Pittsburgh Franchise Football League 2011 News & Notes

Week 12

 

PFFL 2011 Postseason

WEEK 13 - First Round Playoffs / Round 2 Consolation Tournament

This week the Wildcard winners will compete against the #3 and #4 seeds in each conference. The Wildcard losers will compete in the second round of the Consolation Tournament. The #1 and #2 seeds receive another bye. All Matchups are determined by rank with the highest rank always playing the lowest rank and the higher rank winning all ties. A detailed breakdown of the seeds, byes, and matchups of the postseason can be found in the Playoff Formats page and the postseason brackets Playoff Brackets  CT Brackets

The 18 Teams of the 2011 PFFL Playoffs Ranked by Total Points

Point Rank Team Rank/Franchise VP W-L-T PF Max PF PP PWR Eff 1 1 Cleantown 30 6-4-1 1630 185 1817 35.44 89.7% 2 7 TD's 21 4-7-0 1589 193 1792 31.05 88.7% 3 2 Schleprock 31 7-4-0 1582 166 1779 35.10 88.9% 4 1 Bid 66 Bandits 33 8-3-0 1574 166 1821 36.66 86.4% 5 1 Park Valley 33 8-3-0 1569 167 1800 35.76 87.2% 6 2 Cousins Mc 29 7-4-0 1558 169 1742 33.59 89.4% 7 3 Brookline 29 7-4-0 1533 177 1768 33.67 86.7% 8 4 IC Lightning 28 8-3-0 1511 191 1754 34.88 86.1% 9 2 Arnie's Army 32 8-2-1 1508 162 1652 34.20 91.3% 10 3 Dego's R Us 29 7-4-0 1502 143 1634 33.04 91.9% 11 5 Capital 28 7-4-0 1495 158 1702 33.30 87.8% 12 8 Smiley's Snipers 21 4-7-0 1445 149 1682 29.01 85.9% 13 6 Syndicate 25 6-5-0 1439 148 1593 30.10 90.3% 14 3 JR's Boys 25 6-4-1 1437 144 1755 32.09 81.9% 15 4 Detroit Lions 27 8-3-0 1435 151 1656 33.93 86.7% 16 4 H Hammers 24 6-5-0 1420 162 1742 32.03 81.5% 17 8 Sharks 20 6-5-0 1354 134 1519 27.88 89.1% 18 6 B&B 22 7-4-0 1328 168 1529 28.53 86.9%   Playoff Team Average 1495           League Average 1423

