There is the difference between us two. I am so confident in my team, I will rename my team to H2TAGBTES ...


How 2 throw away games before they even started

Every good omen is welcome!

No idea what will happen today, but we're hoping for the best.

Good luck for everyone

Geez, that was the expected narrow one. We did not allow much on the ground, but every time Yohan Maitre passed the ball it was a sure completion and they came very close in Q4... until a well timed interception by one of the longest tenured LB on our squad swung the pendulum, so we could expand the lead to two scores.

And with the Bobbers and the Ukies losing we even took 1st place in the NC West. Phew

It seems that my QB's got too much concussions, now he can't even understand the meaning of "match of the year"

We’re entering the hot stretch of games in the regular season. 4 games to go for everyone, so how about taking a look at the divisions and how it’s standing? Who’s most likely to win, who’s playing for another season in the Elite… and who’s already out?
Let’s see what’s going on in the league.

AC East

The Sunrise City Prairie Dogs (11–1) are well underway to win the East with a 3-game-lead on the Paris Guardians (8–4). The latter lost a crucial one against division opponent Air Force Falcons (6–6) yesterday, but have three winnable games in the last four, which they need to win not only to stay in the Elite, but to cement their spot in the playoffs they currently have. The Falcons have a favorable schedule, too, but will very likely drop out of the league again, even if they’re able to catch up to the Guardians, due to their sub-par PD. Jäger (2–10) is already eliminated and will return to the Thunder league.

AC North

The TigerCats lead because of a better PD over the Mustangs, both at 7–5. Those stallions have a tough stretch of games coming up, though, so the TiCas will likely win the North again. Missouri Misery at 4–8 still has a shot at staying in the league, but would have to win all remaining games to keep this chance. The Glastonbury Grail Knights at 2–10 will return to the Fire league after an impressive stretch of 4 seasons in the Elite.

AC South

Another season after which the Yorkies (10–2) and the Seagles (8–4) stay Elite, with both teams currently in the playoffs, too. Non Ducor Duco (4–8) and the Suchdol Minors (4–8) both already have no chance anymore to stay in the league.

AC West

The BobBoy Magpies (8–4) made a huge step towards winning the division yesterday by beating the Bracciano Lakers (6–6). And the latter will have to fight until the very end for the right to stay Elite, as the little men from Hitchin (6–6) have a very favorable schedule for the final 4 games and might jump them at the end. Out already are the Burnaby Bruisers (2–10) to return to the Admirals league.

NC East

Easily the toughest division in the Elite this season, as only one team has a record of 10–2, being the KMN Mandalorians at #1, and all others, the mystics, the Stone Mountain Hawks 2 and the Social Distance Runners, have a record of 8–4. Mindboggling! Other than week 16 we will see tough divisional match-ups between these teams, and it is quite up in the air who will come out on top in this one.

NC North

The Kraken reigns supreme once more in the North with a record of 10–2, which is a 4-game-lead on the Black Dragons (6–6) at #2. Behind them are the Hemet Hooligans (3–9), who have beaten the Chelt Nam Bobbers yesterday to keep the slim chance of making this one exciting. They have the chance to force a decision on the very last game day in the home game against the Dragons, but they would need to win out until then. The Irish Giants at #4 have lost every game and will end their 6-season-stretch in the Elite, returning to the Monarchs league.

NC South

This division is very likely to be won by the San Diego Blitz, currently at 10–2. Behind them are the Dumbarajko Elephants at 7–5, who have good chances to stay for another season in the Elite. Very slim outside chances, although a favorable schedule, has the Creators team (4–8), but in week 17 they will likely be sent back to the Galaxy league by the Elephants. Rio Galaxy (3–9) will join them, as they still have to play the Blitz twice in the upcoming games.

NC West

This division has a different leader every week, it seems, as the SEA LIONS (6–6) managed to jump from #3 to #1 yesterday by beating the Gilets Jaunés (3–9), who are last in the West. In between are the Brookfield Ukies (6–6), only at #2 due to a slightly worse PD than the SEA LIONS, and the Chelt Nam Bobbers (5–7), who have their worst season since S47… which they ended at 8–8 and #2 in the division nonetheless. Everything’s still up in the air in this one… although the Gilets Jaunés do not have too many chances anymore to stay another season.

Summary

In the AC conference 3 teams are safe to play another season in the Elite, 5 teams are already eliminated, and the playoff seeding currently consists of 2 teams from the East, 2 teams from the South and 1 each from the North and from the West.
In the NC conference it's more open, as only 2 teams are really safe and only 1 team eliminated. The playoff seeding currently has 1 team from the North, the South and the West, while the East will send 3 teams to the postseason... at least at this point of the season.

