FAT DADDY CA$H’S CORNER: WEEK 11
Power Rankings: Week 11:
Alpha Conference:
1. Graz Grizzlies (11-0):
Last Week: 1
Wales gave the Grizzlies all they could handle in Week 11 as they out gained the Grizzlies 341 to 235. However, the Grizzlies’ D was tough when it counted, forcing 2 turnovers, 6 punts and holding the Warriors to a mere 17 points. With E-City coming to town next, Graz can’t afford to take the day off. The Mercs just narrowly lost to Woodridge and will be out for blood.
2. Paris Dream Bolts (9-2):
Last Week: 2
Behind HB TJ Crimson’s 5 TD 175 yard rushing day, the Dream Bolts annihilated Black Watch 56-9. The win helped wash the taste of Paris’s 1 point loss to the Grizzlies from their mouths and Week 12’s gimme game with Toulouse should help even more. With Lyon folding up their tents, Paris now finishes with 3 gutted teams over the final 5 games meaning Crimson should have ample opportunities to improve upon his WEPL leading 32 TDs.
3. Woodridge Lumberjacks (9-2):
Last Week: 3
Woodridge eeked out their 4th win in a row by holding on to topple a hungry E-City club in Week 11 28-27. HB Joseph Ngo was impressive with 33 carries for 139 yards and a TD in the win, but the big concern is with the Lumberjack’s defense. The unit surrendered 444 yards to the Mercs including 361 through the air. With the flawless QB Steve Tarkenton leading the Philharmonics into Woodridge in Week 12, the Lumberjacks have to improve their pass defense quickly if they hope to stay in the top 3.
4. Bonn Dynamo (8-3):
Last Week: 4
After back to back losses, the Dynamo were foaming at the mouth to rip into the lifeless Aviators. 255 points later, they had exacted their revenge and gotten back on the winning track just in time for a monumental game against Aberdeen. The Dynamo are probably wishing they could take some of the 255 points they scored in Week 11 and carry them over to Week 12. Because unless their offense performs better than they did against Graz and Black Watch, they could find themselves staring at 8-4.
5. Paris Philharmonic (7-4):
Last Week: 5
Paris got a chance to pick on the freshly gutted Lyon Sharks in Week 11, pounding the fish 73-0. With the offense clicking on all cylinders (ranked number 1 in all of WEPL) they will look to take advantage of the Lumberjack’s suspect secondary in what amounts to the Game of the Week in Alpha. QB Steve Tarkenton and WRs Chang and Forever have to be salivating as they look at game film this week. With a closing schedule of Turin, Monarchs, Perkis and Dynamo, the Philharmonic could steal a Top 4 seed with a 4-1 finish down the stretch.
6. Belfast Commandos (7-4):
Last Week: 6
K Rusty Moss’s 41 yard game winning FG with just 8 ticks left on the clock made him a hero and secured the Commando’s 7th win of the year over the ever improving Monarchs. Winners of their last 4 of 5 games, Belfast is getting hot at exactly the right time. Still, with loses to the Philharmonics, Woodridge and Graz already it’s tough for them to move up any higher than 6th. Their final stretch includes games against Bonn, the Dream Bolts and Mercs so they will have to fight to reach 10 wins and lock up a playoff birth.
7. E-City Mercenaries (6-5):
Last Week 7
Stays one notch above AWC thanks to their narrow 1 point loss to the Lumberjacks. Things won’t get easier this week as they have to travel to Graz to tangle with the unbeaten Grizzlies. At 6-5 the margin for error is slim as E-City tries to establish themselves more firmly in the playoff picture. If they lose to the Grizzlies it might take a perfect 4-0 finish to lock up their spot.
8. Aberdeen Wrecking Crew (7-4):
Last Week: 8
A big win over Perkis keeps their playoff hopes alive and builds some much needed momentum heading into Aberdeen’s brutal 5 game finish. With 5 games all against playoff hungry teams, the next few weeks will be the true test of AWC’s playoff worthiness. Bonn is the first team up followed by the Dream Bolts, Warriors, Mercs and Grizzlies. Aberdeen will need to win at least 3 of those games (with the Merc’s and Warriors’ games being must wins for tie-breakers) making their show down with the Dynamo this week very interesting.
