David & Goliath: Cincinnati stopped by Rattlers

There always seems to be one week out of the year when the games get wacky, and the press usually calls it (after the fact) Upset Sunday. Here in week 8 of the AFL we've stumbled across this oddity. The final two teams that were undefeated, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, have fallen from the ranks. Michigan as the underdog beat Pittsburgh 7-0 in a defensive struggle.

The real shocker of the week happened in Ohio, where the suddenly resurgent Arizona Rattlers upended the once spotless Royals, more impressively doing it in the Royals home stadium. With a star quarterback who literally is injured more than he is healthy, the Rattlers nevertheless came into Cincinnati with a certain confidence about them. In recent weeks they had played much better, and what was more star QB Lamar Burton had a miraculous healing at the local tent revival in town and was able to start the game, to the surprise of everyone.

Its rare when a team wins after letting the opposition pass for over 400 yards in the game, but that is exactly what happened in Cincinnati. Leonard Smith was simply on fire passing for 409 yards and two scores, while three people on the Royals had 100 yards receiving. Arizona's passing defense has been perhaps the most suspect in the league, but nevertheless it was apparent the Rattlers made a commitment to stopping the run, which they partially succeeded in, keeping the Royals to 79 total yards on the ground. The flip side to this was the Rattler's continued success on the ground, where Running Back by committee has taken form. Despite Charles Machurek being injured, veteran Jerome stepped up to fill his slot, rushing for 7.2 ypc and 87 yards, while the team was able to grind out 199 yards on 34 carries.

Once again, and for about the fifth time this year, fragile Lamar Burton played well until being knocked out again with a leg injury in the first quarter. Due to the fine play of rookie backup Lindell, who threw for 251 yards, the Rattlers were able to pull off this upset with a backup quarterback, on the road. This was your classic David and Goliath story. It will be interesting to see if the Rattlers can carry the momentum over to next week against struggling Nashville.

With 6-1 Miami coming to town this week, it seems obvious that the Royals were looking past the 2-5 Rattlers and did not take them seriously. Head Coach Mike Branson's post game chewing out must have been a memorable one. Oh to be a fly on the wall.

Starting off the season 0-4 with an injured quarterback, the Rattlers have come back despite their troubles to post a 3-1 record since. They are well behind division leading Los Angeles, but there is nevertheless whispers beginning to surface about making the playoffs. A mere game and a half out of the final wildcard spot and momentum on their side, suddenly they've come from looking at the college boards to looking at the scoreboard again. They still have 8 games to go, and if their offensive star manages to stay halfway healthy, hey, you just never know.

In other team news, in part because of his team leading six sacks at the halfway point, the team finally got together with their best defensive lineman Jim Washington, extending his contract for another 2 years, making the total deal 3 years for 11.6 million. On a defensive line that has been criticized as too small, Washington has been a standout thus far. If Jim continues to play at this level the Rattlers will have gotten a good price for his services.

Because of his tendency in recent games to throw the pick, Head Coach Miral Billings has announced Willie Lindell will be dropped to 3rd string, and Rod "General" Barton promoted to 2nd string. Aside from the picks, Lindell has played well thus far in his rookie campaign, completing 60% of his passes, but the turnovers were just too big of a problem to ignore. If he gets the kinks out of his throw, look for him to move back into the second spot. Considering the continued problems with Lamar Burton's feet and ankles, and his propensity for getting knocked out of ballgames, this could indeed spell some serious playing time for the General.

Cup O' Joe - Week 10 Rumblings & Grumblings

Cup O' Joe, Week 10

Sammy Hoambrecker and Brian Barrett both hit the 1000-yard mark in their ninth game, putting them in position to hit for 1800 yards. Does anyone have a chance at 2000? The answer to that is yes, and it might be both, with Hoambrecker at a slight advantage. Let's look at each, starting with Barrett. He's second in the league with 209 carries, and averages almost 113 yards a game. But look at the team's he faces coming up after this week's contest with Seattle (with their rushing defense ranks in parenthesis): Arizona (22), Oakland (13), Philadelphia (19), Washington (12), Minnesota (26), and Denver (17). LA has common opponents in Washington, Denver, Arizona, and Philadelphia; but they also have Louisville (31), Cincinnati (24), and San Diego (25). So, we could see two players reach plateaus that will be tough to reach in the future.

