1997 FFL Week 12 Newsletter
This week's high scoring team: Natural Mystics captured high points for the second time this season, scoring 50 this week. PMS, with 37, was a distant second.
This week's stooge: NFC Norris scored 17 points. Supercuts had 18. Beer Spillers 20.
What's inside:
1. Letter from the Commish
2. Transactions
3. Week 12 Recaps & Boxscores
4. The Swami Sez
5. Schedule
6. Rosters
Letter from the Commish:
Many people say to me, "Hey, Commish, how do you get the newsletter out so fast?" Or they’ll sometimes say, "I could tell you got beat this week. The newsletter sucked!" Well, sir, let the Commish tell you how the newsletter is put together. On Tuesday of each week, after the current newsletter is completed and sent off, I copy the just published newsletter on MS Word and give it a new name, maintaining all old newsletters on my PC (back issues!!). You may notice the file names when you download each week. They maintain a format of "97Weekxx.doc" with the "xx" being the unique number for that week of the season. Once copied, I delete all old info, maintaining the template for the standings, box scores, headlines and little things like that. The Letter To The Commish and Swami Says get written between Tuesday and Saturday as I think of things to talk about. Topics often just come to me or derive from conversations with league members that give me ideas. If anyone EVER wants to see something in the letter or wants to issue a press release (ala PMS or the Strange Highways), just send it mid-week. I’ll have it in place by the weekend for the next newsletter on Tuesday. The players I expect to be starting for your teams are typed into the boxscore section where they can be edited as need be on Sunday or Monday. By gametime, all I have left to type is the summary of each game. On Monday, I print a copy and proofread and edit the sucker while watching MNF. Then Tuesday morning, I update the standings info, the last of the MNF scores, and the power rankings and point spreads for the upcoming week. Total time spent is probably anywhere from 6-8 hours over the course of the week. I hope you feel you’re getting your money’s worth and I hope this gives everyone a clearer idea of the process the newsletter goes through weekly. Oh, by the way, I’ve also been working on the FFL Record Book which a few of you have seen. It is slated for release at the end of the season as a supplement to the season-ending newsletter. Be looking forward to it. It’s chock full of nutricious vitamins.
Why is it everyone loves to talk the smack to Coach Widtfeldt? Could it be because he loves talking it to everyone first? This week, the Iguanas got a jump on Slats in a communique that was intercepted by the Commishs’ Special Ops group and de-coded just for you, the reader.
"Well, my friend, the Iguana is hungry for a road to the playoffs, and that road just happens to be right down the defense-less Strange Highway. The Mighty Greenback Iguana, in particular, has been known to be extremely ferocious and merciless. The Iguana will devour the strangers. Defending champions? MMMMHHHH, how sweet this will be."
In a follow up last Wednesday, the two coaches exchanged more pleasantries, with the Iguanas going first:
Last week the Mighty Iguanas awoke from its three week slumber and paid a visit to the "title town II" where the Boners reside. The Bones were left in shambles, and now a trek to "title town II, the second" (not to be confused with Paul, Part Deux--editor’s note) awaits the Green Machine. The sheepish shrangers were defeated by the Greenies last year, and the trend is sure to continue. The only bleeding that’s going to go on is that of your LITTLE, pulsating cold heart as the Mighty Greenback Iguana rips it from your weak, diminished team.
Words of advice: The Iguana plays for the kill (except against the Mystics, Beer Spillers twice, PMS, and NFC Norris--editor’s second note), but if not mistreated it will only wound and send the Strangelies back to its pitiful loneliness and being."
The Strange response:
"Let us not forget, that this isn’t last year. But IF it were, how were the play- offs?? How’d you guys do?? Oh, yea that’s right, you didn’t make it...my bad!!! The Highways are known for their ability to rise up or down to the level of competition, and seeing how your team ONCE again is hovering around that .500 record that you two GECKO’s seem to enjoy. The word from Team Highway is that they don’t even consider Iguana’s a challenge, merely a pesky little reptile that will be buried under the re-paving that is going on in TITLE TOWN. (The Original Title Town, not to be confused with my FFL brother’s rendition of Title Town). The Highways look forward to bitch slapping the IGUANA’s off their heat rock, and watching them shrivel up and die in a gruesome horrible manner."
