In the preview below there are a few things you need to know to correctly understand the info.
OFFENSIVE CATEGORIES Passing yards=starting QB' passing yards on season
Rushing Yards=starting players rushing yards on season
Total Offensive Yards=starting players passing yards, rushing yards, AND all Reception yards on season
Passing TD=starting passing (qb's) AND receiving (all) TD's on season.
Rushing TD=starting rushing (all) TD's on season
eSFL Insider week 4 was written by Chaz T of the Texan Bruiser
This is a week that can make or break a team's chance to make the playoffs. This is the annual double header week where you could possibly win two games and put yourself in a strong position to make the playoffs or lose two games and knock yourself out of the playoff picture. There are a several teams coming in that are in need of a couple of victories in order to save their season. First we will take a look at the non division games then we will get into the divisional matchups to see who's season is jeopardy of being over after this weekend.
Non Division Games
Frost's Furrious Flurries AT Kav's Kavanators
Let's start off with what I see as a complete mismatch. Frost has a 2-0 regular season record against Kav but lost to him in the Gunner Cup Series last year. Kav is putting a good team on the field this year that put up huge numbers last week and obtained "Team of The Week" honors as the highest scoring team. They come in at 2-1 and are looking to have a big day to jump to the top of the division. His opponent, the Frost Furrious Flurries come into the contest where he failed to score 100 points two of the past three weeks. With his 0-3 record, If he isn't able to win both games this week, his chances of making the playoffs might be over. His weakness has been starting quarterback Sam Bradford who is averaging a mere 13.43 points, which won't win you many games in this league. His team is lead by Andre Johnson who is putting up his typical numbers which I think he will still get even though they play the Steelers this week. I look for Michael Turner to rebound and have a much better game than his most recent 3.1 point performance. Will it be enough to beat a Kavanators team that is putting up points in bunches as the highest scoring team in the league so far this year. The Kavanators counter with quarterback Joe Flacco who had a impressive game last week (41.76). I don't see Flacco duplicating that effort this week as he plays the Jets, but I think he will put up more points than Bradford will. Kav also is strong at the wide receiver position with Wes Welker putting up video game numbers so far this year and Rob Gronkowski doing nearly the same at the TE position with Aaron Hernandez out for New England. I don't expect Kav to put up nearly the numbers that he did last week, but I do believe he will get enough to win this game.
Flurries 119 - Kavanators 152
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Frost's Furrious Flurries AT Vail Vigilante
Moving on to Frost's second game of the double header which is also outside of his division. This should be a close game against two garbage teams that are both winless on the season. Coach Viall holds a 2-0 advantage over coach Frost in their games against each other, to include when Viall was at the helm of the Big D group. Both of these teams struggle to score points and I think that will continue again this week. As we already said, Frost will need Bradford to have a big game and Turner to get back to form in order for him to be competitive in this game. Viall has one of the surprises of the season in quarterback Rex Grossman who has put up decent numbers the first two weeks of the season. But Grossman will be benched this week and Big Ben will get the start in his place. I don't think Big Ben will break the twenty point mark this week but expect him to put up more than Bradford will. The biggest question on Viall's team is when will CJ2K start producing? I think this is the week that he finally puts up some numbers against the Browns who are ranked 29th in the NFL against the rush, and will get at least 20 points or more. His coaching staff and fans are also hoping that running back Steven Jackson will return from his injury and put up more than the 2.7 he posted last week. Viall is making some changes to his wide receiver core and sitting Devery Henderson and Jordy Nelson in favor of Mike Williams and a sleeper, Denarius Moore. I think this move will pay off this week for Viall. This is going to be a game where points are going to be at a premium and will likely be the lowest scoring game of the week. I just can't see Coach Frost's team getting enough points to win this game and Viall will get his first victory of the season.
