Revving the Playoff Engine: League of Tax Free Shopping

Revving the Playoff Engine: League of Tax Free Shopping

By Sam Spiegelman

Playoff Preview: #4 Dreshertown Dragons vs. #1 Montclair Moonshiners

            You love to see the No. 1 seed team have to fight for their playoffs lives in the first round. In The League of Tax Free Shopping, the Montclair Moonshiners will host the Dreshertown Dragons for the right to move on to the Super Bowl.

            Both quarterbacks for the Montclair Moonshiners have terrible matchups. Matt “Stump the” Schaub will face the Ravens in primetime on Monday Night Football, while David Garrard faces the same Oakland team that stifled Philip Rivers a week ago. My guess is to go with Schaub can hopefully decipher the Ravens secondary, the only weak link on that defense.     

            Of the skill players, Michael “The Burner” Turner leads the way with favorable matchups, as he will get to face the Panthers, who last week allowed Marshawn Lynch to rise from the dead and score thrice. For RB2, Donald Brown is expected to play for Indy, but I would learn to either Mike Goodson (who is sharing carries in Carolina) or Mike Tolbert, who will be an intricate part of San Diego’s offense if they can pounce on the Chiefs.

            For the Dreshertown Gragons, there is no doubt there will be a heavy dose of Drew Brees Sunday against the Rams, which is also great for Marques Colston, who by the way it red hot. It should be a similar afternoon for Rashard Mendenhall, who after being kept in check by Baltimore, should rebound nicely for fantasy owners at home versus Cincy. Terrell Owens and Anquan Boldin should also have good performances.

            More questionable is how Felix Jones or the Zona backs will measure up in their games. Jones has emerged with Jason Garrett at the helm of the Boys, but Tashard Choice is expected to see an expanded role, especially in goal-line situations. And no – I do not trust either Tim Hightower or Beanie Wells.

            My prediction: The No. 1 seed earned that distinction for a reason. The Montclair Moonshiners should cruise to victory, despite a valiant effort on the part of Brees and Colston over the Rams.

Playoff Preview: #3 Tigris Tigers vs. #2 Compton Colons

            It should be a good one Sunday when the No. 2 Compton Colons host the No. 3 Tigris Tigers with a spot in the big game in the balance.

            The Comptom Colons should hope Tom Brady can continue his scorching streak against Da Bears – a test for most quarterbacks, but not quarterbacks named Tom Brady.

            The running back I cannot wait to see is Peyton “Running Down” Hillis, the white ball of Thunder that should rebound nicely against the Buffalo Bills. The question then becomes who is the best option at RB2 – Ahmad Bradshaw, S-Jax, Pierre Thomas or L.T. Bradshaw and Jackson are both coming off excellent Week 13 games, while L.T. was essentially nowhere to be found versus the Pats. Thomas has not been seen in weeks. With that in mind, I would go (1) Jackson (2) Tomlinson and (3) Bradshaw – Jackson is someone I would trust, L.T. should rebound and Bradshaw just has a bad matchup. And no – you cannot trust Thomas this soon.

            For the Tigris Tigers, so much will depend on that always dangerous Aaron Rodgers to Greg Jennings connection which is dominant in 2010. The Pack face off against the Lions, the same team they utterly embarrassed a few weeks ago on Thanksgiving.

            Other favorable matchups include Run DMC versus the Jags, Knowshon Moreno against the Cards and Megatron, who despite getting Charles Woodson lined up opposite him is a must-start. Despite The Law Firm’s exceptional game Monday night, he cannot be played against Da Bears, and slowly, Thomas Jones is ceding carries to the superior Jamaal Charles.

            My prediction: Upset city, baby! Too many injures for the Compton Colons’ wide-receiving core – no Austin Collie leads the team to depend on Santana Moss, Steve Smith and Speedy Stevie Johnson, who has yet to rebound. Brady and Hillis will do work, but it will pale in comparison to what A-Rodge and Jennings will manage to do.

My Bet to Win the Losers Bracket

            Can you really bet against FKAR? You would be hard-pressed for this team to score more than 11 points this week, basically shredding any possibility of being crowned Toilet Bowl Champions. Let’s take an in-depth look at this team’s futility.

            In the quarterback crew sits two former Lions standouts – enough said. Jon Kitna is doing decently in Big D, but Shaun Hill has been out for the season for over a week now. Kitna battles just Kyle Orton for the starting gig, who has cooled down considerably this the season’s start.

            Do not get too excited when you hear FKAR’s backfield – White Thunder, F-Jax and Marshawn Lynch. Heading into Week 13, Jackson and Lynch were among the worst starting backs in the entire league, while White Thunder cannot get too blame – he backs up the best in the business, and he’s white!

            The team is rounded off by the wide-out collection of Stone Cold Miles Austin, Johnny Knox, Mario Manningham, Randy Moss, Wes Welker and Mike Williams. Aside from Williams, this is not your ideal receiving core. Before the season, yes. Austin was coming off a breakout season, but only recently has he made his presence felt. Knox was everybody’s sleeper; we’re still waiting for that one to come into fruition. And finally, Moss – supposedly he plays for Tennessee. Let me know when he gets on the field.