To find out what really happened after the dust settled, read the game summary later on in this newsletter.
The Commish has noticed over the past two years that several rivalries have developed around the league and has begun thinking that perhaps, in future seasons, we should begin to place certain teams within the same division while continuing to draw for division placement for the rest of us. For instance, Coaches Pedersen and Will seem to have gravitated toward one another, with Pedersen crushing Will’s playoffs hopes time and again (ala Sooner magic vs. the ‘70s Cornhuskers with Will, ironically, playing Go Big Red). Placed in the same division, they could square off twice yearly with the second meeting coming down the stretch when one of them (or both) are fighting for a playoff spot. And more than any other rivalry, what would it be like if Coaches Widtfeldt and Young only met once yearly? In fact, this season will mark the second in a row that these two close out Week 15 against each other. Now THAT’s tradition. We could fill the divisions around such rivalries by doing what we’ve done in the past. It would be the best of both worlds. What do you think? And what are some other rivalries that the Commish should consider? Let me know what you think.
The Commish will be away on business in Oklahoma City from Friday November 21-Monday November 24, staking out federal buildings in the area. However, he will be checking his voicemails diligently throughout. He has plans in place that should allow him to complete the weekly newsletter on time. If, however, you get your subscription a day late, fret not as it will be due to having been away. And remember, games begin on Thursday next week due to Thanksgiving. Since all transactions for the year will be complete, it’ll only be a matter of calling your lineups in.
11/21-Commish leaves town
11/23-Deadline for 1997 transactions. Rosters frozen @ noon CST.
11/24-Commish returns @ 8:30pm in time for the 2nd Qtr. of MNF.
11/25 (or 11/26)-Newsletter is published
11/27-Thanksgiving day games. Lineups must be called in by 11:30am (kickoff).
With Week 12 in the books, the wildcard race is still wide open with the following teams having a realistic chance of capturing the elusive last spot in the 1997 FFL playoffs along with their remaining schedule:
NFC Norris---Strange Highways (another developing rivalry), Natural Mystics (rumor has it that the Mystics plan to unveil the old solid black 1993 LA Riot uniforms for this one), Palace of Swords
Greenback Iguanas---Grande To The Party, PMS, Crawling King Snakes
Crawling King Snakes---Hog’s Breath, Beer Spillers, Greenback Iguanas
Beer Spillers---Palace of Swords, Crawling King Snakes, PMS
April’s Supercuts---Natural Mystics, Strange Highways, Grande To The Party
Grande To The Party---Greenback Iguanas, Bone Club, April’s Supercuts
Bone Club---PMS, Grande To The Party, Strange Highways
Palace of Swords---Beer Spillers, Hog’s Breath, NFC Norris
With only three weeks left, there are five teams sitting on records of 6-6. We have another edging closer at 5-6-1, one at 5-7 and yet one more team with a record of 4-7-1. Realistically, the Strange Highways, at 4-7-1, have a difficult road to hoe in securing a wildcard berth. They would have to jump over seven clubs. The chances are remote that all seven could go 1-2 down the stretch. The game that hurts the Highways the most is the Week 13 matchup between the Greenback Iguanas and Grande To The Party. With both teams at 6-6, one of them will capture their seventh win this weekend, giving the winner two chances at an eighth victory. The Highways could still emerge from the Muddy Moe, though. They must win out to have a shot and the Supercuts and Grande would each need to lose twice while the Bone Club would have to lose once. If both the Cuts and Grande win in Week 13 or 14, the Highways cannot win the division because the Cuts and Grande square off in Week 15. Assuming that game does not result in a tie, one of them would finish no worse than 8-7. The Highways must pull for each to go 0-2 the next two games. The Bone Club plays PMS this week. A loss ends the Bone Club season.
