The playoffs are here. The hot story right now is the Piranhas, who have ridden a 7-game winning streak to the best record and first round bye in the Black Conference. They now become the 2^nd expansion team ever to make it to the MFL playoffs, and the first ever to win their division and earn a 1^st round bye. They come in with higher expectations than the Outlaws last year and would love to achieve the only better result possible – a championship. Palm Beach cemented their spot by taking down a similarly hot Sharks team. Now they get to sit home next week and watch the Rockets and Sharks duke it out. And as always, the Clowns get to rest up this week as well, earning their first round bye with a 12-1 record, averaging a ridiculous 97 points per game. Clearly, and once again as always, they enter the playoffs as the resounding favorite. However, we all know that anything in can happen in the one-and-done MFL playoffs. Now let’s take a look at the postseason brackets:

MFL Playoffs:

Black Conference:

Wildcard playoff: New Orleans Sharks (7-6) @ New York Rockets (8-4-1)

Winner plays Palm Beach Piranhas (9-4) in the Conference Championship

White Conference:

Wildcard Playoff: Golden State Storm (11-2) @ Springfield Isotopes (10-3)

Winner plays Las Vegas Clowns (12-1) in the Conference Championship

Run of the Mill Bowl:

Round 1:

Philadelphia Longhorns (6-7) @ Detroit Wolfpack (6-7)

Denver Mountain Katz (7-6) @ St. Louis Outlaws (6-7)

Toilet Bowl:

Round 1:

Green Bay Predators (4-9) @ Seattle Slayers (4-9)

Houston Mustangs (4-9) @ Columbus Dragons (4-9)

Round 2:

Better Record @ New England Thunderbirds (3-9-1)

Worse Record @ Washington Warlords (2-11)

As no game this past week had any significant playoff impact, we’re instead going to take a look forward to the playoff matchups.

Golden State Storm @ Springfield Isotopes

The Storm have a lot of questions brewing for this game. Do you stick with the horse that got you here in Eli or do you turn the reins over to the hot youngster, Alex Smith? Will Michael Turner be healthy for the game? If so, they’ll likely have to start two tight ends. How will their defense fare without Polamalu? However, luckily for them, this week presents a good matchup for Ray Rice and their fearsome threesome of receivers.

The Isotopes aren’t bereft of questions themselves though, particularly the health of star running back DeAngelo Williams. However, even if Williams can’t go, I think Springfield will get their revenge for last year’s wildcard loss behind big games from Addai, Boldin, and the defense. I think the game will be close though, maybe even as close as last season’s 1-point affair. Ray Rice and Colston are due for big games, but I just don’t see it being enough.

New Orleans Sharks @ New York Rockets

This one should be close as well. The Rockets have an extremely strong duo of RBs in MoJo and Mendenhall, who are both due for big weeks. The problem is, with injuries to Brown, Slaton, and Bowe’s suspension, the rest of their team is sorely lacking skill players. In order to advance, they are going to need big games from their rookies, Mike Wallace and Jermichael Finley.

The Sharks, on the other hand, are starting to gel at just the right time. After getting no production from the wide receiver position all season, Miles Austin and Percy Harvin have really stepped it up, playing like legitimate #1 and #2 threats the past few weeks. The question is, can they keep it up or has this just been a brief mirage? The recent acquisition of Thomas Jones has also added an extra dimension to their team, allowing them to take some pressure off the Frenchman and Jacobs. All things considered, I see Aaron Rodgers and company prevailing in this one, setting up a rematch with the division rival Piranhas for the Conference Championship.