Flurries 119- Vigilantes 138
Zima Ruskies vs Temp's Texas Boy's
Ruskies 154- Texas Boys 178
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Rhodes Runners vs Zima Ruskies
In Zima's second game of the double header they face Coach Terry Rhodes and the Rhodes Runners. Against Terry all time Zima is 6-6 so this is the rubber match for these two coaches. Coach Rhodes moved his team from Boot Hill this season and it seems to be helping as his team has started 2-1 after the miserable team he put on the field last year. This is another team that is a game ahead of Zima, so if he loses both of these games he could be in trouble. We have already went over what Zima needs to win and the same thing holds true for this game, he is going to need Brees to put up his same numbers and also needs some production from his running backs this week. His two waiver wire guys must produce for his team to have any hopes of success. Rhodes has finally decided that quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is his best bet to win so he is starting him for the second straight week. Fitzpatrick has been one of the biggest surprises of the season so far averaging an astonishing 35.05 points. He is going against the Bengals who actually have the fifth ranked pass defense, but I believe that number is jaded because they have played nothing but bums thus far this year. I see Fitz having another solid game against them and putting up around 30 points. One of the questions on Rhodes team is how many carries will Brandon Tate get this week with Arian Foster coming back. I see these two backs splitting carries, but if Foster is truly healthy, I see him getting more opportunities in the red zone which will mean no touchdown's for Tate. Can Calvin Johnson score another two TDs this week? I don't think he will but I think he will get one and will put up a solid 20 points or so. Rhodes seems to be very happy with his defense this year and I believe it will put up its standard 40 or so points. The early line for this game is even as both teams have scored about the same amount of points this year. I see this game going to the Ruskies and keeping his playoffs hopes alive, but it will be close and could go either way.
Runners 151- Ruskies 154
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Rhodes Runners vs D Crownholders
This is a rematch of a week three matchup between these two teams, in which the Runners won the contest 159.76 - 143.58. In this match-up of Global Division playoff hopefuls, Rhodes holds a 5-2 record against the Crownholders and beat them the only time they met in the playoffs, on his way to Ballistic Bowl IX title in 2008. Crownholders are hoping to turn that around this week and get a victory over the Runners. They are another team that comes in at 1-2 this week and has two very tough matchups and will need to steal a victory in one of them in order to remain in the race in the tight Global division. We have already went over what the Runners are going to need to do in order to get a victory this week with Fitz putting up his numbers and hoping to get something out of his running back Tate, and his WRs that aren't named Johnson. The Crownholders have put up good numbers this year in averaging 160.16 points per game. He had a tough luck loss when he put up 161 points and lost to the Pulverizers in week two. He is looking to avenge his loss last week to the Runners. At the time of production the lineup had not been set for Crownholders, so we will try to guess what he will start. We know quarterback Aaron Rodgers is a must start with the numbers he puts up, and I see the position being a wash with these two teams. The question is who will he start as his second running back? I believe he will go with M. Lynch after James Starks' disappointing performance last week. However, rumor is Ryan Grant may not play due to injury, but if he does he will get more carries. Another positive is Lynch will be playing the 20th rated rush defense in the league this week. His wide receivers have to put up more than they did last week and I think they will. I see this as a close game but I think Crownholders bounce back and get the victory in another close game.
Runner 151 - Crownholders 160
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Pardue Bruisermakers vs D Crownholders
Bruisermakers 155 - Crownholders 160
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Pardue Bruisermakers AT McKinney Redneck
These two teams have faced each other six times previously and have split the games against each other, this is the rubber matchup. As we have stated Pardue is undefeated this season. The Rednecks come in after what most analysts considered a questionable draft and he forgot the lockout was over and missed the first few days of Two-a-Day training camp. Even with all that he has surprised everyone with a 2-1 start and is averaging 164.32 points per game. most analyst thought he would be lucky to score 130 a week. They have gotten great production out of their running backs and it appears he was smart when he drafted backs that will get him a lot of catches out of the backfield. He hasn't set a lineup at the time of writing, so again we will try to guess his lineup which will be easier with his team because he doesn't have many players. At quarterback he will be start Colt McCoy who has been consistent and put up a respectable 22.75 points per game. L. Tomlinson likely will not get many points rushing the ball so he has to hope he catches a lot of passes out of the backfield, which we don't see him doing again this week. Ryan Matthews had a huge game last week and I expect the same again this week against a weak Miami rush defense. However, I doubt he will repeat last weeks performance of 35 points. It looks like tight end A. Gates will not participate again this week so he will have to start Miller in his place. I just don't see him continuing to get the production he has and expect him to lose that magic touch this week.