Week 13 is upon us and it can truly be called Judgment Day around the league. The matchups, some mentioned above, are:
April’s Supercuts (6-6) vs. Natural Mystics (10-2): A Supercuts’ win keeps them in first place in the Moe. A loss opens the door for Grande To The Party to take over the division lead. The Supercuts close out the year with the Highways and Grande To The Party. The Mystics have captured the Larry division crown and are playing for the #1 seed. However, Coach Wassem would much prefer the #2 seed if the Mystics could play the Highways in Round 1. Coach Wassem wants to know what a Mystics win is worth to the challengers in the Moe division this week. After a long night of flowing champagne, cigars and showgirls in celebration of their first division title in four years, the Mystics must avoid a letdown but also must get the starters healthy for the playoffs and find playing time for their bench. Coach Wassem is contemplating starting his "B" team to give his starters a week’s rest and would get much satisfaction from knocking out Coaches Will, Widtfeldt and Young in one fell swoop (As stated before, "The gangsta, the killa, and the dope dealer"). When notified of the Mystics’ possible plans, Coach Will immediately called Coach Wassem to remind him that the Mystics have a chance for best record and that Grande knocked off NFC Norris so the Mystics should return the favor. Will also tried to conjure up memories of last year’s Marshall Faulk trade made by the Supercuts in a feeble attempt at getting Coach Wassem’s ire up. However, Wassem responded by saying, "I have no recollection of such past events and, if I did, that was then, this is now. The Mystics play them all the same. If you don’t mind, I have another bottle of champagne to open. Would you like some? Never mind. I forgot. You have a big game coming up."
Grande To The Party (6-6) vs. Greenback Iguanas (6-6): For Grande To The Party, every game is a playoff game. After defeating the NFC Norris last week, Grande must beat the Iguanas this week. A loss doesn’t end their playoff chances but it would hurt them in the wildcard race. They would have to focus on the division title instead. The Iguanas have only the wildcard to shoot for. Thus, this game cannot be any bigger than it is. The Party closes with the Bone Club and April’s Supercuts while the Iguanas still must close against PMS and the Crawling King Snakes.
The Bone Club (5-7) vs. PMS (10-2): the Bone Club lost a 21-2 lead to the King Snakes on Sunday in dropping to 5-7. The loss absolutely crushed the Club’s chances. They now have to win out by beating the top ranked team in the league this week and then staying emotionally high enough to defeat Grande To The Party and the Strange Highways the last two weeks. PMS has captured the Curly division crown and is playing for the #1 seed. A Bone Club loss ends their chances.
NFC Norris (6-6) vs. Strange Highways (4-7-1): The Norris, in losing their last two games, have lost their wildcard advantage. They now must defeat the Highways before facing the Natural Mystics and Palace of Swords in their last two games. Simply put, the Highways must win out against the Norris, the Supercuts and the Bone Club. If the Highways lose, their season is over.
Palace of Swords (5-6-1) vs. Beer Spillers (5-7): The Swords could still back door themselves into the playoff but their tie would make that difficult. They need to win their last three over the Spillers, Hog’s Breath and NFC Norris but they’re picking up steam down the stretch. The Beer Spillers’ Week 12 loss to the Mystics probably ended any hopes the Spillers still had. They, too, would have to win out over the Swords, the King Snakes and PMS. Whoever loses this game is done for the year.
Crawling King Snakes (6-6) vs. Hog’s Breath (2-10): Hog’s Breath’s season is over. They are resigned to playing spoiler. They’ll try to do that this week by defeating the Snakes who have slunk back into contention. The Snakes must win this week before closing out against the Beer Spillers and the Iguanas. The Snakes would appear to have the easiest set of games down the stretch when compared to the other playoff hopefuls.
As a reminder, the tiebreakers work like this:
1. All ties for the division title are broken first. This year, that would only apply to the Muddy Moe should two or more teams finish with identical records.