PFFL First Round Matchups
East
#3 Dego's R Us vs. #6 Syndicate
Bye	New hires usually have to wait until their second year before they get a vacation but the Dego's were awarded one in their very first; but it's back to work now: Although their opponent shows an advantage at QB that was before their trade that brought in Romo. And again although their opponent shows a slight advantage at RB, Kevin Smith is doubtful to play. That brings us to WR where the advantage points their way and with Maclin most likely out again for the Syndicate, you can make that a significant advantage. Throw in Baltimore's defense and we have a clear favorite in the Gumbas. Vincent sent me a sympathy email in regards to my one-point loss to the Syndicate and the first word he wrote was WOW! When Kevin Smith left the game on Thursday for the Syndicate with just 8 points when it looked like he was heading for 80, I thought advantage Commish East. When Gore got just 5 later that night I though ok maybe not. When Helu got 29 on Sunday I though advantage Commish East. When Julio Jones got nothing I thought, uh oh. Still down 20 though going into Monday night the Syndicate's hopes would be on Nicks and his choice of either Ingram, Thomas, or Jacobs against Commish East's Sproles. You have to think advantage Commish East but Brees missed Sproles on at least two of those swing routes where he runs for a ton after the catch and he ended up with just 8 points on the night. When Jacobs scored I'm sure the second guessing started for the Syndicate but to make a long story short: The Syndicate is down about 7 points with about a minute left in the game and it's third down for NO. If they get a first down game over because it will be kneel down time. Pitch to Ingram and he goes around left end for a 35 yard TD. Did I mention they chose Ingram? They will need some similar luck this week because not just the stats but the matchups favor the Gumbas. Previous Meeting Week 9: Dego's R Us 129 - Syndicate 106   YTD Starter Points by Position Team QB RB WR/TE K DEF Total #3 Dego's R Us 238 469 539 114 142 1502 #9 Syndicate 255 480 478 121 105 1439
7 Commish East 111 6 Syndicate 112
#4 vs. IC Lightning vs. #5 Capital
Bye	Considering what just happened to Commish East and the fact that I have been kind of hard on Vincent in previous weeks, Vincent asked I channel my frustration toward the Syndicate or maybe even Dean this week and give him a break. The truth is after that debacle I don't have the strength for any berating so lets just get into their first round game. Knowing they have Brady I was curious why the chart gave Capital the QB nod although slight. Discovering the reason was Brees I was about to call it a wash but the fact that NE plays Indy this week might actually hurt the Lightning. You may ask why because Indy's defense stinks. Well it's because Indy has the worst run defense in the league and NE may choose to score that way. But considering the Lighting also have BJGE they could get the points either way if they chose to play him. And you know no matter what Gronkowski will get his. The chart shows Capital with the RB advantage but those stats were generated before the Lightning acquired DeMarco Murray so kind of a false reading. What's not a false reading is the clear WR advantage for the Lightning. The total points would indicate no clear favorite but one of the most important factors in a single game series is the NFL matchups and this weeks clearly favor the Lighting. Ok Vincent? Capital entered Monday night down 13 but with Brees yet to go you wouldn't think they had a problem. But the T Bones did have Colston and if he was the hookup it could have been a big problem. But not only was he not the hookup, Brees hooked up for 40 which easily put away the Bones. Now Vincent asked me to take my frustrations out on someone other than him this week and he did even mention Dean by name, so although I am kind of drained form my horrific lose; I will give it my best shot: Could the T Bones have won this game? Well I believe the fact that I asked the question is the answer. If they play Laurent Robinson instead of Brandon Pettigrew they advance. Why would they play Robinson over some tight end? Well over the last five games he averaged 10 more points a week than Pettigrew. No, he didn't average ten points a week; he averaged TEN MORE than Pettigrew! Oh well maybe Austin was back that's it so Robinson wasn't starting anymore. NO he wasn't Robinson was starting. Hey that felt good. I actually forgot about my horrendous defeat for a while. Moving on: Other than Rice and Brees Capital really has nothing to hang their hat on this week. Their WRs are mediocre and actually have bad matchups and as we have stated matchups in a single game are huge so the advantage goes to the Lightning in this one. Previous Meeting Week 5: IC Lightning 115 - Capital 104   YTD Starter Points by Position Team QB RB WR/TE K DEF Total #4 IC Lightning 316 326 619 144 106 1511 #5 Capital 321 486 476 104 108 1495
8 T Bones 108 5 Capital 121
Second Round East CT Matchups #7 Commish West vs. #12 Nasty Aggravators  -  #8 T Bones vs. #10 Midquippa
Central
#3 JR's Boys vs #8 Sharks
Bye	The Boys put up a mediocre 116 this week so if they had to play this week, you figure it's 50-50 they win. That's the beauty and importance of a bye. The chart indicates the Sharks with Drew Brees have the QB advantage but that's because it took a while for the Boys to start using Cam Newton so we can wash that one. The chart also show the Sharks with the RB advantage but that's mostly because of Fred Jackson and he has been put on IR. For the Boys Forte has been mediocre lately but has a great matchup this week and he is definitely due for a big game. The Sharks do have the emerging Helu so maybe another wash. Up to know it sounds like a wash but when we hit the WR category it's all JR's Boys with the likes of Steve Smith, Roddy White, and Andre Johnson who should now be at 100%. The Sharks highest scoring receiver is Fred Davis so point made. The matchups aren't particularly good for the Boys receivers this week but the favorite nod still goes their way. The Sharks made a wildcard by the hair of their chinny chin chin but make the most of their opportunity by stunning the Train with 133 points; their second best week of the year behind a 134 in week 5. Were actually down 17 going into Monday night but Drew Brees saved them any stress with his 40. Their low point total would indicate they are doing it with mirrors but they escape the regular season, escape the wildcard round, so you have to give them a good chance they can advance again. The loss of Fred Jackson was brutal but Helu coming on has helped off set it. They are outgunned at WR but receivers go hot and cold week to week so just need theirs to be hot this week and their opponent's cold. I'm sure they realize they are the underdog here but were probably the underdog in most of their wins because of their point total so nothing new. Previous Meeting Week 9: JR's Boys129 - Sharks 84   YTD Starter Points by Position Team QB RB WR/TE K DEF Total #3 JR's Boys 268 353 573 125 118 1437 #8 Sharks 321 375 458 87 113 1354
