Wild Card Weekend!


They fought for 13 hard weeks, suffered through benchings and bye weeks, injuries and idiocy. When the dust cleared, only 6 remained standing: CheektoWojo, Boys of Summer, Fireseed, L.A. Ninjas, Andy's Red Hots, and Los Petates Mexicanos. Their reward for surviving this far? A 3-week fight to death. Let the playoffs begin!

Wild Card Matchup #1: #3 Fireseed vs. #6 Los Petates Mexicanos
How they Got Here: Los Petates Mexicanos dropped three of their final four games, but on the strength of a 5-game win streak midseason, they carried a 7-6 record into the playoffs, the third team entered from the Sandridge Division. Fireseed, despite a 6-7 record, slashed their way to a Crittenden Division title with some Week 13 heroics in a big win vs. the Ice Cold Bruschi's paired with a last-minute TD by David Garrard to put Karate Xplosion over the Skyns. Fireseed ranks 3rd in the league in total points scored; Los Petates Mexicanos are 10th.
Last Meeting: Los Petates Mexicanos won 140.78-132.42 in Week 5.
Playoff History: In their rookie season, this is Los Petates Mexicanos's first playoff appearance. Fireseed has qualified for the playoffs in 8 of 9 AldenLeague seasons, and has two Fantasy Bowl appearances.
What to Watch For: Donovan McNabb (Fireseed) takes on the 10th-ranked pass defense of the New York Giants following his big comeback game vs. Arizona after being benched in the previous game. Titans RB LenDale White (LPM) vs. Titans RB Chris Johnson (Fireseed). Minnesota Defense (LPM) minus star DTs Kevin Williams and Pat Williams (substance suspensions) at Detroit. RB Frank Gore (LPM) vs. 4th-ranked rush defense of the New York Jets. Fireseed's decision to play inconsistent RB Joseph Addai over QB Jake Delhomme.
Yahoo! Projection: Fireseed 165.99 - Los Petates Mexicanos 145.75
Wild Card Matchup #2: #4 L.A. Ninjas vs. #5 Andy's Red Hots
How They Got Here: L.A. was 7-3 going into the final stretch of divisional games in the schedule, and was battling for the top spot of the points race with CheektoWojo all season. They finished tied with the Boys of Summer atop the Westwood Division with an 8-5 record, but due to divisional record, they retain the #4 seed. The Red Hots also struggled in the season-ending portion of the schedule, dropping 3 of their last 4, but was in small fear of not earning a playoff berth due to superior record over C-Men and a comfortable points lead over the Boys of Summer. The L.A. Ninjas finished 2nd in the points race, and the Red Hots finished 8th.
Last Meeting: L.A. Ninjas won 138.83-119.9 in Week 3.
Playoff History: This is the first playoff appearance for the L.A. Ninjas since their addition to the league in the 2006 season. Andy's Red Hots enters their 4th playoff season in 7 years, including championships of the old Central Division in 2004 and 2006, but have never earned a Fantasy Bowl berth.
What to Watch For: QB Tony Romo's (L.A.) encore after a 43-point Week 13 against the NFL's top-ranked pass defense of Pittsburgh. RB Ryan Grant's (L.A.) injured thumb kept him out of the second half of last week's game, but he has been practicing fully as of mid-week. His replacement, RB Brandon Jackson (L.A.) was limited in practice this week with bruised quadriceps. Last week, QB Kerry Collins (A.H.R.) scored only 8 fantasy points in his team's 47-point offensive output against the lowly Lions; this week he takes on the lowly Browns at home. The Eli Manning/Brandon Jacobs combo (A.H.R.) takes on the Philadelphia Eages this week, whose defense ranks 8th in both pass defense and rush defense.
Yahoo! Projection: L.A. Ninjas 150.55 - Andy's Red Hots 133.48

Bye Weeks: #1 CheektoWojo and #2 Boys of Summer. Relax - you've earned the rest.

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