2. When deciding the wildcard team, the order is as follows:
a. head to head (if more than two teams, one team would have to have defeated each of the other teams or have a better record against the others as a group than anyone else has).
b. Division record (if the only teams remaining are from within the same division).
c. Any teams still tied after the last tiebreaker (the others drop off), would then look at their total points scored for the season.
d. If still tied, the next tiebreaker would be total points scored in division games. However, this one would be moot since this tiebreaker is designed for ties within a division rather than a wildcard tiebreaker involving teams from different divisions (unless the only teams involved in the tiebreaker are from the same division).
e. Next, we would look at the most points scored by those teams in the games against one another.
f. Fewest points allowed in the season, overall.
g. Fewest points allowed in division games (if the teams are within the same division).
Again, remember that final transactions are due by Sunday and, on the week of Thanksgiving, lineups must be called in by kickoff of the first Thanksgiving Day game. Good luck to those of you still in the playoff hunt entering Week 13.
Enough of Week 12. On to Week 13. Go deep, I'll throw it!
-The Commish
Mark---Stop here for reminders:
Drop/Adds begin Wednesdays at 6:00pm this year.
Wednesdays from 6:00pm-10:00pm are reserved for pickups based on low season point total.
First come/first serve drop/adds begin Wednesdays at 10:00pm.
All transactions are to be called in to 402-392-9749 and left on my voice mail for date/time stamping. This will serve as the official arbitrator of any disputes that may occur.
All lineups will be called in to 402-392-9749 for the same reasons.
To find out what lineup your opponent is using, either: call your opponent directly (remember to notify me of your starting lineups in any event-see above) or call me at 402-341-2674 after kickoff of the first weekly game.
Transactions:
11/12 Strange Highways waive RB Byron Hanspard; add RB Darnell Autry and QB Craig Whelihan
11/16 Greenback Iguanas waive WR Lamar Thomas; add QB Glenn Foley
11/16 Crawling King Snakes waive WR Andre Hastings; add WR Charles Johnson
11/16 Palace of Swords waive WR Lake Dawson; add WR Troy Brown
Week 12 Recap
Favre Throws A Party In A Grande 31-17 Win
Grande To The Party remained in the playoff hunt with its 31-17 victory over the NFC Norris in Week 12. The Party took an early lead and was never threatened. Brett Favre got the Party started early with 3 TD passes and a 300 yard performance. Favre has had some down games this year by his standards but, when Coach Will needed him, he was there. The ever quiet Shannon Sharpe also came through with a TD after having only scored 2 this season to date. James Jett caught a TD in the Sunday night game, Emmitt caught a 2 pointer for the Party. No 2nd Will WR due to Will picking up Derrick Mayes, who’s already on another team. The Norris received an immediate TD catch from Michael Jackson but only scored another 11 points for the game, 4 from Elway, 6 on a William Floyd 40 yard TD catch and a single kicking point by Adam Vinatieri. The Norris, who has yet to defeat a Coach Will led team, drops its second straight and sixth in its last nine games in falling to 6-6 for the year. The loss drops it from contention in the Larry division but the Norris still has hopes for the wildcard. Grande climbs back to .500 and catches the Supercuts for the lead in the Moe division.
