In the grand scheme of the 2016 season, this week’s results may have no impact on the eventual results, who knows really, but what happened week nine’s Monday night is something this league has never seen before and probably won’t see again.
Heading into the Bills/Seahawks game in Seattle, four teams had leads (Neatock technically was trailing, but once the game got started his Seattle defense was given 300 points), all three teams were projected by CBS to hold their leads and win. Yet, that’s why they play the game. All four…walked away losers.
COLBY WAS BEATING ERIC, 1,225-1,038
The Quarter Pounders had Seattle’s kicker, Steve Hauschka. Eric had quarterback Tyrod Taylor. I assumed Eric would need at least 300 points from his QB. Taylor was certainly capable of getting that, having done it three times already this year, but he was facing the vaunted Seahawks defense…in Seattle. Colby was going to hold on, right?
No. While Hauschka was fine, he scored 90 points, as Seattle managed four touchdowns, getting held to just one field goal, Taylor had his best game of the year. He completely took care of business. He had 289 yards, a pair of scores (one throwing, one running) and only got sacked once. The difference was his ability to scramble, as he rushed for 43 yards (86 fantasy points).
Eric outscored Colby Monday night, 338-90 and won the game by just 61 points, 1,376-1,315. The win propelled Eric to 4-5 and into sixth place. The loss dropped Colby to 1-8. It was the third time in five games Colby would loss a game by less than 100 fantasy points.
MATT WAS BEATING GRIFF, 1,346-1,125
Again, Matt was technically trailing Colby heading into Monday night, 1,125-1,046, but when the game began, his Seattle defense was given 300 points. All Matt had to do was maintain a 221-point lead, which meant Seattle just had to finish with 80 points, something they had done all season long. They were coming off a road loss and heading back home pissed off. This one was in the bag for Matt.
Then the game happened. It looked bad quickly, as the defense gave up 14 points in the first quarter. Yet, they settled down, until late in the second half, when they couldn’t stop the Bills offense. They gave up 25 points total (a season high) and 424 yards (a season high), forcing only one turnover and one sack. Midway through the fourth quarter, Griff took to lead and never gave it up, as Seattle’s D finished with a season low 58 fantasy points. Griff won by 21 points. It was the fourth time this season Matt lost by less than 100 fantasy points, 1,125-1,104.
The win potentially save Griff’s season, as he remains just one game back of three playoff teams. For Matt, maybe a season ender. He falls to 2-7 on the year.
CALDERON WAS BEATING MASTERSON, 1,301-1,176
Calderon had the 125-point lead and Doug Baldwin. Rob had Jimmy Graham and a little catching up to do. The winner got to continue to live in Jeff Greenblatt’s rear.
At first, it looked like Calderon would roll, as Baldwin caught four balls early and doubled the Tater’s lead, but then as the Seahawks’ receiver disappeared, as Jimmy Graham became the only target Russell Wilson wanted to throw to. He finished the game with eight catches, 103 yards and two scores. The tight end outscored his teammate, 326-178, handing Rob the shocking comeback victory by only 23 fantasy points, 1,502-1,479.
The win moved Masterson into second place at 7-2. The loss dropped Calderon to 6-3 on the year. The combined record to the three teams Rich has lost to are 21-6.
BOB WAS BEATING BURRIER, 1,051-1,010
Of the four games, Bob was the least likely to hold his lead, although CBS continued to have him as a slight favorite. He had Christine Michael, who was struggling, while Rich had Russell Wilson, who was also struggling.
Well, this one wasn’t even a contest. Christine Michael was awful. He finished with just one yard rushing on five attempts. Scoring once, masking a truly awful performance. Meanwhile, Wilson was on fire, throwing for 282 yards and throwing for two scores (running for another). He finished with 328 points, leading Rich to the 1,358-1,113 victory.
The win kept Burrier in the playoffs as the 8-seed, while Bob fell to 6-3 on the year.