JUAN Y PABLO - Mike
BEBEFILLE - Alex
HARRY - Eric
MERL - Mark
[camera focuses on JUAN and PABLO sitting at a news desk]
JUAN: “Hello everyone and welcome to another edition of the MLBN’s Weekly Gameday Preview. I’m Juan Mojito, and with me as always is my brother Pablo, who will be translating highlights from the program into Spanish for our viewers south of the border.”
PABLO: “Sí.”
JUAN: “Pablo dice, ‘sí’. Tonight we’ll be talking with our experts and sources from around the country about the upcoming Burlington Coat Factory Game of the Week between the Houston Texans and the Cleveland Browns. Having just lost their latest game in week 11 against the Indianapolis Colts, the Texans are (7-3), but still ahead in the AFC South. The Browns, of course, are still undefeated and have yet to face a significant challenge this season. Our first guest tonight hails from the old Vieux Carré in New Orleans. Please welcome their local French Quarter Columnist, Jean-Luc Bébéfille.”
[camera pans to include BEBEFILLE sitting next to the desk]
JUAN: “Welcome, welcome. So what do you go by? Jean-Luc? Jean?”
BEBEFILLE: “Please, just call me Bébéfille.”
PABLO: “Bebé Chica.”
JUAN: “Okay, Bébéfille. For our first question to you, we’d like to address the obvious mismatch on paper between these two teams. It appears that almost any way you cut the stat sheet, Cleveland has the big advantage. Do you see anything in the numbers that indicates hope for Houston in this game?”
BEBEFILLE: “In a word, ‘no’. But since I have to fill the next seven minutes I’ll keep talking. While all of the stats look intimidating, the only stat that really matters is wins and losses. But, looking at the standings, Cleveland has the edge there too. Well, I guess we could talk about the old football cliché about any given Sunday…”
JUAN: “Bébéfille. Bébéfille. Surely the Browns don’t have every advantage.”
[BEBEFILLE shrugs]
JUAN: “My god… Okay.”
PABLO: “Ah, dios mio.”
JUAN: “Well, Bébéfille, looking under the hood a little bit to see how these teams have established themselves on the stats page, it looks like Cleveland’s team has had no shortage of playmakers on both sides of the ball this season. Drew Brees, Brandon Marshall, Reggie Bush, Patrick Willis, and Jamaal Anderson are all outperforming most of the league in their respective positions in some way, while the Texans seems to have very few playmakers like these on their roster. They’ve been able to win without them, but Bébéfille, do you think the lack will hurt them in big games like these, Bébéfille?”
BEBEFILLE: “Big games are all about making plays, and no team in the league has a more outstanding playmaker than Cleveland’s Brandon Marshall. With 1100 yards and 20 TDs, he is the most dominating wide receiver in the game today. But oddly enough, I see that as a potential window of opportunity for Houston. They need to take away Marshall and make on of the other players carry the day for the Browns. As far as the Texans offense is concerned, I believe that they have to stick with their controlled balanced attack and attempt to win the game with defense and special teams. Their apparent lack of a dominating playmaker can be made into a strength if they maintain balance on offense while denying Brandon Marshall the ball on defense.”
JUAN: “Containing Brandon Marshall is a test for any secondary in the league, but I’m sure the Texans will feel up to the task.”
PABLO: “Sí.”
JUAN: “Pablo dice, ‘sí’. Okay, Bébéfille. With the AFC Playoff picture already starting to take shape, there’s a good chance that these two teams could meet again in the postseason. Bébéfille, what does this game mean to Coach Smith and Coach Isemann in terms of getting ready for a possible playoffs meeting?”
BEBEFILLE: “Both of these teams are in the driver’s seat within their respective divisions, and so now it’s time for these two teams to measure themselves against the other elite teams in their conference. This game may not make or break either team’s season, but it will be a valuable indicator of how they stack up in the race to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.”
JUAN: “Great. It sounds like we’re definitely in for an exciting one. Thanks, Bébéfille.”
BEBEFILLE: “My pleasure.”
JUAN: “Oh, Bébéfille. Bébéfille. Who do you think will win this game?”
BEBEFILLE: “I like Cleveland to continue their dominant ways and improve their record to a perfect (11-0). I think the Browns will showcase a little more balance than what we’ve seen so far, mix in some big plays from Brandon Marshall, and it all adds up to a BIG Browns win.”
JUAN: “Well there you have it, America. You’ve heard the word from Jean-Luc Bébéfille. Thanks again for stopping by, Bébéfille. Take care.”
BEBEFILLE: “You too.”
[camera returns to just JUAN and PABLO]
JUAN: “Our next expert is a returning guest from week 5, national syndicated sportswriter Harry Dickchild. Welcome back, Harry.”
[camera pans to include HARRY sitting next to the desk]
HARRY: “Hello, Juan. Hello, Pablo. It’s great to be back.”
PABLO: “Hola.”
JUAN: “All right Harry, I’ll just get right down to it. This is a topic that has fascinated many this season, including myself, and like most people I’ve just been so shocked by this rapidly developing trend. What’s going on is that, many of the dominant teams in the league, like these two teams, are very pass heavy on offense. However, a lot of the other elite passing teams this season have turned to their running game in big games like this. Do you see either of these two teams following this trend and changing their approaches for this game?”
HARRY: “I see Coach Isemann altering his game plan slightly for this matchup, going with a more balanced attack that emphasizes the run more so than he has in past games. However, I don’t think he does this because of an inability to pass the ball against the Browns defense, but to keep Drew Brees and the rest of the Browns’ potent offense off the field. It’s going to be all about ball control for the Texans. If they want to win this game, they need to control the ball, limit turnovers, and make the clock work for them. Also, it will be interesting to see how the Browns offense will operate against another user team. I think they will find success but I don’t think they will be scoring in the 30’s, as is the usual for them.”
JUAN: “The individual stats sheet seems to indicate a complete mismatch between these two teams. Are there any players in particular that you expect to have an uncharacteristically good or bad game? What kinds of surprises should we expect from the individual players?”
HARRY: “If any player in the Texans offense is going to shine in this game, it’s going to be Chris Johnson. He can hurt you by running the ball off tackle and to the outside, but he is also a dynamic receiver, which could really be a factor in this one. The Texans should get creative, putting Johnson in the slot or running screen passes to him, letting him return punts and kickoffs, anything to get the ball into the hands of this playmaker. Reggie Bush of the Browns is certainly of the same mould, so we’ll see if the Browns incorporate him into the offense a bit more than he has been this season.”