8 Sharks 133 5 Frannie's Train 110
#4 H Hammers vs. #7 TD's
Bye	A couple weeks ago things were looking real good for the Hammers. They pick up Kevin Smith on waivers to go along with AP and DeMarco Murray for a triple threat at RB to carry them through the playoffs. Now their bye is over and it looks like they may be without  two of those three. And it doesn't help they draw the #1 team in Central points. Well nobody said it was going to be easy. They still have the advantage at QB but the TD's receivers have it all over their combination of WRs and TEs. They will need two things to win this game: They are actually deep at least at RB so they will need their replacement RBs, who aren't half bad just not great like AP or with the potential of the huge game like Smith was showing, to be solid; and they have to hope the TD's great receivers don't go off. But the fact that they are probably without those two RBs and the TD's will throw Welker, Jennings and Graham at them along with Foster at RB, means the nod has to go the TD's way. The up and down TD's were definitely up for this one. They fall just one point short of a weekly first and easily defeat TnT whose strong receivers let them down this time. The TD's may have struggled with wins finishing 7th in the standings but total points haven't been a problem and with this win this week, their wins and losses no longer matter. What matters is their conferecne leading point total making them the favorite in this game. Everything is pointing to a victory for them except maybe the QB position. If the game comes down to that they have a problem not only because they have a mediocre QB in Ryan compared to the Hammers Brady, but a bad matchup for him as well. Previous Meeting Week 8: H Hammers 118 - TD's 84   YTD Starter Points by Position Team QB RB WR/TE K DEF Total #4 H Hammers 315 443 435 113 114 1420 #7 TD's 231 419 739 107 93 1589
7 TD's 141 6 TnT 105
Second Round Central CT Matchups #5 Frannie's Train vs. #11 Snake & Shake  -  #6 TnT vs. #9 Bartertown
West
#3 Brookline vs. #8 Smiley's Snipers
Bye	Losing the #1 rank after occupying the top spot for six straight weeks prior to week 11 I'm sure Brookline still hasn't gotten over, because they not only lost the top spot in the final regular season week, they also lost a second bye. And it's a good thing they didn't lose this bye also because their 91 points wouldn't have beaten anyone. And it isn't just the last two weeks they have been faltering; Brookline hasn't broken 100 in the last three. Well it's not just a bye at stake this week so they better get their act together and fast. They do have the personnel but they have been basically underachieving and the ones that weren't have been left on the bench. The chart below does favor them but Maclin appears to be out again and that's a big reason the WR/TE category favors them. If we can assume they will pick their best lineup they get the nod but the reality is there isn't much room for error and if they do error it could be another sub 100 week and an early exit in the 2011 playoffs. The only team that could have beaten them this week was Archie's and they were competing in the CT. Even with Andre Johnson getting them just 4 and their opponents Victor Cruz putting up 36 they win easy. Don't know how far they can get with Tim Tebow at QB but they got this far and Tebow actually has a great matchup this week. We still have to give Brookline the QB edge with Rodgers but against one of the worst pass defenses in the league Minnesota, Tebow could make the difference manageable. If Tebow holds his own and their RB advantage make up the difference, it will come down to the WRs. Although the chart does indicate Brookline is better in that category, I reiterate that was with Maclin in for Brookline and that won't be the case this week. Add in the Snipers now have Andre Johnson back and this position becomes a wash at worst for the Snipers. If the game ends up close the deciding difference could be the defenses. And if it does advantage Snipers because not only do they have a good one in Houston, Brookline is relegated to a Giant defense playing against Green Bay. A defense that just put up a zero against New Orleans. Previous Meeting Week 9: Smiley's Snipers 124 - Brookline 112   YTD Starter Points by Position Team QB RB WR/TE K DEF Total #3 Brookline 350 307 668 120 88 1533 #8 Smiley's Snipers 232 410 568 107 128 1445
8 Smiley's Snipers 140 5 Irish Talbots 99
#4 Detroit vs. #6 B&B
Bye	The Lions have been a much better team in the second half of the season. They finished the year with four straight wins and a bye and now get a good draw in their first playoff game with a team with 100 less points. Considering their opponent has Brady you expect the QB position to favor them but Eli Manning has been more than serviceable this year so the advantage there is actually rather small. The WR position is close enough to not mention so so far everything is fairly close. The main difference in the two is at RB. A 134 point difference in the position is pretty significant. B&B's main runner Turner has been mostly pedestrian this year for a lead back while McCoy has been a monster. Although not so much lately but that means scoring 16 points instead of the 26 from earlier. The edge goes to the Lions but I believe they will need McCoy to come up big because although B&B doesn't have a high overall point total, have the players to put up a high single week total. Their wildcard game was close enough that Billy called me up and inquired about the Thursday stat change updates and if  his victory could be overturned. There's always that possibility but considering it would take a full three point change because they hold the tie breaker, I told him not to lose any sleep. As for MNE all I can say is I feel your pain and if you don't believe me read the very first section about the Syndicate and my game. I don't think B&B can get by the Lions with a zero from Julio Jones and just 7 from Turner like they did with MNE, but I also don't anticipate a repeat of those performances either. The key for them is Brady. If he feels greedy he could put up 50 against the colts. But considering the Colts have the worst run defense in the league he could decide to exploit that instead and if he does B&B is in trouble. Previous Meeting Week 2: Detroit Lions 113 - B&B 103   YTD Starter Points by Position Team QB RB WR/TE K DEF Total #4 Detroit Lions 220 470 521 108 116 1435 #6 B&B 244 336 530 128 90 1328
7 MNE 103 6 B&B 105
Second Round West CT Matchups #5 Irish Talbots vs. #11 French River  -  #7 MNE vs. #9 Archies's

