Phoenix gearing up for playoffs after near-flawless group stage
The Kaboomlandia Phoenix put on what could be described as a football clinic over the past eight games. They weren't the highest-scoring team, but the defense came up big all tournament, surrendering just 118 points in eight games, an average of just 14.75 points per game. The team easily won their group, going undefeated and locking up their group with two games to go. This tournament is in stark contrast to the last World Bowl, where the Phoenix blew out almost every opponent and was a group stage juggernaut on the way to a 14-0 start. However, the team's weak defense and inability to respond to deficits effectively resulted in a quarterfinal loss to Allamunnic States.
This time, the team is much more well-rounded. While Travis Reuben hasn't been the all-star quarterback he was last cycle, this team is overall more well-rounded and can better respond to deficits.
The Phoenix will play the Union of Socialist Alpine Republics in the first round of the playoffs. The Alpines barely made it into the playoffs, qualifying on point differential. However, this adversity faced will mean that the game will not be easy. In addition, the Kaboomlandians still have many, many playoff skeletons in their closet, from the second-round loss to Allamunnic States after a fifteen-game winning streak to a windblown kick in the second round against Ko-oren. It won't be easy for Kaboomlandia, but they're going in as the favourite and are running on all cylinders. Our prediction: Phoenix 27, Alpines 13.