Speaking of running backs, many are questioning why the Pride haven't benched Drew Anderson. While he may be a star in the making, he's certainly not doing much right now, averaging 3.7 YPG with just 2 TD. It is possible that Gary Johnson will see more action in their game against New Orleans. But many say Anderson needs more confidence. A game against the Knights may do just that. Also, more carries could boost his production. He's had two games within the last four weeks where he rushed fewer than ten times.

It was discussed in a recent column who Kansas City could take with the #1 pick in the AFL draft next year. Well, now we're going to look at division rival St. Louis, who could get the #2 pick overall...or slide as high as #7. Chances are, they'll take the best player on the board, as they have a lot of holes to fill. The only position we know they won't go after is safety, unless they can get a first for Rosey Smith and take SS Derrell Stanley, a bonafide blue-chip prospect, with a top-five pick. It is most likely that either a tackle, defensive end, or POSSIBLY quarterback Pat Banks will become a Pioneer by this time next year. The line is horrible, and there are two tackles good enough to take with a high pick, that being Gene Herron and Tony McMullen. We discussed both in our last column, so we'll slide past them for now. DE Kelly Sunde or CB Rosey Smith could go here, as a top secondary would give the Pioneers at least one question answered...but if Sunde is there, and shows enough at the combine, expect him to go at this pick. As far as Pat Banks is concerned...he's the top QB in the nation, but he may be a reach at this pick. Might. It will depend on his game with Florida State, currently ranked #2 in the nation and owner of the #1 pass defense in the nation. If Banks has a good game against THEM, he'll become a legit top-five pick. If he doesn't...well, we'll see.

From QBs of the future to QBs of the present...talk of who is the best QB in the league has fired up. Here is my top 10 (age and year of experience in parenthesis):

10. Michael Armstead, Philadelphia (28, 7th). Could be higher...has passed for 2399 yards and 16 touchdowns with a completion percentage of 64.4%. His rating is 96.4, good for seventh in the league. But his ability to put his team in the end zone consistently just pushes him a bit lower than he may be.

9. Herkie Martini, San Francisco (27, 5th). Stats aren't as good as Armstead: 2013 yards on 58.3% PCT, with 15 TD and 7 INT. But the guy wins, and he rarely makes mistakes. He's a tough competitor, and has won two games in which he was injured, including a game with a fractured rib.

8. Darrell Hickerson, Miami (31, 9th). Hickerson was considered the worst first-round pick in this league's initial draft. And yet, here he is, his team 7-2, 7-1 in the HFC. A big reason is Hickerson, who has been an absolute leader for the Blitz. He's also been pretty consistent, with only one really bad game (against Carolina).

7. Monte Meier, Seattle (23, R). He will probably move up this list. But he's just a rookie (and ye, there's two rookies higher, but Meier is justified in this spot). Meier is eighth in the league in QB rating, but is down among the league low in attempts from starters. He has been nicked up, but still gets the job done.

6. Billy Rolovich, Pittsburgh (27, 6th). This guy is pure guts. I mean, flat out guts. He may have more heart than anyone in the league. He's not a real skillful player...and yet, he makes this team succeed. He had LA on the ropes, and was named POTG in their instant classic OT loss (20-28, 263 yards, 3 TD, 121.6 RAT). The shocking thing about Rolovich is that he can improve quite a bit.

5. Leonard Smith, Cincinnati (31, 10th). Has the second-best QB rating in the league, on the strength of only three interceptions. He did sit two games with an injury, and has been injury prone for his entire career. But the Ohio native and Ohio State grad could run for Governor of the Buckeye State and get elected easily. He leads the Royals to success, and if they manage to get to the Washington Bowl, he could run for state senator with relative ease.

4. Ladell Suggs, San Diego (26, 5th). I'd say Suggs gets this spot because he's the most exciting QB in the league. He's fifth in the AFL in QB rating (103.9), second in TD (21), and fourth in completion percentage. But he also leads all QB in rushing yards, with 530 on just 47 carries. That's right...an average of 11.3 yards per carry. He has more yards than Pittsburgh's leading rusher, Drew Anderson. He's almost electric every time he escapes the pocket.

3. Sammy Baw, Los Angeles (22, R). He's equipped with the top running back in the league in Sammy Hoambrecker. But one can't help but think that Baw would be just fine if it were just him. He's passed for 2696 yards, which leads the league, and 17 TD. Can you believe this guy is a rookie? He's going to be the top QB in the league for years to come, unless someone has something to say about it. That someone, of course, is...

