Our fantasy playoffs aren't exactly like the real thing. In the NFL, the guys on the field know it's a huge game, and as fans we're treated to some truly stellar, emotional performances. It's a great time to watch football.
And yet, even while watching these entertaining games (two overtimes, two more close contests) over the weekend, I was reminded of fantasy parallels. It's like my brain is trying to frame what I see into a context that feels familiar. So this past weekend I saw storylines I've seen in fantasy playoffs year after year.
Houston 22, Buffalo 19 (OT). You ever face an owner with a bunch of early Sunday players who had great performances? You're down early, and you're down big. You want to advance, but the scoreboard says 61-6, and you feel pretty bad about your prospects. It's not over, but it sure feels like the season is ending.
Then the second half of the day kicks in, your players come alive and you barely squeak out a win. Meanwhile, the other owner wonders where all the momentum went. How were they so far ahead, only to watch it slip away?
I've been Houston and I've been Buffalo in that scenario. Great game for fans, and great reminder for fantasy players that getting down early doesn't mean you're staying down. Comebacks happen frequently. Let the game play out before you get too happy or frustrated.
Tennessee 20, New England 13. You know that annoying guy in your dynasty league who always seems to win? Other teams are constantly rebuilding, but he's always competitive, winning titles and finding enough talent to make the playoffs year after year? All teams have ups and downs, except his.
It's so annoying that you start rooting for another team, any team, to take him down. And when it happens, you want to celebrate like it was your own victory. His players are getting older, their contacts are expiring, and things should finally balance out. Finally!
But then you realize that the celebrations are really a testament to their success. Practically the entire league is happy they finally lost, so it's really a sign of how dominant they were and how less successful you were.
It's hard to imagine we'll ever see another dynasty as dominant as New England in the NFL. I can't say I'm sorry to see them lose, but I am glad I saw one of the most impressive dynasties in professional sports.
Minnesota 26, New Orleans 20 (OT). This one's easy: Your superior team is facing an inferior opponent. You're going to win. I mean, you'll probably win. You should win, right?
Then the game is played, and you start to wonder. Was my opponent really inferior? Weren't some of my stars a little disappointing this season? Is it all that surprising that they came up short when I needed them? Is this what I should have expected all along?
Maybe. Anything can happen in the playoffs. What looks like an easy victory becomes an upset, and you get to spend the whole offseason wondering what could have gone differently.
We've all been there. The Saints seem to be there quite a bit. Kamara really hasn't been Kamara for a while, and the Vikings finally proved they can beat a good team on the road. Just like in fantasy football, the better team doesn't always win. And when you think about it, they aren't always the "better" team, anyway. Sometimes the underdog really was better when they needed to be. You can't take anything for granted in the playoffs.
Seattle 17, Philadelphia 9. So you didn't make the playoffs even though you had a good team. The problem was you were in the wrong division. There were too many good teams bunched together and you missed out. Meanwhile, a team with a ton of injuries, a worse record, fewer points and almost no hope of advancing ends up winning a weaker division and advances. So you're just sitting around while they end up in the playoffs.
On paper, the Eagles were the weakest team in the field. They were light on talent at running back and wide receiver, and that was before their injuries. But late in the season, their roster seemed to be filled with practice-squad talent. And when Wentz went down, they looked better prepared for a preseason game than a postseason one.
But give Philadelphia credit: They went on a winning streak late in the year, beat the Cowboys, made the playoffs and kept their playoff game very close. Ertz had no business being out there. McCown had no business keeping the team in the game. The Eagles lost, but they proved that they deserved to be there. Like a fantasy owner who somehow puts together a decent team via the waiver wire, they got the job done in the regular season. Good showing after an absurd rash of injuries.
And there's more to come. The top seeds are always susceptible to upsets in the fantasy playoffs. Will it happen in the real game? Will the fantasy stars of 2019 show up in early 2020? And there are just two teams left with a Super Bowl winner behind center. Anything can happen. And if your favorite team is still in the hunt, good luck this week.
What fantasy parallels did you see from Wild Card Weekend? How do you see things shaking out next weekend? Share your thoughts below.