Grande To The Party 31 17 NFC Norris
Favre 14 QB 04 Elway
Emmitt 02 RB 00 E George
Dunn 00 RB 00 J Stewart
no one 00 WR 06 M Jackson
Bruce 00 WR 00 Kennison
Sharpe 06 TE 00 Coates
Jett 06 U 06 Floyd
Wilkins 03 K 01 Vinatieri
Cardinals 00 D 00 Raiders
King Snakes Crawl From Behind To Win 39-21
The Crawling King Snakes spotted the Bone Club a 21-2 lead before coming back strong in the 3 o’clock games and sneaking out with a 39-21 win. Backup QB Erik Kramer tallied 10 points for the Snakes, Michael Irvin caught a TD and Gary Anderson scored 9 points. Troy Drayton added a MNF TD for added measure. The Snakes’ defense scored for the fourth week in a row as the Bone Club once again was victimized by its opposition’s D. The Club got 2 Kordell TD passes but Stewart was unable to bogart anyone’s rushing TDs this week. John Hall booted 11 points for the Club and Barry Sanders ran for 100. What decimated the Club, however, was Tommy Vardell’s not one, not two, but three Lion touchdowns, depriving Coach Young of what would normally be big Barry production. In fact, on Vardell’s last two TDs, Barry was watching from the sidelines as Touchdown Tommy smashed the ball over from the 1 yard line. Leslie Shepherd was knocked from the Redskins game with Dallas when he was hit to the ground and dislocated his elbow. This countered the fact that Bam Morris did not see action for either the Ravens or the King Snakes on this day. With the win, the King Snakes improve to 3-1 lifetime against the Bone Club and virtually destroy any chance the Club still had for securing a wildcard playoff berth. The Club, 5-7 and losers of two straight, now must win out to remain in the hunt. The King Snakes improve to 6-6 and stay in the race for the wildcard berth. They cannot win their division by virtue of PMS’ Week 12 victory.
Crawling King Snakes 39 21 Bonasaurus Erectus
Kramer 10 QB 08 Kordell
Faulk 02 RB 00 Murrell
Morris 00 RB 02 Barry S
Pickens 00 WR 00 Shepherd
Irvin 06 WR 00 Calloway
Drayton 06 TE 00 Chewy-mura
Stokes 00 U 00 Hearst
G Anderson 09 K 11 Hall
Chargers 06 D 00 Buccaneers
Swords Sneak By Supercuts 25-18; Remain Alive
The Palace of Swords remained alive for a possible wildcard berth by virtue of its 25-18 victory over April’s Supercuts. The game was close throughout as both teams had almost all of their starters playing in the 12:00 games. The Supercuts were hurt by Terrell Davis’ 2nd consecutive week without a TD although he did get 100 yards rushing again. Warren Moon fired a TD pass, Lawrence Phillips scored a TD, Charles Way ran for 100 and Chris Boniol kicked 4 points but missed a FG in OT. The Swords unveiled their all-Falcon lineup and got 4 points from QB Chandler and 12 from RB Jamal Anderson. Robert Smith also scored a TD and Del Greco added a FG for the Swords, who improve to 5-6-1. The Cuts fall to 6-6 and back into a first place tie with Grande To The Party for the Moe division lead. Coach Pedersen’s team now leads the series 2-1.
April’s Supercuts 18 25 Palace of Swords
Moon 04 QB 04 Chandler
Phillips 06 RB 06 R Smith
T Davis 02 RB 00 C Martin
Galloway 00 WR 00 Mathis
Early 00 WR 00 Emanuel
Riemersma 00 TE 00 McGee
Way 02 U 12 J Anderson
Bony-Hole 04 K 03 Del Greco
Packers 00 D 00 Chiefs
Highways Answer Iguanas With 33-24 Victory
In a contest with much pre-game type, the Strange Highways disposed of the Greenback Iguanas 33-24. The Greenback Iguanas got the home crowd pumped up early when they ran out onto the field wearing their all-green uniforms saved for big games. The pandemonium temporarily stunned the Strange Highways as Vinny Testaverde threw a quick TD strike for the Igs. The Highways quickly regained their footing, however, when Mike Alstott scored a TD for the 3rd straight week, and Herman Moore and Yancy Thigpen both scored touchdowns and tallied 100 yards receiving. Richie Cunningham kicked 3 FGs and newcomer Darnell Autry ran for a 2 pt. conversion. The Iguanas started Raymont Harris; he wound up being scratched. After Vinny threw his early TD, he went scoreless for the remainder of the day. The disappointing Keyshawn was sighted in the endzone for once and Jason Hanson scored 8 kicking points. Karim Abdul-Jabbar added another TD late, his league leading 11th. The Iguanas’ loss drops them to 6-6 and knocks them out of the Curly division race. They’re still alive for a wildcard spot. The Highways win was their 2nd straight and came with yet another QB, Craig Whelihan. The Ways also gambled with Freddie Jones at TE this week. The gamble failed as he went scoreless while Wesley Walls caught another TD vs. the 49ers. However, the Highways still raised their record to 4-7-1. After starting 1-6, they have gone 3-1-1 in their last five. The tie could still prove too damaging to overcome. Despite that, a jubilant Coach Widtfeldt (does a week pass without some mention of this man?) commented directly to the Iguanas braintrust, seemingly incoherently,
"Listen clowns, since I am not one to count my chickens before they were hatched.....Ahh, what the hell..Looks like your chickens are 6-6. In summation, if there is one thought that should be going through your incredibly, small brains that you Iguanas have. The words of John Lennon come to mind.. NOBODY TOLD ME THERE’D BE DAYS LIKE THESE" Sit back and drink another Pepsi Generation Next ‘cause it ain’t your time. You got what Mr. Young and I call an old school beating. Thanks for your lunch money, you guys rolled over like a couple of (#@$%^&*). HIGHWAYS FOREVER. Now show a little respect for the champ and BOW DOWN to a team that’s better than you. Nice move, starting Raymont. Darnell Autry rules."