Sandlot Defending League Champion M4

Welcome to the 2nd season of the PFFL Sandlot League

 

PFFL Stuff

The Score: The wildcard week was slightly above the yearly average but for the most part an average week compared to the past. The overall average rose .2 and remains close to two points above the previous 5-year average. Week 12 Year Beginning East Central West Overall 2011 5-Year Ave 122 121 119 120.7 118.6 116.9 ● Reminder: Thursday games the rest of the year except week 17. Very important do not drop a player from your roster that was in your lineup on Thursday. That action will lock your lineup and you will be unable to make any changes for the remainder of the week. As you know waivers are performed on Friday so make sure you don't drop any players in your lineup on Thursday in those waivers. ● NOTE: This Friday at 8:00 pm is the Free Agency Deadline. This will be the last week of waivers. The final roster limit is 20. Teams with 19 or less players may increase their rosters to 20 in their final waivers requests. Rosters will be frozen for the remainder of the year at their status as of Friday at 8:00 pm. ● For those of you who think it was just a coincidence that Cleantown lost all those games and still won the #1 rank consider this: Their final game with the #1 seed on the line they put up the lowest score in the entire league including the Sandlot but still earn the #1 seed regardless. This week when it doesn't matter because of a bye they put up the highest score in the entire league including the Sandlot. Do you think Kevin was just showing us he can do it whenever he pleases? No? Just a coincidence? Well consider this: In the West another Kevin Cody Consortium team French River had first pick in the waiver wire and instead of choosing Kevin Smith who was available, takes Janikowski instead. They take a kicker with the first pick in the waiver wire instead of a starting RB that proved he could put up 42 points at any time. By the way French River won their CT game this week 123-108 on the strength of Janikowski's 6 field goals and 24 points. Coincidence? I think not. Yeah Kevin!   ● Note: The MFL websites do not support our particular playoff system until after the wildcard week so the upcoming week 13 schedule is always wrong. However once I reprogram for the next set of games the future schedule will reflect the correct matchups but when I do this we lose the previous weeks final scores and matchups. But remember the official schedule and results are always at the Playoff Brackets & CT Brackets pages.   Congratulations and Good Luck To all the Playoff Teams!

League Total Point Rankings Rk 1 Cleantown 1630 1 7 TD's 1589 2 2 Schleprock 1582 3 1 Bid 66 Bandits 1574 4 1 Park Valley 1569 5 2 Cousins Mc 1558 6 3 Brookline 1533 7 4 IC Lightning 1511 8 2 Arnie's Army 1508 9 3 Dego's R Us 1502 10 5 Capital 1495 11 8 Smiley's Snipers 1445 12 9 Bartertown 1443 13 5 Irish Talbots 1443 14 6 Syndicate 1439 15 3 JR's Boys 1437 16 4 Detroit Lions 1435 17 4 H Hammers 1420 18 8 T Bones 1415 19 6 TnT 1400 20 9 Archie's 1400 21 12 Twisted Helmets 1393 22 7 Commish East 1387 23 11 Snake & Shake 1375 24 8 Sharks 1354 25 5 Frannie's Train 1340 26 7 MNE 1339 27 10 Midquippa 1329 28 6 B&B 1328 29 10 Little Johnny & Will's 1325 30 11 French River 1324 31 12 Commish West 1316 32 10 Endzonerz 1308 33 9 The Jolly Roger 1288 34 12 Nasty Aggravators 1250 35 11 Weekend Warriors 1247 36 12 Nasty Aggravators 1114   Average 1409

PFFL Defending League Champion Snake & Shake

Welcome to the 20th Season of the PFFL!