Owners -

It was a twisted and frenzied finish for both the top and bottom playoff seeds.
Now the dust has settled ... on with the playoffs!

Here are the playoff matchups:

      #8 WARREN WARRIORS (8-7)
  at  #1 COOL CATS (12-3)

      #7 MOOSE (8-7)
  at  #2 WARM MILK (11-4)

      #6 ROOKSTERS (10-5)
  at  #3 DISSEISORS (10-5)

      #5 REYNOLDS RANGERS (10-5)
  at  #4 RICHMOND RIDGEBACKS (10-5)
 
For the final two playoff spots, we had a 3-way tie in terms of won-loss record.
The MOOSE, WARRIORS, and MAULERS all ended up 8-7.  Because the MOOSE earlier
beat both the WARRIORS and MAULERS, the MOOSE get the #7 seed.  The WARRIORS,
who started out the year 0-and-3, were on a 4-game win streak when they took down
the MAULERS.  With that win the WARRIORS get the #8 and final playoff seed.

We ended up with four teams tied with 10-and-5 records.  But the not same
four as the week before, as the MILK rose like cream and floated up to a #2 seed.
The RANGERS joined this final group of four ... and there were loops among the teams
in who-defeated-who.  So using the 2nd tie-breaker (points for), the DISSEISORS
emerge from the pack and claim the #3 seed.  Left with 3 teams tied, the first
tie-breaker takes over again as the RIDGEBACKS were victorious over both
the RANGERS and ROOKSTERS during the season and thus will get the #4 seed.
And finally the RANGERS having earlier beaten the ROOKSTERS garner the #5 seed;
the ROOKSTERS take the #6.

Enjoying the view (for this week) are the CATS claiming outright the #1 seed.
Had the CATS lost to the ROOKSTERS this past week, there was a scenario where
the CATS could have fallen to the #3 seed ... and the ROOKSTERS could have been #1 !
 
The '12th man' playoff handicap scheme is now a well-establish bonus to those
top seeded teams for season-long success. The top four seeds now have a decision
to make.  Here's how it's described in the SAFFL rulebook, section 12 ...
( http://www.saffl.org/rulebook.htm ) :

The team receiving the handicap chooses either a larger fixed handicap
  or a smaller handicap along with a "12th man":

  #1 seed ... (+35 points) OR (+30 points plus one player)
  #2 seed ... (+25 points) OR (+20 points plus one player)
  #3 seed ... (+15 points) OR (+10 points plus one player)
  #4 seed ... (+ 5 points) OR ( +0 points plus one player)
 
  No other seeds add or subtract points.

Further, the decision about which way to go needs to be made early:

 If a team does not designate a handicap choice before the first
 NFL game of the week, the default will be the larger fixed handicap.

Therefore, top four teams -- CATS, MILK, DISSEISORS, RIDGEBACKS -- if you want
to use the extra player option, I will need to know who that is by:

  Thursday, 8:00pm ET (15 minutes before kickoff of the LA Rams vs. SEA game).

I will email & text out your choices to all at that time.  Feel free to tell
me early ... you can change your mind until 8:00pm Thursday.  Email, text,
or call me ... but be sure I respond and confirm I got your choice.

Again ... top 4 teams ... if you do nothing you'll get the
higher default points but no extra player.

By the way ... if you accidentally put the designated extra player in your
starting lineup, you'll be given the smaller handicap plus 0 points.
Same for hiding the guy on IR, or being cut.  Keep him on the bench!

I'll be adding/updating the points from any "12th man" as soon
as that player's game is over (and I can get on-line).

Please note, a coach can also be used as a "12th man".

Please contact me if you have any questions!
The Commissioner