9. West Wales Warriors (4-7):
Last Week: 10 (+1)
With the Top 8 teams in Alpha remaining firmly in their spots, Wales is the first team in the rankings to change positions. They can credit their tough fought loss to the Grizzlies for that. While they ultimately came up short against Graz, they played well. Still, 5 straight losses is starting to mount and the playoffs are looking like a long shot. It’s going to take a perfect 5-0 run down the stretch to get in, or at least a 4-1 run with some serious help from Aberdeen and E-City.
10. Black Watch (5-6):
Last Week: 9 (-1)
Black Watch stumbles behind Wales this week thanks to their lowly 59-9 performance against the Dream Bolts. While it’s no shame to lose to a team as good as Paris, after Black Watch’s rousing 23-20 win over Bonn in Week 10 they were expected to put up a much better fight in this one. They’ll get a chance to prove me wrong when they face off against Wales and E-City in batck to back games that could very well determine their playoff fates.
11. Turin THUNDER (4-7):
Last Week: 12 (+1)
With their 255-0 win over Dinas, the THUNDER got a chance to pad their stats and inch closer to respectability. And with Lyon up next they should get to 5-7, setting up two must win games against the Philharmonic and Lumberjacks. It’s time to get all the wrinkles out of the offense and defense and get sharp for those two monster games.
12. London Monarchs (3-8):
Last Week: 13 (+1)
Don’t look now but the Monarchs are starting to figure things out. London followed their 21-17 upset of Aberdeen up with a close 3 point loss to the Commandos. While the playoffs are not a possibility for this club, with Dinas, Lyon and Turin left on their schedule the Monarchs could get to 6-10 before the year’s out, setting up a rejuvenated team in Season 9.
13. Team Perkis (1-10):
Last Week: 14 (+1)
Perkis owes the Lyon team a hearty thanks for folding, allowing them to jump up a spot in the rankings despite getting thrashed 51-7 by a rabid Aberdeen squad. Things won’t get easier this week with Belfast up next and needing a win.
14. Lyon Sharks (4-7):
Last Week: 11 (-3)
With a fire sale going on, Lyon is the third Alpha team this season to bite the dust. With 4 wins already they’ll stay above Dinas and Toulouse but won’t be in WEPL next season.
15. Dinas Red Bandits (1-10):
Last Week: 15
Yawn …
16. Toulouse Aviators (1-9):
Last Week: 16
Toulouse, we hardly knew ya!
Zeta:
1. Stockholm Meatballs (11-0):
Last Week: 1
There was a time when the Meatball / PPP game was always a Game of the Week candidate and usually provided fireworks galore. With the Longnecks struggling and the Meatballs rolling, Week 10’s 79-7 drubbing will not be remembered as the Longneck’s finest effort. The Meatballs racked up 817 yards of offense including 4 TD days from both WR Montgomery Brogan and HB Mal Brown. Newly acquired HB Iam Legend also got into the swing of things with 134 yards on 14 carries while new TE Gabe Holmes had 3 nabs for 83 yards and a TD. The offensive fireworks were fun – but the defense was better. Holding PPP to 212 yards and 13 punts, the Stockholm D dominated from the opening snap. Now the Meatballs have to hope that production carries over to Week 11 where they face their budding rivals the Annihilators … the last team to beat the Meatballs in Season 7.
2. Black Forest Mercenaries (11-0):
Last Week: 2
Black Forest made quick work of the London Rippers as they jumped out to an early 20 point lead while pitching a shut out for the first 37 minutes of the game. CB Big Mary led the way for the Merc’s defense, racking up 6 tackles (2 for a loss) and 7 PDs as he continually frustrated the Ripper’s passing attack. After nearly blowing their perfect season against the upstart Browns in Week 8, Black Forest has rolled both London teams, outscoring them 71-22. Black Forest now has a chance to fine tune even more as they’ll face the overmatched Dynasty in Week 11 before tangling with the undefeated Meatballs in Week 12.
