, can finish as high as the fourth seed. If the Jags lose, they are in danger of being surpassed by The Tide (points), and Friends in Low Places, provided they win their games. The Tide, would have the same amount of wins, but FILP, have allowed less points, and have a better +/-. Remaining Opponent: B.D Bandits (Sunday) @ Loyola.

6. The Tide (5-4) – 10 Points – As mentioned above, if they win versus Jagerbomb tomorrow, and the Jaguars lose, The Tide, can leap past them in the standings. The highest they can ascend is fifth, due to their aforementioned loss to Keyport Lock, in Week 1. Remaining Opponent: Jagerbomb (Sunday) @ Lachine.

7. Friends In Low Places (4-5-1) – 9 Points – They are coming off of a gigantic season finale win over Jagerbomb, that not only shook up the Conference 4B standings, but more importantly, guaranteed Friends In Low Places, a playoff birth.

FILP, is stuck in seventh, due to the eight seed in Top Secret, having already played their final regular season game. Remaining Opponent: None.

8. Top Secret (4-6) – 8 Points – The definition of backing into the post-season, Top Secret, loss their season finale, (27-12) to the B.D Bandits, last Sunday in Kirkland. Now, they play the waiting game. Remaining Opponent: None.

Conference A

1. A-Squad (8-1) – 16 Points – With a win over the Vikings tonight, A-Squad, will clinch the best record in the conference.

Next week will be a real test for this team, as more than a few critics have felt, that with exception of Past Our Prime, Les Studs, and Truth Squad, who beat them (21-0) in Week 4, A-Squad, had the luxury of a predominantly easy schedule. Remaining Opponent: Vikings (Saturday) @ Brossard.

2. Past Our Prime (7-2) – 14 Points – Since their Week 4 loss to Blue Chips, Past Our Prime, have won five straight games. If they are able to win their sixth tonight versus LV, POP, would stay in second place, ahead of Norfolk In Chance, even if they beat Martine et le Flag, due to the fact that Past Our Prime, has the edge in +/-, by 109 points. Remaining Opponent: LV (Saturday) @ Lachine.

3. Norfolk In Chance (7-2) – 14 Points – As mentioned above, a win by Norfolk In Chance versus Martine et le Flag, and a loss by Past Our Prime to LV, and NIC, will own the second seed.

A loss by Norfolk In Chance, spells trouble, as not only is tonight’s opponents only one game back. Next Opponent: Martine et le Flag (Saturday) @ Lachine.

4. Be Ready (6-4) – 12 Points – Their (6-4) record, should come with an asterisk beside it, as they were given a forfeit victory by The Manglers. Nevertheless, they are stuck in a 3-way tie points-wise, with Martine et le Flag, and Le Red Tiger. Be Ready gets the edge, because they have allowed the least amount of points (192) out of all three teams.

5. Martine et le Flag (6-4) – 12 Points – If they beat Norfolk In Chance tonight, Martine et le Flag, can move all the way up to third place, since they will have the head-to-head tie-breaker over them.

A loss by Martine et le Flag m opens the door for Le Red Tiger, to overtake them for fifth. Remaining Opponent: Norfolk In Chance (Saturday) @ Lachine.

6. Le Red Tiger (6-3) – 12 Points – They take on 39 cent wings, tonight in Lachine. As stated above, a win by Le Red Tiger, and a loss by Martine et le Flag, would propel LRT, into fifth.

If Be Ready, were to lose to tonight as well, Le Red Tiger, would own the tie-breaker over them, as LRT, beat them (30-20), in Week 1. Next Opponent: 39 cent wings (Saturday) @ Lachine.

7. Team Ethnik (4-5) – 8 Points – They sit one point up on the eighth seed Tone It Down. To ensure they stay in the seven spot, they will need to knock off, you guessed it…Tone It Down. Next Opponent: Tone It Down (Saturday) @ Lachine.

8. Tone It Down (3-5-1) – 7 Points – They are playing their best ball of the season, and haven’t been beaten since Week 7. If they are going to make move, now is the time. Next Opponent: Team Ethnik (Saturday) @ Lachine.