JUAN: “It sounds like there’s a lot riding on Houston’s offense for players to step up and take control. We’ll see how they do on Sunday. Harry, both teams have a successful, celebrated squad on defense, but they have very different makeups. Cleveland’s defense has some big playmakers like Patrick Willis with 8 forced fumbles and 117 tackles - both way more than anyone else in the league - and Jamaal Anderson with 10 sacks. The Texans, on the other hand, have a quietly and consistently solid defense with no egos and very few moments of weakness. My question is, which squad do you think is built for big games and how do you think they will fare in this one?”
HARRY: “I disagree with the assessment of the Texans defense not having the same big playmakers the Browns do. Justin Tuck is having one hell of a season, only two sacks behind Jamaal Anderson, and could be a major factor in this game. Nmandi Asomougha is unarguably the best cornerback in the game, and has four picks on the year, and I suspect that number may be higher after this game. The Texans will definitely have a hard time moving the ball against the Browns defense, but if they can take advantage of their aggressive nature and maybe pick on Patrick Willis in coverage with routes across the middle, they can achieve some modicum for success. The Browns offense will find a way to score on the Texans no matter how well they play. The outcome of this game just depends on what kinds of situations the Houston offense puts the Houston defense in. Too many short fields and too much time on the field will surely be disastrous for the Texans defensive unit.”
JUAN: “The Texans players will certainly have their chance to capture the spotlight this week. We’ll see what they can do. Thanks for joining us, Harry. It’s always a pleasure.”
HARRY: “Thanks, Juan. Bye-bye.”
[camera returns to just JUAN and PABLO]
JUAN: “Okay… oh no! I forgot to ask Harry for his prediction. Oh well. We’ll just have to add that to the pile of mystery and suspense heaping up for this game. Sorry, America.”
PABLO: “Lo siento.”
JUAN: “Our final guest for tonight is another returning expert. I’m sure you all remember Pregame Analysis Wizard, Merl Rhombuspatty!”
[camera pans to include MERL sitting next to the desk]
JUAN: “Hi, Merl.”
MERL: “Hi.”
[JUAN waits for the roaring applause to fade]
JUAN: “It’s great to have you back. Okay, Merl. Cleveland is still undefeated. They face what some would call their first real challenge of the season in week 12 against the Houston Texans. Up until now they’ve beaten their opponents by an average margin of 25.7 points. Do you think the Browns will continue their domination or have they been hiding weaknesses all season?”
MERL: “From what I have seen in the several games that the Browns have played, I honestly do not think that there is an aspect of the Browns’ game both on the offense and defense that has a flaw. They can run the ball if they choose and they can pass the ball short, medium, and deep. Patrick Willis is nothing short of brilliant, and takes few plays off. It honestly does not matter who is around him because the show starts and ends when MLB #51 says so. The offense can score on any play and the defense will hit you as if their life was on the line. No one in this league should think about getting on the field with the Browns. End quote.”
PABLO: “La cita última.”
JUAN: “So, do the Texans not even have a chance in this one?”
MERL: “I think Houston wins and they carry Coach Isemann off the field.”
JUAN: “But you just said-”
MERL: “Ah ta-ta-ta-ta…”
[MERL stands up and begins doing Tai Chi with his eyes closed]
JUAN: “All right then. Merl Rhombuspatty, everybody! That’s all we have time for. See you all next time for the next edition of the MLBN’s Weekly Gameday Preview. Merry Christmas!”
PABLO: “Feliz Navidad.”
ANNOUNCER: "Tonight’s program is brought to you in part by the Romo Galleria of Jewlery. “Aw shucks, I can’t believe he went to Romo!”
Monday, December 22, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Week 10 Action Report
Week 10 was so exciting that I don’t even know what to say anymore. You better strap in tight to your dentist’s chair because here comes the cavity search:
STL (Brandon) – Time was a factor in this game; the New York Jets say there was too much of it. Rams safety LaRon Landry capitalized on 4 interceptions to score 2 touchdowns in a game that saw St. Louis pick off the Jets 7 times! Short field or no field, the Rams were able to score 58 points in castrating the Jets, who scored 7. LaRon Landry is going to have a lot of quarterbacks to thank when he wins “Defensive Player of the Year,” and it all starts here.
CLE (Mike) – As if anyone cared, the Browns are still undefeated. Although they looked sloppy against the Denver Broncos – QB Drew Brees threw 4 interceptions – they were still dominant, winning 38-14. HB Reggie Bush had 4 combined touchdowns on the day and LB Patrick Willis forced 2 more fumbles, bringing his season total to 8. Browns WR Brandon Marshall also extended his touchdown streak with one in this game. He has had at least one touchdown in every game this year.
HOU (Brian) – Continuing their irresistible march under the radar, the Houston Texans quietly defeated the Cincinnati Bengals, 27-17. After several weeks of tough contention in the AFC South, the Texans can finally start looking ahead. Their biggest test before the playoffs will come in week 12 against the Browns. It’s a big game, and Coach Isemann would love to spoil their season, but he won’t overlook next week’s game against the (5-4) Indianapolis Colts who are only 2 games behind in their division.
MIN (Sam) – It’s practically official: the Vikings are a mess. Following their impressive victories in weeks 2 and 3, the Vikings have now lost 6 straight and at (2-7) are running out of time to turn this season around. This week it was a close 21-26 loss against division rivals, the Green Bay Packers. Vikings QB Eli Manning has the worst passer rating in the league, but it’s the turnovers that continue to kill an otherwise productive offense. Minnesota isn’t out of it yet, though. The NFC wildcards are still wide open and the Vikings have 6 more conference games left to play. They need to start winning again.
NO (Bill) – Speaking of (2-7) NFC long shots, the New Orleans Saints continued to do in week 10 what they’ve done all season: lost close games. The final score read 21-24, and the 24 belonged to the Atlanta Falcons (who happen to sit atop the Saints division at (6-3)). The Saints can still secure a wildcard, but like Minnesota, they need to start winning. Right now. Next week they play the Kansas City Chiefs, but after that it’s 6 straight conference games to the end of the season. They must be won.
NE (Mark) – The Patriots triumphed over the Buffalo Bills this week, 35-23. At (7-2), New England leads the AFC East 1 game ahead of the Miami Dolphins (6-3). The Bills proved yet again why they are the worst team in the league (which, being the Bills, should surprise exactly no one), and next week they’ll march into the slaughterhouse once more when they face the Browns. Coach USA will ready his team for next week’s matchup against the New York Jets, but a rematch against the Miami Dolphins looms in week 12.
SD (Eric) – The San Diego Chargers shoved their boot up Kansas City’s ass this week, and the boot is still there. The Chargers continued their relentless offense, but also showcased their numbing defense in a game that ended 56-3. Next week they’ll look to score 1000 points against Pittsburgh.
That’s all for week 10. In anticipation of our final regular season user vs user game, I’m going to try and put together another Gameday Preview. I’m going to put the stats for both teams together like last time and then I’ll send it out with questions to each of my correspondents, hopefully before the weekend.
