I doubt there is one person in this league that believed we would ever see a team break the 200-point threshold in a week. And after Blue Ribbon did just that, I thought it surely wouldn't ever happen again. It took Team RamRod all of 2 weeks to prove me wrong with a 233-point week and now I'm not even confident that I'd consider that record unbreakable.
I never imagined we would see another team come close to Baby Got Dak's 25-point game in 2006, but Who Is You did it in week 9 this season and reminded us all that it was possible.
I was doubtful that we would ever see another running back come close to LaDanian Tomlinson's record-setting 469 points in 2006. But I'll be damned if Christian McCaffrey isn't maintaining a pace that keeps that record within reach.
And, now, Hit Em With The Hein!!! is on the verge of becoming the first team in Sagebrush Cactus history to begin the season 6-0 and miss the playoffs. After suffering their 5th straight loss, Hein!!! is now in a do-or-die situation this week.
Blue Ribbon is another team that realized a "first" this year, albeit on a personal level. Since joining the league in 2015, Blue Ribbon has never missed the playoffs. That streak came to an end this week as they saw their run end with a crushing loss to Team RamRod - a team they were 6-1 against.
"Ingram and rams are officially making me nervous" - Team RamRod during Monday Night Football
Heading into the Monday Night Football game, RamRod held what many thought was a safe lead, 87-62. After all, they still had 3 players remaining compared to Ribbon's lone running back, Mark Ingram II. Between the Rams defense getting shelled and Ingram's big night, Ribbon closed that gap to force the tie-breaker. But, alas, Russell Wilson had his lowest point total of the season (9 pts) and that was enough to give RamRod the victory.
Although it's not the first time this has ever happened, it is the first time in a very long time that we've have seen a team in the league fail to play a complete starting lineup. First, I will say that I hope everything, and everyone, is OK. And, assuming that is the case, this should serve as the first warning to the rule-breaker (you know who you are). A reminder to all: Please make sure you start a full lineup of players. This is especially important, whether you're in the playoffs or not, because your win or loss may affect someone else's opportunity to make it to the postseason.
But enough about all the record-setting, rule-breaking, and bizarre feats we've seen this season. Let's get down to business - let's talk about the playoffs.
The Cactus division playoff teams have been decided. All that is left is to determine who the #1 seed will be.
With their 5th win in a row, a 25-point victory over top-ranked Who Is You, the Los Perros Locos secured the #3 seed in the Cactus division and became the highest scoring team in the league. That's a far cry from their 2-5 start to the season and it marks the first time they'll make it to the postseason in 3 years.
Because of that loss, Who Is You is now tied for the #1 seed with Pork Chop Express. As luck would have it, those two will square off against each other this week with a first-round playoff bye on the line. I'll bet you can't guess which game will be the Matchup of the Week this week.
Over in the Sagebrush division, the playoff picture is now ever so slightly clearer this week with the elimination of Blue Ribbon. We have a 3-way tie for 1st place and we're down to 4 teams left in the race heading into the final week - that's progress, I guess.
The most interesting point to consider is the fact that of the teams remaining in the hunt, Hein!!! may be the team with the biggest disadvantage. The tie-breaker for making the playoffs is Points Scored and no one in the Sagebrush division has scored fewer points than Hein!!!.
Here are the scenarios for each of the contenders to make it:
Chief Sticky Balls - They're in as long as they don't lose by more than 70 points. But, this is the Sagebrush division we're talking about.
Hit Em With The Hein!!! - If they win, they're in. If they lose, they'll need RamRod to lose or they'll need TD's to lose and score 54 more points than TD's.
Flash Dem TD's - If they win, they're in. If they lose, they'll need either Hein!!! or RamRod to lose.
Team RamRod - They'll need to win and they'll need either Hein!!! or TD's to lose. They could also get in if they beat Sticky Balls by 71 points.
With the way things have gone in the Sagebrush division this season, I would not be the least bit surprised to see RamRod beat Sticky Balls, Hein!!! lose to Ribbon, and TD's lose to Bri this week. In that scenario, we would have a 4-way tie with every team at 7-6, leaving only the Points Scored tie-breaker to sort it all out.
Speaking of a cluster-f#&k, in the Survivor Challenge, Thundabuddies took a 1-0 lead over RamRod this week. Thanks to the fact that these two decided to tie each other in the first week of the 3-game finale, we essentially have a best-of-2 series. To win the contest, RamRod will need to outscore Thundabuddies by 32 points this week. The only time they've done that this season was back in week 5 when they scored 233 points. What are the odds they break their own scoring record this week?
If there is anything I've learned this season, it is that anything is possible.
Another 5-1 week in the books for me. That brings my season record to 45-27 with a 7-5 record in picking the Matchup of the Week. I'm looking forward to closing out the regular season with 6 correct picks next week.
Though Pork Chop Express tried, I still outscored every team in the league with my Waiver Wire picks. You clowns have one more week to try to beat me.
Good luck in week 13!
-- Commish
PS - Don't forget to set your lineups early this week. There's a lot of action on Thanksgiving and you don't want to be the one with empty roster spots.
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