MFL: The Final Four

MFL: The Final Four

By Sam Spiegelman

Ruling Barons Embarrasses Manute Spud in Royal Beat Down

            Note to Manute Spud and Bird Esq.: this is not Jim Mora speaking you; we are talking ‘bout playoffs now! Maybe next time you will be more prepared, as the Ruling Barons rolled over your team by 60, setting a final four showdown with the Slackers this weekend.

            Led by a big three of Jay Cutler, Megatron and The Marshall Plan, Ruling Barons had this one won by the 4 p.m. games Sunday. Calvin Johnson tore up the depleted Tampa Bay secondary, while Brandon Marshall finally topped the century-mark in receiving yards despite Chad Henne throwing him passes. Cutler’s efficient Monday night performance was simply icing on the cake for this one.

            On the other hand, Manute Spud couldn’t find offense outside of Indy. Peyton Manning scored a third of his points with 14, while the Chargers second finished second. Four players came up small with doughnuts, including an injured Adrian Peterson who got the boot in a game-time decision. Note to Spud: if the reports are cloudy, have a back-up plan. This one bit you.

            The blowout cannot help but inspire the Ruling Barons into their semifinals contest, as suddenly Cutler is playing well when he is supposed to, Megatron and Marshall are reenergized and you know that Reggie Wayne will come back into the picture.

Preview: Hitters vs. Three Jakes

            In what CBS predicts to be an even tilt come Sunday, Hitters will take on The Three Jakes for the rights to call their team Super Bowl-caliber. The Hitters at 7-8 will be an underdog though, as they face off against a 9-5 Three Jakes team that finished second in the Mendota Division.

            For Hitters, a gang of his players must take advantage of the porous defenses they will face off against because they will be matching up against a collection of stars on The Three Jakes. Joe Flacco will face Cleveland, while LeGarrette Blount gets to face the always running back-friendly Sea-Chickens. Both Andre “The Giant” Johnson and Kevin Walter are set to face the Denver secondary so both are candidates for scores, although I am always wary of starting receivers on the same squad.

            The Three Jakes is sporting a team of streakers, and no I am not talking about the Will Ferrell in Old School type. Philip Rivers gets the third-stringers in Cincy’s secondary; Ray Rice comes off a 153-yard monster game against the Saints and Pierre Garcon will get the start now that Austin Collie has been placed on I.R. If Brandon Lloyd or Hakeem “The Dream” Nicks has an excellent afternoon, this offense could explode.

            My prediction: Like the NFC West, a team under .500 has made it into the playoffs. And while it has been quite the run riding Andre the Giant and Blount, there is too much stardom on The Three Jakes to contend with. I see the home team taking this one by a wide margin.

Preview: Ruling Barons vs. Slackers

            Coming off a 100-plus-point effort in the opening round, the Ruling Barons now get a much tougher test against the Slackers, who are well-rested and ready for the challenge.

            The road team, the 10-5 Ruling Barons, will need Jay Cutler to duplicate his Monday night statistics against a Gang Green defense still vying for a playoff berth. Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie are both extreme upgrades over the Vikings corners, and could easily slow down Devin Hester and company.

            It’s hard to gage how Jamaal Charles will fare against a Jekyll and Hyde-type Titans defense, but he is playing in the comforts of Arrowhead and will have Matt Cassel behind center. With the Pats sure to have a commanding lead at Buffalo, The Law Firm should get plenty of carries to kill the clock. And did I mention Reggie Wayne, Megatron, Vernon Davis and The Marshall Plan all have favorable matchups?

            On the other side, the Slackers will look to Steven Jackson to lead the Rams over division-rival San Fran, and Peyton Hillis to have a repeat performance against the Ravens when he ran all over them earlier this season. In addition, if healthy, Knowshon Moreno could be a sneaky option against the Texans, and the same goes for Danny Woodhead at Buffalo.

            Receiving-wise, Santonio Holmes is dealing with a turf toe injury and faces a Chicago defense that has limited big plays, Holmes’ forte. And Lance Moore is of course an option to score with Drew Brees, but I would not consider it a lock.

            My prediction: Unless Brees explodes for a 400-yard, four touchdown game at the Georgia Dome, which is always in the realm of possibility, I see the outstanding receiving core of Ruling Barons being the difference in this showdown. Using Woody and Randy McMichael, as well as a possibly hobbled Moreno, will not be able to keep up.