3. Korb Destroyers (9-2):
Last Week: 3
A 52-13 pounding of Sevilla could be just what the doctor ordered for the Destroyers to wash the taste of the Stockholm game from their mouths. The Destroyers were in control throughout the game, piling up 402 yards despite two turnovers by the normally frugal offense. A huge game with the Divots kicks off a brutal final 5 games during which Korb’s 3rd place ranking will be tested. Games against the Pimps, Annihilators and a finale against BFM will challenge the Destroyers but should also prepare them for what could be a very deep playoff run. If they can escape that stretch with 4 wins, they may even be in line for the 2nd seed.
4. Rivals Mainboard Pimps (8-3):
Last Week: 5 (+1)
The Pimps made a statement to the rest of WEPL with their come from behind victory over the Divots in Week 10. Despite trailing 20-17 at half and being out gained on the ground and through the air, the Pimps cashed a 65 yard INT return for a TD to cap off a 33 point second half. Behind the rushing of HB MB III, the Pimps blew out the Divots in the second half and jumped up into the Top 4 in this week’s rankings. With a favorable schedule remaining (only Korb looms large in the final 5 games), the Pimps could easily wrap up the season with a 12-4 or 13-3 record – re-staking their claim as one of the elite teams in all of WEPL. Still, they can’t afford to overlook Berlin or Dallas as both teams are capable of putting a dent in the Pimp’s record.
5. Antwerp Annihilators (7-4):
Last Week 6: (+1)
Winners of 4 of their past 5 games, the Annihilators rolled over the Dynasty 36-13 in Week 10 behind HB Arch Griffin’s 133 yard and 3 TD performance. The impressive offensive performance should serve the Twerps well as they host the undefeated Meatballs this week. The Annihilators have history on their side as they whooped up on Stockholm the last time the teams met in Season 7. Still, it’s going to take more than history to stop the potent Meatball offense and figure out their speedy defense. If the Twerps can find a way to pull off the upset, they’ll be sitting pretty and looking at a 10 or 11 win season.
6. Grass Root Divots (8-3):
Last Week: (-2)
A 2 point drop after losing to the talented Pimps seems harsh – and it probably is a bit too harsh. However, the Divots just couldn’t get out of their own way in Week 10 as they tossed 2 costly INTs and lost by 16 points despite racking up more yards than the Pimps. It was the third loss in 4 tries for the Divots who suddenly find themselves facing a brutal finish. While they have very winnable games against PPP and Edinburgh left to get them to 10 wins, match ups with Korb, Antwerp and Black Forest could drop them to a 6 or 7 seed come playoff time.
7. Berlin Ballers (6-5):
Last Week: 9 (+2)
Don’t look now, but former the former WEPL champs have quietly won 3 in a row and are over 500 for the first time since Week 3 of the season. More importantly, their narrow 42-41 point victory over Ice & Fire in Week 10 gives them a crucial tiebreaker in the ever narrowing playoff race. QB Dmitri Makarov’s short 2 yard TD pass to Kadeem Hardison with 1 minute remaining capped a frenetic Berlin comeback and may be a turning point in the season. They’ll need to carry over some of that momentum as they battle the Pimps, Brown, Hitmen and Rippers over the next 4 weeks – all games with massive playoff implications. If the Ballers can keep their heads above water, they’ll be back in the playoffs this year with a chance to make some noise.
8. A Team of Ice and Fire (5-6):
Last Week: 7 (-1)
The flip side of the Ballers’ thrilling comeback win is that Ice & Fire are suddenly in a mini-slide. With back to back close loses to Rivals and Berlin, Ice & Fire need to right the ship – and quickly. Already behind in key tiebreaker categories, they will have to win their next 4 games against Dallas, the Hitmen, Rippers and Dynasty to secure their first WEPL playoff trip. It’s a tall order, but certainly not impossible.
