This is the league's 10th consecutive year -- a full decade of smack talk, failed trades, late-night waiver wire checks, and playing for the trophy. This year, we will see our second two-time champion, as both Jordan (2007), and Rob (2017) have previously won championships. Jordan comes in as the 1 seed, and Rob comes in as the 2 seed. In the first 4 years (2010-2013), one of the top 2 seeds had been upset, and we never got a matchup between the top 2 seeds. Then for the next 4 years (2014-2017), the championship was always the 1 seed vs the 2 seed. Last year (2018) both the 1 and 2 seeds were eliminated before the championship, and it was only the 2nd championship matchup without one of the top two seeds (the first time being 2010).
So with the championship this year, five of the ten years will see the 1 vs 2 seed in the championship. The previous four games have been split 2-2 with the 1 and 2 seed coming away victorious the same number of times. In the other 3 matchups where 1 of the 2 top seeds made the championship, the top seed always lost -- so the only way the 1 or 2 seed has won the championship is during a 1 vs 2 matchup.
This is Rob's 3rd championship appearance -- he lost to Skyler in 2011, and he beat Brady in 2017. This is Jordan's 2nd championship appearance, and first since the dark ages -- dark ages that are only passed on by story as there are no digital records of their existence. Jordan's team last won in 2007 by beating Brady(?) in the championship. Both teams have been consistent this decade as this is Jordan's 5th final four appearance, while Rob has 4 appearances in the final four. After this year, Jordan is tied in second for most final four appearances all-time with Chad and Ren.
This will be Jordan and Rob's first time meeting in the playoffs. Historically, they are 5-5 against each other in the regular season, with Jordan winning the last 2 years to even the series. Looking at the previous 15 weeks and comparing Jordan and Rob head to head based on this season only, Jordan would have won 9 games, and Rob would have won 6. Excluding the playoff weeks, Jordan would have won 8-5, yet Rob outscored Jordan by 40 points this season (about 3 points per game). Jordan has been consistently better than Rob this season, but when Rob outscores Jordan, he really outscores Jordan. In games where Jordan would have won this season, the margin of victory is 14.55 points. In games where Rob would have won this season, the margin of victory is 36.38 points.
The current projections have Rob winning by 10 points, but that includes Lamar Jackson only outscoring Philip Rivers by 1.5 points, and Mark Ingram only outscoring Raheem Mostert by 2.2. If the Ravens end up dominating the Browns (which is very possible), that will be a big area where Jordan can catch Rob. On the flipside of that, Rob has Barkley who is capable of a 30 point game, 2 of the top 3 WR who can put up 30-40 point games, and Travis Kelce, who can be the most dominant TE in the league. This game will likely come down to which superstars show up, and Rob has more players with superstar potential, with more chances to put up big numbers. If Jordan wins, I think it will be by a narrow margin, and if Rob pulls it off, I think it's a blowout. Based on the matchups for Barkley, Hopkins, and Thomas, I am leaning towards Rob getting the win -- and I'm not saying that just to try and jinx Rob -- I legitimately give Rob a narrow margin, unfortunately.
P.S. History is on Jordan's side though when it comes to the highest-scoring teams and championship wins. In our previous 9 years, only 1 team has ever been the highest-scoring team of the season while also winning the championship
So with the championship this year, five of the ten years will see the 1 vs 2 seed in the championship. The previous four games have been split 2-2 with the 1 and 2 seed coming away victorious the same number of times. In the other 3 matchups where 1 of the 2 top seeds made the championship, the top seed always lost -- so the only way the 1 or 2 seed has won the championship is during a 1 vs 2 matchup.
This is Rob's 3rd championship appearance -- he lost to Skyler in 2011, and he beat Brady in 2017. This is Jordan's 2nd championship appearance, and first since the dark ages -- dark ages that are only passed on by story as there are no digital records of their existence. Jordan's team last won in 2007 by beating Brady(?) in the championship. Both teams have been consistent this decade as this is Jordan's 5th final four appearance, while Rob has 4 appearances in the final four. After this year, Jordan is tied in second for most final four appearances all-time with Chad and Ren.
This will be Jordan and Rob's first time meeting in the playoffs. Historically, they are 5-5 against each other in the regular season, with Jordan winning the last 2 years to even the series. Looking at the previous 15 weeks and comparing Jordan and Rob head to head based on this season only, Jordan would have won 9 games, and Rob would have won 6. Excluding the playoff weeks, Jordan would have won 8-5, yet Rob outscored Jordan by 40 points this season (about 3 points per game). Jordan has been consistently better than Rob this season, but when Rob outscores Jordan, he really outscores Jordan. In games where Jordan would have won this season, the margin of victory is 14.55 points. In games where Rob would have won this season, the margin of victory is 36.38 points.
The current projections have Rob winning by 10 points, but that includes Lamar Jackson only outscoring Philip Rivers by 1.5 points, and Mark Ingram only outscoring Raheem Mostert by 2.2. If the Ravens end up dominating the Browns (which is very possible), that will be a big area where Jordan can catch Rob. On the flipside of that, Rob has Barkley who is capable of a 30 point game, 2 of the top 3 WR who can put up 30-40 point games, and Travis Kelce, who can be the most dominant TE in the league. This game will likely come down to which superstars show up, and Rob has more players with superstar potential, with more chances to put up big numbers. If Jordan wins, I think it will be by a narrow margin, and if Rob pulls it off, I think it's a blowout. Based on the matchups for Barkley, Hopkins, and Thomas, I am leaning towards Rob getting the win -- and I'm not saying that just to try and jinx Rob -- I legitimately give Rob a narrow margin, unfortunately.
P.S. History is on Jordan's side though when it comes to the highest-scoring teams and championship wins. In our previous 9 years, only 1 team has ever been the highest-scoring team of the season while also winning the championship
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