2. Dick Dinkins, Tampa (25, 3rd). Dinkins has the most TD passes in the league (24), and is second in passing yards, with 2,519. He uses his receivers very well, with two players--Gary Thompson and Jason McCall--in the top 10 in receptions. But he usually makes smart decisions, and will continue to just get better, giving the league a triumvirate of elite quarterbacks for the next decade.

1. Steve Banks, Houston (37, 15th). And as those three start their careers, the top QB on our list is wrapping his up. It's highly unlikely that Banks will return next season for his 16th season. But he's looking to set records for this league, specifically in QB Rating, that may never be broken. Right now, it's 135.8, on the strength of 74.3% completion and a 20-3 TD/INT ratio. He's been simply stunning, and has been the MVP up until this point.

That's all for now. Next week, we'll evaluate the running backs, and give our top ten at that position.

Cup O' Joe - Week 9 Predictions

Cup O' Joe - Week 9 Predictions

The Big Games begin here, with Cincinnati-Miami, Boston-San Diego (yes, a key game), and Portland-Seattle, also known as The Rematch. In fact, it's such a big game in the Frontier...it takes the place of Game of the Week.

Game of the Week:

Seattle (5-2) @ Portland (4-4): Will lightning strike twice? The Tritons come into Oregon with a major chip on their shoulder. But Portland still has the psychological edge on Monte Meier. They sacked him nine times in their Week 2 victory, and have been talking through the media all week that they're going to get real familiar with him once again. You have to wonder how many times Seattle has worked on their draw and delayed trap plays this week. Expect Quincy Jones to hit a few big plays if they have. Also, Portland's pretty banged up and struggling, and Seattle has gotten themselves back on track after struggling early. I think Seattle will take this one handedly.
Prediction: Seattle 24, Portland 17 (4-3, GOTW predictions)

Other Games (home team in CAPS):
Houston 48, ATLANTA 24
New Orleans 27, CAROLINA 16
CINCINNATI 23, Miami 20 (OT)
ST LOUIS 3, Kansas City 2 (yes, 3-2)
PITTSBURGH 17, Iowa 3
Los Angeles 34, NEW YORK 10
BOSTON 27, San Diego 21 (surprisingly close)
CHICAGO 20, Minnesota 17
OAKLAND 22, Cleveland 17
SAN FRANCISCO 41, Louisville 27
Michigan 17, DALLAS 10
Philadelphia 34, WASHINGTON 31 (OT, Upset)
ARIZONA 37, Nashville 20

Last Week: 8-6
Season: 68-48

Cup O' Joe - Midseason Report

We're midway through the first season of play in the American Football League, and you have to wonder if the league has met expectations.

If I may say...the league has far exceeded them.

We've seen some very competitive games, big races, and great teams. We have a lot of surprises and disappointments, and we have an idea of how the rest of the season will go. Without further ado...let's take a look at the winners, losers, and everything in between in the 1990 season.

AFL Top Ten, Mid-Season

1) Los Angeles Marshalls (6-1) - Every team in the HFC is tough (each of the four division leaders is 6-1). But Los Angeles, behind their rookie stars, QB Sammy Baw and RB Sammy Hoambrecker, as well as a top-notch defense, has the best chance to win the first-ever Washington Bowl. They've gone through tough opponents, beating Tampa and Boston, as well as a tougher-than-their record San Diego team. They have Pittsburgh AND Cincinnati on their schedule in the coming weeks, and that should tell the tale of the HFC this season.

2) Pittsburgh Pride (6-1) - They have given up the second-fewest points in the AFL this season (only SF has given up less, with 84), and pose the most intimidating defense in the conference, despite not having a single real standout in the league leaders. This "no name" defense has not given up more than 21 points in any game, and has held opponents to 17 points or less in five of their games. But Billy Rolovich has given life to the defense. He may not be among the league leaders, but he is awfully close. They may not have anyone who is a total stud on this team; but they do define that very word--"team".

3) Seattle Tritons (5-2) - They've struggled throughout the first half. Then again, two losses for almost any team would be a blessing...but not the Tritons. They've managed to win without Monte Meier, which may be the best thing this team could have. So much was made about Meier in the early going, and when he went down with the team struggling, everyone thought this club was going to fall hard. And yet, here they are. I still think they have the best chance to win the conference, which is why they have this place in the rankings.