STL (Brandon) – Time was a factor in this game; the New York Jets say there was too much of it. Rams safety LaRon Landry capitalized on 4 interceptions to score 2 touchdowns in a game that saw St. Louis pick off the Jets 7 times! Short field or no field, the Rams were able to score 58 points in castrating the Jets, who scored 7. LaRon Landry is going to have a lot of quarterbacks to thank when he wins “Defensive Player of the Year,” and it all starts here.
CLE (Mike) – As if anyone cared, the Browns are still undefeated. Although they looked sloppy against the Denver Broncos – QB Drew Brees threw 4 interceptions – they were still dominant, winning 38-14. HB Reggie Bush had 4 combined touchdowns on the day and LB Patrick Willis forced 2 more fumbles, bringing his season total to 8. Browns WR Brandon Marshall also extended his touchdown streak with one in this game. He has had at least one touchdown in every game this year.
HOU (Brian) – Continuing their irresistible march under the radar, the Houston Texans quietly defeated the Cincinnati Bengals, 27-17. After several weeks of tough contention in the AFC South, the Texans can finally start looking ahead. Their biggest test before the playoffs will come in week 12 against the Browns. It’s a big game, and Coach Isemann would love to spoil their season, but he won’t overlook next week’s game against the (5-4) Indianapolis Colts who are only 2 games behind in their division.
MIN (Sam) – It’s practically official: the Vikings are a mess. Following their impressive victories in weeks 2 and 3, the Vikings have now lost 6 straight and at (2-7) are running out of time to turn this season around. This week it was a close 21-26 loss against division rivals, the Green Bay Packers. Vikings QB Eli Manning has the worst passer rating in the league, but it’s the turnovers that continue to kill an otherwise productive offense. Minnesota isn’t out of it yet, though. The NFC wildcards are still wide open and the Vikings have 6 more conference games left to play. They need to start winning again.
NO (Bill) – Speaking of (2-7) NFC long shots, the New Orleans Saints continued to do in week 10 what they’ve done all season: lost close games. The final score read 21-24, and the 24 belonged to the Atlanta Falcons (who happen to sit atop the Saints division at (6-3)). The Saints can still secure a wildcard, but like Minnesota, they need to start winning. Right now. Next week they play the Kansas City Chiefs, but after that it’s 6 straight conference games to the end of the season. They must be won.
NE (Mark) – The Patriots triumphed over the Buffalo Bills this week, 35-23. At (7-2), New England leads the AFC East 1 game ahead of the Miami Dolphins (6-3). The Bills proved yet again why they are the worst team in the league (which, being the Bills, should surprise exactly no one), and next week they’ll march into the slaughterhouse once more when they face the Browns. Coach USA will ready his team for next week’s matchup against the New York Jets, but a rematch against the Miami Dolphins looms in week 12.
SD (Eric) – The San Diego Chargers shoved their boot up Kansas City’s ass this week, and the boot is still there. The Chargers continued their relentless offense, but also showcased their numbing defense in a game that ended 56-3. Next week they’ll look to score 1000 points against Pittsburgh.
That’s all for week 10. In anticipation of our final regular season user vs user game, I’m going to try and put together another Gameday Preview. I’m going to put the stats for both teams together like last time and then I’ll send it out with questions to each of my correspondents, hopefully before the weekend.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Week 9 Action Report
We’re through week 9 and I’ve got all the scores. Here are the highlights from around the league.
HOU (Brian) vs MIN (Sam) – The desperate Minnesota Vikings entered this game at (2-5) and looking to snap their losing streak against the sizzling Houston Texans (5-2). Due to some early turnovers, the Vikings were able to amount a quick 17-0 lead against Coach Isemann’s team, but solid play and a sharp offense prevailed for them as the Texans took it in a stunning 31-24 comeback victory. Houston remains ahead in the AFC South while the Vikings dig themselves deeper into last place in the NFC North. It isn’t quittin’ time for Minnesota yet, though; Chicago leads their division at just (5-3).
STL (Brandon) – The Rams rebounded from their first loss of the season last week with a dazzling 42-7 win against division rivals, the Arizona Cardinals. St. Louis’ star safety, LaRon Landry, intercepted the Cardinals 3 times in the win and is the favorite for defensive player of the year. This marks only the second division game for the Rams so far this season, but they’re already well ahead in the NFC West, leading 2nd place by 4 games.
NE (Mark) – Coach USA celebrated with his team after a big 35-28 win over the Indianapolis Colts this week. This win topples Miami’s 6-week reign over the AFC East with the Dolphins losing to the Denver Broncos to fall to (5-3). The Patriots are now (6-2) and enjoying their first division lead since week 2. New England will look to keep their lead when they face the battered Buffalo Bills (1-7) in a division game next week.
CLE (Mike) – The Cleveland Browns blew out their rivals, the Baltimore Ravens, this week with a 48-7 win. Ravens starting HB Cadillac Williams was still sidelined from a broken tailbone suffered at the hands of the Browns in their week 3 meeting. Baltimore turned to QB Chris Redman to lead the offense, but to no avail. Redman was sacked 4 times by Browns LE Jamaal Anderson, and picked off 3 times by the Browns secondary. Cleveland’s next test to remain undefeated will be against the (4-4) Denver Broncos.
NO (Bill) – Bye.
SD (Eric) – Bye.
That’s all for week 9. Week 10 means no more byes and just one more user vs user game in week 12. Most of these teams are all but guaranteed for the playoffs, but it’ll be interesting to see if New Orleans and Minnesota can turn their seasons around.
HOU (Brian) vs MIN (Sam) – The desperate Minnesota Vikings entered this game at (2-5) and looking to snap their losing streak against the sizzling Houston Texans (5-2). Due to some early turnovers, the Vikings were able to amount a quick 17-0 lead against Coach Isemann’s team, but solid play and a sharp offense prevailed for them as the Texans took it in a stunning 31-24 comeback victory. Houston remains ahead in the AFC South while the Vikings dig themselves deeper into last place in the NFC North. It isn’t quittin’ time for Minnesota yet, though; Chicago leads their division at just (5-3).
STL (Brandon) – The Rams rebounded from their first loss of the season last week with a dazzling 42-7 win against division rivals, the Arizona Cardinals. St. Louis’ star safety, LaRon Landry, intercepted the Cardinals 3 times in the win and is the favorite for defensive player of the year. This marks only the second division game for the Rams so far this season, but they’re already well ahead in the NFC West, leading 2nd place by 4 games.
