* Note that the 3 stars on the McCallister Cup logo is for Buffalo's 3rd time hosting the game
(6) PIT (9-5) @ (3) LOU (10-4) - OCT 7 - 2:00 PM ET
1972 Head-to-Head: W1 - PIT 18-27 LOU
Historic Head-to-Head: PIT 6-4 LOU
Historic Playoff Head-to-Head: Have Not Played
The playoffs are going to kick off the same way the regular season began with Pittsburgh heading over to Louisville. The Thunder are beginning their title defence with a big home playoff game, which is the first playoff game since 1965 to be played in Louisville. The Thunder have been a little shaky down the stretch coming off of back-to-back losses after a near loss against the Predators, but they had a similar slump last season and still managed to pull it together in the playoffs. On the other side is a team looking to bounce back from last year’s shocking 1st round elimination against the Blue Wings following the unfortunate injury to QB Louis Vaughn in that game. Pittsburgh should be relatively healthy and should be more determined than ever to get back into the semi-finals. Overall, these two teams match up well, so expect a very good battle, however, the hot hand seems to be Pittsburgh having won 8 of their last 9 games, so I think they do find a way into the semis
My Pick: Blacksmiths
(5) VAN (9-5) @ (4) BOS (9-4-1) - OCT 7 - 7:00 PM ET
1972 Head-to-Head: W5 - VAN 18-23 BOS
Historic Head-to-Head: VAN 2-1 BOS
Historic Playoff Head-to-Head: Have Not Played
Vancouver and Boston have grown a bit of a rivalry in the early years, not only for being a cross-continent battle, but they have also played in every season since Vancouver joined the NAAF. Fitting that they get a chance to clash in the playoffs. Boston is easily the hottest team in the league riding a 7-0-1 record in their last 8 games. QB Nathaniel Braddock has led the way and is on a mission to try and capture his second McCallister Cup. On the other side, Vancouver is also trying to show that they belong at the top of the NAAF and will be looking to make their 2nd McCallister Cup appearance since joining the NAAF. Vancouver has dropped some close games to good teams this season, including Boston, but when this team is on, they can dominate a game, evidenced by their +134 point differential this season (which is 3rd best in the league). It’s going to be a good battle between two great QBs, but I just feel that at the end of the day Braddock and Boston are going to be more desperate and that will make the difference.
My Pick: Independents
(8) BUF (8-6) @ (1) PRO (11-2-1) - OCT 8 - 2:00 PM ET
1972 Head-to-Head: Did Not Play
Historic Head-to-Head: BUF 12-9 PRO
Historic Playoff Head-to-Head: Have Not Played
There are a lot of similarities to last year's 1v8 Quarter-Final matchup with Buffalo just sneaking into the playoffs in the final week of the season to face a top team that has dominated all season. Already the Gold Stars will be without their starting QB with Red King out until next week. Either way, going into the game, it is a familiar place for the Gold Stars who have either had a QB injured during or before their last now 3 playoff appearances. The hope is this season, the stronger team outside of the QB position can make up for King’s absence, although they will be missing LB Kurt Warlock as well. The Buffalo Blue Wings can also never be completely counted out with QB Charles Lemieux leading the charge. They will certainly put up a fight and will have some confidence behind their upset of the Blacksmiths last season, as well as seeing Providence slip, going 0-2-1 in their last 3 games. However, I think the Gold Stars will finally get past the first round and become the first #1 seed to advance under the new playoff format.
My Pick: Gold Stars
(7) OTT (9-5) @ (2) MIN (11-3) - OCT 8 - 7:00 PM ET
1972 Head-to-Head: W10 - MIN 14-24 OTT
Historic Head-to-Head: OTT 2-1 MIN
Historic Playoff Head-to-Head: OTT 1-1 MIN
For the 3rd time in 4 years, the Royals and Serpents will meet in the playoffs. Each team has won one of the two meetings, making this a rubber match, at least for the time being. Minnesota enters the game as the West Division champion for the 3rd year in a row but does come in hobbled with injuries. Luckily, several moves at the deadline have helped recoup a few positions, specifically at LB, but the team has gone 3-3 after starting the season 8-0. A strong run game and good coaching will take the Serpents a long way as they look to advance to the semis for the second year in a row. Conversely, the Royals are looking to grab a playoff win after back-to-back 1st-round exits. The good news this year is QB Drake Young is good to go after missing the playoffs last season due to injury. While Ottawa is the 7th seed, they have been a solid team all season, even beating Minnesota earlier in the year to end their unbeaten season. This growing rivalry should produce another solid game, but I just feel like the Royals are due for a win in the postseason.