9. London Hitmen (6-5):
Last Week: 10 (+1)
The Hitmen and Black Knights capped off an exciting week of Zeta action with a thrilling last second finish. London’s QB Ace Gunner found LaCedric Shackleford for a 9 yard TD strike with just 46 ticks left on the clock to cap a 10 point final stanza for the Hitmen and a 1 point win. While the game was certainly thrilling, the Hitmen were expected to beat the struggling Black Knights in a more comfortable fashion and probably should have if they are going to be considered a true playoff team. Still, at 6-5 with a favorable schedule remaining, London is still very much a favorite to steal the 8th seed from Ice & Fire. They will need to get a better performance from both sides of the ball before they can move up any farther in these rankings.
10. London Rippers (5-6):
Last Week: 8 (-2)
A brutal 36-10 showing against the undefeated Mercenaries demonstrates how large the gap is between the Rippers and the upper echelon of Zeta. The Rippers defense, which up until this game had been playing great, gave up 463 yards including 322 through the air. The still painful Week 2 loss to the Hitmen hurts the Rippers tiebreakers and puts the onus on them to win out in order to have a chance to make the playoffs. However, their schedule is not all that difficult. The next two weeks feature very winnable games against the Black Knights and Bluebirds, followed by two monster games with Ice & Fire and Berlin – both of which will have massive playoff implications for both sides.
11. Dallas Browns (4-7):
Last Week: 11
Dallas pounded the Bluebirds 54-7 in Week 10 proving that, even though the playoffs aren’t a realistic option, they are the best of the bottom half of the division. In fact, if the ball bounced a little differently against Stockholm, Korb and BFM (Dallas lost to all three by a combined 11 points) we might be looking at much different playoff picture with Dallas established as a favorite to make a serious title run. That bodes well for Season 9.
12. Edinburgh Black Knights (2-9):
Last Week: 14 (+2)
Despite losing, the Black Knights got a 2 point bump in the rankings over Cardiff and Lyon. This is thanks in large part to how good they have looked in the past two weeks during which they narrowly lost to the Hitmen and upset the Browns. The Black Knights are better than their 2-9 record and will have a chance to prove it as they have 3 winnable games left against the Rippers, Lyon and Sevilla. They could even give the Meatballs and Divots a run for their money if they keep improving.
13. Lyon Dynasty (3-8):
Last Week: 13
Lyon got whooped by Antwerp in Week 10, keeping them anchored at the 13th spot in the rankings. Things won’t get any easier down the stretch as they will fact BFM, Edinburgh, Ice & Fire and Berlin to close out the year. The only lay up left is a Week 14 game against the slumping Bluebirds. A 4-12 final record appears likely.
14. Cardiff Bluebirds (3-8):
Last Week: 12 (-2)
After giving the Ballers a close game in Week 9, the Bluebirds got thrashed by the Browns 54-7. Cardiff looked lost in this game as Dallas piled up 563 yards including 381 on the ground. If they can’t fix their rushing defense they are in for a brutal finish as they face both London teams, Lyon and Stockholm – all of which have good rushing attacks. While they should be focusing on preparing for Season 9, the Bluebirds have to make a stronger showing in the final 5 games in order to have some momentum heading into next season.
15. PPP Longnecks (1-10):
Last Week: 15
A humiliating loss at the hands of their arch rival Meatballs only makes a bad season worse for the struggling Longnecks. The good news is they get to face off against Sevilla in Week 12 which should get them one game closer from being out of the cellar. Still, with Cardiff and Lyon having a 2 game edge, it doesn’t look like PPP will be able to avoid relegation; not with games left against GRD, Korb, Rivals and Antwerp. Ouch.
16. Sevilla Naranjas (0-11):
Last Week: 16
It’s been a long season for Sevilla – but if they can find a way to beat the Longnecks it should bring a long overdue smile to their fans’ faces.
