[b3619615]Eastern Conference[/b3619615]
1. <img src="
http://www.thecfl.net/cfl/helmet03.jpg" width="35" height="35"> [b3619615]Durham Bulldogs[/b3619615] (14-2) - Once again the Bulldogs have home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Last year they played their first playoff game in franchise history and lost to Memphis in the divisional round. This year they need to stick with their formula of not putting up huge numbers but just playing solid football that is good enough to win.
2. <img src="
http://www.thecfl.net/cfl/helmet31.jpg" width="35" height="35"> [b3619615]Detroit Vampires[/b3619615] (12-4) - Detroit already beat Durham this year so they are an early favorite to repeat as Eastern Conference champions. Their lineup is loaded with talent with their only real weakness being at the wide receiver position. Their leading WR in receiving yards was Eric McGarry with 434 yards. Harold Infante started all 16 games but only caught 26 passes for 340 yards.
3. <img src="
http://www.thecfl.net/cfl/helmet06.jpg" width="35" height="35"> [b3619615]Shreveport Pride[/b3619615] (11-5) - It's hard to believe that the Pride only won 4 games last season. How did they improve themselves so quickly? By signing players away from the Atlantic Division. During the offseason they acquired WR Ernest Castillo (Baltimore), WR Pedro Lopez (Tampa Bay), LB Dennis Perez (Charleston), and Erwin Koch (Tampa Bay). These players started a total of 41 games and played a big role down the stretch when Shreveport won 10 out of its last 12 games.
4. <img src="
http://www.thecfl.net/cfl/helmet20.jpg" width="35" height="35"> [b3619615]New York Knights[/b3619615] (10-6) - New York started 8-2 before dropping 4 out of their last 6 games. Despite the late season slide they still won the Yankee Division title over Hartford due to a better division record. Their wild card game matchup against Hartford is a rematch of the 2005 wild card game which Hartford won 27-13. This year the Knights have WR Miles Shumaker (79 receptions for 1219 yards and 7 TDs) and RB Wilbur Sullivan (302 rushes for 1184 yards and 8 TDs).
5. <img src="
http://www.thecfl.net/cfl/helmet08.jpg" width="35" height="35"> [b3619615]Hartford Attack[/b3619615] (10-6) - Not counting the 4 games when QB James Oberg was injured, the Attack were 8-2 with their only losses coming against Durham (14-2) and Honolulu (13-3). Despite playing away in the wild card round they are favorited by 8 points and probably will cover the spread after defeating New York by 17 in week 17. The WR pair of Jody Beech (1299 receiving yards) and Edward Trail (962 receiving yards) are one of the best WR tandems in the CFL.
6. <img src="
http://www.thecfl.net/cfl/helmet02.jpg" width="35" height="35"> [b3619615]New Orleans Breakers[/b3619615] (8-8) - Hartford's Beech and Trail may be good, but New Orleans' Tibbetts and Coon are even better. Tibbetts (1693 receiving yards) and Coon (1511 receiving yards) posted the #1 and #4 highest totals in league history during the regular season. The two combined for 147 receiving yards in the season opener against Shreveport when the Breakers posted a 17-13 victory. #3 Shreveport will get their chance at revenge this week in the wild card round.
[b3619615]Western Conference[/b3619615]
1. <img src="
http://www.thecfl.net/cfl/helmet26.jpg" width="35" height="35"> [b3619615]Honolulu Blue Pacific[/b3619615](13-3) - The defending champions have never looked better, winning 11 out of their last 12 games by an average margin of 12 points. Ronnie Tu's numbers are down from last season, but he only threw 5 interceptions in 482 attempts. One the other side of the ball the defense forced 36 turners to give the team a league best +18 turnover margin.
2. <img src="
http://www.thecfl.net/cfl/helmet07.jpg" width="35" height="35"> [b3619615]El Paso Rockets[/b3619615] (11-5) - It's all about the defense in El Paso, as the Rockets set a new CFL record by only allowing 266.5 yards per game. DE Pierre Hinson had the best season of his career with 67 tackles, 14 assists, 13 sacks, 3 blocked passes, and 31 QB hurries. However, his salary jumps up to $8,420,000 next season and he may end up being traded or cut as soon as the Rockets' season is over.
3. <img src="
http://www.thecfl.net/cfl/helmet04.jpg" width="35" height="35"> [b3619615]Oregon Ice[/b3619615] (11-5) - The Ice are serious about winning the Ring of Ice division. After winning division titles in 2003 and 2004, the team finished 9-7 in 2005 and missed the playoffs. In reaction to this the team released RB Rodger Rubenstein after three straight 1000-yard seasons and traded away 2003 CFL Bowl MVP QB Landon Hurst. The result: A record of 11-5 and their 3rd division title in 4 years. Now that the playoffs are here the media is starting a quarterback controversy between opening day starter Maurice Brown (5-2 in 7 starts) and current starter Thomas Kuhn (also 5-2 in 7 starts).
4. <img src="
http://www.thecfl.net/cfl/helmet10.jpg" width="35" height="35"> [b3619615]Sacramento Dragons[/b3619615] (10-6) - The Dragons got red hot at the end of the year, winning their last 5 games to reclaim the San Andreas division title that they won in 2004. Sacramento has 41 regular season victories (4th best in CFL history) but has never won a playoff game. They are unlikely to get their first playoff victory this season, as they just don't have the defense to compete with their wild card opponent, Tucson. Sacramento gave up 4.47 yards/rush this season and face rookie sensation Drew Holliday (332 carries for 1522 yards and 12 TDs).
5. <img src="
http://www.thecfl.net/cfl/helmet25.jpg" width="35" height="35"> [b3619615]Tucson Toros[/b3619615] (12-4) - RB Holliday was a brilliant draft pick at #4 overall and is a lock for the offensive rookie of the year. However, he did fumble the ball 10 times (backup RB Daryl Bradley added 13 fumbles). The fumbling problem needs to be fixed for the Toros to go far in the playoffs. On defense, the Toros need DE Isaiah Melo (44.5 career sacks, 3rd in CFL history) to get back to full strength. He is currently listed as questionable with a pulled groin.
6. <img src="
http://www.thecfl.net/cfl/helmet01.jpg" width="35" height="35"> [b3619615]Boise Stampede[/b3619615] (11-5) - The Stampede stomped their way into the playoffs with a 31-0 shutout in the season finale against Anchorage and now have 4 straight winning seasons. This could be the surprise team of the year - they don't get a lot of press but they have put up amazing numbers. The offensive leaders are QB Branden Lin (23 TDs vs. 4 INTs and a 100.6 rating, along with 521 rushing yards) and RB Sherman New (1475 rushing yards with 11 TDs, along with 681 receiving yards). Their wild card matchup is against division rival Oregon, who beat the Stampede in weeks 1 & 7.
Login
FAQ
)