Strange Highways 33 24 Greenback Iguanas
Whelihan 00 QB 04 Testaverde
Alstott 06 RB 06 Jabbar
Autry 02 RB 00 R Harris
H Moore 08 WR 00 T Martin
Alexander 00 WR 06 K Johnson
F Jones 00 TE 00 Asher
Thigpen 08 U 00 Perriman
Cunningham 09 K 08 Hanson
Patriots 00 D 00 Broncos
PMS Captures "Curly" With Big Win Over Breath
PMS captured the Curly division crown with a 37-24 victory over Hog’s Breath. The PMS win wraps up either the first or second seed in the playoffs. PMS was led by Antonio Freeman’s 2 TD grabs and Jason Elam’s 5 FG. Brad Johnson threw a 2 pointer, Napoleon Kaufman ran for 100 yards, and Terry Allen scored on a short run. Hog’s Breath got 10 points from Steve Young and 100 yards receiving from Jimmy Smith along with 12 kicking points from Olindo Mare. PMS, at 10-2, is now coasting toward a first-ever playoff game in Week 16 but first gets the opportunity of knocking the Bone Club out of any remaining playoff contention with a Week 13 victory. PMS can lock up the #1 seed by winning out. The #1 seed plays the wildcard team. Hog’s Breath drops to 2-10 and is playing out the string.
PMS 37 24 Hog’s Breath
B Johnson 01 QB 10 Young
Kaufman 02 RB 00 Warren
T Allen 06 RB 00 Dillon
J Reed 00 WR 02 J Smith
Freeman 12 WR 00 McCaffrey
Dudley 00 TE 00 Glover
Wheatley 00 U 00 J Lewis
Elam 16 K 12 Mare
Steelers 00 D 00 Eagles
"Larry" Proves To Be Mystical Division In ‘97
The Natural Mystics reached the first goal they set for the1997 season as they captured the Larry division this week with a 50-20 victory over the Beer Spillers. In improving to 10-2, the Mystics have three weeks to fine tune for their first round playoff game against either the #3 or #4 seed in the playoffs. The Mystics wasted no time in popping the bubbly as Dorsey Levens scored the first of his 3 TDs on the day with a short Favre pass. Dorsey finished with 100 yards rushing and over 90 yards receiving. Jeff George rebounded from a bad outing to fling 3 TD passes. Frank Wycheck caught a TD, Bettis ran for 100, Rob Smith caught 100 yards in balls and Ryan Longwell kicked 8 points. Gary Brown was approaching the 100 yard mark when he wrenched his right knee and left the Chargers’ game. The Beer Spillers saw another fine output from its defense, who scored via a 101 yard kickoff return by, coincidentally enough, Terry Kirby, the former Spiller, who was sitting the pine for the Mystics on this day. However, Drew Bledsoe was shut out and finally benched late in the game. Mark Bruener caught a TD, Matt Stover kicked 4 points and Cris Carter had a two point conversion for the Spillers, who dropped to 5-7 and out of the playoff picture in their inaugural FFL season. The playoff berth is the Mystics’ first since 1994 and their third overall in five league season.