Power Rankings: Week 11:
Alpha Conference:
1. Graz Grizzlies (11-0):
Last Week: 1
Wales gave the Grizzlies all they could handle in Week 11 as they out gained the Grizzlies 341 to 235. However, the Grizzlies’ D was tough when it counted, forcing 2 turnovers, 6 punts and holding the Warriors to a mere 17 points. With E-City coming to town next, Graz can’t afford to take the day off. The Mercs just narrowly lost to Woodridge and will be out for blood.
2. Paris Dream Bolts (9-2):
Last Week: 2
Behind HB TJ Crimson’s 5 TD 175 yard rushing day, the Dream Bolts annihilated Black Watch 56-9. The win helped wash the taste of Paris’s 1 point loss to the Grizzlies from their mouths and Week 12’s gimme game with Toulouse should help even more. With Lyon folding up their tents, Paris now finishes with 3 gutted teams over the final 5 games meaning Crimson should have ample opportunities to improve upon his WEPL leading 32 TDs.
3. Woodridge Lumberjacks (9-2):
Last Week: 3
Woodridge eeked out their 4th win in a row by holding on to topple a hungry E-City club in Week 11 28-27. HB Joseph Ngo was impressive with 33 carries for 139 yards and a TD in the win, but the big concern is with the Lumberjack’s defense. The unit surrendered 444 yards to the Mercs including 361 through the air. With the flawless QB Steve Tarkenton leading the Philharmonics into Woodridge in Week 12, the Lumberjacks have to improve their pass defense quickly if they hope to stay in the top 3.
4. Bonn Dynamo (8-3):
Last Week: 4
After back to back losses, the Dynamo were foaming at the mouth to rip into the lifeless Aviators. 255 points later, they had exacted their revenge and gotten back on the winning track just in time for a monumental game against Aberdeen. The Dynamo are probably wishing they could take some of the 255 points they scored in Week 11 and carry them over to Week 12. Because unless their offense performs better than they did against Graz and Black Watch, they could find themselves staring at 8-4.
5. Paris Philharmonic (7-4):
Last Week: 5
Paris got a chance to pick on the freshly gutted Lyon Sharks in Week 11, pounding the fish 73-0. With the offense clicking on all cylinders (ranked number 1 in all of WEPL) they will look to take advantage of the Lumberjack’s suspect secondary in what amounts to the Game of the Week in Alpha. QB Steve Tarkenton and WRs Chang and Forever have to be salivating as they look at game film this week. With a closing schedule of Turin, Monarchs, Perkis and Dynamo, the Philharmonic could steal a Top 4 seed with a 4-1 finish down the stretch.
6. Belfast Commandos (7-4):
Last Week: 6
K Rusty Moss’s 41 yard game winning FG with just 8 ticks left on the clock made him a hero and secured the Commando’s 7th win of the year over the ever improving Monarchs. Winners of their last 4 of 5 games, Belfast is getting hot at exactly the right time. Still, with loses to the Philharmonics, Woodridge and Graz already it’s tough for them to move up any higher than 6th. Their final stretch includes games against Bonn, the Dream Bolts and Mercs so they will have to fight to reach 10 wins and lock up a playoff birth.
7. E-City Mercenaries (6-5):
Last Week 7
Stays one notch above AWC thanks to their narrow 1 point loss to the Lumberjacks. Things won’t get easier this week as they have to travel to Graz to tangle with the unbeaten Grizzlies. At 6-5 the margin for error is slim as E-City tries to establish themselves more firmly in the playoff picture. If they lose to the Grizzlies it might take a perfect 4-0 finish to lock up their spot.
8. Aberdeen Wrecking Crew (7-4):
Last Week: 8
A big win over Perkis keeps their playoff hopes alive and builds some much needed momentum heading into Aberdeen’s brutal 5 game finish. With 5 games all against playoff hungry teams, the next few weeks will be the true test of AWC’s playoff worthiness. Bonn is the first team up followed by the Dream Bolts, Warriors, Mercs and Grizzlies. Aberdeen will need to win at least 3 of those games (with the Merc’s and Warriors’ games being must wins for tie-breakers) making their show down with the Dynamo this week very interesting.
