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AFFL AFFL2022 

AFFL2022 Week 13 Recap: Break On Through To The Other Side

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Landry Division

The Bicton Breakers have clinched the Landry Division Championship with their 214 – 101 win over division rival Wisconsin as they break on through to the other side and secure a seat at the post season table.  They become the first and only team in AFFL history so far to win THREE Division Championships, with all 3 Championships out of the Landry.  The Australians’ special teams unit stole the show in this one with 29 points from kicker Greg Zuirlein and another 19 from returner Ray-Ray McCloud.  The Breakers were able to secure the title with a week still to go thanks to both their win and Winston-Salem’s loss to Italy. They’ve also secured the 2022 #2 playoff seed thanks to a tiebreaking 242 – 208 head to head victory in week 8 against nearest challenger San Quintin. This week 13 win was Bicton’s 8th 200+ point performance of the season and they are healthy and appearing to hit full steam as they head into their playoff run.  Rebounding from a disappointing 4-9-1 season last year, the Breakers are 2-2 in post season play and with their highest seeding yet, are in a position to improve on that record.  Bicton advanced to the 2nd round of both the 2019 and 2020 postseason, losing to the eventual League Champions, Italy and then Tampa in both years.

Lombardi Division

The league’s #1 seed, Lombardi Division Champion Italian Wranglers continue to steamroll the competition, scoring a season high 271 points in week 13 as they eliminated Winston-Salem’s division title hopes and maybe their playoff chances.  The Express are now 7-6 and tied with 4 other teams for the last remaining wild card. rising to the top of the pack in weeks 5-9, the loss of wingback Breece hall has really hurt the team who’ve scored only 169, 114, 164, 119 over the last 4 weeks. Special teams has also been an Achille’s heel for them, as well, scoring 10 or fewer points in 13 of 14 weeks for just 84 points total on the season. The Wranglers have not had that problem as their special teams unit has been on a hot streak, moving from 13th in the league to 3rd in the last 3 weeks.

The Wrangler’s special teams scoring has been so good of late, they are now within 36 points of catching San Quintin on the all time list (they currently sit at #1 in all time total, offensive, and defensive scoring). Italy’s boot is firmly on the gas as they head into the post season as the clear cut favorite to claim the championship.  As the #1 seed, they’ll have their choice of visiting opponent for the Week 15 Wild Card round, where the league’s new variable home field advantage rule will come into play, as if they needed any advantage.

The Grand Strand Gunslingers kept their Division Championship hopes alive with their week 13 win and can claim the Brown Division with a week 14 win vs the Gamblers and a SoCal loss

Brown Division

The SoCal Gold secured their week 13 victory in dramatic come from behind fashion after the Bandits’ defense ran up the scoring difference early. SoCal needed the win to even records with the playoff ineligible Bandits, but it’s also a very important tiebreaker for them.  The Gold still control their own destiny for the division title AND for a home playoff seed.  IF THEY WIN THEIR FINAL GAME against Sleeperville, they hold the tiebreakers against either or both the Bandits AND Gunslingers (they hold individual tiebreakers against each of them and 3-way tiebreakers against the pair). That would give them the Brown Division Championship outright, and the Bandits’ Ineligibility rule would not come into play, and SoCal would enter the playoffs as the #3 or #4 seed.

But if SoCal loses their week 14 season finale, they need BOTH the Gunslingers and the Bandits to lose in order to claim the title outright (on tiebreakers).  If the Bandits win, and Socal and Grand Strand both lose, the playoff ineligible Bandits will win the division title and then vacate it to the Gold (who own the head to head tiebreaker with Grand Strand) and SoCal will become the Division Champion, but will have the #5 seed and a first round away game. 

The Grand Strand Gunslingers’ 4th 200+ point game of the season in week 13 vs the Bulls have kept their title hopes alive..  Gunslinger QB Justin Fields and star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown connected for 77 points and Da’Ron Payne’s 35 points from the defensive tackle position paced the defense. They advance to 7-6 with a host of other teams in and out of the division.  If they win in week 14 at home against Minnesota, and the Gold and Bandits both lose, the Gunslingers will claim the Brown Division outright and the #4 home seed.  If Grand Strand wins and SoCal loses, but the Bandits also win, the Bandits will win the division (on tiebreaker) and then vacate to Grand Strand who will be the #5 seed.

