Kickergate haunts Berries, do-or-die time for all but the Horsemen

The Berries had a shot to finally beat the Horsemen… but they gave it all up for vengeance on a 2 year old beef that never would have changed their fate in the first place. This decision may have been one that will doom their chances at returning to the playoffs after a year away.

The Horsemen, after the Berries rejected Strictly Southern’s plea to re-roster Zuerlein, would add the stud kicker with the top waiver claim – releasing Kai Forbath in the process.

The Horsemen would win by 2. Kai Forbath would score 10. Greg would score 17. You don’t need to be a mathematician to understand what happened. A grudge over a trade gone bad from years ago may have actually ruined the season for the Berries.

Forgive and forget, Christopher.

The series with Straight Laced doesn’t have nearly as much history as that with the Berries. The five times they’ve played is less than the eight times in a row the Horsemen have smashed up Bumpy and his crew of Berries. Currently on a three game win streak against the Laces (well, two since they changed their name from Dead Last) and a franchise best seven game streak against… everyone, the Horsemen are primed to keep things going. Only one team has more consecutive victories, the 2013 champion 3rd and Unpredictable who went 11-0 before their first loss.

After five years of finishes between 6th and 10th, the Laces looked like they might have started to get it together this year. But after a 5-1 start, things started to fall apart – going 1-3 over their last four contests. Now they need at least one win in the last three games to secure themselves as the first person named Daniel to ever make the playoffs… despite there being two people in the league named Daniel… and only two people that haven’t made the playoffs.

In the last three years, through 10 weeks, the Laces haven’t been better than 8th in the league in scoring. The 91.3 PPG they’re scoring in 2017 is the 3rd best in the league (in a very down year) and the 2nd best since their franchise best 6-7 2013 campaign.

But just because this is one of the best seasons ever by a really terrible franchise doesn’t mean it’s going anywhere.

The Horsemen boast two of the top 5 running backs (one acquired from Straight Laced in the offseason)… as well as top 5 players in each of the other non-defensive positions. While scoring well below the 116.5 PPG through 10 weeks they were averaging in their championship 2015 season (at 105.0, best in 2017, 6th best through 10 of all time), they sit at 9-1… that season they were 6-3-1. With three games remaining, the Horsemen already have more regular season wins in the 2017 regular season than in any season before.

No contest, as per the usual.

The Horsemen enter this game as a 17.5 point favorite with a 76.6% chance of victory.

And, while the Horsemen have clearly clinched a playoff spot, much of the league sits in a must-win situation week three games remaining.

Strictly Southern (6-4), the strong favorite to win the Outer Loop, is coming off a loss to the worst team in the history of the league and faces Closet Hillbilly (4-6) who led the league in scoring last week. The loss of Ezekiel Elliott (who he will be out for the rest of 2017) is clearly going to be an issue going forward, but Strictly Southern likely only needs to win one of their last three games to play on… the problem is: after they face Closet Hillbilly they go on to face division foes Straight Laced (6-4) and Bumpy’s Berries (5-5).

Straight Laced (6-4) also seemed like a sure thing just a few weeks ago before losing 3 of their last 4. After a tough matchup this week against the Horsemen, they go on to face division foe Strictly Southern in what could be a battle for the division crown.

The Extreme Baby Throwers (5-5) and 3rd and Unpredictable (5-5) are trending very different directions. XBT has lost 4 of their last 5 games and are simply crumbling before the slightest of competition. Unpredictable has clawed back from 2-5 and sits primed to get back into the conversation for the final playoff spot with a victory this week. Both these teams would likely need to win 2 of their last 3 games to go on.

Closet Hillbilly (4-6) and the Nosebleeds (4-6) may be on the outside looking in, but with a miraculous 3 game streak to end the season a playoff berth is possible. However, both teams face the Horsemen in this season ending streak so it seems highly unlikely that either will end without another loss.

“How will this play out?” You ask.

After last week’s surprising 2-2 performance, picks are 19-21. But this week we’re turning it around.

• Legs With Holes will keep ruining dreams, and this week it’s the Nosebleeds‘. This loss will eliminate the Nosebleeds and give them nothing left to play for except the Battle of TC Jester… which they will also lose.
• Bumpy’s Berries smash Drunken Aces and get one step closer to the playoffs before a brutal season ending stretch.
• 3rd and Unpredictable emerges victorious over the Extreme Baby Throwers, nearly completing their miraculous comeback into the playoffs.
• Closet Hillbilly becomes that hapless team they were most of the season again, losing to likely Outer Loop champion Strictly Southern.