9. West Wales Warriors (4-7):
Last Week: 10 (+1)
With the Top 8 teams in Alpha remaining firmly in their spots, Wales is the first team in the rankings to change positions. They can credit their tough fought loss to the Grizzlies for that. While they ultimately came up short against Graz, they played well. Still, 5 straight losses is starting to mount and the playoffs are looking like a long shot. It’s going to take a perfect 5-0 run down the stretch to get in, or at least a 4-1 run with some serious help from Aberdeen and E-City.
10. Black Watch (5-6):
Last Week: 9 (-1)
Black Watch stumbles behind Wales this week thanks to their lowly 59-9 performance against the Dream Bolts. While it’s no shame to lose to a team as good as Paris, after Black Watch’s rousing 23-20 win over Bonn in Week 10 they were expected to put up a much better fight in this one. They’ll get a chance to prove me wrong when they face off against Wales and E-City in batck to back games that could very well determine their playoff fates.
11. Turin THUNDER (4-7):
Last Week: 12 (+1)
With their 255-0 win over Dinas, the THUNDER got a chance to pad their stats and inch closer to respectability. And with Lyon up next they should get to 5-7, setting up two must win games against the Philharmonic and Lumberjacks. It’s time to get all the wrinkles out of the offense and defense and get sharp for those two monster games.
12. London Monarchs (3-8):
Last Week: 13 (+1)
Don’t look now but the Monarchs are starting to figure things out. London followed their 21-17 upset of Aberdeen up with a close 3 point loss to the Commandos. While the playoffs are not a possibility for this club, with Dinas, Lyon and Turin left on their schedule the Monarchs could get to 6-10 before the year’s out, setting up a rejuvenated team in Season 9.
13. Team Perkis (1-10):
Last Week: 14 (+1)
Perkis owes the Lyon team a hearty thanks for folding, allowing them to jump up a spot in the rankings despite getting thrashed 51-7 by a rabid Aberdeen squad. Things won’t get easier this week with Belfast up next and needing a win.
14. Lyon Sharks (4-7):
Last Week: 11 (-3)
With a fire sale going on, Lyon is the third Alpha team this season to bite the dust. With 4 wins already they’ll stay above Dinas and Toulouse but won’t be in WEPL next season.
15. Dinas Red Bandits (1-10):
Last Week: 15
Yawn …
16. Toulouse Aviators (1-9):
Last Week: 16
Toulouse, we hardly knew ya!
Zeta:
1. Stockholm Meatballs (11-0):
Last Week: 1
There was a time when the Meatball / PPP game was always a Game of the Week candidate and usually provided fireworks galore. With the Longnecks struggling and the Meatballs rolling, Week 10’s 79-7 drubbing will not be remembered as the Longneck’s finest effort. The Meatballs racked up 817 yards of offense including 4 TD days from both WR Montgomery Brogan and HB Mal Brown. Newly acquired HB Iam Legend also got into the swing of things with 134 yards on 14 carries while new TE Gabe Holmes had 3 nabs for 83 yards and a TD. The offensive fireworks were fun – but the defense was better. Holding PPP to 212 yards and 13 punts, the Stockholm D dominated from the opening snap. Now the Meatballs have to hope that production carries over to Week 11 where they face their budding rivals the Annihilators … the last team to beat the Meatballs in Season 7.
2. Black Forest Mercenaries (11-0):
Last Week: 2
Black Forest made quick work of the London Rippers as they jumped out to an early 20 point lead while pitching a shut out for the first 37 minutes of the game. CB Big Mary led the way for the Merc’s defense, racking up 6 tackles (2 for a loss) and 7 PDs as he continually frustrated the Ripper’s passing attack. After nearly blowing their perfect season against the upstart Browns in Week 8, Black Forest has rolled both London teams, outscoring them 71-22. Black Forest now has a chance to fine tune even more as they’ll face the overmatched Dynasty in Week 11 before tangling with the undefeated Meatballs in Week 12.