NE (Mark) – Coach USA celebrated with his team after a big 35-28 win over the Indianapolis Colts this week. This win topples Miami’s 6-week reign over the AFC East with the Dolphins losing to the Denver Broncos to fall to (5-3). The Patriots are now (6-2) and enjoying their first division lead since week 2. New England will look to keep their lead when they face the battered Buffalo Bills (1-7) in a division game next week.
CLE (Mike) – The Cleveland Browns blew out their rivals, the Baltimore Ravens, this week with a 48-7 win. Ravens starting HB Cadillac Williams was still sidelined from a broken tailbone suffered at the hands of the Browns in their week 3 meeting. Baltimore turned to QB Chris Redman to lead the offense, but to no avail. Redman was sacked 4 times by Browns LE Jamaal Anderson, and picked off 3 times by the Browns secondary. Cleveland’s next test to remain undefeated will be against the (4-4) Denver Broncos.
NO (Bill) – Bye.
SD (Eric) – Bye.
That’s all for week 9. Week 10 means no more byes and just one more user vs user game in week 12. Most of these teams are all but guaranteed for the playoffs, but it’ll be interesting to see if New Orleans and Minnesota can turn their seasons around.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Week 8 Action Report
Week 8 is over and sweet sassy mo-lassy was it exciting! There were TWO user vs user Burlington Coat Factory Games of the Week, featuring the Patriots (Mark) against the Rams (Brandon), and the Saints (Bill) against the Chargers (Eric). Let’s see what happened:
NEW ENGLAND vs ST. LOUIS - Although this exciting matchup was criminally unbroadcasted anywhere but the NFL network (Brandon’s house), I’ve still got a decent rundown of the action.
St. Louis entered the game with a perfect (6-0) record, looking to face their biggest challenge yet in the (4-2) Patriots. This year’s Rams team has featured a balanced offense complimented by a solid defense with a ball-hawking secondary led by FS LaRon Landry. The Rams’ run defense ranked as one of the best in the league, a big plus when going up against the New England running duo of Marion Barber and Darren McFadden.
The Patriots under Coach USA have seen some incredible ups and downs this season. In the three games since their week 4 bye (in which Coach USA was apprehended by Albanian authorities), the Patriots were edged in a big game against the San Diego Chargers in week 6, but easily dismantled lesser opponents in weeks 5 and 7. Approaching another big matchup this week, speculation revolved around the possibility of laying the game on the shoulders of seldom used QB Joe Flacco, as they did against the Chargers. New England’s victories have come at the greater effect of their running game, split between big back Marion Barber and elusive sprinter Darren McFadden. Facing one of the league’s leading rush defenses, what would be Coach USA’s game plan?
Well, they ran the ball. The Patriots attack was a touch more balanced than in some weeks, but the offense still relied heavily on the Marion-Darion-Banana Connection. Although the Rams had some success stopping Barber, the McFadden changeup proved to be too much; McFadden finished the game with over 6 yards per carry.
The Rams continued to pursue a balanced attack against the Patriots, but neither passing nor running produced much success. TE Antonio Gates was the leading yardage receiver at the end of the day with a few big plays, but QB Jay Cutler was picked off three times, keeping the Rams from sustaining drives. HB Frank Gore was also ineffectual, rushing for under 40 yards in the game.
What looked to be anyone’s game turned out to be not even close, as the Patriots grabbed the Rams by the horns, 34-7.
NEW ORLEANS vs SAN DIEGO - The (6-1) Chargers brought their four game winning streak against a Saints team looking to snap a two game losing streak playing across the Adriatic in neutered site London, UK.
Neither team knew what to expect in terms of stadium atmosphere, so each coach hoped for an early score to sway the crowd. That score came in the form of a field goal for Saints Kicker, Stephen Gostkowski, probably a native Brit. The opening drive by the Saints lasted 4 minutes and was kept alive repeatedly by clutch play from HB Jones-Drew, TE Greg Olsen, and QB Philip Rivers. However, once the Saints found themselves in the redzone, the Chargers’ defense decided it was Tea Time and kept New Orleans out of the endzone.
With only a few seconds remaining in the 1st quarter, the Chargers offense went to work. Normally a pass-heavy (or pass-exclusive) offense, the Chargers again turned to HB Felix Jones when faced with a dangerous opponent. Another long drive consisting almost entirely of runs earned the Chargers a touchdown and the lead.
The 1st half saw a lot of defensive stands by both teams, but the Chargers were able to score once more to make it 14-3 heading into the 3rd quarter.
Both teams played conservative offense in the 1st half, not wanting to give the other team a short-field or a score on a turnover. That trend would continue into the 2nd half.
Midway through the half, the Saints put together another long drive and found themselves with 4th and 2 within the Chargers’ 10 yard-line. Deciding to go for it, the Saints handed to ball to Maurice Jones-Drew who carried the ball 3 yards for the first, giving New Orleans 1st and goal around the 5. San Diego was not able to resist them this time, and the Saints runners burned some extra petrol on their way to the endzone, making the score 14-10.
With most of the 4th quarter left to play, the Chargers continued to highlight the run game, hoping to burn enough time to put the game out of reach. Facing a long 3rd down and out of field goal range, the Chargers turned to QB David Garrard, who was able to scramble for the first and show the crowd how he’s been earning his crumpets all season. This key play allowed the Chargers to whittle the clock down, and San Diego scored a final touchdown just before time expired. The final score was a 21-10 in this very close, turnover-free game.
Both teams will spend an extra week in England during their week 9 byes, probably touring the Louvre or the Pyramids.
CLE (Mike) - Back in the homeland, the Cleveland Browns capsized the Jacksonville Jaguars, 42-23. The Browns remain the only undefeated team at (7-0) with this victory.
MIN (Sam) - Bye.
HOU (Brian) - Bye.
That’s it for week 8. As we move into week 9, we’ll start tracking the Pro Bowl Selection and Yearly Awards, so don’t forget to check!
NEW ENGLAND vs ST. LOUIS - Although this exciting matchup was criminally unbroadcasted anywhere but the NFL network (Brandon’s house), I’ve still got a decent rundown of the action.
St. Louis entered the game with a perfect (6-0) record, looking to face their biggest challenge yet in the (4-2) Patriots. This year’s Rams team has featured a balanced offense complimented by a solid defense with a ball-hawking secondary led by FS LaRon Landry. The Rams’ run defense ranked as one of the best in the league, a big plus when going up against the New England running duo of Marion Barber and Darren McFadden.
The Patriots under Coach USA have seen some incredible ups and downs this season. In the three games since their week 4 bye (in which Coach USA was apprehended by Albanian authorities), the Patriots were edged in a big game against the San Diego Chargers in week 6, but easily dismantled lesser opponents in weeks 5 and 7. Approaching another big matchup this week, speculation revolved around the possibility of laying the game on the shoulders of seldom used QB Joe Flacco, as they did against the Chargers. New England’s victories have come at the greater effect of their running game, split between big back Marion Barber and elusive sprinter Darren McFadden. Facing one of the league’s leading rush defenses, what would be Coach USA’s game plan?