Beer Spillers 20 50 Natural Mystics
Bledsoe 00 QB 12 J George
Watters 00 RB 02 Bettis
McPhail 00 RB 20 Levens
C Carter 02 WR 02 R Smith
Rison 00 WR 00 T Brown
Bruener 06 TE 06 Wycheck
R Moore 02 U 00 G Brown
Stover 04 K 08 Longwell
49ers 06 D 00 Cowboys
Swami Sez:
Strange Highways (4-7-1) vs. NFC Norris (6-6)
Power Rankings: Strange Highways 7; NFC Norris 9
Both teams are still alive. The loser’s season could be over after this one, particularly in the case of the Strange Highways, although Coach Widtfeldt has gone on record as saying the Highways will win out and neither Grande To The Party nor April’s Supercuts can win the necessary two out of three to keep the Highways from climbing back into first in the Moe division. The NFC Norris will probably go with Elway (Oak), James Stewart (Cin), E George (Buf), Conway (TB), Michael Jackson (Ariz), Coates (Mia) and maybe Kennison (Car) or Floyd (SD) or Frank Sanders (Balt). The Highways will counter with either Frerotte (NYG), McNair (Buf), Plummer (Balt), or Whelihan (SF) unless he picks up a fifth QB, Alstott (Chi), Autry (TB) or Ki-Jana (Jax), Thigpen (Philly), H Moore (Indy), Alexander (Ariz), Walls (St. Louis) or Freddie Jones (SF), and Richie Cunningham (GB). This series is 2-1 in Norris’ favor including a 29-23 victory in Week 2 and a 48-47 win last year in a game that made this a red letter day for the Highways.
Palace of Swords (5-6-1) vs. Beer Spillers (5-7)
Power Rankings: Palace of Swords 8; Beer Spillers 11
The Swords are still holding out hope of a last second wildcard entry and second consecutive playoff berth To get there, they must defeat the Beer Spillers then proceed to win their final two division games and seeing how the dust settles around the league. The P-Swords will start Jeff Blake (Jax), Curtis Martin (Miami), Robert Smith (NYJ), Andre Reed (Tenn), Emanuel (NO), McGee (Jax), maybe Jamal Anderson (NO), and Del Greco (Buf). The Spillers will counter with Bledsoe (Mia), Watters (Pitt), McPhail (NE), Cris Carter (NYJ), Rison (Sea), either Brent Jones (SD) or Bruener (Philly), Stover (Ariz) and maybe Rob Moore (Balt). The Beer Spillers won the only previous meeting between these two teams 31-26 in Week 2.
April’s Supercuts (6-6) vs. Natural Mystics (10-2)
Power Rankings: April’s Supercuts 10; Natural Mystics 2
The Supercuts need this game after losing in Week 12 and dropping back into a first place tie yet again with Grande To The Party. Wins by the Cuts in two of their last three games would eliminate the Strange Highways. The Mystics have little to play for other than bragging rights. The Supercuts will bring to the table either Brunell (Cincy) or Moon (KC), Phillips (Car), Terrell Davis (Oak), Galloway (KC), Harrison (Det) or Early (Tenn), Riemersma (Tenn), Boniol (Pitt) and maybe Way (Wash). The Mystics will start George (Den), Bettis (Philly), Levens (Dal), Rod Smith (Oak), Tim Brown (Den), Owens (SD), Wycheck (Buf) or Eric Green (Ariz) and Longwell (Dal). Irving Fryar may see some playing time (Pitt). This series has always been close as indicated by the fact that it’s tied 2-2. The Mystics won in Week 2 by a 31-16 score.
