FiOS Football - Week#16, Playoff Preview

It's an All-Scarlet Fight for the League Title

by Paul Pearson

This weekend, while many of us will be opening and/or taking back presents (by the way, does anyone need an electric boot warmer?), four teams in the FiOS Football league will be trying to complete a quest for fantasy football glory. Two teams will be vying for the league's championship, while two others will compete in the equally thrilling but less romantically named Toilet Bowl.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Scarlet Eagles vs. Scarlet Pack

The eighth-seeded Eagles (7-8) pulled off its second major upset in as many weeks with a 148-84 dismantling of the Ann-Tics. The third-seeded Pack (11-4) got here in a more conventional way by beating the Lovely & Talented by a score of 111-102. The Pack has gotten Peyton Manning back in form at just the right time, and, unlike previous teams that relied on number 18, this team won't have to worry about Manning and company taking an early seat because their playoff seeding has been determined already. Matt Ryan of the Eagles scored almost as many points as Manning this week, and his team can't rest against the New Orleans Saints Monday night, since home-dome advantage has not been wrapped up yet. Ray Rice faces a surprisingly stingy Cleveland Browns defense, while Peyton Hillis faces the not-so-surprisingly strong Baltimore Ravens defenders. This one may come down to which pass catcher can score more points: Jason Witten against the Arizona Cardinals or Brandon Marshall against the Detroit Lions. The edge goes to Marshall, and the Pack should end the Eagles' Cinderella run just short of the finish line.

TOILET BOWL CHAMPIONSHIP

Suckawoodz vs. Baby Needs a New Pair of Shoes II

The 12th-seeded Woodz (6-9) edged the P Funk Tribe by a score of 129-124. The 11th-seeded Shoes (5-9-1) took out To the victor go the spoils in a 110-96 consolation semifinal. The Woodz's faith in Vincent Jackson paid off handsomely last week; he found the end zone three times and put up 36 points. A.J. Smith's least favorite receiver should find plenty of holes in the Cincinnati Bengals defense this week, though the Atlanta Falcons defense/special teams may have a hard time containing the New Orleans Saints on Monday night. The Shoes got plenty of production from Matt Schaub (30 points) and Calvin Johnson (29), but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense gave them a donut, thanks in part to the aforementioned Johnson. The battle for the porcelain trophy should remain up in the air until Monday night. Michael Turner is a safer bet to reach the end zone than Jeremy Shockey, and the Shoes should come out of this matchup smelling sweet (or at least as sweet as one can smell after something called the Toilet Bowl).