Well, they ran the ball. The Patriots attack was a touch more balanced than in some weeks, but the offense still relied heavily on the Marion-Darion-Banana Connection. Although the Rams had some success stopping Barber, the McFadden changeup proved to be too much; McFadden finished the game with over 6 yards per carry.
The Rams continued to pursue a balanced attack against the Patriots, but neither passing nor running produced much success. TE Antonio Gates was the leading yardage receiver at the end of the day with a few big plays, but QB Jay Cutler was picked off three times, keeping the Rams from sustaining drives. HB Frank Gore was also ineffectual, rushing for under 40 yards in the game.
What looked to be anyone’s game turned out to be not even close, as the Patriots grabbed the Rams by the horns, 34-7.
NEW ORLEANS vs SAN DIEGO - The (6-1) Chargers brought their four game winning streak against a Saints team looking to snap a two game losing streak playing across the Adriatic in neutered site London, UK.
Neither team knew what to expect in terms of stadium atmosphere, so each coach hoped for an early score to sway the crowd. That score came in the form of a field goal for Saints Kicker, Stephen Gostkowski, probably a native Brit. The opening drive by the Saints lasted 4 minutes and was kept alive repeatedly by clutch play from HB Jones-Drew, TE Greg Olsen, and QB Philip Rivers. However, once the Saints found themselves in the redzone, the Chargers’ defense decided it was Tea Time and kept New Orleans out of the endzone.
With only a few seconds remaining in the 1st quarter, the Chargers offense went to work. Normally a pass-heavy (or pass-exclusive) offense, the Chargers again turned to HB Felix Jones when faced with a dangerous opponent. Another long drive consisting almost entirely of runs earned the Chargers a touchdown and the lead.
The 1st half saw a lot of defensive stands by both teams, but the Chargers were able to score once more to make it 14-3 heading into the 3rd quarter.
Both teams played conservative offense in the 1st half, not wanting to give the other team a short-field or a score on a turnover. That trend would continue into the 2nd half.
Midway through the half, the Saints put together another long drive and found themselves with 4th and 2 within the Chargers’ 10 yard-line. Deciding to go for it, the Saints handed to ball to Maurice Jones-Drew who carried the ball 3 yards for the first, giving New Orleans 1st and goal around the 5. San Diego was not able to resist them this time, and the Saints runners burned some extra petrol on their way to the endzone, making the score 14-10.
With most of the 4th quarter left to play, the Chargers continued to highlight the run game, hoping to burn enough time to put the game out of reach. Facing a long 3rd down and out of field goal range, the Chargers turned to QB David Garrard, who was able to scramble for the first and show the crowd how he’s been earning his crumpets all season. This key play allowed the Chargers to whittle the clock down, and San Diego scored a final touchdown just before time expired. The final score was a 21-10 in this very close, turnover-free game.
Both teams will spend an extra week in England during their week 9 byes, probably touring the Louvre or the Pyramids.
CLE (Mike) - Back in the homeland, the Cleveland Browns capsized the Jacksonville Jaguars, 42-23. The Browns remain the only undefeated team at (7-0) with this victory.
MIN (Sam) - Bye.
HOU (Brian) - Bye.
That’s it for week 8. As we move into week 9, we’ll start tracking the Pro Bowl Selection and Yearly Awards, so don’t forget to check!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Week 7 Action Report
I’ve finally got all the scores for week 7. Here’s a recap of all the action:
NO (Bill) – The Saints can’t get to their week 9 bye soon enough, running themselves ragged in week 7 with yet another overtime period. This time they faced the second coin toss against division rivals, the Carolina Panthers, with the scored locked 10-10. A murderous defensive struggle was rendered fruitless for New Orleans as Carolina was able to break away for a touchdown to seal it, 16-10. This was the third overtime in four weeks for the Saints, who will be riding an (0-2) skid into their week 8 game against the formidable San Diego Chargers. Since winning back to back games in weeks 4 and 5, fatigue and frustration have been mounting in New Orleans. With Atlanta (5-1) enjoying their bye week and Carolina improving to (4-3), the Saints will have a lot of ground to make up in the NFC South as we reach the season’s halfway point.
MIN (Sam) – The Vikings are another NFC team working through a bad slump at the bottom of their division. Falling to fellow NFC North team, the Chicago Bears, 21-35, the Vikings have now lost four in a row. The Bears improve to (4-3) to retake the conference from Detroit (3-3), who took their bye this week. Minnesota will take their bye in week 8 to assess the season and prepare for a tough matchup against the Houston Texans in week 9. Coach Sam will have to figure out how to turn it around soon.
SD (Eric) – In happier news, the Chargers complimented their tough week 6 win against the Patriots with a 52-14 smackdown against the spiraling Buffalo Bills. San Diego faces a thicker challenge in the New Orleans Saints in week 8, but they’re continuing to put that week 3 loss against the New York Jets out of their minds and out of the fans’ minds. Barring a monumental turn, QB David Garrard will find himself at the top of the MVP list after next week.
HOU (Brian) – The Texans came into week 7 with a condem-thin hold on the AFC South, hoping to erect their dominance over the Detroit Lions. Riding another solid defensive performance, the Texans repeatedly pushed deep into Lion’s territory to score 24 points and entered the rear tunnel of the stadium at the end of regulation with a rousing win. Coach Isemann’s stellar defense held the Lions to just two touchdowns in the game. As they head into their week 8 bye still one game ahead of the Colts in the AFC South, Coach Isemann appeared firmly abreast of what his team needs to do in the second half of the season.
CLE (Mike) – The Browns remained undefeated against the Washington Redskins this week, continuing their rape and pillage of the NFC East (with only Philadelphia left in week 15). Browns Kicker Sebastian Janikowski became the unlikely hero when he recovered a fumbled kickoff return by the Redskins; The Browns were finally able to go up by three scores on the ensuing drive, the final score being 38-10. The Browns are now (6-0) heading into their week 8 game against the (3-4) Jaguars.
STL (Brandon) – The Rams also remained undefeated (6-0) after their 24-21 victory against the Dallas Cowboys. With another tough win behind them, they face what may be their biggest test of the season in the New England Patriots in week 8. When asked about his thoughts on the recent Americanization of Patriots Head Coach, Mark Angleberger, Rams QB Jay Cutler said, “Will somebody hand me my coat?”, before immediately turning around and exiting the interview, coatless.