Conference B

1. Blue Chips (8-0-1) 17 Points – After easily smashing a clearly over-matched noname© squad (51-0) Wednesdsy night, the class of 4B, Blue Chips, can keep the goose egg in the loss column, and secure the top seed by beating Game Changers, this weekend. Next Opponent: Game Changers (Saturday) @ Loyola.

2. Truth Squad (8-1) – 16 Points – The only loss they suffered this season, was at the hands of Blue Chips (34-26) in Week 2. The Truth Squad, still has a chance to catch them, if Blue Chips loses to Game Changers, and TS, wins their matchup tomorrow, versus the Small Giants. Next Opponent: Small Giants (Sunday) @ Kirkland.

3. All Hooks (6-2-2) – 14 Points – They wrapped up their regular season, with a (26-26) tie versus Les Studs. Remaining Opponent: None.

4. Game Changers (5-2-2) – 12 Points – If they win tonight versus the Blue Chips, the Game Changers, will surpass All Hooks, for third in the conference. Remaining Opponent: Blue Chips (Saturday) @ Loyola.

5. Sphinx (5-4-1) – 11 Points – They ended their regular season, with a (26-6) loss to the Grinders, Wednesday night at Stade Hébert. Remaining Opponent: None.

6. Les Studs (4-3-2) – 10 Points – They have a huge matchup tomorrow with the Mean Machine. A win, would not only keep double M off of their backs, but it would put them past the Sphinx, and potentially into fourth place with the Game Changers, depending on how many points Les Studs allow. Remaining Opponent: Mean Machine (Sunday) @ Lachine.

7. Lobster Dinner (4-5-1) – 9 Points – As fate would have it, they finished their regular season, with a (26-26) tie versus Mean Machine, last Saturday in Lachine. Next Opponent: None.

8. Mean Machine (4-5-1) – 9 Points – As mentioned above, they tied Lobster Dinner to finish the regular season. The Mean Machine will become Truth Squad fans tomorrow night, as they need TS, to beat the Small Giants, in order for double M to secure their playoff spot. Next Opponent: None.

9. Small Giants (4-5) – 8 Points – They have a golden opportunity to not only qualify for the post-season, but to leapfrog both Lobster Dinner, and Mean Machine, if they can defeat the Truth Squad tomorrow night. Remaining Opponent: Truth Squad (Sunday) @ Kirkland.

Elite 8

1. The Commission

2. Mountain Lions

3. B.D Bandits

4. Jagerbomb

5. Keyport Lock

6. The Alpha-T’s

7. Mutation

8. 69ers

1. Blue Chips

2. A-Squad

3. Truth Squad

4. Norfolk In Chance

5. Past Our Prime

6. All Hooks

7. Game Changers

8. Les Studs

Picks

Gotham vs TOPSZN – Gotham (Upset Special)

69ers vs Up & Coming – 69ers

Keyport Lock vs Backyard Bullies – Keyport Lock

Warhawks vs Les Montagnards – Warhawks

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

Mutation vs Brocassion – Mutation

Show Me Your TDs vs Mountain Lions – Mountain Lions

Jagerbomb vs The Tide – Jagerbomb (My choice for Game of the Week)

Jaguars vs B.D Bandits – B.D Bandits

LOB vs The Commission – N/A

Team Ethnik vs Tone It Down – Team Ethnik

A-Squad vs Vikings – A-Squad

Le Red Tiger vs 39 cent wings – Le Red Tiger

LV vs Past Our Prime – Past Our Prime

Game Changers vs Blue Chips – Game Changers (Upset Special and my choice for Game of the Week)

Norfolk In Chance vs Martine et le Flag – Martine et le Flag (Upset Special #2)

Mean Machine vs Les Studs – Les Studs

Truth Squad vs Small Giants – Truth Squad

That’s it for this week, I’ll be back next time out, with a preview of all the playoff matchups in both 4A, and 4B.

Good luck to everybody this week.

If you loved the article, hated it, or simply felt like I left something out, please feel free to e-mail me at [email protected], or hit me up on Twitter@BADNEWSB51.