SFL Wild Card Playoff Preview

by Cameron Irvine

The SFL Playoffs are here and we have everything you need to know about these exciting matchups. First and foremost, here's how the bracket goes:

The highest seed from the Wild Card to advance will take on Vancouver, while the lowest seed from the Wild Card to advance will take on Detroit next week in the Quarterfinals. This week in the Wild Card, the No. 10 Minnesota Legend face the No. 7 Houston Headhunters, followed by the No. 8 Washington Trident welcoming the No. 9 Bossier City Steamers.

NO. 10 MINNESOTA (7-5) AT NO. 7 HOUSTON (8-4)

6:30 PM ET, VFN, Cameron Irvine and Steven Mullenax

For the seventh time in eight seasons, the Minnesota Legend have made the postseason, returning after a one-season absence in Season 25. Houston makes its third consecutive trip, fourth in the last five seasons. These two teams met in the Season 22 playoffs in Minnesota in the Quarterfinal round, where the Legend squeaked out a 30-27 triumph. 

The two teams met earlier this season - Houston won 24-21 on a Hail Mary from John Lakeman to DR Sim in what may have been the most exciting finish of any game this season. Houston and Minnesota are 1-2 in strength of defeat this season - meaning the teams they've lost to have the best combined records, otherwise said as their resume of losses is strong. While Houston has wins over Birmingham, Vancouver and Minnesota, the Legend went 0-4 against the playoff field in the regular season, losing three of those contests by one score.

  • Minnesota has scored the most points off turnovers this season (12.3) and ranks 2nd in average field position (32.8). 
  • They've also been the best road team in the SFL this season - 5-1 - that's the best road record by a team with less than 9 wins in the 2k4 era. 
  • The Legend forced 35 turnovers this season with a +9 turnover differential, the most and best ever in franchise history. 
  • Minnesota's got 2026 HOF Inductee Colin Hart in the backfield - he finished 2nd this season in rushing yards with 933. Hart needs 107 yards to reach 20,000 career rushing yards.
  • Cornerback Johnny Bravo is their defensive ankle, with 13 interceptions, 341 interception yards and 3 touchdowns led the league in all categories in Season 26.
  • Quegg Ma'am led the league in punt return average with 12.8 on 34 returns - doing so without actually earning a punt return touchdown to inflate metrics, even more impressive.

  • Houston has the number one scoring defense in the red zone, allowing opponents to score any points just 75.7% of the time. 
  • They have the third best run defense, giving up just 3.2 yards per carry. Minnesota averages 3.6, 12th best in the SFL.
  • Houston has turned the ball over just 18 times this season, the fewest since Season 21 and 4th fewest league-wide.
  • DR Sim has 1,184 yards receiving (6th). The next closest receiver is Greg Corky with 562 yards. Sim also has 7 touchdowns, while the next closest is Corky with 3. Sim's 127 targets is 5th most in the SFL. He needs 55 yards to become the first SFL receiver to eclipse 25,000 yards.
  • Guy Incognito has 28 assisted tackles, most in the SFL, part of a unit that has 126 assisted tackles, third most in the league. That shows Houston flies to the football more than most.
  • While a distant second, cornerback Cai Cash is 2nd to Bravo in interceptions (7) and INT yards (205)

NO. 9 bossier city (7-5) AT NO. 8 washington (7-5)

9:00 PM ET, VFN, jacob clear and mike o'neal

The Bossier City Steamers are back in the playoffs, seeking their first playoff win since Season 21 in the Alamo City Artillery era. Washington is making its third-straight postseason, but this one was a little more tumultuous, a 7-5 season that saw three losses to teams that didn't make the postseason.

It's the first meeting between the two teams since Season 24 when Washington earned a 31-26 win over the Steamers in Bossier City. It's Bossier City's first trip to Olympia in franchise history and the two have never met in the playoffs. BCS also lost to three teams this season that did not make the playoff field, but enter the postseason winners of 4 of the last 5 contests. Washington's resume is one of the best in the league, boasting a .536 strength of victory, 2nd highest while the Steamers played the second easiest schedule of any SFL team, .451.

  • The Steamers average 9.4 yards per pass, best in the SFL to go along with the 2nd most passing yards and 3rd most total yards in the league.
  • Bossier City has been much less potent on the road, going from 34.3 PPG at home (1st) to just 19.2 PPG on the road (14th).
  • MVP Candidate Jack Wigmore led all quarterbacks in touchdowns (22), QBR (93.6) and TD/INT ratio (1.5) in Season 26. He also threw 15 interceptions in 12 starts, third fewest.
  • Bossier City has 960 yards after the catch, best in the SFL. Vin Calia is the most dangerous weapon in this area, with 226 YAC yards, nearly 20 YAC yards per game.
  • Tight end Garrison Blue is another weapon to watch out for, averaging 20.3 yards per catch, 2nd best in the SFL amongst all pass-catchers. He's 8 catches away from 500 on his career.
  • Four different players for Bossier City have a defensive touchdown this season. The 4 defensive touchdowns as a team ranks 2nd in the SFL.

  • Conversely, Washington only allows 6.9 yards per pass attempt - 3rd best in the league. They forced 26 turnovers this season, the third-straight season the Trident have forced 24 or more (top 5 in SFL during that time).
  • The Trident defense has held opponents on average under 16 points per game at home for the last three seasons. Bossier City hasn't won a game when scoring less than 16 points on the road since Season 7, when the Dallas Ruffnecks defeated the Cleveland Vipers 13-10.
  • Fullback Chevy Montecarlo could play a major role in these playoffs. He had 58 carries this season (3rd most on the team) but averaged 4.6 YPC (8th in SFL) and 2.7 yards after contact - 3rd most in the league. The Steamers defense has been on the field a lot this season to the tune of 585 tackles, 4th most.
  • Tommy Utah also has 15 interceptions and has only been sacked 16 times, third fewest in the league. His 18 touchdowns this season is a 2k4 era career high.
  • James Troll is the league's top punter, averaging 42.8 yards per punt. He's had to punt 46 times, 4th most in the SFL. He's pinned teams 22 times inside the 20, that's 3rd most.
  • Washington is 2-0 in their first round playoff game in the last two seasons, while Bossier City has lost its last two first round games.