Aidan's Single A Playoff Picture

Howdy everyone, I figured it was the perfect time to look at the playoff picture for single A. Things are packed very tightly in the middle of the pack so we should get plenty of premiere matchups down the stretch, potentially even some games on the final day of the regular season to decide who makes it and who’s season ends there (no spoilers yet though). I am going to separate the teams into 3 distinct categories, naturally starting with-

The Contenders

As the title suggests, these are the teams that, if they haven't already clinched, are almost certain to and are poised to make a deep playoff run

1- Miners (10-2)

To no one’s surprise, the miners are the number one seed as the regular season winds down. The team that came into the season as the undisputed favorites to win the chip have done everything you could ask of them thus far. In their matchups against the current 2-8 seeds, they are 6-1 with their only loss coming from the Cardinals (7-5) in week 2 of this season. The only tough matchup left is the Titans (9-3). If the Miners can win on Tuesday, they will have all but secured the #1 seed, barring a catastrophic turn of events with their finals 2 matchups against the Leopards (5-7) and the Wranglers (1-11).

2- Cougars (10-2)

In a season that has featured many teams drastically overperforming their preseason expectations, the Cougars have emerged as one of the most dangerous teams in A this season. With their only losses coming to the Miners (10-2) and Cardinals (7-5) they have set themselves up for a high seed and a deep playoff run. Statistically, this team’s players have the most set roles with Lahden as a top 5 scorer in the league, LeAidan top 3 in assists and Generalmunkinman top 5 in saves. If the Titans are able to take down the Miners next Tuesday, the Cougars will control their own destiny and if they are able to win out will lock up the #1 seed. While they don't have the easiest schedule into the playoffs, it is definitely doable as they play two teams that will likely make the playoffs in Jesters and Stallions, plus an outsider looking in with Leopards.

3- Titans (9-3)

It's safe to say the start of the season did not go as the Titans planned, dropping matches early to the Pelicans (2-10) and Rattlers (7-5). Since those back-to-back losses, the Titans are 8-1 with their only loss coming to the Cougars and since that loss the Titans are 6-0 with a +17 game differential (18-1). This team features two of the highest scoring players in the league, Tobu is 3rd in goals per game (gpg) and points per game (ppg). After the preseason, the Titans needed a 4th and decided to pick up Docile after he was dropped from The Snowmen and no one could have imagined that he would have become the frontrunner in the MVP race, he is #1 in ppg leading #2 (Buntum) by over .5 ppg more. To put that into context the gap between Docile and #2 is the same as the game between #2 and #18. The Titans did recently lose one of their players (Servette) but in the week following his departure they haven't looked to slow down but they have their hardest matchup of the season next week against the Miners. If they are able to pull off the upset they will control their destiny to the #2 seed. With their loss to the Cougars it is unlikely they will be able to finish as the #1 seed but it's not impossible but they will need an all time performance out of the Jesters and Stallions next week as they will need to leapfrog the Cougars.

The Midfield

The Midfield will range all the way from playoff locks to outsiders, but with the middle 9 teams only being separated by 3 games from #4 to #12 they all deserve a spot here.

4- Genesis (8-4)

Similar to the Cougars and our next team up, the Genesis were predicted to be a bottom of the pack team before the season, but they have been one of many pleasant surprises. With LegendaryJ and Stonnevins acting as a 2-headed monster in the offensive zone, both placing top 10 in ppg at the time of writing, the Genesis have cemented themselves as favorites to become “best of the rest”. But who knows, maybe they have some magic in them and are able to make Cinderella run through the playoffs. Apart from their week 1 loss to the Gulls, the Genesis have only lost to the 3 teams ahead of them (Miners, Cougars and Titans). While they don't have a free run to the playoffs, after their win against the Jesters Thursday, they control their destiny to a high seed. However, they will have to play 3 teams with the most on the line as the regular season concludes with the Cardinals (7-5), Snowmen (6-6) and Embers (6-6).

5- Stallions (7-5)

The Stallions are another team I would argue for to earn the title of “best of the rest”. They have managed to recover what was a miserable first 4 weeks of the season, starting the season 2-5. Since their FF loss to the Genesis in game 7 of the season, they are 5-0, taking down all three teams below that are tied for 6th seed. Early season losses to Snowmen and Embers do put them at risk but they would need a series of unfortunate events to unfold in order to get passed by 4 teams below them. They don't have an easy schedule down the stretch, taking on Cougars (10-2) and Titans (9-3), but they also get a matchup they should win easily in Gulls (2-10). Winning their matchup against Gulls will lock in their playoff berth thanks to their wins against the teams mentioned above.

T6-8- Jesters (7-5)

The Jesters are potentially the team that defied their odds the most. As a team that was predicted to finish dead last before the season, they have surprised everyone and if they are somehow able to win the whole thing it would go down as the most unlikely championship in RLPC history. They will be facing an uphill battle down the stretch with two of their final three games coming against the Cougars (10-2) and Titans (9-3). Assuming they win their match against Wranglers (1-11), the Jesters should feel good about their playoff odds but if they are able to pull the upset off against one of the 2 of the teams mentioned above they will be a lock for the playoffs. If they do manage to lose to the Wranglers, it is possible for some of the teams we will get to later to leapfrog them and knock them out but they have helped themselves significantly by beating every team currently seeded 9-12.

