As I wrote at the beginning of the year it is the start of a new era. We have now reached the playoffs and it is the first time the six owners will not be competing for the coveted Jori. It is though still the same trophy, but now the champion gets a ring as well, and the champion still receives a nice big Christmas gift. So lets take a look at the bracket shall we!
The Byes:
#1- Jackson is in just his third year as a full-time owner and boy were those first two years ugly going a combined 7–19. But things have turned around for the 5th year senior out of Lake Erie and is now your East Division champion and the #1 seed. Beginning of the year he was led by the dominating trio of Josh Allen, Dalvin Cook, and Aaron Jones. Halfway through the year Aaron Jones was trade for Christian McCaffrey, and since then he has only seen the starting lineup once due to injuries. When you have the best RB in the league out and still produce the best record in the league, and now that RB is back for the playoffs… that no doubt scares a lot of folk and easily makes Jackson the favorite to take home the trophy.
#2- Tyler, the 2015 Meesha winner, is a team you don’t normally think about as a threat. But 3 out of the last 4 years he has lost in the semi-finals. Crazy to think about but two of those years he made it in as the 6th seed at 6–7, and then in 2017, just like this year, he was the 2 seed at 9–4. Is this the year Tyler can finally push through and make it to his first ever championship? Tough to say because since Week 4, he has only scored over 109 points 3 times but managed to sneak out 6 wins in that span. He has only allowed a league low of 1366 points against him all year, the next closest is 130 points away. So he may need a little more help from the other teams if he wants a chance to make it to Week 16.
Round 1 Match-ups:
#5 Josh’s Football Team (Josh) vs #4 .Rogo (Rogo)
This is a first round rematch from last year in which Josh came out victorious 124–70. Rogo was able to avenge that loss with a 127–114 victory back in Week 10 this year, but things were a little different then. Rogo had Calvin Ridley on a bye and was still trying to find consistent tight end play, who he may have now found in Robert “Baby Kittle” Tonyan. Josh on the other hand no longer has Mike Davis, but now has Austin Ekeler who recently came back from the IR for this playoff run. Josh, who is led by Aaron Rodgers and Keenan Allen, has won his first round match-up the last three years, and was a win away from competing in his third consecutive Jori Bowl last year. Rogo, led by a solid core of Kyler Murray, Nick Chubb, Davante Adams, and Ridley, will try to stop that streak and reach the semis for the first time since 2017.
#6 Alvin and The Chipmunks (Brady) vs #3 St. Louis Blue Bands (Konnor)
Well would you look what we have here, a rematch from last years Jori Bowl in which Brady came out on top 104–74. The Commish was dealing with running back issues late last year and it showed when he had to start Mike Boone for a chance at glory. You probably are asking yourself who is Mike Boone right now, and I asked myself that question a lot during that week. But anyways, Konnor is now facing an issue at the running back position again as Josh Jacobs and Antonio Gibson both got hurt last week. This leaves him to start Clyde Edwards-Helaire and recent waiver wire pickup Cam Akers (plays tonight). Brady on the other hand is as strong as ever at the running back spot with Alvin Kamara and Aaron Jones who are both averaging 20 points on the year. You mix that in with the production of Deshaun Watson and Stefon Diggs and you question how this team is under .500. The two split their season series, which sets up for an awesome first round rubber match.