Bruisermakers 155- Rednecks 139
McKinney Rednecks vs Temp's Texas Boys
In the final Global Division game the Rednecks take on the Texas Boy's. The Texas Boy's have the advantage in this matchup 3-2. We will briefly go over these two teams again since we have already went over both of them previously. Temp is expecting Stafford and AP to carry his team as they have all year. He has a strong wide receiver core and they will put up good numbers to keep his team rolling. Both guys start running backs from the Jets and the one who comes out with more points this week might just lead his team to the victory. The Rednecks have gotten good production from his guys this year but Mccoy has a tough matchup against the number two ranked pass defense so far this year. His running backs will not continue to put up the big numbers they did last week and he will struggle to get production from his wide receivers. His lone bright spot is his defense and that is what will lead his team this week. But it won't be enough as he runs into a buzz saw in the Texas Boys who just put up numbers in bunches. And Coach Matt Templin came into this season with a chip on his shoulder as he was predicted to barely make the playoffs in his division. He is out to show that he won his two Ballistic Bowl's for a reason and wants to win his division instead of just making it as a wild card this year.
Rednecks 139- Texas Boys 178
Viall Vigilantes vs Perdew Pulverizers
Now to our first game in the Appalachian Division. We have the Pulverizers playing the Vigilantes. Perdew holds a 4-2 record against Viall in their previous matchups. Perdew comes in as the second undefeated team in the league and has a strong team. It could crumble at anytime with Michael Vick getting hurt on a weekly basis. As we have already seen this year Viall is again at the bottom of the league and doesn't score many points. As previously stated, Viall will start Big Ben this week in place of Grossman. He is hoping that CJ2K will finally produce and Steven Jackson will stay healthy and be back to his full load. Perdew is very deep at running backs with injuries to other owners starters. At the time of production he has Vick on the bench with Matt Cassel starting, but the news broke Wed night when Vick said "100% I'll play vs 49ers", so we think he will be putting him in his lineup before the game. Vick did overlook the fact that nothing is 100 percent guranteed in this world by omitting something like "unless I die or get crippled". His starting running backs will have another good week as Matt Forte plays the 25th ranked rush defense and will put up 20 plus points. His wide receivers are more of a question mark as he is still waiting on Brandon Lloyd and Mike Thomas to put up better numbers but it won't matter in this matchup what they do, he will win this game easily.
Vigilantes 138 - Pulverizers 168
Texan Bruisers vs Perdew Pulverizers
The matchup between the Pulverizers and the Bruisers is the game of the week as both teams come in trying to take control of the Appalachian division. These two teams have met four times in the past and are 2-2 against each other. The Bruisers are looking to rebound after a miserable showing last week and losing one of their top wideouts in Kenny Britt to season ending knee injury. The Pulverizers lead the Appalachian division at 3-0 and has put a very good team on the field so far this year, but they also had an injury concerns when Vick went down last week. It looks like he will play this Sunday but is one hard tackle away from missing time. The Bruisers are lead by Ray Rice who has shown why he was drafted number three overall. He has a favorable matchup this week even though he is playing the Jets as they are the 31st ranked rushing defense in the league and gave up huge numbers to Oakland last week. Rice will put up another 25 or so points this week and coach Templin said he will make sure that he gets more than eight. The Bruisers have a solid quarterback in Matt Schaub who has a tough assignment against the best pass defense in the NFL, but will be helped out with Foster coming back from injury. But will it be enough to carry him to victory? And who will step up with Britt lost for the season? Dez Bryant will be back in the starting lineup this week and Coach Templin expects Deion Branch to have a much better game than his no catch effort last week. He said he is expecting at least 20 points from each of his wideouts in this contest. The Pulverizers are hoping to get another great game from his team and put even more distance between himself and what is widely considered one of his biggest threats in his quest for the division title. We see the quarterbacks as a wash, Perdew with the advantage at running backs, as the Bruisers are very weak at the number two spot. The Bruisers have the advantage at wide receiver so it will come down to who’s defense puts up more numbers. If the Bruisers get anything from their secon running back it will go their way send Perdew to his first loss of the season.