4) Cincinnati Monarchs (6-1) - Leonard Smith and Barry Robinson make up one of the best pass-rush duos in the league. Both are among the top five in their respective categories, with Smith being a legitimate HFC MVP candidate. They also may be the team who can handle injuries to their key spots the most, making them a very viable option to get to the title game. Hopalong Van Dyke is an absolute monster on the field, catching 38 passes for 549 yards and six scores, and having 21 pancake blocks, good to put him among the league leaders.

5) Houston Oilers (5-2) - Steve Banks is the first-half MVP. Sorry to spoil that for later, but Banks' return showed me just how important he is to the Oilers' success. Nobody is more important to his team. Nobody needs Banks more than Craig Stephens, either. Stephens is a capable back when he has a cast around him. But Banks has the ability to open up the field, something Reno Lamar cannot do. Houston actually has the easiest schedule in the league, which is a double-edged sword for them. We could see them finishing 14-2, but losing in the divisional round of the playoffs. They will face only two more teams (currently) with winning records, and both, Chicago and Michigan, are 4-3. Can they get past Seattle and San Francisco, though? THAT is the real question. It will be fun, though, watching Banks put up numbers that will be hard to break, given the nature of their schedule and aerial attack.

6) Miami Blitz (6-1) - They've managed to defy any and all critics, myself included. They're arguably the hottest team in the league, with six straight wins heading into this week's tough contest in Cincinnati. The next four weeks will determine just how tough this team is, with games at Cincy, Tampa, and Pittsburgh, and a home game against New Orleans. The combined record of those teams is 21-8. But Miami rose to the challenge in routing Tampa last week, and looks the part in being a major conference contender. Darrell Hickerson, considered the worst first-round pick in the AFL initial draft, has been perfect for this offense and the locker room, and Ahmad Davis, considered washed up in the Southern Football League a year ago, is averaging almost 100 yards a game in Miami I'm still waiting for them to drop, but they don't.

7) Boston Minutemen (5-2) - Defense. Flat out defense. That's what you think when the Minutemen come to mind. They're also 5-1 in the conference, good for tops in the CFC. As long as they have Brian Barrett (league leader in rushing) and Butch Nasta (70 tackles, five sacks) anchoring the defense, Boston will have a say in how the conference is won. They also have a favorable schedule, in which only one game, a home contest with Seattle in Week 11, which may pose a problem. This COULD mean the #2, or, if Houston fumbles, home-field advantage in the playoffs.

8) San Francisco Generals (5-2) - They are an enigma, that's for sure. They lost to Kansas City in the final minute, giving the Gamblers the only win of their season. They have since regrouped, and have won their games by an average of 38-8, the only close game coming in a 34-27 game against Philly. 51-6 against Oakland. 42-3 against Portland, who beat Seattle. 40-6 against Boston. 23-0 against Cleveland. This team has a defense. But if they give up a couple of plays, watch out. In their two losses, Seattle ran the ball down their throats, and KC didn't make mistakes. This IS a beatable team, if you don't make mistakes on offense against them. They are not spectacular on offense; but they have four defensive touchdowns, and have nine interceptions. They are a very opportunistic unit, and against some weak opponents down the stretch, this team could be very tough to keep out of the division title hunt.

9) Tampa Blazers (5-3) - They have a high-octane offense, led by rookie QB, and first-overall selection in the initial draft, Dick Dinkins. He's thrown the most passes in the league this year, thrown 21 TD, and only five interceptions. He, along with RB Patrick Putzier and WR Gary Thompson, offer one of the most diverse and explosive offenses in the league. They can outscore anyone. But if they get into a shootout, watch out. Miami went right past them last week, winning a surprisingly easy 43-24 contest. They have stiffened up in some games, shutting out Atlanta and holding Nashville to 10 points in a 38-10 triumph. But they've beaten Louisville 33-31; beaten Houston 51-27 (without Steve Banks for the Oilers)...truth is, this team is going to put up points, but they're going to give up a lot of points, too. This is a candidate to falter down the stretch, with Miami, Dallas, Pittsburgh, and New Orleans on the schedule. They'll have a tough time of it.

