2015-08 Dope Sheet

Can you feel it? It’s the sound of the playoffs drawing ever closer. Just four wins separate the top of the standings from the basement and after this weekend’s games there are five games left until we start deciding a winner in the BFL. Will one team go on an incredible run to put themselves in playoff contention? Will one of the favourites drop away and perhaps miss the playoffs entirely? The BFL is a lot of things, but “dull” definitely isn’t one of them.
The Dope is in a great mood after hitting 3-0 in last week’s predictions. Let’s see if this week’s prognostications are anywhere near as good…

If the playoffs started today…
#4 Cookies @ #1 Rage
#3 Winos @ #2 Clowns
Toilet Bowl: #6 Morgan @ #5 Dallas
(As things stand, this week is a complete playoff preview!)

Morgan (1-6) @ Dallas (2-5)
Previous Matchup: Week 1, Dallas 189.4 @ Morgan 152
Team Morgan suffered another disappointing loss in last week’s encounter – a familiar feeling to the team’s long suffering fans. The QB drama was solved by drafting in Eli Manning, but much like his older brother, he failed to impress. However, given this week’s matchup, the team has a real chance of picking up it’s second win, with several key players coming back rested off a bye week. QB Andy Dalton is expected to return to the line-up and provide some big points that the team have been lacking in previous weeks.
Dallas’s decision to start QB Blake Bortles over Andrew Luck was ultimately not vindicated, however, given the margin of victory by their opponents last week, it would have made little difference facing the high-powered Cookies offence. As always, TE Rob Gronkowski remains the team’s star performer and will contribute much to the team’s cause in this game.
Both of these teams will be desperate to win this game – for as it currently stands, it will be the Toilet Bowl matchup at season’s end – therefore both will be desperate to get a psychological advantage ahead of a potential next meeting.
The Dope’s Prediction: Morgan’s rested players from a bye week return with aplomb and lead them to their second victory.

Cookies (3-4) @ Rage (5-2)
Previous Matchup: Week 1, Rage 257.4 @ Cookies 218.2
The Cookies were simply magnificent last week, showing that momentum is certainly a phenomenon in the BFL. There were outstanding offensive performances from QB Philip Rivers, RB Todd Gurley and RB Arian Foster. Sadly, Foster has now been lost for the season and the Cookies’ collective will miss his production since returning from his initial injury. Performances on defence from players such as CB Corey Graham last week will certainly help make up for the loss of such a high-scoring offensive player, although the Cookies are showing some of the strength in depth that has catapulted them back into the playoff hunt.
The Rage left it late to pull out a victory against the Winos, but it was a W nonetheless and they will be delighted to have knocked the Winos from their perch. The Seahawks D/ST bailed out a disappointing performance by the Rage’s offence’s standards, with only one player breaking the 20 points barrier. The Seahawks D/ST have another favourable matchup this week and the Rage also benefit from players returning from bye weeks.
The two team’s first week matchup was the most entertaining of that week and could very well be the same this time around – the Cookies look set to dominate on offence whilst the Rage’s stout defence will provide a stern task for the Maryland team. Interestingly, in this matchup between the league’s highest scoring offences, the Cookies have outscored the Rage in 4 out of 7 weeks. Will this be 5 in 8?
The Dope’s Prediction: The Cookies offence dominates the Rage’s defence, evening up to .500 record

Clowns (5-2) @ Winos (5-2)
Previous Matchup: Week 1, Winos 170.5 @ Clowns 168.4
This week’s Game of the Week is the only game between two teams with a winning record…
The Dope doesn’t like to say “The Dope Told You So”, but the Clowns are currently the favourites for the BFL title based on current form. With three wins on the bounce, the team’s usual suspects (The Dope doesn’t need to point them out, you are all familiar with their work by now) continue to dominate in every game that they play. The Clowns have been debating whether it would be Tom Brady or Carson Palmer who starts this week, with the rest of the league weeping. Oh, what a problem to have…
The Winos succumbed to their second defeat of the season and will be looking for revenge against the Rage in the week 11 showdown. Before then, they prepare for the visit of the league’s hottest team. The Winos have picked up the Dezzys’s mantle of the team occupying the most room in outpatients, with 10 players listed on injury report at press time. Several would be expected to play, and several key players return from byes for this matchup, but, this was not the week the team would have wanted to re-enact M*A*S*H*.
The Clowns are still bitter for the Winos’ week 1 beating in a close game and are gunning for revenge. The Winos will be hoping that their injury list doesn’t increase.
The Dope’s Prediction: Clowns will stand alone at the top of the standings, as the injuries and bye weeks see the Winos drop two games on the bounce for the first time.

The Dope’s Week 7 Predictions: 3-0
The Dope’s Overall Predictions: 12-9

From the Commish’s Desk…
* With the trophies never working as they were supposed to – they should have been automatically assigned at the end of each week to the winning players – I have now taken over the assignment of the Hyundai Player of the Week and the Turkey of the Week awards.
* If anyone has anything witty to add for the power rankings, or any funny lines for the Dope Sheet, please let me know. If you like my bad jokes though – tough, I start with my good material from next week.
* For those travelling to Wembley, keep an eye on the injury reports on your way to the game via your chosen mobile apps, as sometimes they update before the ESPN Fantasy Football one does. I highly recommend downloading The Score for iOS as it allows you to track individual players and uses a variety of sources to push news to you. I can’t speak for their Android app (if there is one), but if it’s anything like the iOS one, it’s a cracker.

Good luck this week everyone!