I recognize that we're already four days in but, since this is my first post of 2022, I just wanted to start by wishing you all a belated happy New Year. And, for some of you, the new year is starting off right.
The King of Consolation, Christian McMingle, once again made it clear that they are undoubtedly the best of the worst in this league. Fighting through the sludge that is the Consolation Ladder, McMingle posted one of the top scores this week, 141 points, on their way to claiming victory over the NH Bounty Hunters. That win garnered them a shiny new participation trophy and $100. Congrats, McMingle.
Our Cruiserweight battle provided a close contest between two teams that were talented enough to make it to the Championship Game, but came up short; Chief Sticky Balls and Thundabuddies. The Balls were pegged as a 5-point favorite heading into the matchup in what I expected could've been the highest scoring game of the week. Though it wasn't the highest scoring contest, these offenses didn't disappoint, scoring 248 combined points.
Heading into the Sunday Night Football game, the Chief Sticky Balls were clinging to a very narrow lead - 3 points. But, with Aaron Jones left to play, the Thundabuddies knew that all they needed to do was get him the rock. Although Jones didn't have his best night, his 76 yards on 8 carries gave the Thundabuddies 11 points and handed them an 8-point victory to claim 3rd place and $250. Well done, Thundabuddies.
But, let's face it, the game everyone was watching this last week was the Championship Game between Golden Tate Warriors and Who Is You.
And what a game it was...until it wasn't.
For much of the weekend, these two traded shots at each other with neither one able to capture enough of a lead to feel like they could go into Prevent-Defense mode.
Throughout the Sunday morning games, it was back and forth, with Who Is You eventually climbing out to an early 51-31 lead before heading into the afternoon docket. The QB matchup between Patrick Mahomes (24 pts) and Josh Allen (21 pts) was relatively even despite Allen's 3 INTs against the Falcons.
But, with Warriors players like Ezekiel Elliott, Deebo Samuel, and the Cowboys D/ST getting ready to play, Who Is You knew they had to keep the pressure on.
In the afternoon games, Austin Ekeler and Amari Cooper would chip in another 24 points for You while the Seattle D/ST suffered a late collapse and ended the day with just 1 point. On the other side of the ball, Elliott and the Cowboys D/ST were a virtual no-show but, even though he got off to a slow start, Deebo Samuel would finish with 15 points.
Heading into the Sunday Night Game trailing Who Is You by 18 points, 76-58, the Golden Tate Warriors would turn to one of their best players this season, Davante Adams, in hopes he could help pull them out of the hole they were in. The problem: Who Is You still had Dalvin Cook. The odds were not in the Warriors favor.
By the time the Sunday Night Game was finished, Davante Adams would turn in 24 points to Dalvin Cook's 1 point, and the Warriors grabbed their first lead of the contest, 82-77. All they needed to do now was play defense and keep Who Is You from scoring.
With Najee Harris left to play for the Warriors and Freiermuth left for You, anything could happen. I mentioned on the GroupMe board that Freiermuth had only outscored Harris by 5+ points once this season, and Who Is You was hoping he could find a way to do it again. After all, this would be Rothlisberger's last game at Heinz Field, so the idea that they would let him air it out wasn't out of the realm of possibility.
But as the slow-moving game between the Steelers and the Browns progressed, it became increasingly clear that that wouldn't be the case. Najee Harris continued to pile up the yardage with Freiermuth not getting much more than a look here and there. The Warriors would continue to inch further and further ahead, adding 1 or 2 points at a time, as Who Is You watched in despair, hoping that Big Ben would chuck a TD to Freiermuth and put them back in contention.
But that didn't happen. And to put an exclamation point on their victory, Najee Harris broke free for a 37-yard TD run with the game almost over that solidified the Golden Tate Warriors victory.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you your 2021 Sagebrush Cactus League champions: the Golden Tate Warriors.
Congratulations, Warriors, and I hope you enjoy the nice payout this season: $1479. Whew, that's a lot of bread! Maybe you should save some of it to spend on keeping this team together for next season.
And congratulations go out to Who Is You as well. They played well this season and put themselves in a great position to defend their title. Settling for second place might not be what you had hoped for, but perhaps the $500 prize will take some of the sting away. Kudos to you and the team for putting together another great season!
Lastly, I couldn't help but notice that there was some illegal, non-sanctioned, wagering going on amongst those of you that didn't play for the title. And even though it's not my responsibility, I'll tell you that Christian McMingle won the Championship Squares and the $200 prize.
Here's a list of this year's prize winners:
Champion ($1479): Golden Tate Warriors
2nd Place ($500): Who Is You
3rd Place ($250): Thundabuddies
Consolation Winner ($100): Christian McMingle
Highest Score - Win ($50): Golden Tate Warriors
Highest Score - Loss ($50): Christian McMingle
Survivor Challenge ($150): Pork Chop Express
Defeat The Commish ($150): NH Bounty Hunters
Pigskin Pick'Em ($150): TBD on Monday, 1/10
Championship Squares ($200): Christian McMingle
PIGSKIN PICK'EM
With one final week remaining in this contest, Badazz Bri is clinging to a 4-game lead over Chief Sticky Balls and Pork Chop Express. With Bri scoring no less than 11 correct picks over the past four weeks, the odds are not good that the Balls or the Chops will be able to catch them. But, I've seen crazier things happen in this league. As long as Bri gets their picks in for the final week, it looks like it's theirs to lose.
COMMISH'S PICKS
I'll take it. Considering how poorly I did this year, a 4-2 final week is a win in my book. That leaves me with a .485 winning percentage, just three games below .500. Until next season...
Thanks again for playing this season!
-- Commish
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