Sorry everyone, Ive been swamped at work this week and havent had the time to dissect the divisional round. Here is a quick synopsis;

Pittsburgh @ Buffalo (-11)
ArmchairQB vs Smirt211

A battle between a first time playoff owner vs a playoff veteran. Pittsburgh has an uphill climb against a Buffalo team that has accomplished everything but wiining a league title. Will ArmchairQB upset the powerhouse or will Smirt finally ascend to win it all?

Prediction

Pittsburgh has had a nice season and won a playoff game but Buffalo is just too much to overcome. Bufflao wins going away.

Oakland @ Dakota (-6)
Privatesnowflake vs Cjfred68

A battle between two francises that have been AXC Conference Champions 4 out of the 5 year history of the XFL, winning 3 XFL Titles combined. A rematch of last years AXC Championship game, this is the 3rd time they have met in the playoffs splitting the first two games.

Prediction

A game way too close to call but rumors of Privatesnowflake missing time at practice has me leaning towards Dakota in a close match.


Memphis @ Atlanta (-9)
Greyghost1225 vs Chrisbronext

Memphis is in their 2nd playoffs and a team on the rise vs an Atlanta team in their 5th straight playoffs with 2 NXC Conference championship and a XFL championship under their belt.

Prediction

Should be a close battle but Atlanta is at home and has the experience edge so Atlanta wins a close game

Arizona @ Brooklyn (-2)
Wieczoreks vs 4343


Wieczoreks is in his 2nd straight playoffs while 4343 makes his 1st appearance in his 1st full year of ownership.

Prediction

A game between uo and coming owners looking to make a name for themselves. It could go either way but I will play a hunch and say Arizona hits a late FG to win by 3.

2 out of 4 this round for my predictions.

Congrads to ArmchairQB with a big time upset over Smirt211 in a tight game to reach the AXC Conference championship game for the first time.

Congrads also to 4343 with a dominate win over Wieczoreks to make his first NXC Conference championship game.

Cjfred68 is going to his 5th AXC Conference Championship game where he has a 2-2 record.

Chrisbronext is going to his 4th NXC Conference Championship game where he has a 2-1 record.

Eh, I suppose not having Thacker hurt me and a fumble cough up to a defender whom wasn't high on the strip ball attribute presented a gift of points.

Good game.

:)

Took some hits in the last sim cycle, had my own strats thrown in my face and used on me elsewhere. Back in the lab to come reborn with a fury never before seen.

BTW, ArmChair I'm rooting for you to go all the way and make some magic!

Though rooting for CJ too in your matchup. Good luck, fellas. :)

AXC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP

Pittsburgh @ Dakota (-11)
ArmchairQB vs Cjfred68

Pittsburgh

Total offense 22nd
Run offense 16th
Pass offense 23rd
Total defense 13
Run defense 11th
Pass defense 18th
Turnover margin 30th (-22)

Dakota

Total offense 1st
Run offense 8th
Pass offense 1st
Total defense 1st
Run defense 1st
Pass defense 9th
Turnover margin 6th (+9)

No matter what angle you look at this game, its a story of David vs Goliath. If you look at the statistics on offense or defense, compare experience for players, coaches or the team im general, it all leans towards Dakota. In fact, Pittsburgh finished 9-7 this season to make the playoffs while Dakota has a 12-4 career record in the playoffs.

With all that being said, Pittsburgh doesnt care one bit. They have won 6 out of there last 7 games including 2 wins in the playoffs with a stifling defense that has held opponents to an average of 8 points. In fact, in the two playoff wins, they have given up a total of 13 points and only 1 TD. Those two playoff games were against the 6th and 7th ranked offenses in the league.

So this game will be a matchup of Dakota with a long history of success vs Pittsburgh, a team playing their best football right now. In football, its not always the best team that wins but the team playing the best right now that wins.

Prediction

Pittsburgh shocks the world with a 13-10 win to reach XFL VI.

