Rivalry Week 2014 Matchups

UPDATE: Week 13 Results

The NFC's Rivalry Week is upon us. Here are the uniform matchups and playoff implications of each game. The "home" team is the franchise that won last season's Rivalry Week matchup. Of course, the winner of this year's Rivalry Week matchup will be the home team next season. Click on the franchise's uniform to view their full uniform set. Each playoff matchup will be previewed in this way as well, with the higher-seeded team being the home team.

Away vs. Home
(Series Record)

Arrogant Americans (9-3) vs. Hangovers (6-6)
(7-3)

As the home team, Duffy's Hangovers will be wearing their green jerseys. Cliburn's Arrogant Americans will wear their all-whites. Historically, the Americans have dominated this series, but the two split last year. Duffy won the Rivalry Week matchup while Cliburn got revenge in the semi-finals.

Analysis: Cliburn is still in the hunt for a first-round bye. And Duffy is still fighting for a playoff spot, but he needs to win this matchup to have a chance. A loss would give the Hangovers a losing record and end their season.

Dead Again (3-9) vs. Lucky Enuf (5-7)
(8-5)

As the away team, Schmidt's Dead Again will be wearing their white jerseys. For Rivalry Week, Pyle's 2006 champion (and 2008 runner-up) Lucky Enuf will wear their neon green alternates for the first time this season. Although Pyle has had far more success in the OIL, Schmidt has been a constant thorn in his side, sporting an 8-5 record against Lucky Enuf.

Analysis: This is Schmidt's worst season to date. And Pyle has seen better days, too. But this is the OIL's original rivalry, and these guys love to beat each other. So, while neither team will make the playoffs, it's a good matchup between two of the original OIL franchises.

Hard Targets (9-3) vs. Roughnecks (5-7)
(1-2)

Baldwin's newly-rebranded Roughnecks (formerly Reapers) will wear their gold and black home uniforms against the higher-ranked (and OIL Bowl favorite) Hard Targets, owned by Finch. The Hard Targets will wear their away uniforms (with sublimated camouflage on sleeves, numbers and pants). Personally, I wish they were the home team so they could bust out their olive drab alternates, but maybe that will happen in the playoffs. This is only the fourth year of this series, as Baldwin did not join the OIL until 2011. But these two were roommates both in Iraq and back in Oklahoma, so the trash talk is always intense. Baldwin has a 2-1 series lead on Finch, but Finch has the far better team this season.

Analysis: This matchup has minimal playoff implications. Finch has already clinched a playoff position and is now just hoping for a first round bye. Baldwin has won four in a row, but his seven losses will keep him out of the playoffs. This one is all about pride for the Roughnecks.

Dirty Hippies (9-3) vs. DARC NARCS (7-5)
(1-3)

Henderson's DARC NARCS will sport their 8-bit graphic-inspired home black uniforms. Trovillo's Dirty Hippies will wear their traditional away jerseys with tie-dyed accents. Perhaps we can look forward to the Hippies' tie-dyed home jersey in the playoffs. This is another relatively new rivalry, but it makes sense as undercover narcotics officers and hippies probably do hate each other. Here, the NARCS own a 3-1 series lead.

Analysis: The Hippies are one of three teams fighting for a first-round bye, so they can't afford to overlook Henderson's squad. Yes, they've already clinched a playoff spot, but the first-round bye is incredibly valuable. Meanwhile, the NARCS have a chance at the playoffs with a loss, but they can clinch the playoffs outright with a win.

Whackers (5-7) vs. Norman Nobodies (3-9)
(4-6)

Leal's Norman Nobodies will wear their home jerseys against former champion Morgan's Whackers in their white away jersey. These two played high school football together. They were roommates in Iraq. Morgan beat Leal in 2007 for his only OIL Bowl championship, but Leal owns a slight 6-4 series lead (including a victory last season).

Analysis: After suffering his seventh loss last week, Morgan is now playing for pride. Leal has been in that boat for a while now, as the Nobodies' 3-9 record is tied for the league-worst. So, no playoff implications here, but a very good matchup of bitter rivals.

SoonerJack (5-7) vs. Dogs of War (5-7)
(2-7)

2013 champion Cobb's Dogs of War will likewise wear their home jersey (with sublimated pitbull on the shoulders) against two-time champion Bruesch's SoonerJack in their white-on-white away uniforms. This is the only rivalry where each franchise has won an OIL Bowl. SoonerJack has won two, in fact (2008; 2011). But Cobb has dominated this series featuring former Third Platoon soldiers 7-2.

Analysis: This battle featuring former champions is all about pride as both teams are guaranteed to have losing seasons. Perhaps Bruesch can cut into Cobb's 7-2 series lead, which is the most lopsided of the league's rivalries.

The OIL Game of the Week 

  AMMODOGS (7-5) vs. DominationStation (6-6)
(1-3)

Jessen's DominationStation will take the field in their "pain train" home uniforms against Rogers's AMMODOGS in their alternate away uniforms inspired by the old Acme Packers. These two used to talk trash while serving in the same launcher. Now they do it in week 13. Jessen holds a 3-1 series edge, but the teams are pretty evenly-matched this season. 

Analysis: This is the perfect Rivalry Week matchup. Not only are these two bitter rivals, but each team's playoff hopes come down to this game. Win this game, and you're in the playoffs. It's that simple. Rivalry Week matchups don't get any better than that.