I was hoping it wouldn’t get exciting here at the end of the season. I’d have loved it if my team was already in and I didn’t have to worry. It didn’t turn out that way. There is a live battle for the last wildcard spot. It is 2 desperate teams that are trying to claw their way there for the last spot. It is also why I thought this 2 division winner plus 2 wildcard setup would be great.

*Week 12 Review

The Chinese got their asses kicked. By Alex. Think about that for a second. Then remember that Alex had 2 games he probably should have won. He could be in Brian’s spot. I was thinking this would be the easiest of my last 4 games but not at all. His team showed up and my team came in a Team Alex costume. Even the best DST play of the year: the team playing against Carolina, didn’t get shit. Nice work from Alex getting 23 from the Jets DST. And Fred Jackson. I had him last year when Lynch was out and he was very good. Now the backfield is all his and he’s very good. Give him friends in the backfield and he is shit.

Dave gets a huge game from his kicker to edge out Kevin. Dave goes strong with his QB and RBs but his receivers come up gimp. Kevin’s team puts up a balanced effort with contributions from everyone. If I was the commish, I’d give Andre Johnson 2 points per connecting punch. But I don’t think Dave would entertain that idea. That’s some good stuff from Goodson. But the misplay at QB cost Kevin this game.

Brian gets a great win against Tim. I feel not so fresh down there but I was cheering for Tim the whole time. Tim rides his good luck charm, Arian Foster, as he has all season for the win. Rodgers has a pretty fucked up game stat wise. One passing TD but 28 points due to huge yardage throwing and rushing and a rushing TD. But check out Tim’s lame ass WRs. He has 7 of them on his roster. They combined for 14 points. Only one of them wasn’t playing and the most any one WR got was 5. Guess he didn’t quite steal T.O. Brian got there due to nice work from Vick and Welker. Too bad he left Brady on the bench. Brian’s reward for the win is a chance at the playoffs.

Derek puts up enough points for #2 all time points per game. He didn’t quite catch the record he set a few weeks ago. A perfect job as a coach this week by Derek. Hillis and Bowe go for 37 and 35 respectively. That was nearly enough to beat Chris. It would have been enough to beat me and Matt. Solid effort from his skill players too. Derek’s team is totally peaking. Chris’ team is not imploding, like mine and Matt’s, but it has been on a downward trajectory these past weeks. Rivers has his first really bad game. LT is slumping as the season wears on. Chris has little depth on his team but he has avoided injury… so far.

Matt narrowly avoids setting a record for lowest points in a week. He had a shot at the playoffs and had a very nice schedule but these 2 losses take him out. All that good stuff he had going at the beginning: CJ2k (goose egg!!!!), Roddy White, McFadden, they all decided to take a snow day at the same time. Rhett finally decides to put the Vincent Jackson gambit in play. It didn’t work out. After drafting and hanging on to him for 11 weeks, Rhett couldn’t wait. I hope you get a shit contract Vincent Jackson. Rhett, what were you thinking playing a Titan kicker? Nice play with Tolbert and Moreno, though. It’s a win, and that’s more than I can say, but it was fugly.

*Best plays and worse plays

Frankson’s Chinese went with Steven Jackson with a nice matchup over Charles who had a so-so matchup. Wrong choice. The point differential matters right now.

Rhett played a Titan kicker. They using their 3rd string rookie QB.

*Interview – Thanks Alex

Newsletter: How’s it feel kicking my ass this week?
Alex: It felt great to actually have a team show up for once this year. I mean I haven’t had a meeting between my foot and someone’s ass all year. So I’m happy I got one good shot in.

Newsletter: I don’t really care if you beat Matt next week but are you going to beat Brian in 2 weeks? It is really important to me that you do.
Alex: I never really know about my team, but I have a good feeling about my game with brian in 2 weeks. (-ed: Good luck kicking Brian’s ass. I will be seriously cheering for you.)

*Final thoughts

The playoff picture is this. Chris and Tim win their divisions. Unless Brian wins out and Chris loses the next 2 and Brian makes up a 150 point deficit in points scored in 2 weeks against Chris. The situation is similar with Derek. He has a 210 point lead with 2 games to go even if Brian wins 2 and Derek losses 2. But Derek has a 6 game win streak and has been putting up monster points.

The last wildcard spot is between me and Brian. And it is close. I have a one game lead but face Derek and Chris. I’ve got an 81 point lead. Derek’s team is healthy and on fire. When I look at the little news column, not the one about just my players but about all of them, 75% of them are injury updates about my players these past few weeks. I’m not going to win this but I need to get some points. Dave looks pretty evenly matched against Brian. Dave, I NEEEEEEED you to win this game.

Looking ahead to next week, I play Chris again and Brian is up against Alex. I would assume my best bet at a win is week 14 and Brian’s hardest game is this week. Good luck to everyone. To those with a chance and affecting the playoff berths and to those who are gunning for a respectable record.