Halas Division

Week 13 gave us more clarity on the Halas division race.  The 2021 league runner-up Tracy Bulls have been eliminated from playoff contention after their loss to the Gunslingers.  San Quintin took care of business with their win over Pittsburgh – their fourth win in a row for second best in the league.  Josh Jacobs’ 31 points and  Donovan Wilson’s 39 show the Showboats’ running game and defensive strengths.  Quarterback DeShaun Watson’s long awaited debut was entirely unimpressive with just 3 points contributing to the win. At 8-5, the Showboats continue to control their own playoff destiny.

But the game to watch this week turned out to be the Tampa Bay Renegades at the Ohio Federals, with the season on the line for both these perennial playoff teams. Ohio and Tampa have the second and third best all time win percentages in the league and are the 2021 and 2020 champions. The first time these two teams ever met, though, was this season when they became division rivals for the first time. Tampa won that one in week 3, 226 – 190 and they needed to win this week AND watch the Showboats lose to preserve their playoff hopes; the Federals only needed a win to stay alive in the division race. The Renegades got out to an early lead, but by Sunday night, the Federals had secured the lead and San Quintin’s win was in the bag. Despite a comeback attempt on Monday Night Football, led by Lavonte David’s 33 points, Ohio managed to hold onto a 200 – 184 victory. The win sets up a scenario where a week 14 win over the Showboats will create an 8-5 tie between the Federals and Showboats, but the win would give Ohio a head to head sweep on the series, and they would win the division championship.

San Quintin Showboats vs Ohio Federals in week 14 sets up to be a de facto George Halas Division Championship game. The 2 played each other in week 2 where the Federals beat the Showboats 172 – 128; that was the first and only time these two franchises have ever met. San Quintin will win the division and clinch the #3 seed with a win, while the Federals would get the #3 or #4 seed, depending on outcomes in the Brown Division. The loser of this game would still be in the running for either points WC’s and for the second Standings WC, although the Standings WC would be a longshot for Ohio if they lose.

1st Standings Wild Card Spot

Despite losing to the Miami Stallions 246 – 153, the BC Blitz have secured the 1st Standings WC on the back of the Bicton victory.  BC had already secured at least the #8 seed, they have a chance at the #4 and a home game for the first round based on the outcome of the Brown Division Championship.  Otherwise they will be the #5 seed for the playoffs regardless of their week 14 finish.

The Points Wild Card Spot

Led by the still not retired Tomas Brady at QB, the expansion Guatemala City Stars are, amazingly, actually in the playoff hunt as we head into the final week of the season. Though their path is unlikely, the Stars have salvaged a rocky start in the league, climbing to #10 in total scoring, to finish their first year strong, regardless of week 14 outcome.

All of the final 3 wild card spots are in flux based on the division championship outcomes in the Halas and Brown divisions as well as week 14 outcomes and scoring for multiple teams. Here’s how the points wild card race works out. (Remember, the 1st Points WC is the #6 seed, then the 2nd Standings WC is seeded #7 BEFORE the final Points WC is awarded)

  1. Ohio Federals (2569 pts) – currently leads points WC race IF they don’t win their division
  2. SoCal Gold (2542 pts) – IF they don’t win their division
  3. San Quintin Showboats (2456) – IF they don’t win their division
  4. New Orleans Raiders (2448 pts)
  5. Tampa Bay Renegades (2413 pts)
  6. Guatemala City Stars (2368 pts)
  7. Tracy Bulls (2330 pts)
  8. Miami Stallions (2335 pts)

2nd Standings Wild Card Spot

The #7 seed wild card spot is a real footrace…..

  • If San Quintin loses to Ohio and finishes 8-5 AND does not secure the 1st Points Wild Card, then the second Standings Wild Card will come down to tiebreakers between the Showboats and ANY 8-5 finishing team that does not have a playoff spot (potentially SoCal, Grand Strand, or Winston-Salem)
  • If Ohio loses to San Quintin and finishes 7-6, AND either SoCal or Grand Strand loose, AND Winston Salem Loses, then the second Standings Wild Card will come down to tiebreakers between any team that finishes 7-7 (potentially Ohio, SoCal or Grand Strand, Winston-Salem, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Guatemala City, Tracy, Prince George, or Minnesota