2020 WEEKS 14 and 15 PLAYOFF MATCHUP PREVIEWS
THE SEEL CURTAIN DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP
Preview: Bradshank still remains the favorite to win it all headed into the playoffs, but CMC’s return turns Peyton from a dangerous underdog into a nightmare opponent.
#1 Bradshank Redemption (9-4, 6-0)
Bradshank made the division (and the league) her oyster in 2020, with a latter season 5-game win streak where she seemed invincible. A strong RB room and a phenomenal defense to boot makes her a formidable opponent. Despite a Week 13 loss, Bradshank looks to continue her dominating run this season, holding a perfect division record going into the conference championship. She’s already beaten PFS twice; can she continue the sweep? Or will 3 times be the charm for Peyton as the 9-4 playoff curse looms Bradshank.
vs #2 Peytons Forehead Shiner (8-5, 3-3)
A rocky, injury riddled start for Peyton made it seem like he was destined for tragedy yet again. A 6-2 latter half of the season put those fears to rest. Ending the season off strong on a 3-game win streak while averaging 184 PPG heading into his first ever playoff appearance, Peyton looks like to keep his momentum heading into Week 14. The return of CMC and Austin Ekeler bolster his RB core into a terrifying 4-headed monster that also includes King Henry and James Robinson. If there was ever a chance to put the what-ifs and failures of past years behind him, it’s now.
THE BRADY BUNCH DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP
Preview: THE BRITISH ARE COMING! Sledge Hammer enters the playoffs as the crafty, grizzled veteran, but Is This Soccer is no average rookie. Will he upset the 2x champion and rewrite history? Or will there be a second Boston Tea Party? If Darren Waller has anything to say about it; it’s Hammer Time.
#1 Sledge Hammer (8-5, 4-2)
Sledge Hammer is no stranger to the playoffs, being a 2x SI champion himself. Despite another impressive regular season, he suffered a slew of injuries in the middle of the season alongside a few losses he’d like to forget. Regardless, excellent TE and FLEX play along with good waiver wire management has given him a chance at a 3-peat. Sledge Hammer has to fend off a rookie if he wants to make it a perfect 3/3 in SI championship appearances, with his first matchup a late replacement from across the pond.
#2 Is This Soccer? (7-6, 3-3)
Is This Soccer has had an impressive start to his career in the Seel Invitational, owed to his draft skills and a few strokes of beginners luck to land him a playoff spot. With serious losses to his RB core, the odds may be stacked against him. However, he boasts serious BOOM potential in his WR core with Tyreek Hill, Nuk Hopkins, and Scary Terry. It’s a hefty task to take down the juggernaut, especially since he was swept by him in the regular season. But everyone loves a good underdog story. It’s up to the redcoat to flip the script and make Sledge Hammer surrender.
THE SEEL CURTAIN CONSOLATION BRACKET
Preview: Despite being a rookie, Gronk shows high potential for the future and looks to prove it against a BOOM or BUST SaQuad’s. Will he show up? Or will Gronk pull the lever and descend SaQuad’s chances into the river.
#3 Pull the Lever, Gronk! (6-7, 3-3)
In her first year, Gronk showed drastic improvement each week. PLG fought hard and was competing for a playoff seed up until her Week 12 defeat removed her from contention. Now she’s given a chance to secure the 1.01 pick in next years’ draft and use her knowledge from this year to fight for a playoff berth in 2021. Winning the first pick won’t be an easy project, but she has the tools and the underdog grit to do it.
#4 SaQuads #1 (4-9, 0-6)
This was a disappointing year for SaQuads. On paper he seemed to be a lock as a championship contender after the draft. Inactivity and injuries tanked his playoff hopes, losing Barkley before he could ever get going. He had some splash performances, obtaining the most points in a single week this season AND in SI history with 233. But these performances came too infrequently for him. He’s had the #1 RB in PPR in 2018 and 2019 and had the #1 WR in 2020, but he’s missed the playoffs twice and is without a win there. His aim is to use potential that made him look like a contender to snag the #1 pick and try again next year.
THE BRADY BUNCH CONSOLATION BRACKET
Preview: With playoff hopes dashed by an injury-riddled season, Odell takes aim at a struggling Team G-Men to obtain the 1.01 and reload for 2021. This family feud isn’t going to be your average Daddy-Daughter Dance.
#3 Odell’s Rusty Hip (6-7, 2-4)
With a few lucky bounces, Odell could easily have been in the playoffs as a legitimate championship contender with Michael Thomas, George Kittle, Keenan Allen, and DeShaun Watson. However, Odell lost 6 of her first 8 picks for at least 3 weeks of the year, and 3 early on most, if not all of the regular season. While a strong win streak put her in playoff contention, COVID related injuries caused her to narrowly miss the playoffs. She’'ll have to go through her father first to get it, but a #1 OVR pick could set her up to win it all in 2021.
#4 Team G-MEN (4-9, 2-4)
G-Men always seems to start strong as a high point scorer, and 2020 was no different. But Nick Chubb missing time and Ezekiel Elliot being a shell of himself without Dak really nullified his chances of making it back to the playoffs. Not to mention, G-Men had a significant problem with inactivity, causing his 5th RD pick to be forfeited as consequence. Per the constitution, he’s ineligible to win the 1.01, but he can get his 5th rounder back. He’ll have to rely on Mahomes to get him there, but it’s doable. However, his first opponent is about as hard as it gets. Daddy’s Girl may end up running right through him without remorse if we can’t return to early season form.