Bruisers 171- Pulverizers 168
Igama Sweaty Palms vs Texan Bruisers
This is a matchup of the two teams that were thought to be fighting for the Appalachian division title when training camps broke. This will be the first ever meeting between these two franchises. The Sweaty Palms have had a disappointing season to this point with their first round pick hurt for the majority of the season. They are hoping to turn their season around with a couple of big wins against division opponents. Igama looks like they will be getting Foster back, the question is can he stay healthy enough to finish the game and even if he does stay healthy how many carries will he get with the way that Tate has been playing this year? Their wide receiver core got a lot better with the injury to Kenny Britt. Rumor is he was shopping Nate Washington before last week's games but is probably happy that he still has him on his team. His lineup was not set at the time of production of this article but we believe Matt Ryan will be his starter at quarterback, he will put up good numbers this week and score around 20 points or so. There is no telling who he starts in the backfield with the return of Foster, supposedly getting a full workload. His receiving core has three pretty good players and are expected to put up good numbers. We already went over the Bruisers and the thing that will make or break his team this week will be the production of Schaub against the league's best pass defense along with the production he gets from his number two running back. I see this being a closer game than expected but with Igama losing more ground in the division with his third loss.
Sweaty Palms 163 - Bruisers 171
Whitmore Workhorse vs Igama Sweaty Palms
In the Sweaty Palms second game of the double header they take on the defending champion Workhorse. This is the first time these teams have met. Both teams are coming off of tough losses last week and hoping to rebound with a victory in this game. We already went over Igama's team and what he needs to win this week. It comes down to who he starts at running back, if he can get Ryan to put up acceptable numbers, and get good production from his wide receivers. Whitmore has had a disappointing start to his season after winning it all last year, he is 1-2 so far. Phillip Rivers will get the start at quarterback and looks to rebound after a terrible performance last week. He will facing the 30th ranked pass defense in the NFL and will put up around 30 points this week. Whit has decided to finally start the spark plug running back Darrin Sproles this week after he has averaged 22.5 the first three weeks this season. His wideout core is weak but received a boost with Sidney Rice's return last week. I think his wide receivers might be what will cost him in this game against Igama as the Sweaty Palms have a big advantage at that position. Both teams started tight ends from the Panthers last week and the one who scores the most might be the one that leads his team to a victory. I think Igama just has to much in this game and will help keep his hopes alive with at least one double header victory.
Sweaty Palms 163 - Workhorse 155
Fields Fanatix vs Whitmore Workhorse
These teams have played eight times in the regular season with Fields holding a 5-3 advantage against the Workhorse. The Workhorse did beat Fields in the playoffs last year on his way to his title. We just discussed what Whit needs to win and it comes down to Rivers having a better game, which he will, and his receivers need to put up more than ten points apiece. Future hall of fame coach Bruce Fields got his first victory last week against another weak team. His team is just not that good outside of Tom Brady and A. Bradshaw. Both of these teams have quarterbacks that will put up ridiculous numbers again this week as they play terrible pass defenses, basically a wash unless Brady goes for 50 again. So it comes down to if Fields can get production from his running backs, which I don't see happening with both of his them splitting time with others. His receivers are weak especially with Peyton Manning not playing, Reggie Wayne and Collins just not in sync. In order for him to have a chance to win this game and not go 1-4 he must have Brady put up 50 and his running backs has to get about 25 a piece, which won't happen. He will drop another game and will have to truly think about trading Brady to improve his team if he wants to make the playoffs or compete in the Gunner Cup Series.
Fanatix 135 - Workhorse 155
Fields Fanatix vs Kav's Kavanators
Fanatix 135 - Kavanators 152