My Pick: Royals
Team Awards
Boston Independents
MOP: QB Nathaniel Braddock
OPOY: WR Al Allmendinger
DPOY: LB Byron Turner
OLOY: OL Carlton Vanderbilt
BPOY: RB Wesley Wu
ROY: OL Bradley Seed
Buffalo Blue Wings
MOP: QB Charles Lemieux
OPOY: WR Tracy Driscoll
DPOY: DB Ezra Power
OLOY: OL Artem Sobakov
BPOY: S Levi Brickshaw
ROY: LB Basti Gräbner
Calgary Predators
MOP: QB Emmitt Jackson
OPOY: RB John Drexel
DPOY: DL Damien Battles
OLOY: OL Charles Schwartz
BPOY: RB Rocco Peaks
ROY: WR Eric Norris
Edmonton Rangers
MOP: LB Frank St. John
OPOY: RB Gary Hubbard
DPOY: DL Caleb Cologne
OLOY: OL Matthew Miller
BPOY: DL Caleb Cologne
ROY: OL Callum Thomas
Halifax Mariners
MOP: LB Frederic Macnamara
OPOY: WR Shane Steadman
DPOY: DL Pat Butler
OLOY: OL Kane Warwick
BPOY: LB Alastair Glass
ROY: WR Oliver Shephard
Indiana Victors
MOP: WR Jake Abbredezzi
OPOY: QB Tom Applewhite
DPOY: DL Eugene Case
OLOY: OL Jean-Baptiste Desjardins
BPOY: LB Benjamin Page
ROY: RB Daniel Collins
London Tigers
MOP: RB Jeremy Royal
OPOY: WR Lloyd Lane
DPOY: LB Everett Lynch
OLOY: OL Shane Willis
BPOY: RB Jeremy Royal
ROY: S Marcus Harris
Long Island Raiders
MOP: QB Ivan Sanchez
OPOY: WR Larry Mossholder
DPOY: DL Johnathan Ellison
OLOY: OL Doyle MacInnis
BPOY: DB Levi Woodrow
ROY: RB Rudy Saunders
Louisville Thunder
MOP: WR Casey Coleman
OPOY: QB Buck Murphy
DPOY: DL Aaron Henderson
OLOY: OL Gordie Hammarstein
BPOY: DB Darian Quesada
ROY: S Brett Tavers
Minnesota Serpents
MOP: RB Tyler Kuhn
OPOY: WR Sebastian Dassler
DPOY: DB Austin Sherebernikoff
OLOY: OL Elias McCarren
BPOY: DB Chandler Gage
ROY: TE Xavier Francis Langford
Montreal Rouge
MOP: DB Lamar Brown
OPOY: WR Antonio Villanueva
DPOY: LB Jean-Christophe Bain
OLOY: OL Elliot Barrett
BPOY: DL Mateo Cousineau
ROY: LB Maxime St. Beaudoin
Ottawa Royals
MOP: QB Drake Young
OPOY: RB Corbyn Knight
DPOY: DB Sergio Alvarez
OLOY: OL Tommy Reynolds
BPOY: WR Charles Toothacre
ROY: DL Robin Lucas
Pittsburgh Blacksmiths
MOP: RB Max Tracy
OPOY: QB Louis Vaughn
DPOY: DL Arthur Bradshaw
OLOY: OL Erik Nelson
BPOY: DL Jeff Lamonte
ROY: LB Yuri Dragunov
Providence Gold Stars
MOP: QB Red King
OPOY: RB Tresean Jones
DPOY: LB Kurt Warlock
OLOY: OL Joseph Samberg
BPOY: S Murdoch Chesterman
ROY: DB Matt Maddux
Regina Wheat Kings
MOP: RB Deion Chapman
OPOY: QB Stanley Evans
DPOY: DB Madison McGhee
OLOY: OL Charles Hyland
BPOY: DL Derick Parks
ROY: LB Lewis Vander
Toronto Steelheads
MOP: RB Shannon West
OPOY: WR Cameron Kane
DPOY: LB Lincoln Webster
OLOY: OL Alan Farquharson
BPOY: RB Shannon West
ROY: DL Sam Reinkemeyer
Vancouver Wolves
MOP: QB Kevin Westwood
OPOY: WR Keshawn Johnston
DPOY: LB Shawn Anderson
OLOY: OL David Brewington
BPOY: WR Tristian Lewis
ROY: S Gunpei Koizumi
Winnipeg Falcons
MOP: LB Claude Clarke
OPOY: RB Joe Rivers
DPOY: DB Vern Nowitski
OLOY: OL Claude Balderson
BPOY: DB Carl Odebell
ROY: DL Graham de Veres
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