NE (Mark) – New American citizen, Coach Mark “USA” Angleberger rallied his team back from a week 6 loss against the San Diego Chargers to pummel the Denver Broncos, 31-14. New England continues to develop their impressive run game, split between the speedy Darren McFadden and the bruising Marion Barber. Following the game in which he was asked to throw only a few passes, Patriots QB Joe Flacco complained that his “arm was tired.”
That’s all for week 7. Look for week 8’s report soon. We’ve got two exciting user games that should not disappoint!
NO (Bill) – The Saints can’t get to their week 9 bye soon enough, running themselves ragged in week 7 with yet another overtime period. This time they faced the second coin toss against division rivals, the Carolina Panthers, with the scored locked 10-10. A murderous defensive struggle was rendered fruitless for New Orleans as Carolina was able to break away for a touchdown to seal it, 16-10. This was the third overtime in four weeks for the Saints, who will be riding an (0-2) skid into their week 8 game against the formidable San Diego Chargers. Since winning back to back games in weeks 4 and 5, fatigue and frustration have been mounting in New Orleans. With Atlanta (5-1) enjoying their bye week and Carolina improving to (4-3), the Saints will have a lot of ground to make up in the NFC South as we reach the season’s halfway point.
MIN (Sam) – The Vikings are another NFC team working through a bad slump at the bottom of their division. Falling to fellow NFC North team, the Chicago Bears, 21-35, the Vikings have now lost four in a row. The Bears improve to (4-3) to retake the conference from Detroit (3-3), who took their bye this week. Minnesota will take their bye in week 8 to assess the season and prepare for a tough matchup against the Houston Texans in week 9. Coach Sam will have to figure out how to turn it around soon.
SD (Eric) – In happier news, the Chargers complimented their tough week 6 win against the Patriots with a 52-14 smackdown against the spiraling Buffalo Bills. San Diego faces a thicker challenge in the New Orleans Saints in week 8, but they’re continuing to put that week 3 loss against the New York Jets out of their minds and out of the fans’ minds. Barring a monumental turn, QB David Garrard will find himself at the top of the MVP list after next week.
HOU (Brian) – The Texans came into week 7 with a condem-thin hold on the AFC South, hoping to erect their dominance over the Detroit Lions. Riding another solid defensive performance, the Texans repeatedly pushed deep into Lion’s territory to score 24 points and entered the rear tunnel of the stadium at the end of regulation with a rousing win. Coach Isemann’s stellar defense held the Lions to just two touchdowns in the game. As they head into their week 8 bye still one game ahead of the Colts in the AFC South, Coach Isemann appeared firmly abreast of what his team needs to do in the second half of the season.
CLE (Mike) – The Browns remained undefeated against the Washington Redskins this week, continuing their rape and pillage of the NFC East (with only Philadelphia left in week 15). Browns Kicker Sebastian Janikowski became the unlikely hero when he recovered a fumbled kickoff return by the Redskins; The Browns were finally able to go up by three scores on the ensuing drive, the final score being 38-10. The Browns are now (6-0) heading into their week 8 game against the (3-4) Jaguars.
STL (Brandon) – The Rams also remained undefeated (6-0) after their 24-21 victory against the Dallas Cowboys. With another tough win behind them, they face what may be their biggest test of the season in the New England Patriots in week 8. When asked about his thoughts on the recent Americanization of Patriots Head Coach, Mark Angleberger, Rams QB Jay Cutler said, “Will somebody hand me my coat?”, before immediately turning around and exiting the interview, coatless.
NE (Mark) – New American citizen, Coach Mark “USA” Angleberger rallied his team back from a week 6 loss against the San Diego Chargers to pummel the Denver Broncos, 31-14. New England continues to develop their impressive run game, split between the speedy Darren McFadden and the bruising Marion Barber. Following the game in which he was asked to throw only a few passes, Patriots QB Joe Flacco complained that his “arm was tired.”
That’s all for week 7. Look for week 8’s report soon. We’ve got two exciting user games that should not disappoint!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Week 6 Action Report
Week 6 saw some divisions experience a lead shift, while other leads were locked down even tighter. Before we get into the other scores, let’s talk about the Burlington Coat Factory Game of the Week: San Diego (Eric) vs New England (Mark).
The San Diego Chargers entered the game at (4-1) after beating Patriots’ division rivals, the Miami Dolphins a week earlier. New England came in at (3-1) just one week after the return of new American citizen Coach Mark “USA” Angleberger. That week the Patriots trounced the San Francisco 49ers, 59-14.
Both of these coaches knew how important this game was going to be, not necessarily for the regular season, but as a likely playoff preview. Familiar opponents, Coach Eric and Coach USA were both rather conservative in this game, hoping to feel out their opponent for weaknesses to be used in this game and further down the road.
Both coaches diverged significantly from their usual game plans; The Chargers’ pass-heavy offense was carried instead by QB David Garrard and HB Felix Jones on the ground, while the typically run-heavy Patriots turned to QB Joe Flacco’s underused arm for offense.
The result was a close game with as many lead changes as there were scores. In the end, however, the Chargers were able to gain control of the ball late in the 4th quarter and run out the clock after taking a 17-14 lead. The Chargers improved to (5-1) and increased their lead in the AFC West, while the Patriots fell to (3-2) and remained tied with the Dolphins in the AFC East.
But Coach USA’s wasn’t the only user team to lose in week six…
Coach Sam’s Minnesota Vikings were outscored in their game by division rivals, the Detroit Lions, 28-36. Despite a +12 overall points differential on the season following this loss, the Vikings now find themselves (2-4) and in last place in the NFC North. The Lions, however, were able to capture the division lead with their 3rd division win, bringing them above .500 for the first time this season.
Coach Bill’s New Orleans Saints found themselves in familiar trouble this week. Coming into week six with two wins in a row, the Saints found themselves in overtime again, this time with the Oakland Raiders. New Orleans hoped to repeat their week 4 overtime magic against the 49ers that got them their first win of the season, but the Raiders were able to score a field goal in overtime to seal it, 16-13. New Orleans fell to (2-4) and is already way behind the Falcons (5-1) in the NFC South.
The Cleveland Browns under Coach Mike remained undefeated following their victory against the New York Giants. The final score was a comfortable 34-17, despite several bad turns for the Browns during the game. On the opening play of the game, Giants HB Brandon Jacobs broke 3 tackles on a 78-yard run for a touchdown, similar to Brian Westbrook’s 77-yard TD run against the Brown’s earlier this season (Is this a concern?). But after that, New York’s offense was stifled. The Browns, however, showed their poor conditioning in this rain soaked game as the offense suffered a myriad of injuries. Drew Brees, Reggie Bush, and 2nd string QB Sage Rosenfels all left the game with minor injuries, and TE Kellen Winslow was temporarily sidelined twice during the game due to injury. This left a large portion of the game in the hands of 3rd string QB Rex Grossman and 2nd string HB Warrick Dunn. Despite limited snaps in practice, Cleveland’s backups played well enough; Grossman scored two passing TD’s. All three Browns QB’s threw for over 100 yards in the game. The Browns are now (5-0) and well ahead in the AFC North; the next best team is Cincinnati at (3-3).
