Highest Scoring Team ($15)
Shirt Brothers
Coach Jord
156.12 pts
Highest Scoring Player ($7)
Curtis’ Bronco Coat
Coach Nick (2nd time this season)
Amari Cooper - 53.3 pts
Injury riddled though they may have been (no Josh Jacobs & no Michael Pittman), despite reports to the contrary from rather authoritative sources, the Des Moines Football Team were focused just enough for their semifinal matchup against the ultra-consistent No Nonsense Nelson. Only the tale of the tape here was just that - No Nonsense Nelson did not post their signature 110+ points. If they had, it would have been enough for the win, but Coach Nelson’s team suffered two key injuries mid-game, one to Isiah Pacheco and one to DJ Moore, both of which limited their typical production. This held No Nonsense Nelson to just 97 points and allowed Qualley to coast on the back of their savior, the Sun God, and his 29 points, skating to a 103 - 97 victory. Qualley will return to the IFL Superbowl for the 2nd year in a row, the first coach to ever make back-to-back Superbowls.
On the other side of the bracket, the outcome had a touch more drama, as Nick mistakenly left Jamar Chase in his lineup despite the out designation.
Nick was already the underdog against Hunt, projected about 12 points less, and had no pickers on his team for pick ‘em, and a guaranteed goose egg didn’t help, but unbelievably, a single player would completely change the course of Nick’s season. That player - Joe Flacco. Though he’s not on Nick’s roster, Joe Flacco has reminded us all the prowess of his arm and, more prudently, he has allowed Amari Cooper’s fantasy production to explode. That explosion crescendoed Sunday afternoon, as Amari Cooper had himself a 11 catch, 265 yard, 2 touchdown, 2-pt conversion, and 9 first down statline, equating to an UNBELIEVABLE 53.25 points. The Joe Flacco connection is fitting too, as I have a pretty vivid memory of Nick using the Joe Flacco QB-sneak where he’d jump over the goal line cheat code in Madden 2010. Amari would single handedly bring Nick’s score to 106 points with the Raven’s DEF yet to play on Monday, but Hunt still had very good odds at that point, as he was sitting with about 90 points with Travis Kelce, Brock Purdy, and Jake Moody all yet to go and who average a combined 41 PPG. But Kelce would post just 10 points in the Chiefs’ loss to the Raiders and Brock Purdy would have a miserable Christmas, throwing 4 interceptions, which due to Nick having the Ravens DEF, was a net 20 point swing in Nick’s favor. So amazingly, a man down and against all odds, Nick would defeat Hunt, 125-105, with perhaps the greatest fantasy football playoff performance of all time, by Amari Cooper. Nick will return to the IFL Superbowl for his 3rd trip, the first time since he lost it in 2020, for another chance at earning his second ring.
In the Consolation Playoffs, TC knocked off Chris 105-86 and Drew squeaked one out against Curtis 109-107 to move on the Consolation Championship. In the Tournament to Not Get Last, we had a high scoring affair, as Tuna with Mustard was like a fish backed into a small plastic bag, putting up 154 points against the Scallon Express’ 127 points. On the other side of that bracket, despite having two players that combined for 0.7 points, Jesse would hold on to his lead over Brady on Christmas Day, winning 106-95, a nice final Christmas present for La Bamba. Scallon and Brady both get flushed to the Toilet Bowl Losership. This is Scallon’s second Toilet Bowl Losership appearance in three years, and Brady second consecutive and third overall appearance.
PICK ‘EM
Qualley is the only picker to have Jesse holding onto to his lead in the MNQ and adds 3 points to his lead. With one week to go, Qualley has the opportunity to become the first ever coach to win the IFL Superbowl and be crowned the Pick ‘Em Champ in the same year.