10) Michigan Panthers (4-3) - This is the beginning of the hodge-podge of the mediocre. No offense to Michigan, but I don't consider them to be on the level of the top nine teams. However, they are good enough to get into the playoffs, and into the second round. They do have a favorable schedule down the stretch, with the only team that could be chalked up as a major loss being Houston. They do have a hole at the QB spot, with Joe Brown having thrown more interceptions than touchdowns thus far (9-8). But Gene Boselli, considered a backup to whichever team selected him in the initial draft, has rushed for 521 yards and four touchdowns. Not bad at all. They also have a tough defense that can get at the quarterback; DE Ronde Woodbury has six sacks, and DT Vince Beasley has five. OLB Jay Jeter, the team's leading tackler, has gotten at the QB four times. They may not be elite, but they are better than the rest and have an easy schedule down the stretch.

First Half...

Player of the Year AND Most Valuable Player: QB Steve Banks, Houston. It's a toss-up between Banks and Boston RB Brian Barrett. But Banks, in just five games, has thrown for 1500 yards, 15 TD, and 2 INT, at a 73% completion clip. He's been electric for an Oilers' offense that has been an absolute joy to watch. Nobody has meant more to his team more than Banks, and it shows.

Other Candidates, POTY: Brian Barrett, BOS RB; Dick Dinkins, TAM QB; Andre Eisenhauer, NSH WR; OLB Steve Vigorito, CHI LB; Sammy Hoambrecker, LA RB

Other Candidates, MVP: Dick Dinkins, TAM QB; Ladell Suggs, SD QB; Bryce Cross, LOU RB

All-CFC Team

QB: Steve Banks, Houston
RB: Brian Barrett, Boston
FB: Trumaine Ogden, Boston
WR: Flash Gordon, Portland
WR: Jamie Sanders, Kansas City
TE: Jessie Huffman, Houston
OT: Dennis Ruegamer, Philadelphia
OT: Verron Byrd, New York
OG: Tank Brookshier, Portland
OG: Zachary Warner, Chicago
C: Ray Knafelc, Boston

DE: Kamil Jones, Portland
DE: Ronde Woodbury, Michigan
DT: Tyrone Gordon, Philadelphia
ILB: Karl Victor, Kansas City
ILB: ML Donald, Dallas
OLB: Steve Vigorito, Chicago
OLB: Thomas Hollister, Iowa
CB: Tavares Cook, San Francisco
CB: Mike Romanik, New York
FS: Rory O'Connell, St. Louis
SS: Jack McCoy, Philadelphia

K: Filip Williams, Boston
P: Walt Cappelletti, Kansas City
KR: Raleigh Wallner, Iowa
PR: Dhani Whittle, Seattle

All-HFC Team

QB: Dick Dinkins, Tampa
RB: Sammy Hoambrecker, Los Angeles
FB: Scott Burr, Denver
WR: Andre Eisenhauer, Nashville
WR: Dennis Teig, Atlanta
TE: Hopalong Van Dyke, Cincinnati
OT: Lawyer Glass, San Diego
OT: Matt Ofenheusle, Denver
OG: Kyle Ohlmiter, Arizona
OG: Richard Duckworth, New Orleans
C: Kevin Johnson, Louisville

DE: Manny Hernandez, Baltimore
DE: Jason Molden, Pittsburgh
DT: Tom Guman, New Orleans
ILB: Steve Mason, Carolina
ILB: Justin Strong, Nashville
OLB: Aaron Kramer, Arizona
OLB: Cliff Thompson, Nashville
CB: Tom Tuitele, Denver
CB: Billy Schau, Miami
FS: Eric Byrnes, Indianapolis
SS: Lincoln Haze, Nashville

K: Stephen Adams, Indianapolis
P: Donovan Smith, San Diego
KR: Horace Henderson, Denver
PR: Rich Baker, Indianapolis

Biggest Surprise, Player: QB Ladell Suggs, San Diego. Who would've thought that this guy would be a top-flight starter? He had one of the most impressive games this season with his 26-of-30, 3 TD performance in Week 2. He's also run for 408 yards, more than any QB in the league.

Biggest Surprise, Team: Miami. They were considered just another team, and even less than that after a lackluster first game. Now they're 6-1, currently own the #1 spot in the HFC (based on conference record), and are looking better and better each week.

Biggest Disappointment, Player: RB Chick Watkins, Baltimore. Only started three games due to an injury, but even before that, he was very underwhelming. His best game is in Week 1, where he had 68 yards on 15 carries. His longest carry is for 14 yards. He has as many fumbles as he does touchdowns.