Following a heartbreaking 10-13 loss in week 5, the Houston Texans were able to hang in there with the Miami Dolphins in week 6 and win it, 17-14. Coach Brian’s solid defense continued to keep the Texans in the game this week, and this time the Houston offense was able to pull it out. The Texans improved to (4-2) and stayed atop the airtight AFC South, where the last place team is Jacksonville at (3-3).
Finally, Coach Brandon’s Rams were also able to remain undefeated (5-0) in their game against the Washington Redskins. This was a close one, and though St. Louis may never have trailed, they never quite put their opponents away either. But, the Redskins were unable to muster a comeback and the Rams held on, 24-22. The Rams are now well ahead of everyone else in the NFC West.
That’s it for week 6.
With week 7 already about to wrap up, let’s go ahead and take a look at the monster matchup coming in week 8: St. Louis vs New England.
This may very well be a Super Bowl preview in the middle of the season. Coach Brandon’s Rams appear unchallenged in the NFC, and although Coach USA’s Patriots are (3-2) and have recently lost to Coach Eric’s Chargers, they’re still the AFC team to beat in my opinion. Even among Coach Mike’s undefeated Cleveland Browns, Coach USA’s postseason record is undeniable. His teams have always had one or two hiccups during the regular season, but I can’t remember the last time they lost a playoff game. Somehow, whatever weaknesses they show in the regular season all but disappear come postseason time. We might see these two face each other again in February.
So, let’s hear some opinions on those polls! I’ve also included the other week 8 user vs user game: the San Diego Slaughters vs the New Orleans Lambs.
The San Diego Chargers entered the game at (4-1) after beating Patriots’ division rivals, the Miami Dolphins a week earlier. New England came in at (3-1) just one week after the return of new American citizen Coach Mark “USA” Angleberger. That week the Patriots trounced the San Francisco 49ers, 59-14.
Both of these coaches knew how important this game was going to be, not necessarily for the regular season, but as a likely playoff preview. Familiar opponents, Coach Eric and Coach USA were both rather conservative in this game, hoping to feel out their opponent for weaknesses to be used in this game and further down the road.
Both coaches diverged significantly from their usual game plans; The Chargers’ pass-heavy offense was carried instead by QB David Garrard and HB Felix Jones on the ground, while the typically run-heavy Patriots turned to QB Joe Flacco’s underused arm for offense.
The result was a close game with as many lead changes as there were scores. In the end, however, the Chargers were able to gain control of the ball late in the 4th quarter and run out the clock after taking a 17-14 lead. The Chargers improved to (5-1) and increased their lead in the AFC West, while the Patriots fell to (3-2) and remained tied with the Dolphins in the AFC East.
But Coach USA’s wasn’t the only user team to lose in week six…
Coach Sam’s Minnesota Vikings were outscored in their game by division rivals, the Detroit Lions, 28-36. Despite a +12 overall points differential on the season following this loss, the Vikings now find themselves (2-4) and in last place in the NFC North. The Lions, however, were able to capture the division lead with their 3rd division win, bringing them above .500 for the first time this season.
Coach Bill’s New Orleans Saints found themselves in familiar trouble this week. Coming into week six with two wins in a row, the Saints found themselves in overtime again, this time with the Oakland Raiders. New Orleans hoped to repeat their week 4 overtime magic against the 49ers that got them their first win of the season, but the Raiders were able to score a field goal in overtime to seal it, 16-13. New Orleans fell to (2-4) and is already way behind the Falcons (5-1) in the NFC South.
The Cleveland Browns under Coach Mike remained undefeated following their victory against the New York Giants. The final score was a comfortable 34-17, despite several bad turns for the Browns during the game. On the opening play of the game, Giants HB Brandon Jacobs broke 3 tackles on a 78-yard run for a touchdown, similar to Brian Westbrook’s 77-yard TD run against the Brown’s earlier this season (Is this a concern?). But after that, New York’s offense was stifled. The Browns, however, showed their poor conditioning in this rain soaked game as the offense suffered a myriad of injuries. Drew Brees, Reggie Bush, and 2nd string QB Sage Rosenfels all left the game with minor injuries, and TE Kellen Winslow was temporarily sidelined twice during the game due to injury. This left a large portion of the game in the hands of 3rd string QB Rex Grossman and 2nd string HB Warrick Dunn. Despite limited snaps in practice, Cleveland’s backups played well enough; Grossman scored two passing TD’s. All three Browns QB’s threw for over 100 yards in the game. The Browns are now (5-0) and well ahead in the AFC North; the next best team is Cincinnati at (3-3).
Following a heartbreaking 10-13 loss in week 5, the Houston Texans were able to hang in there with the Miami Dolphins in week 6 and win it, 17-14. Coach Brian’s solid defense continued to keep the Texans in the game this week, and this time the Houston offense was able to pull it out. The Texans improved to (4-2) and stayed atop the airtight AFC South, where the last place team is Jacksonville at (3-3).
Finally, Coach Brandon’s Rams were also able to remain undefeated (5-0) in their game against the Washington Redskins. This was a close one, and though St. Louis may never have trailed, they never quite put their opponents away either. But, the Redskins were unable to muster a comeback and the Rams held on, 24-22. The Rams are now well ahead of everyone else in the NFC West.
That’s it for week 6.
With week 7 already about to wrap up, let’s go ahead and take a look at the monster matchup coming in week 8: St. Louis vs New England.
This may very well be a Super Bowl preview in the middle of the season. Coach Brandon’s Rams appear unchallenged in the NFC, and although Coach USA’s Patriots are (3-2) and have recently lost to Coach Eric’s Chargers, they’re still the AFC team to beat in my opinion. Even among Coach Mike’s undefeated Cleveland Browns, Coach USA’s postseason record is undeniable. His teams have always had one or two hiccups during the regular season, but I can’t remember the last time they lost a playoff game. Somehow, whatever weaknesses they show in the regular season all but disappear come postseason time. We might see these two face each other again in February.
So, let’s hear some opinions on those polls! I’ve also included the other week 8 user vs user game: the San Diego Slaughters vs the New Orleans Lambs.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Weeks 4 and 5 Action Reports
Nothing like a family holiday to get in the way of stuff that really matters, like Madden. Well, I guess it didn’t really get in the way of us playing Madden, but I’m now quite a bit behind on the reports. The last report was for week 3 and I believe we’re now all but finished with week 6. To catch up, I’m going to combine weeks 4 and 5 in this report. Week 6’s should follow soon.