3. Korb Destroyers (9-2):
Last Week: 3
A 52-13 pounding of Sevilla could be just what the doctor ordered for the Destroyers to wash the taste of the Stockholm game from their mouths. The Destroyers were in control throughout the game, piling up 402 yards despite two turnovers by the normally frugal offense. A huge game with the Divots kicks off a brutal final 5 games during which Korb’s 3rd place ranking will be tested. Games against the Pimps, Annihilators and a finale against BFM will challenge the Destroyers but should also prepare them for what could be a very deep playoff run. If they can escape that stretch with 4 wins, they may even be in line for the 2nd seed.
4. Rivals Mainboard Pimps (8-3):
Last Week: 5 (+1)
The Pimps made a statement to the rest of WEPL with their come from behind victory over the Divots in Week 10. Despite trailing 20-17 at half and being out gained on the ground and through the air, the Pimps cashed a 65 yard INT return for a TD to cap off a 33 point second half. Behind the rushing of HB MB III, the Pimps blew out the Divots in the second half and jumped up into the Top 4 in this week’s rankings. With a favorable schedule remaining (only Korb looms large in the final 5 games), the Pimps could easily wrap up the season with a 12-4 or 13-3 record – re-staking their claim as one of the elite teams in all of WEPL. Still, they can’t afford to overlook Berlin or Dallas as both teams are capable of putting a dent in the Pimp’s record.
5. Antwerp Annihilators (7-4):
Last Week 6: (+1)
Winners of 4 of their past 5 games, the Annihilators rolled over the Dynasty 36-13 in Week 10 behind HB Arch Griffin’s 133 yard and 3 TD performance. The impressive offensive performance should serve the Twerps well as they host the undefeated Meatballs this week. The Annihilators have history on their side as they whooped up on Stockholm the last time the teams met in Season 7. Still, it’s going to take more than history to stop the potent Meatball offense and figure out their speedy defense. If the Twerps can find a way to pull off the upset, they’ll be sitting pretty and looking at a 10 or 11 win season.
6. Grass Root Divots (8-3):
Last Week: (-2)
A 2 point drop after losing to the talented Pimps seems harsh – and it probably is a bit too harsh. However, the Divots just couldn’t get out of their own way in Week 10 as they tossed 2 costly INTs and lost by 16 points despite racking up more yards than the Pimps. It was the third loss in 4 tries for the Divots who suddenly find themselves facing a brutal finish. While they have very winnable games against PPP and Edinburgh left to get them to 10 wins, match ups with Korb, Antwerp and Black Forest could drop them to a 6 or 7 seed come playoff time.
7. Berlin Ballers (6-5):
Last Week: 9 (+2)
Don’t look now, but former the former WEPL champs have quietly won 3 in a row and are over 500 for the first time since Week 3 of the season. More importantly, their narrow 42-41 point victory over Ice & Fire in Week 10 gives them a crucial tiebreaker in the ever narrowing playoff race. QB Dmitri Makarov’s short 2 yard TD pass to Kadeem Hardison with 1 minute remaining capped a frenetic Berlin comeback and may be a turning point in the season. They’ll need to carry over some of that momentum as they battle the Pimps, Brown, Hitmen and Rippers over the next 4 weeks – all games with massive playoff implications. If the Ballers can keep their heads above water, they’ll be back in the playoffs this year with a chance to make some noise.
8. A Team of Ice and Fire (5-6):
Last Week: 7 (-1)
The flip side of the Ballers’ thrilling comeback win is that Ice & Fire are suddenly in a mini-slide. With back to back close loses to Rivals and Berlin, Ice & Fire need to right the ship – and quickly. Already behind in key tiebreaker categories, they will have to win their next 4 games against Dallas, the Hitmen, Rippers and Dynasty to secure their first WEPL playoff trip. It’s a tall order, but certainly not impossible.