Biggest Disappointment, Team: Nashville. They were a preseason favorite to win the Midland, and here they are, 2-5-1. They're 0-3-1 at home, and have been shunned by the hometown faithful. Owner Keene Gionest has suffered from heart palpatations since Week 2, and rumor is it the front office is taking a pool on when he finally snaps. They may not even be around to see who wins that bet.

Best Comeback, First Half: Nashville comes back to tie Indianapolis, Week 8. Yeah, they've had their downs and downs, but Nashville did give the hometown team something to cheer for for two minutes. Nashville tied the game at 14-14 on Drew Thompson's 15-yard TD pass from Thomas Jansen, and subsequent two-point conversion. But, with 1:41 left, Cyril Wyche threw his third TD pass of the game, putting Indy up 21-14. But Jansen, filling in for injured starter Josh Stanley, marched the Nightmare back down the field. And, with 30 seconds left, he tossed a six-yard TD pass to Cliff Howley to tie the game. Unfortunately for Nashville, Indy won the game in overtime, after a missed Nashville field goal that would have won it.

Most underrated player: LB ML Donald, Dallas
Most overrated player: TE Gene Tilley, Philadelphia
Best offense: Houston
Worst offense: St. Louis
Best defense: Pittsburgh
Worst defense: Philadelphia
Best backfield: Los Angeles
Best receiver corps: Tampa
Best offensive line: Atlanta
Most diverse weapon: Ladell Suggs, San Diego
Best player you haven't heard of: S Rory O'Connell, St. Louis
Team of 1991: Tampa
Team of 1992: Kansas City
Team of 1993: St. Louis

Best Game, First Half: We narrowed it to three, and Arizona was involved in two of them.

Arizona 41, Louisville 35, Week 6 - Louisville led 17-7 after one quarter, but Arizona, behind Lamar Burton, led 28-17 at half-time. Louisville tied the game after three at 28-28, but Arizona took a lead on Glenn Thomas' 33-yard INT TD. Louisville came back down the field and scored on Ray Frazier's second TD pass, tying the game at 35-35. Arizona took the lead on a field goal, and finally took the game on a second field goal in the final minute.

Los Angeles 35, Arizona 33, Week 3 - Also known as the game where Sammy Hoambrecker burst onto the national scene. The Home Wrecker rushed for a league record 239 yards and two scores, and single-handedly turned back a comeback bid by Arizona with a 64-yard TD run, as LA won a wild one in the desert. The game also featured two defensive touchdowns by Marcus Milne. Milne returned a fumble recovery 94 yards for a score, and intercepted a pass, and ran it back 63 yards for another one. But Arizona would not go away, and led 24-21 late in the third. The game was 28-27 when Hoambrecker burst out for his second big run of the game. He had an 84-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.

Portland 26, Seattle 20 (OT), Week 2 - The Interception. Mike Kosier's pick of Monte Meier, deep in Seattle territory, set up a touchdown and shocked the league. Everyone thought that Seattle would run rampant over everyone in the league all the way to the Washington Bowl and the AFL Championship. Portland changed that perception, knocking off the Tritons in a game that received the highest rating for a game this year.

Top Games to Watch, Second Half:

Miami AT Cincinnati, Week 9 - The contest to weed out the top competitors in the HFC will begin here, with a matchup of titans in Cincy. Cincy could vault to the top seed in the conference with a win. But Miami has shrugged off everyone since that opening week rout.

Seattle AT Portland, Week 9 - Portland exposed Seattle in the shocker explained above. The Tritons have guaranteed revenge this week, and with Portland struggling, they could very well get that. This could be a bloodbath as well. Rumor has it that Seattle coaches have placed a bounty on Portland linebacker Mike Kosier, the man who broke Seattle in that fateful game.

Pittsburgh AT Los Angeles, Week 10 - The other two 6-1 teams go head-to-head in Los Angeles. Pittsburgh could convince a lot of doubters by pulling off the upset here. Yes, we said it. Upset.

Cincinnati AT Seattle, Week 10 - A possible...POSSIBLE...Washington Bowl preview.

St. Louis AT Houston, Week 10 - This could be the biggest rout in league history. Steve Banks should produce ridiculous numbers here.

