Split 3 Recap (Weeks 5-6)

Peyton loses, Gronk wins. Even without an undefeated manager left, can anyone surpass him as the #1 seed? Will any teams outside the playoff picture make a run into the Final Four? They’re running out of time. Split 4 is the last chance for some managers.

Injury report (Split 3)

Rashid Shaheed (STC)

Derek Carr (STC)

Chris Olave (STC)

Jerome Ford (STC)

Tyjae Spears (ITS)

Quintin Johnston (ITS)

Travis Etienne (GMEN)

Juwan Jennings (MIKE)

Dallas Goedert (MIKE)

Jakobi Meyers (OHMA)

Peyton’s Forehead Shiner (5-1)

Peyton’s unbeaten start finally comes to an end. 17 consecutive games, the 2nd longest in SFI History (Odell’s Rusty Hip, 18, 2023). After Ja’Marr Chase carried him to a Week 5 victory against Bradshank, he falters in a narrow contest against the Scarlet Witch. He maintains the #1 seed despite this setback and will remain the top contender. Split 4 sees him up against Thanos. 

there’s always a chance he manages to thwart Peyton, though that hasn’t been the theme of their rivalry in the recent past. 

In Week 8, he’ll rematch a Suh-Tang who’s already beaten a #1 Seed this season. That will mark his greatest threat odds-wise for the remainder of the season. They’ll be tough games, but Peyton will remain the favorite in both contests as we move into the 2nd half of Phase 7. Needing just two wins to mathematically secure a postseason bid, all he needs to worry about is which seed he’ll be. 

Bradshank Redemption (1-5)

She’s done it. Bradshank stopped the bleeding and picked up her first win after falling to 0-5. Besting the GMEN, she’s climbed out of last place and made it clear she’ll fight to the end. With her postseason chances dwindling, she still has the best roster among her four peers outside of the hunt. Bradshank should be able to use that to her advantage and improve her status even further

Split 4 has her up against two playoff teams in Gronk and Odell, making follow-up victories a real test. A win in either matchup would be a major upset and truly impressive at this stage.

Odell’s Rusty Hip (3-3)

And just like that, our assumptions ring true. Odell’s Rusty Hip reaches the halfway point of the season with a 2-0 record in Split 3, bringing her to an even record entering the second half. 

Following her 75 point loss to Peyton in Split 2, she took her anger out on an unsuspecting Thanos, giving him his largest margin of defeat since the 2021 Finals. Week 6 was more of the same, defeating the manager right under her (Is This Soccer) to keep hold on 4th place.

Split 4 sees Odell up against two other managers under her in the standings.In the all-time record books, she’s a staggering 11-4 against her father in head-to-head matchups. This is the most H2H wins any manager has versus another. Following this, she’ll match up against a Bradshank team that’s searching for her 2nd win and a little revenge from her Opening Day loss to Odell. Entering the last half of the year, playoffs are looking more likely by the week. 

Pull The Lever, Gronk! (5-1)

With her vision blurred by love in Week 5, the Witch suffered her first defeat of the season to her own spouse. Not to worry, she’d take it out on her brother, proving that depth is of no consequence to her. Her victory against Peyton is a testament to this fact, projected to lose by a significant margin, her team overcame the odds and took him down right at the end. What managers ought to be worried about is her team is starting to get healthy again.  This Split is a prime chance to distance herself from the rest and secure her 2nd postseason berth, heights she hasn’t reached since 2021.

Matching up versus two teams outside of contention, she has no plans of stopping her ascension. Gronk is a heavy favorite in each of her Split 4 contests. 

Team GMEN (2-4)

The GMEN go 1-1 in Split 3. He survives a close call against ITS, and comes out on the wrong side of a 2nd close finish, giving Bradshank a redeeming first win. Had he beaten Bradshank, he could’ve remained a contender for the 2024 playoffs. Now? His fate hangs in the balance over the next two games.

In Split 4, he’ll take on two playoff managers, one being his own blood. If he wants any chance of maintaining odds at the postseason, a win against Odell is a MUST. 2-5 with a loss to the tiebreaker will effectively eliminate him from contention. Consider Split 4 the most pivotal of the year for the man in blue.

Sledge Hammer (1-5)

More of the same from Thanos in Split 3. He was blown out to the tune of 80+ points, setting him at 0-2 against the Medina’s in back to back weeks. A loss in Week 6 to Suh-Tang Clan extends his streak of unpleasantries to 4. Things are looking particularly bleak at the moment. This is the first time he’s ever sat in 8th place this far into the season.

Still looking to hit the average league score, Split 4 will open up with a game against Peyton. He’s down multiple games in the all-time Head-to-Head against the defending champion. He faces off against Is This Soccer in Week 8. This offers greater odds at a victory and a chance to take another struggling manager down with him. While playoffs aspirations are likely in the rear-view, he’s still a manager you can always count on to never stop competing and maintaining the best roster he can.

Suh-Tang Clan (5-1)

Suh-Tang sweeps Split 3, making this his longest win streak to date (5) and doing it in most peculiar fashion. Saving his best week of the year against an undefeated the Witch, he was immune her potions, dispelling her with ease in Week 5. To us, this was his breakout win and a statement to the league. With the 6th most points for and the least points scored against by over 200, his ability to keep stringing together victories is something to behold. To add to that, he’s scored at or above the weekly league average only once, and has never had a manager he’s faced do so either. Wins are wins, no matter how you get them. With his sleepers having awoken, he’s been afforded the ability to play through some unlucky injuries and keep up the momentum. It doesn’t seem like he’ll be slowing down any time soon.

Facing ITS and Peyton (his only loss), he’ll hope to persevere through the adversity in Split 4. At this point, Vision’s effectively locked up a playoff spot. 

Is This Soccer? (2-4)

ITS suffers a similar fate to Thanos, losing to both Medinas in Split 3. This brings his losing streak to 3 after a hopeful 2-1 start, putting his playoff aspirations in deep trouble. His running game has been a major bright spot for him this year, with the remainder of his roster lagging behind as of late. He’s a game back and does not have the tiebreaker at this point in time. With Tua returning in Week 8, there remains some hope that Tyreek can get back to being the elite week-to-week winner he drafted him as. Even so, it might be too late by the time he does.

Split 4 pits him against a manager sharing his namesake and a Thanos squad that he defeated in the season opener. Anything short of 2-0 likely eliminates him without significant assistance from the teams above him.

Zach S