Benny Football's SSFFL Round 1 Playoff Preview

By: Benjamin Fontana, Cleveland Plain Dealer

Welcome to the 2017 Slushie Sundays playoffs. I couldn’t be more excited, with $655 on the line for the winner of the 3-week playoff bracket, and $200 going to the runner-up. Let’s get right into the match-ups.

Playoff Payouts:

1st - $655
2nd - $200
3rd - $100 (Consolation Game Winner)
4th - $50 (Consolation Game Loser)

9th - 1st Pick in 2018 Slushie Sundays Draft (Loser's Bracket Champion*)
12th - Shame...in the form of a Novelty License Plate ("Plate Game" Loser)

1. Dave (10-3) vs. 8. Brian (5-8)

The first 5-8 team to ever make the playoffs in SSFFL history, but that doesn’t mean Brian is lacking confidence.

“Oh man it’s Dave,” Brian texted, with the tone of someone who is taking this very seriously.

“Four years ago this would have been a guaranteed win for me. I’m pretty sure he sold his soul a few years back when we won his championship because his team has been stacked since.” There’s the Brian we know.

For Dave, he’s looking at the match-up very humbly.

“Not confident,” Dave texted. “[Brian’s] got a pretty good team. Just underperformed all year.”

Looking at the match-up, Dave’s big hitters have hit or miss games scheduled, with Freeman taking on the Saints, and Gurley against the Eagles. Hopkins and Hill should have big games against the Niners and Raiders, respectively. Dave’s wild card will for sure be the health of Greg Olsen, and Case Keenum’s performance against Carolina.

“He has a team that’s consistently put up 100 plus points,” Brian said of Dave. “I’ve eclipsed the 100 point mark maybe three times this year. Last year he eliminated me in the last week and sent me to the losers bracket, where my underperforming team scored the highest amount of points each of the playoff weeks. If I made it in I would have won. Same situation this year. A fantastic team on paper but has underperformed all year.”

Brian’s team has some good match-ups, and his team vs. Dave’s team match up comparably on paper, at least this week. Brian needs LeSean McCoy to run all over Indy, and Julio Jones to have another one of those 200-yard games to win this one.

“I think I’ll need 130 this week for the win. No way Dave’s team just rolls over and lets me walk into the second round of the playoffs.”

2. Joe (9-4) vs. Nick (6-7)

When reached for comment, all Joe sent was this…

Yes, a GIF of Le’Veon Bell signaling first down. Joe will need many Bell first down’s this week against a scrappy, upstart team in the eldest Caputo brother’s roster.

With Mark Ingram questionable, and Devontae Booker hardly a strong flex, Joe will need another big week from his trio of Steelers (against a strong Baltimore defense) to win.

Joe’s team may be the team to most fear, with any big week from Pittsburgh giving Joe a huge advantage over an opponent.

When reached for comment, Nick was quietly confident.

“Well, Ingram not playing gives me a solid chance. Stafford and Ertz also playing gives me a legitimate chance to upset.”

The way Los Angeles has been playing lately, Phillip Rivers is a great back-up for Stafford if Nick needs it. Big games are needed for McKinnon and Ertz as well, with Nick’s two Lions WRs bound to reach their projections against Tampa Bay.

3. Dom (8-5) vs. 6. Ben (8-5)

A rare Week 13 and Round 1 re-match, pitting two 8-5 teams against each other in the first round will make for some fantastic entertainment for the league on Sunday.

Dom’s squad, anchored by A.J. Green and Melvin Gordon, has some very favorable match-ups, but that doesn’t stop him from being worried about his TE position.

“I’m gonna have to have a great coaching performance,” Dom told me. “I think my team is a legit threat, but Gronk gonna screw me.”

With the suspension of Gronkowski, Dom’s depending on Jack Doyle and the wild card of Josh Gordon and his sober speed to pick up the slack for him against Ben.

Ben’s team is pretty good on paper, and having won six straight before his loss to Dom last week, he’ll need 100 plus points to move on to the second round of the playoffs.

“I’ve already lost to him twice [this season] and just played him last week. Can’t lose to him three times in a season, right?”

Ben’s player to watch is obviously Alvin Kamara. The most electrifying RB in the NFL right now will need a big game, with Carson Wentz having a tough match-up against the Rams, and Adam Thielen a toss-up against the Panthers.

Ben’s player to watch is Kareem Hunt. He’ll need to snap back to his early season ways if he’s got a shot.

Make sure to watch out for Saints vs. Falcons on Thursday night to see where this one is headed.

“We’ve both got two guys going Thursday and I hate Thursday games,” I said.

4. Will (8-5) vs. 5. Josh (8-5)

Another match-up of two 8-5 teams. The Slushie Sundays league should feel lucky there is so much talent this year. I think it comes down to management of teams, and everyone is really caring this year.

That statement rings especially true for Will.

“Not [feeling] good, although [Josh] had his best week of the season last week,” Will said. “But Russ Wilson, Doug Baldwin, and the Seahawks play the Jags and of course that means Fournette plays the Seahawks, but I can’t sit those guys.”

True, Will’s QB Russell Wilson is playing MVP-type football right now, and he can’t afford to slow up against a top-ranked defense like Jacksonville, even this week.

“Ravens D has been huge for me but they have a tough one this week … Think I’m finally going to roll Burkhead out.”

Will’s X-factor will have to be Burkhead, who will for sure get plenty of touches against a weak Dolphins team under the lights on Monday night.

Josh, ever full of confidence, was riddled by bad luck this year. Losing both David Johnson and Ezekiel Elliott is tough, but still managing to go 8-5 is commendable.

Fill-ins Jamaal Williams, Sammy Watkins, and Dion Lewis need to have big-games, but none of Josh’s guys are true #1s, even Agholor, who sits behind Alshon Jeffery on the depth chart.

His team’s perceived lack of talent doesn’t stop his confidence.

“It’ll be a repeat of Week 13. Your current and 2-time Slushie Sunday Champion has great momentum moving into the playoffs,” Josh texted smugly.

“I’m sorry Will, but your season is over.”

This will most likely be the best match-up of the week. Will had some equally eye-opening words for Josh, as well.

“I’ll be bummed if I lose, especially to Josh. His team is trash.” 

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!