Hog’s Breath (2-10) vs. Crawling King Snakes (6-6)
Power Rankings: Hog’s Breath 12; Crawling King Snakes 6
While Hog’s Breath is out of the playoff chase, the Crawling King Snakes have managed to climb back into it. The Snakes get what, on paper, would appear to be the most favorable game of the week around the league before squaring off mano a mano with PMS and the Greenback Iguanas. A loss this week, though, would be devastating. In this second meeting between these two teams, the King Snakes go in having won in Week 2 by a 43-4 score. The Kings Snakes will start either Scott Mitchell (Indy) or Erik Kramer (TB), Faulk (Det), Lane (St. Louis) or McElroy (Balt), Irvin (GB), Pickens (Jax), Drayton (NE) and Gary Anderson (SD). Hog’s Breath will go with Steve Young (SD), Dillon (Jax), either Marcus Allen (Sea) or Means (Cin) or Warren (KC), McCaffrey (Oak), Jermaine Lewis (Atl), Jimmy Smith (Cin), Glover (NYJ) and Mare (NE).
PMS (10-2) vs. Bone Club (5-7)
Power Rankings: PMS 1; Bone Club 4
PMS, like the Mystics, have little to play for other than bragging rights. At 10-2, they are merely getting tuned up for the playoffs, where the Bone Club would like to be. At 5-7, the Club must win out and have to defeat PMS to start. Coaches Koll and Meyer would love nothing more than to put the final nail in Coach Young’s coffin, ending his three year string of championship appearances. The Bone Club will go with Kordell (Phil), Murrell (Minn), Barry Sanders (Indy), Shepherd (NYG) and maybe Glenn (Mia) or Calloway (Wash), Chmura (Dal) and either Hall (Minn) or Hollis (Cin). PMS will throw out Brad Johnson (NYJ), Kaufman (Den), Terry Allen (NYG), Jake Reed (NYJ), Freeman (Dal), Dudley (Den) and Elam (Oak). The series is 3-2 in the Bone Club’s favor. However, PMS won earlier this year 50-37.
Greenback Iguanas (6-6) vs. Grande To The Party (6-6)
Power Rankings: Greenback Iguanas 3; Grande To The Party 5
Both teams enter this game at 6-6. Both teams need to win to stay in the hunt for a wildcard. Grande would also stay in the race for the Moe title with a win (and maybe even with a loss depending on the outcome of the Mystics-Supercuts game). Two Grande wins in their final three games would eliminate their old arch rival, the Strange Highways. Grande To The Party can be expected to start Favre (Dal), Emmitt (GB), Warrick Dunn (Chi), Jett (Den), Bruce (Car), Brooks if healthy (Dal), Sharpe (Oak) and Wilkins (Car). Most of these are not good matchups for Coach Will’s boys. In Favre’s case in particular, he’s been known to have trouble against the Cowboy D at times. The Iguanas will start Testaverde (Ariz), Raymont ?? (TB) or Thermal (Tenn), Jabbar (NE), Keyshawn (Minn), Tony Martin (SF), Asher (NYG) and Hanson (Indy). The Iguanas won 39-24 in Week 2 to lead the series 2-1. A Grande loss would most likely end wildcard hopes for the Party as the Iguanas would hold the tiebreaker between the two teams.
Swami went 3-3 for the week, bringing his record for the season to 31-33. The Swami is growing fatigued at his weekly 3-3 marks but favors that over a 2-4 or worse.
Strange Highways (4-7-1) -2 NFC Norris (6-6)
Palace of Swords (5-6-1) -3 Beer Spillers (5-7)
Natural Mystics (10-2) -8 April’s Supercuts (6-6)
Crawling King Snakes (6-6) -6 Hog’s Breath (2-10)
PMS (10-2) -3 Bone Club (5-7)
Grande To The Party (6-6) +2 Greenback Iguanas (6-6)
Wednesday's order of pickup w/ total points scored for season to date:
1. Hog's Breath 242 6. NFC Norris 360
2. Beer Spillers 318 8. Grande To The Party 394
3. Strange Highways 343 9. Bone Club 423
4. Palace of Swords 346 10. Greenback Iguanas 424
5. Crawling King Snakes 354 11. Natural Mystics 466
6. April’s Supercuts 360 12. PMS 482