NEWS & NOTES (WEEK 14)With 2 games remaining, there are still 5 divisions up for grabs and 7 playoff spots still available as 7 teams have punched their ticket to the postseason.
AXCThe AXC is still wide open as only Cincinnati & Toronto have clinched the postseason and all 4 divisions are yet to be decided. All four Divisions are separated by 1 game or less with 2 games remaining making the final 2 weeks a sprint to the finish as 8 teams battle for the final 5 open playoff spots.
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1. Cincinnati 11-3 (1)
HOME: 7-0
ROAD: 4-3
DIVISION: 4-1
CONFERENCE: 9-2
KEY WINS: HOU×2/PIT/DAK/KCY/TOR/BUF
KEY LOSES: PIT/NYE
SCHEDULE: SPP/@TOR
They went to Gem City in week 13 and won 22-3 to become the first AXC team to clinch a playoff spot. They traveled to New York in week 14 and lost 12-9 but they still currently sit in 1st place in the North plus they still control the #1 Seed in the AXC. They clinch both if they win out and will host Saint Paul (2-12) in week 15 before they travel to Toronto in week 16 where both the North crown and the Bye could be up for grabs.
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2. Buffalo 10 -4 (2)
HOME: 6-1
ROAD: 4-3
DIVISION: 5-1
CONFERENCE: 8-3
KEY WINS: DAK/HOU/KCY/NYE
KEY LOSES: PIT/NYE/CIN
SCHEDULE: NEC/@TOR/SEA
They hosted New York in week 13 and won 50-31 to earn a season series split with the Empire and move into sole possession of 1st place in the East by 1 game. They traveled to New England in week 14 and won 54-23 to maintain their 1 game lead in the East. They currently sit as the #2 Seed in the AXC and travel to Toronto (11-3) in week 15 for a key Conference showdown with serious postseason implications before wrapping up the season at home versus Seattle (2-12). If they win out they will clinch the East Division and at least the #2 Seed and they would need to win out and have Cincinnati lose out to get the #1 seed. It looks like Buffalo needs just 1 win to clinch the East but I could be wrong based on MFN tiebreakers.
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3. Kansas City 10-4 (3)
HOME: 5-1
ROAD: 5-3
DIVISION: 3-1
CONFERENCE: 7-3
KEY WINS: DAK/ORG
KEY LOSES: CIN/BUF/VAN
SCHEDULE: IND/VAN
They hosted Texas in week 13 and won 30-0 to move into 1st place in the West and jump up from the #8 Seed to the #3 Seed in the AXC. They traveled to Washington in week 14 and won a xlose game 13-10 in overtime to retain 1st in the West and the #3 seed in the AXC. They come home to host division opponent Indiana (6-8) in week 15 before hosting Vancouver (9-5) in week 16 where the East division Title could be up for grabs. If they win out they will clinch the West and at least the #3 Seed and would need Buffalo to lose 1 game to reach the #2 Seed. I don't see an avenue for KC to become the #1 Seed since Toronto plays Buffalo & Cincinnati and they need Buffalo to lose 1 game, Toronto to lose 1 game and Cincinnati to lose out.
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4. Dakota 7-7 (4)
HOME: 4-3
ROAD: 3-4
DIVISION: 6-0
CONFERENCE: 7-5
KEY WINS: ORG×2
KEY LOSES: KCY/OAK/CIN/VAN/OAK
SCHEDULE: @TBY/CAR
They visited Orlando in week 13 and won 37-13 to sweep the Guardians and move into 1st place in the South while jumping from the #11 Seed all the way up to the #4 Seed in the AXC. They hosted Daytona in week 14 and won 25-9 to finish their division schedule 6-0 and maintain their hold on 1st place in the South. They travel to Tampa Bay (5-9) in week 15 before hosting Carolina (4-10) in week 16 and if they win both they clinch the South Division Title and the #4 Seed in the AXC. After starting the season 0-5 then 1-6, the Blizzard have won 6 of their last 7 games with a chance to make the postseason for a record 31st straight season. If they lose a game they would need Orlando to lose a game to clinch the South and the #4 Seed. If they lose out then they would need Orlando to lose out to clinch the South.
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5. Toronto 11-3 (5)
HOME: 5-1
ROAD: 6-2
DIVISION: 3-2
CONFERENCE: 8-2
KEY WINS: PIT×2/IND/NYE/HOU
KEY LOSES: CIN/HOU
SCHEDULE: @HOU/BUF/CIN
They hosted Miami in week 13 and won 23-14 to remain 1 game behind Cincinnati in the North while holding onto the #5 Seed. They traveled to Houston in week 14 and won 37-17 to tie Cincinnati's record and clinch a postseason spot. They host Buffalo (10-4) in week 15 before hosting Cincinnati (11-3) in week 16 where if they win out they would clinch the North division Title and clinch the Bye in the AXC. While their final 2 games are brutal, it's all right in front of Toronto to take it all in the AXC and they have the luxury of knowing they have already clinched a postseason spot.
