Playoffs: RD2 Preview

Well, that was a hell of a first week of post-season games wasn’t it? All four games were decided by ten points or less, and nearly everyone had a shot going into the late games. In the end, it was an upset win for Dirty Birds over Tiiite End Jammers, and a business-like dispatching of Philadelphia Phreaks by Battle Angels. We were hoping to see some fresh faces in the hunt for the Super Bowl but it seems like this wasn’t the year for Lei and Ping. Now our round one winners face off versus the heavily favored favorites, Chunky Monkeys and Fat Jubas. Let’s take a look.

Chunky Monkeys (10-3) vs Dirty Birds (7-6)
The Birds got a first round win but at a great cost: both Adrian Peterson and Rob Gronkwoski were injured and it looks increasingly like neither will be available for action. Jon’s team was saved by a huge LeSean McCoy performance last week — especially since Andrew Luck and his 43.5 points were on the bench — but it’ll be hard for McCoy to pull that trick off again. Can Peterson and Gronkowski’s replacements (likely Toby Gerhart and Jordan Cameron) help the Birds to another upset? It could be a tall order.

For the Monkeys, a week off was perfect as Calvin Johnson can avoid another snow game, plus Josh Gordon continues to be on absolute fire. And oh look, Giovani Bernard is now getting carries! Will Jamaal Charles still playing strong, Evan has a wealth of stars available. It would be a shock if they can’t get out of the conference finals and into another Super Bowl. An absolute shock. #reversejinx These two teams saw each other three times in a row during the divisional finals from 2007-2009. The Monkeys won the last two matchups (once on a tie-breaker) and they could make it three in a row with a win this weekend. #morereversejinx

Fat Jubas (9-4) vs Battle Angel (8-5)
In a rematch of 2011, Battle Angel faced off versus Fat Jubas coming off a bye in the division playoffs. Eric’s team won in one of the closest and best divisional games of all time, 119.65-117.4, and we’re hoping for a similar affair. Cam Newton versus Drew Brees is obviously the marquee matchup and it looks like Vu will enjoy a minor edge there. The problem is, his running backs are dinged up — Reggie Bush didn’t even play last weekend — while Eric’s Knowshon Moreno and Chris Johnson are guaranteed to play, and to likely play well. Even though BenJarvus Green-Ellis is on a bit of a touchdown streak (three in two games), he has only had three double digit games this year and can’t be counted on as a lead back.

Where does that leave Battle Angel? Well, frankly, it leaves them outmatched. Even the strength of their roster, Andre Johnson, Vernon Davis, and the suddenly hot Brian Hartline pales a bit in comparison to Jubas’ trio of Vincent Jackson, Jimmy Graham, and the man on fire that is Alshon Jeffery. Plus, Eric is possibly electing to go run-and-shoot, subbing in Eric Decker for Chris Johnson, to create even more of a powder keg. What we're saying is that Jubas should be a firm bet to make it to their third Super Bowl in a row, and it’s all looking like a setup for a monster championship game that could (once again) determine the rightful owner of “best franchise ever.” Well, unless Vu’s team wins. Then there will be silence everywhere except in Angel-land.

Toilet Bowl Recap
Over in the high scoring losers round, Athena Nike and Fobsters both pulled off upsets to advance to the Toilet Bowl finals. Athena Nike withstood Peyton Manning's 43.8 point barrage by having Chiefs DEF put up 25 points of their own on the way to a close win over Gang Green. As for Fobsters, they had 21 points from their Cardinals DEF and needed every one of them -- plus Tom Brady's 31 points -- to take out Buffy. Both Jimmy and Frank could use the #1 overall pick, but it was a minor victory just to even get to the Toilet Bowl finals from the underdog positions.