It was a season of streaks for the Pelicans. After starting 3-3, they won their next four games to improve to 7-3. Then they dropped three straight to where their playoff hopes were in serious jeopardy. In the last week of the regular season with their playoff hopes on the line, the Pelicans ended their three-game skid by defeating St. Louis 104.72-92.34 and were off to the playoffs. Their three playoff wins gave them a four-game winning streak to end on and that was the ideal time to get hot. Orlando averaged 109.5 points in the playoffs and scored higher each week: 86.46 over Miami in the first round, 118.18 to edge out Mexico City AFC by less than six points and then 123.86 in the RFFL Bowl to dispose of the Atheists.

 

On the other side of the field, the Atheists were led by QB Matthew Stafford and RB Aaron Jones who scored 14.58 points and 13.00 respectively. The Cleveland defense were solid with 12 points and WR DK Metcalf added 10.60 points to round out the double-digit scorers.

 

The rest of the Atheists lineup struggled starting with rookie sensation RB Bijan Robinson who after an up and down year where it was painful to watch him not get touches, he touched the ball 18 times this week but managed just 8.60 points. Albuquerque started four running backs in RFFL Bowl XXVII and they ended up being a collective disappointment besides Jones. RB Saquon Barkley mustered just 5.80 points and RB Chuba Hubbard scored 7.10. Rookie TE Sam LaPorta was solid with 8.40 points and midseason trade acquisition WR Chris Olave was a big bust on this day a game low 2.60 points.

 

Clasman and his Atheists will have to wonder all offseason what could have been as they left a plethora of points on the bench. With the Packers set for Sunday Night Football in Minnesota, Clasman could have rolled with all the Packers in his lineup but chose not to. A curious decision to start Stafford over emerging QB Jordan Love came back to haunt the team along with WR Jaylen Reed who both dominated in primetime. Love and Reed combined for 49.34 points. WR DJ Moore was another mainstay for the Atheists throughout the year but found himself on the bench in this one and went off for 21.90. And TE Isaiah Likely playing for the injured Raven Mark Andrews continued his strong season half with 16.20 points. Obviously, this is major hindsight, but if Clasman rolls with his Packers and a couple others, RFFL Bowl XXVII could have been a very different outcome.

 

After defeating Orlando twice in the regular season, the Atheists moved to 10-5 lifetime against the Pelicans heading into RFFL Bowl XXVII, but the Pelicans came through when it mattered most. Antonio obviously is 1-0 now in RFFL Bowls while Clasman drops to 2-1 in the big game.

 

Antonio won’t have to hear from the naysayers anymore as he will take home The Ray at next year’s draft and have his name engraved on the trophy forever. Congratulations to Antonio and the Pelicans on their first RFFL championship to close out Year 27.