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6. Vancouver 9-5 (8)
HOME: 5-2
ROAD: 4-3
DIVISION: 3-2
CONFERENCE: 7-3
KEY WINS: NYE/DAK/ORG/KCY
KEY LOSES: IND×2/PIT
SCHEDULE: DAY/@KCY
They traveled to suddenly hot Brooklyn in week 13 and lost 34-30 to move into 2nd place in the West and drop from the #2 Seed all the way down to the #8 Seed. They visited Texas in week 14 and won 44-6 to remain 1 game behind KC in the West while moving up from the #8 to the #6 seed. They host Daytona (4-10) in week 15 before traveling to KC (10-4) in week 16 where 1st place in the West should be up for grabs. If Vancouver wins out they would clinch the West Title and at least the #3 Seed. They would need to win out and have Buffalo lose to Toronto in week 15 to clinch the #2 Seed.
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7. New York 9-5 (9)
HOME: 5-1
ROAD: 4-4
DIVISION: 4-1
CONFERENCE: 6-5
KEY WINS: ORG/BUF/CIN
KEY LOSES: PIT/VAN/TOR/BUF
SCHEDULE: CIN/MIA/PNX
They traveled to Buffalo in week 13 and lost to split the season series. They fell to 2nd place in the East and went from the #3 Seed all the way down to the #9 seed. They hosted #1 Seed Cincinnati in week 14 and pulled the upset with a 12-9 win to stay 1 game behind Buffalo in the East and move up from the #9 seed to the #7 seed. They host Miami (3-11) in week 15 before hosting Phoenix (12-2) in week 16 to end the season. If they win out they would clinch at least the #7 seed and make the playoffs. While they will be heavy favorites against Miami in week 15, it's their week 16 matchup with Phoenix that may determine if they make the playoffs. If they lose to Phoenix to end the season and finish 10-6, they would need Houston & Pittsburgh to lose 1 game or have Houston or Pittsburgh lose 1 game plus have Vancouver lose out.
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8. Houston 9-5 (6)
HOME: 5-2
ROAD: 4-3
DIVISION: 2-4
CONFERENCE: 5-5
KEY WINS: PIT/NYE/TOR
KEY LOSES: CIN×2/PIT/BUF/TOR
SCHEDULE: OAK/@MIA
They traveled to Germany in week 13 and beat the Zecken 34-13 to win their 5th straight game to maintain the #6 Seed in the AXC. They hosted Toronto in week 14 and lost 37-17 which dropped them from the #6 seed down to the #8 seed where they find themselves on the outside looking in for the playoffs. They host Oakland (6-8) in week 15 before visiting Miami (2-12) to finish the season. If they win out, they finish 11-5 and would need Vancouver or New York to lose 1 game to clinch at least the #7 seed.
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9. Pittsburgh 8-6 (7)
HOME: 5-2
ROAD: 3-4
DIVISION: 2-4
CONFERENCE: 6-6
KEY WINS: HOU/NYE/BUF/CIN/VAN
KEY LOSES: HOU/TOR×2/CIN
SCHEDULE: GCG/@ZEZ
They hosted New England in week 13 and lost a heartbreaker 10-9 but in a strange quirk, they moved up from the #9 seed to the #7 seed thanks to key wins over Vancouver & New York. They traveled to Orlando in week 14 and lost their 2nd straight game 30-23 to fall from the 7th seed sown to the 9th seed. They host Gem City (9-5) in week 15 before traveling to Germany to play Zehlendorf (3-11) to finish the season. They need to win out and have either New York or Vancouver lose 1 game to clinch at least the #7 seed.
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10. Orlando 7-7 (11)
HOME: 4-3
ROAD: 3-4
DIVISION: 3-2
CONFERENCE: 5-6
KEY WINS: OAK
KEY LOSES: DAK×2/NYE/KCY/VAN/PIT
SCHEDULE: @CAR/DAY
They hosted Dakota in week 13 and lost 37-13 to get swept in the season series and fall to 2nd place in the South based on the head to head tiebreaker & division record. They hosted Pittsburgh and won in week 14, 30-23 to keep their hopes of winning the South alive. They travel to Carolina (4-10) in week 15 before hosting Daytona (4-10) to finish the season. They need to win out plus have Dakota lose 1 game to clinch the South division Title.
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NXC soon