T6-8- Cardinals (7-5)

The Cardinals are in perhaps the most confusing position in the midfield. They have managed to beat both the Miners (10-2) and Cougars (10-2), yet have either lost to, or are yet to play against almost every team they are competing with for a playoff spot. They lost to Embers (6-6), Ravens (5-7), The Snowmen (6-6) and Stallions (7-5). The Ravens are on the outside looking in but their other 3 losses to the midfield teams could be incredibly consequential. Winning their matchup against the Rattlers (7-5) would be huge as that would leapfrog them above the Jesters and Rattlers into the standalone #6 seed. If they lose against the Rattlers, their matchup against the Pelicans becomes all but a must-win matchup as either the Snowmen or Embers would only need to make up one game to take the final playoff spot.

T6-8- Rattlers (7-5)

The Rattlers have the least to gain and the most to lose over the next week and a half. They have lost to every team above them except the Titans (who they beat), and have beaten all the bottom teams plus The Snowmen (6-6) and Leopards (5-7). Their remaining matchups are all very, very important. They play the Ravens (5-7), Embers (6-6) and Cardinals (7-5). They are assisted by the 2 teams above them (Jesters and Stallions), both having to play the Cougars and Titans. If you are the Ravens, there are lots of paths to the playoffs, but it is incredibly important they win at least one of their remaining games. Winning against either Cardinals or Embers will all but lock up their playoff spot.

9- The Snowmen (6-6)

The Snowmen are the first team we look at that currently sit outside of a playoff spot but could be the team with the best chance to make a late season push. Their most important win of the season (so far) is their 3-0 win against the Embers (6-6), which is why they get sole possession of the 9 seed. Another important win was against the Cardinals, who currently sit in the 8 seed, but have a 1 game advantage so they would need some help from one or more of the Cardinals’ opponents. This team has already lost to the Rattlers and Jesters, so their best shot to make it in is to win out against their final 3 opponents, the Tempests, Ravens, and Genesis and hope for a late season collapse from either the Stallions or Cardinals.

10- Embers (6-6)

The Embers are the last team we will look at today that have a solid chance of making the playoffs. Their loss to The Snowmen adds an extra wrinkle into their chances of getting in, but because the 5-8 seeds all have the same record, they only need 1 of them to falter to sneak into the dance. Two of their final three matchups are against strong midfield opponents in the Genesis and Rattlers. If they can win both those games, all they need to do is finish the season strong against the Tempest and they will have put themselves in a good spot to pick up the 7 or 8 seed.

11- Ravens (5-7)

The Ravens had potentially the toughest first 2 weeks of the regular season, having to play the Miners, Cougars, Titans, and Jesters. Unfortunately for them, since starting 0-4 they haven't done quite enough to put themselves in a great position to pick up a playoff spot, but there is still a chance. The silver lining is their midseason wins against the Embers, Cardinals, and Leopards will give them the leg up on many of the teams fighting for a potential 7-8 seed however they are 2 games out of the playoffs currently, so need a perfect storm to make the playoff dream come true. They close out their season with two more matches against direct competition with the Rattlers and Snowmen, which do give them more control of their destiny, and if they can win both of those games, they have a real chance of sneaking in.

12- Leopards (5-7)

The Leopards are the last team we will look at in the midfield and have the lowest chance of making the playoffs. Two of their final three are against the Miners and Cougars, and with 0 wins against teams with winning records this season, it is hard to have confidence going into those final matches. Wins against the Embers and The Snowmen do give them a glimpse of hope, but it would take a catastrophic collapse of multiple teams above them to even force a tiebreaker, and for those reasons, it is hard for me to believe in this team’s chances down the stretch.

The pit of misery

Dilly Dilly!!! No need to spend too much time on these teams, they are all either fully eliminated or in the case of #13 would require such an insane sequence of events to even force a tiebreaker that they are basically eliminated

13- Tempests (4-8)

Their only wins thus far have come against the Ravens, Jesters, Gulls, and Stallions, which shows some upside for this team, but with 2 of their final 3 matchups coming against teams well in the hunt, it becomes nearly impossible for them to find themselves alive this time next week. The Tempests have lost to every team that currently holds a playoff spot except for the Jesters and Stallions, so will require insane upset after insane upset across the league to even have a glimpse into the 8 seed.

14- Gulls (2-10)

15- Pelicans (2-10)

16- Wranglers (1-11)

I am going to lump the final 3 teams together in an attempt to save us all some time today. Out of these three teams, 5 total wins, all but 2 have come against another team in the pit of mystery. All 3 are statistically eliminated and are looking to play upset over the next week and a half.

This concludes my late season single A breakdown, if you want to see another for your league or think I should do another once seeding is locked in let me know! (Discord: Aidan_mp4)