3/4 through the season, here's the adjusted point differential rankings and strength of schedule one more time. With this many games for data now, these rankings are probably pretty accurate. In case anyone needed evidence that the schedules are randomly determined, Pete has had the hardest schedule over the first 12 games.

APD ranks:
KMN Mandalorians 18.3
People Republic of Yorkshire 17.8
Space Kraken 14.6
San Diego Blitz 13.8
mystics 12.6
Sunrise City Prarie Dogs 9.3
Stone Mountain Hawks 2 8.5
Social Distance Runners 7.2
Sydney Sea Eagles 6.6
Paris Guardians 6
BobBoy Magpies 5.5
H2TAGIT4Q 5.2
TigerCats 4.4
Dumbarajko Elephants 3.6
Mustangs 3.1
Bracciano Lakers 2.4
Chelt Nam Bobbers 2.3
Air Force Falcons 0
Melittlemenon thepitchhitchin -0.8
HAMBURG SEA LIONS -0.9
Black Dragons -1.9
Brookfield Ukies -2.4
Glastonbury Grail Knights -2.6
Missouri Misery -4.4
Non Ducor Duco -5.8
Burnaby Bruisers -10.6
Rio Galaxy -10.8
Gilets Jaunes -12
Hemet Hooligans -13.2
Suchdol Minors -14.2
Jager -16.6
Irish Giants -41.8

SoS:
H2TAGIT4Q 6
Irish Giants 4.6
Missouri Misery 4.5
TigerCats 2.8
Glastonbury Grail Knights 2.7
San Diego Blitz 2.3
Brookfield Ukies 2.3
Melittlemenon thepitchhitchin 2.2
Mustangs 2.1
Jager 1.4
Dumbarajko Elephants 1.4
Air Force Falcons 1.3
Hemet Hooligans 1.2
Non Ducor Duco 0.9
Chelt Nam Bobbers 0.6
Sydney Sea Eagles 0.4
Suchdol Minors 0.3
People Republic of Yorkshire -0.2
Rio Galaxy -0.2
Social Distance Runners -0.6
mystics -0.7
HAMBURG SEA LIONS -1.5
Paris Guardians -1.6
BobBoy Magpies -2.1
Gilets Jaunes -2.7
Bracciano Lakers -2.9
Stone Mountain Hawks 2 -2.9
KMN Mandalorians -3
Burnaby Bruisers -3.7
Black Dragons -3.7
Space Kraken -4.2
Sunrise City Prarie Dogs -6

Many divisional and playoff races are still heavily contended. (seemingly more than most previous seasons in my experience.) Here's tomorrow's interesting games for those races.

Starting with the NCE:
- KMN Mandalorians @ Space Kraken - KMN by 1 - Two titans facing off, each at 10-2. KMN has more pressure with 3 rivals on their heels if they lose.
- Stone Mountain Hawks 2 @ mystics - mystics by 7 - divisional matchup with strong end-of-season implications.
- Dumbarajko Elephants @ Social Distance Runners - Runners by 7 - and they're in much greater need of the win than the coasting Elephants.

And now from the top hotly contested division to a division not quite as strong, but almost as tightly battling, the NCW:
- Brookfield Ukies @ Chelt Nam Bobbers - Bobbers by 8 - and they possibly retake the divison lead with this win.
- Paris Guardians @ HAMBURG SEA LIONS - Guardians by 4 - both teams want this win to keep safe from relegation. After losing to AFA, Paris wants to keep ahead of them.

And to the other West, the ACW, which has also got a tight race running:
- Melittlemenon thepitchhitchin @ BobBoy Magpies - Magpies by 9 - If the Maggies can get hit on the chin, it would make this division a lot muddier, but I think BobBoy will take care of business.
- Bracciano Lakers @ Black Dragons - Lakers by 1 - both teams are 6-6, but the Dragons don't have a relegation threat to worry about like the Lakers do.

- Sunrise City Prarie Dogs @ Mustangs - Dogs by 3 - the records would suggest a bigger spread than 3, but the Stangs have the capability to pull a Lee Corso with a "not so fast..."

The Guardians losing to the Falcons on Saturday has me seriously concerned about our chances. They usually beat us nonetheless (like they did in S54 in our last league-meeting), but them coming with a vengeance makes it feel like we'll get our heads knocked off today

Good luck to everyone

I took a gamble and my QB responded with 2 pick-sixes. He has now more interceptions than TDs on the season.