NXC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP

Brooklyn @ Atlanta (-10)
4343 vs Chrisbronext

Brooklyn

Total offense 13th
Rush offense 13th
Pass offense 9th
Total defense 22nd
Rush defense 15th
Pass defense 24th
Turnover margin 3rd (+19)

Atlanta

Total offense 3rd
Rush offense 2nd
Pass offense 8th
Total defense 5th
Rush defense 7th
Pass defense 11th
Turnover margin 5th (+12)

Just as in the AXC, this matchup is between a new up and coming team vs a perennial playoff contender. Brooklyn only lost 2 games all season and both were to division rival Philadelhia while Atlanta also only lost 2 games as well.

To get a better look at the matchup, lets compare a mutual opponent, last years Champion Gem City. Atlanta lost 13-9 at Gem City while Brooklyn went to Gem City and tied them in overtime 16-16.

Prediction

Atlanta has the experience edge but Brooklyn has been on a roll only losing to one team all season. Im gonna use the Gem City results as a gauge and say Brooklyn wins 16-13 in overtime setting up XFL VI to be a battle between first time owners to reach the game.

Congrats on the win, Brooklyn. Lots of injuries headed into our match-up put me at a disadvantage. The team has gotten better in recent season, but still lacks any true depth.

0 for 2 on my underdog predictions as 2 former champs are heading to XFL VI seeking a 2nd title in francise history.

Atlanta vs Dakota (-4)
Chrisbronext vs Cjfred68

A full breakdown of the game to follow:

I want to congratulate ArmchairQB and 4343 on amazing seasons. Reaching the Conference Championship game is a great accomplishment. As disappointing as it may be to lose, it is something to build off of heading into next season.

XFL VI CHAMPIONSHIP

ATLANTA VS DAKOTA

Chrisbronext vs Cjfred68

ATLANTA

This is Chrisbronext's 3rd trip to the XFL Championship game, having lost XFL II before coming back and winning XFL III. This is Atlanta's 5th straight playoff appearance and they have an 8-3 career record in the playoffs.

OFFENSE

OVERALL 3RD
RUSHING 2ND
PASSING 8TH

DEFENSE

OVERALL 5TH
RUSHING 7TH
PASSING 11TH

TURNOVER MARGIN 5th (+12)

TOP PLAYERS

QB Craig Davis
3480 yards 33 TD 12 INT 97.80 QBR

WR/RB Charles Robinson
999 yards rushing 4 TD
36 catches 299 yards
6 KRs 197 yards 33.0 average

WLB David Cook
76 tackles 3 interceptions 16 knockdowns

LDE Russell Schmid
13 tackles 6 sacks 9 hurries

CB Matthew Harrison
49 tackles 8 knockdowns 7 interceptions

DAKOTA

This is Cjfred68's 3rd trip to the XFL Championship game having won XFL I and later losing XFL V. This is Dakotas 6th straight trip to the playoffs with a 13-4 record alltime.

OFFENSE

OVERALL 1ST
RUSHING 8TH
PASSING 1ST

DEFENSE

OVERALL 1ST
RUSHING 1ST
PASSING 9TH

TURNOVER MARGIN 6TH (+9)

TOP PLAYERS

QB Randall Cunningham
5111 yards 53 TD 15 INT 3 SACKS

RB Jay Patterson
791 yards rushing 6 TD
87 catches 970 yards 10 TD

MLB James Shaw
81 tackles 2 interceptions 16 knockdowns

LDE John Snow
20 tackles 6 sacks 7 hurries

CB Gordon Speed
52 tackles 7 interceptions 22 knockdowns

Atlanta and Dakota have only faced each other one team in league history. It was in the 2020 season where Dakota hosted Atlanta in week 4 and handed Atlanta its only defeat 12-10 during Atlanta's 15-1 season which was capped by them winning XFL III.

PREDICTION

My only prediction is this will be a great game and whichever team and owner wins will deserve it.