WEEK 13 PREVIEW
It’s crunch time in the ICLAFF! There’s just two weeks left in the regular season, and still so much to be decided. We could have a much clearer picture of who’s in and who’s out come Tuesday morning. Here are how this week’s matches shape up…
ERIC’S E-ALLS make the trip to the unfriendly confines of The Shwa when they go up against J-OSHAWA ALLEN. Mike won 110-90 when these two battled it out back in Week 7, so Eric has a chance to get some revenge this week. He’s catching Mike at a good time when he needs to go with his backup QB Derek Carr to cover for Josh Allen who’s off this week. Plus he will be without RB Gus Edwards who’s also on a bye in Week 13. HIs opponent Eric is also missing his top receiver in Devonte Adams. Both teams are coming off of wins last week to bring them to 6-6, and with the standings so tight this is definitely a pivotal match. The loser will likely get bumped down in the standings making things very uncomfortable for them on the last week of the season.
With their season on the line, the LAS VEGAS SUN WORSHIPERS hit the road to take on the OTTAWA ROSS RIDERS. Rich has dropped two straight matches, and Ross is coming off that thrilling victory Monday night. This week he’ll be without his star from that game Bears WR DJ Moore who’s on a bye, as well as his other receiver Gabe Davis of the Bills. With the Ravens also off this week, the Worshipers lose the services of their receiver OBJ, and their franchise kicker Justin Tucker who we all remember was the first overall pick in this year’s draft. It’s just a matter of final seeding now for Ross who has already locked up his spot in the playoffs, but it’s a different story for Rich for whom the stakes are much higher. With just two games left in the season he is still on the outside looking in… and another loss this week could put that final nail in his playoff coffin.
The STAND ALONE AMERICAN travels to the Death Star to face the DARTH RAIDERS in a “Basement Battle” between our 11th and 12th place teams…. could this be a preview for a certain bowl match at the end of the year? Rick won when they met 6 weeks ago 129-94. This time the Lone American will be without both his starting quarterback back and tight end, as Lemar Jackson and TJ Hockenson both sit out on a bye. The D-Raiders also have their star running back Josh Jacob’s off as they try to win two in a row for the first time all season. Although he’s in last place and already been eliminated, you’ve got to give it to Howie… he is still working the waiver wire almost every day. You know he’s doing everything in his power to try and avoid playing in the dreaded Toilet Bowl. Rick’s season is on thin ice. He’s two games out of a playoff spot with just two games to go so anymore mistakes and instead of playing for the Bundy, he could also be playing to avoid The Finkle.
After a win on the road last weekend, HOOKED ON A THIELEN returns home to host the CRYSTAL LAKE SLASHERS. In Week 7 Don beat Glen 142-110, but to win this time around he’ll need to get production from a starting lineup filled with backup players. Because of byes, he will be without a lot of his key starters this week including Bills WR Stefon Diggs, and his two Vikings - WR Jordan Addison, and QB Josh Dobbs. The Slashers are battling to stay alive in the playoff hunt. A loss last week knocked them out of a top 8 position, and another defeat here this week might keep them in the Finkle Four for good. On the other hand they are just a game behind a pack of teams at 6-6, so a win and they’re right back in the mix going into the final weekend. It’s quite simple for Don… a win and he’s in. The Slashers are the only bottom four team that could still catch him in the standings, so a victory here against them officially locks up a playoff spot for his Purple T’s.
MARC’S FUNKY BUNCH will be in Brooklin where they will try to knock off first place 3RD AND LONG. Ryan won the meeting between these two teams earlier in the season 134-113, and he’s coming in to this one hot having won his last two matches. He wants to finish the season strong - by winning this week he can match the Slashers record from last season of 11 wins, and set himself up to break the record next week. Marc is just hanging on to that final playoffs position by a thread. With so many teams bunched up in the standings - either tied, or within a game of each other - a loss here could bump him out of the top 8, where he would loose control over his own playoff destiny in the final week.
A nasty rivalry rematch will be going down when PURDY GOOD challenges STRAIGHT OUTTA COUGHLIN. SO-CO destroyed PG by 43 points back in Week 7, but Shawn has a 2-1 edge over Matt overall in this rivalry, winning both times they met last season. Both teams are hoping to rebound from losses last week, but Shawn who’s already standing on somewhat shaky ground will be missing some key players because of the bye week. RB Khalil Herbert, WR Zay Flowers, and WR KJ Osborn are all off so he’ll need to generate points from somewhere else. He’s facing the league’s top scorer this week - Matt has over 1500 points, while Shawn is the only team yet to score 1200. This time of year anything can happen, especially when a spot in the playoffs in on the line - so an upset here is not out of the question. This is the first of two rivalry matches Shawn has to end his season. If he can’t pick up a win this week, he’ll definitely be in a tougher spot next week facing his most hated opponent, The Shwa.