9. London Hitmen (6-5):
Last Week: 10 (+1)
The Hitmen and Black Knights capped off an exciting week of Zeta action with a thrilling last second finish. London’s QB Ace Gunner found LaCedric Shackleford for a 9 yard TD strike with just 46 ticks left on the clock to cap a 10 point final stanza for the Hitmen and a 1 point win. While the game was certainly thrilling, the Hitmen were expected to beat the struggling Black Knights in a more comfortable fashion and probably should have if they are going to be considered a true playoff team. Still, at 6-5 with a favorable schedule remaining, London is still very much a favorite to steal the 8th seed from Ice & Fire. They will need to get a better performance from both sides of the ball before they can move up any farther in these rankings.
10. London Rippers (5-6):
Last Week: 8 (-2)
A brutal 36-10 showing against the undefeated Mercenaries demonstrates how large the gap is between the Rippers and the upper echelon of Zeta. The Rippers defense, which up until this game had been playing great, gave up 463 yards including 322 through the air. The still painful Week 2 loss to the Hitmen hurts the Rippers tiebreakers and puts the onus on them to win out in order to have a chance to make the playoffs. However, their schedule is not all that difficult. The next two weeks feature very winnable games against the Black Knights and Bluebirds, followed by two monster games with Ice & Fire and Berlin – both of which will have massive playoff implications for both sides.
11. Dallas Browns (4-7):
Last Week: 11
Dallas pounded the Bluebirds 54-7 in Week 10 proving that, even though the playoffs aren’t a realistic option, they are the best of the bottom half of the division. In fact, if the ball bounced a little differently against Stockholm, Korb and BFM (Dallas lost to all three by a combined 11 points) we might be looking at much different playoff picture with Dallas established as a favorite to make a serious title run. That bodes well for Season 9.
12. Edinburgh Black Knights (2-9):
Last Week: 14 (+2)
Despite losing, the Black Knights got a 2 point bump in the rankings over Cardiff and Lyon. This is thanks in large part to how good they have looked in the past two weeks during which they narrowly lost to the Hitmen and upset the Browns. The Black Knights are better than their 2-9 record and will have a chance to prove it as they have 3 winnable games left against the Rippers, Lyon and Sevilla. They could even give the Meatballs and Divots a run for their money if they keep improving.
13. Lyon Dynasty (3-8):
Last Week: 13
Lyon got whooped by Antwerp in Week 10, keeping them anchored at the 13th spot in the rankings. Things won’t get any easier down the stretch as they will fact BFM, Edinburgh, Ice & Fire and Berlin to close out the year. The only lay up left is a Week 14 game against the slumping Bluebirds. A 4-12 final record appears likely.
14. Cardiff Bluebirds (3-8):
Last Week: 12 (-2)
After giving the Ballers a close game in Week 9, the Bluebirds got thrashed by the Browns 54-7. Cardiff looked lost in this game as Dallas piled up 563 yards including 381 on the ground. If they can’t fix their rushing defense they are in for a brutal finish as they face both London teams, Lyon and Stockholm – all of which have good rushing attacks. While they should be focusing on preparing for Season 9, the Bluebirds have to make a stronger showing in the final 5 games in order to have some momentum heading into next season.
15. PPP Longnecks (1-10):
Last Week: 15
A humiliating loss at the hands of their arch rival Meatballs only makes a bad season worse for the struggling Longnecks. The good news is they get to face off against Sevilla in Week 12 which should get them one game closer from being out of the cellar. Still, with Cardiff and Lyon having a 2 game edge, it doesn’t look like PPP will be able to avoid relegation; not with games left against GRD, Korb, Rivals and Antwerp. Ouch.
16. Sevilla Naranjas (0-11):
Last Week: 16
It’s been a long season for Sevilla – but if they can find a way to beat the Longnecks it should bring a long overdue smile to their fans’ faces.
Last edited Mar 19, 2009 10:15:34