Week 4:
San Diego (Eric) – After a bitter week 3 loss to the New York Jets, the Chargers returned to their mistake-free approach and walloped their division rivals, the Oakland Raiders, 31-3.
Cleveland (Mike) – The Browns completed their 3-week sweep of their NFC North Rivals with a 35-14 win over Cincinnati. They head into their bye week at (4-0).
Minnesota (Sam) – Minnesota was unable to continue their impressive run in weeks 2 and 3 and fell to the Titans, 14-27. They face Coach Bill’s New Orleans Saints in week 5.
New Orleans (Bill) – The Saints find their first win of the season in overtime against the 49ers. They’ll look for win #2 in week 5 against the Vikings.
Houston (Brian) – The Texans conquer division rivals the Jaguars in their biggest win of the season so far, outscoring their opponents 35-14.
St. Louis (Brandon) – Scoring a season high 52 points against the Bills, the Rams head into their bye week with a perfect (4-0) record and plenty of momentum.
New England (Mark) – Bye.
Spotlight, NE: Just minutes before their week 3 matchup against the Miami Dolphins, the New England Patriots found themselves without Head Coach Magnus Anglebergellichtenstein. Anglebergellichtenstein was apprehended moments before kickoff when authorities from the Deported Albanian Natives Administration (D.A.N.A.) surrounded the stadium. The coach was held in custody overnight until arrangements for his release could be made. After negotiations, the D.A.N.A. agreed to release Angelbergellichtenstein on the condition that he Americanize his name to sever his association with his once beloved country. A tearful Anglebergellichtenstein agreed, though he did not lament his decision to abandon his country to pursue his dreams as a head coach in the Madden League. Coach Mark Angleberger returned to his team over the bye week and resolved to get them ready for their week 5 matchup against the 49ers.
Week 5:
San Diego – The Chargers looked to be right back on track after their week 3 debacle, dominating the Miami Dolphins 42-20 and cementing themselves as the highest scoring team in the league. They face stiff competition in week 6 against the Patriots (Mark).
Cleveland – Bye.
Minnesota & New Orleans – Week 5 saw the first user vs user meeting of the season between Coach Sam’s Vikings and Coach Bill’s Saints. The sibling rivalry caused quite a stir before the game, with much speculation as to its outcome. Favored 4-1 by our voters, Coach Sam’s Vikings appeared to be in the driver’s seat. But week 5 saw the first game this season without a Phillip Rivers interception by the Saints. The game remained close throughout, but with several costly misjudgments by Vikings QB Eli Manning, the Saints were able to capitalize and win, 26-17. Both teams head into week 6 with (2-3) records.
Houston – Houston was unable to extend their 3-game winning streak against division rivals the Indianapolis Colts this week. The Colts were only able to muster 13 points against the stingy Texans, but they were able to hold the Texans to just 10 points of their own.
St. Louis – Bye.
New England – Coach Angleberger’s first game following his brief altercation with Albanian authorities proved to be a stunner. The Patriots were able to gain over 300 yards rushing in their 59-14 win against San Francisco, with running backs Marion Barber and Darren McFadden each carrying the load. Barber also had 5 of the team’s 7 rushing touchdowns in the game. They look great, but week 6 won’t be an easy one when they face the rolling San Diego Chargers (Eric).
Find the updated standings and schedule (with latest scores) in the "league notes and information" section on the right.
Week 4:
San Diego (Eric) – After a bitter week 3 loss to the New York Jets, the Chargers returned to their mistake-free approach and walloped their division rivals, the Oakland Raiders, 31-3.
Cleveland (Mike) – The Browns completed their 3-week sweep of their NFC North Rivals with a 35-14 win over Cincinnati. They head into their bye week at (4-0).
Minnesota (Sam) – Minnesota was unable to continue their impressive run in weeks 2 and 3 and fell to the Titans, 14-27. They face Coach Bill’s New Orleans Saints in week 5.
New Orleans (Bill) – The Saints find their first win of the season in overtime against the 49ers. They’ll look for win #2 in week 5 against the Vikings.
Houston (Brian) – The Texans conquer division rivals the Jaguars in their biggest win of the season so far, outscoring their opponents 35-14.
St. Louis (Brandon) – Scoring a season high 52 points against the Bills, the Rams head into their bye week with a perfect (4-0) record and plenty of momentum.
New England (Mark) – Bye.
Spotlight, NE: Just minutes before their week 3 matchup against the Miami Dolphins, the New England Patriots found themselves without Head Coach Magnus Anglebergellichtenstein. Anglebergellichtenstein was apprehended moments before kickoff when authorities from the Deported Albanian Natives Administration (D.A.N.A.) surrounded the stadium. The coach was held in custody overnight until arrangements for his release could be made. After negotiations, the D.A.N.A. agreed to release Angelbergellichtenstein on the condition that he Americanize his name to sever his association with his once beloved country. A tearful Anglebergellichtenstein agreed, though he did not lament his decision to abandon his country to pursue his dreams as a head coach in the Madden League. Coach Mark Angleberger returned to his team over the bye week and resolved to get them ready for their week 5 matchup against the 49ers.
Week 5:
San Diego – The Chargers looked to be right back on track after their week 3 debacle, dominating the Miami Dolphins 42-20 and cementing themselves as the highest scoring team in the league. They face stiff competition in week 6 against the Patriots (Mark).
Cleveland – Bye.
Minnesota & New Orleans – Week 5 saw the first user vs user meeting of the season between Coach Sam’s Vikings and Coach Bill’s Saints. The sibling rivalry caused quite a stir before the game, with much speculation as to its outcome. Favored 4-1 by our voters, Coach Sam’s Vikings appeared to be in the driver’s seat. But week 5 saw the first game this season without a Phillip Rivers interception by the Saints. The game remained close throughout, but with several costly misjudgments by Vikings QB Eli Manning, the Saints were able to capitalize and win, 26-17. Both teams head into week 6 with (2-3) records.
Houston – Houston was unable to extend their 3-game winning streak against division rivals the Indianapolis Colts this week. The Colts were only able to muster 13 points against the stingy Texans, but they were able to hold the Texans to just 10 points of their own.
St. Louis – Bye.
New England – Coach Angleberger’s first game following his brief altercation with Albanian authorities proved to be a stunner. The Patriots were able to gain over 300 yards rushing in their 59-14 win against San Francisco, with running backs Marion Barber and Darren McFadden each carrying the load. Barber also had 5 of the team’s 7 rushing touchdowns in the game. They look great, but week 6 won’t be an easy one when they face the rolling San Diego Chargers (Eric).
Find the updated standings and schedule (with latest scores) in the "league notes and information" section on the right.
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