The Big House: And it was Down to Four

The Big House: And it was Down to Four

By Sam Spiegelman

Lights Out Turns Out the Light of Old School’s Season

            Did someone forget to tell Old School the playoffs started last week? Apparently they did – some friends, right? The wretched lineup he opted to send out Sunday scored a measly 68 points, the third-lowest total of the playoff teams. Compare that to the league-best 102 points Lights Out scored in a blowout victory.

            Old School opted to start the struggling Gang Green combo of Mark Sanchez and Santonio Holmes, who combined for 13 points – four less than Jon Kitna scored on his own. And while Holmes filled in at WR1, DeSean Jackson and his 27 points were left to rot on the bench.

            But poor lineup decisions are one thing; lack of execution is another. Aside from Shady McCoy and Ray Rice playing how we expected, Stone Cold Miles Austin, Mike Wallace, Dustin “The Wind” Keller – non-existent. The three combined for 15 points.

            On the other side, Lights Out’s No. 1 draft choice Chris Johnson may have finally come to fruition as he led the way with game-high 23 points. Close behind was Knowshon Moreno, who finally got a significant number of carries with the interim Broncos coach favoring the rushing attack, and Jason Witten, who clearly has chemistry with Kitna.

            The loss sends Old School packing; I am sure it will be a lot of “Frank the Tank” this weekend with no fantasy relevance left in his life. Lights Out, however, will be prepping for a Final Four showdown against Calbears.

Ron Mexico’s Pit Bulls Edge out The Shocker

            Call it what you will – Wacko for Flacco, a Monday night miracle – but the decision came down to Monday Night Football when Ron Mexico sent out Joe Flacco to keep his team’s lead against the dangerous duo of Matt “Stump the” Schaub and Arian Foster. And as former Terp Josh Wilson took Schaub’s interception to the house, down went the Texans and down went The Shocker.

            In all fairness, Schaub played out of his damn mind. Nearly 400 yards through the air, three touchdowns and 27 points had The Shocker envisioning the classic come-from-behind win. The combo of Schaub and Foster led to almost 40 points.

            But most of the blame has to be on the lackluster performance of the rest of the team. Thank to Tavaris Jackson running into Adrian Peterson’s knee and John Skelton taking over as the Cards’ quarterback, no other play reached double-digit scoring on the week.

            For Ron Mexico, his claim to victory is much due to Flacco’s two scores Monday, and also to the resurgence of Marques Colston down the stretch. He and Drew Brees and re-found their chemistry in recent weeks, and he has once again become the go-to guy for the Saints in the red-zone.

            The victory sends Ron Mexico to a game against Pain Curve, while the Shocker will take his talents to just another spectator on the weekends.

Preview: RMPBs at Pain Curve

            On the one hand, you have a team in Ron Mexico’s Pit Bulls who advanced to the second round of the playoffs after a three-point defensive stand, while Pain Curve eased here by utterly destroying their opponent. Now, the teams will face off in the Final Four with a Super Bowl berth on the line.

            The away team, Ron Mexico, will be reliant upon a high risk, high upside backfield Sunday, which should pose as the catalyst in the game. Jay Cutler will face Minnesota in primetime Monday coming off a less-than-impressive effort against the Patriots. Eli Manning struggles against the Vikes, and we all know Cutler’s propensity to throw the ball to the wrong team.

            There will also be a lot of pressure on Danny Woodhead and Anthony Dixon. Woodhead has emerged as a reliable fantasy option; The Hoodie is finding ways to utilize Woody’s skill sets, and so far, so good. In replacing Frank Gore, Dixon has yet to shine like we have expected him to and it may be Brian Westbrook who has the greater impact.

            Aside from matchup-proof Michael Vick, Pain Curve will look to maybe his hottest player to continue the trend of 100-yard rushing games to shoulder the load this week. Maurice Jones-Drew is sizzling, and he now faces the porous Colts rush defense in what will be an emotional AFC South showdown. Indy has stopped MJD when they have had to; I do not know if they can this time.

            I also like the matchups Malcolm Floyd against San Fran and Wes Welker against the Pack. With Antonio Gates a question mark, Floyd should see an increase in targets. Welker, as he is always week, is a matchup problem for any defense.

            My prediction: The home team heads to the Super Bowl. So many good matchups, Jones-Drew and the dynamics of Vick – well, let’s just say I would not rely on Woodhead or Dixon to keep pace with those studs.

Preview: Calbears at Lights Out

            With room for just spot available in the Super Bowl left, it will be Calbears and Lights Out rumbling, bumbling, stumbling for their chance to take the league by storm.

            Calbears will look to a Thursday night game where Philip Rivers will likely embarrass the 49ers defense with the world watching, as San Diego needs this win to keep their playoff aspirations alive and San Fran should be able to eliminate the running threat – sorry Mike Tolbert.

            Other favorable matchups include the red-hot Michael “The Burner” Turner in Seattle. Like any NFC West team, it should be a piece of fake. The Falcons should take a quick lead, and ride the Burner to victory. I think T.O. and Speedy Stevie Johnson could finally find the end-zone against Cleveland, and Greg Jennings would be great if Aaron Rodgers can get into the lineup.

            For Lights Out, I am undecided on how Big Ben will fare versus the Jets. Coming off two harsh losses, the Jets defense (you would think) would come out firing in Pittsburgh with their season in the balance. But for Ben, who had a less-than spectacular game against Cincy, he is destined to bounce back.

            I dig the new Denver game-plan that is centered on Knowshon Moreno. This week, the Broncos face the R-R-Raiders who allowed both Jacksonville runners to over 100 yards. I like Roddy White and Megatron in their games, and if the G-Men want to keep pace with the high-flying Eagles, it will have to be Hakeem “The Dream” on the receiving end of Eli Manning’s passes.

            My prediction: While the Burner and Rivers should dominate their matchups, the receiving core and running backs for Lights Out may be too much to overcome. The game should come down to how Big Ben does at home – if he is clicking, it is lights out for the Calbears.