Miami AT Pittsburgh, Week 12 - You see a running theme here, don't you? This seemingly round-robin fight between the division leaders in the HFC continues in Pittsburgh, where Miami has yet another big game. We failed to mention that they play Tampa the previous week.

San Francisco AT Cincinnati, Week 12 - Top defenses will go head-to-head here. You can't help but like Cincy's chances...but Herkie Martini has been lights out in the big games. His veins have ice in them, but against the Royals secondary, will he freeze?

Tampa AT Pittsburgh, Week 13 - The HFC certainly is chock-full of games worth watching in the second half, and this game is no exception. Tampa QB Dick Dinkins faces the Pride defense and the Pride crazies in what could be snowy weather. How will Tampa handle the cold weather? Dinkins went to Louisiana Tech, and has never played in a game where the temperature was lower than 50 degrees. This should be very interesting for the rookie, and for us fans to watch.

Seattle AT Indianapolis, Week 14 - Indianapolis beat Los Angeles earlier this season. Will they knock off the other preseason favorite in Seattle? The Monarchs have been coming on strong lately, winners of their last three, and are now in the playoff chase. Will they slay another dragon, though? Not if the Tritons have anything to say about it.

Cincinnati AT Los Angeles, Week 15 - Cincy will have faced all of the other current division leaders when they come to Los Angeles for this battle. This could be for the top seed in the HFC playoffs, which makes it a huge game by itself. But what will be interesting is how the duo of Leonard Smith and Barry Robinson stack up to LA's duo of Sammy Baw and Sammy Hoambrecker.

San Francisco AT Seattle, Week 15 - This could be for the Frontier division title, which comes as a shock to many. Who would have thought that the Generals would even have a winning record at this point? We're not even sure that their front office thought they could win this season. But here they are, and this potential battle for the division title could ALSO be for home field advantage.

Washington AT Boston, Week 15 - If Boston stumbles, this could be for the division. Boston has won ugly this year, and will probably continue to win ugly...that's to say, with rushing and defense. Washington has won somewhat ugly, too. But the rematch of this game could go either way, I think. Boston is susceptible to lackluster play in spurts. Nobody questions that they are one of the top teams in the league. But their game in San Francisco was just awful, and they have had flat halves before.

New Orleans AT Atlanta, Week 17 - The winner of this game could earn a playoff spot. The loser could go home for its effort. I think this game will be played for a playoff spot, and if so, then it's a great game to watch.

Second Half Predictions

CFC Conference Division Winners and Playoff Predictions

Colonial: Boston. They have too much defense, and Brian Barrett, for teams in this division to overcome. Washington can make a run, but New York and Philadelphia are gearing up for next season.

Midway: Michigan. I don't think Chicago has enough to overcome the Panthers. They ARE 1-2 in the division, but they hit their defensive stride in shutting out Pittsburgh.

Grid: Houston. They have too much offense. Simple as that. Too much offense and too favorable a schedule to lose this division.

Frontier: Seattle. I still think they have all the pieces worthy of a division championship. I don't think they'll take home field, but they should get the division.

Wild Card: San Francisco and Chicago. I can believe San Francisco. They have the defense and just enough offense to get in. Chicago though...that's a reach. I just don't think anyone else can make it. Chicago may get in at 8-8...I'm picking them more on the fact that their schedule is much easier than any of the other candidates.

Playoff Tree:

Home field: Houston
First-round bye: Seattle

First round:

Chicago (6) @ Boston (3): Boston wins with defense. Chicago could make it interesting, but Boston would win this one. Change Barrett's batteries and let him run all over the field.
WINNER: Boston

San Francisco (5) @ Michigan (4): San Francisco could even have a better record than Michigan in this one, and they go on the round. It would not be an upset to see the Generals win this game, and I think they could on the strength of their secondary.
WINNER: San Francisco

Divisional Round:

San Francisco (5) @ Houston (1): This would be a truly great matchup: the wily old quarterback and potent passing offense versus the top secondary in the league. Someone would have to give. I think Craig Stephens pushes this contest in Houston's favor, and as a result, Houston wins.
WINNER: Houston

Boston (3) @ Seattle (2): Tough draw for Boston. This looks like a game that could be 3-0, to be honest with you. But, in the end, it comes down to Monte Meier over Russell Stock. Seattle wins this game.
WINNER: Seattle

CFC Championship:

Seattle (2) @ Houston (1): This depends on how well the defensive line of Seattle can get at Banks. Banks can beat this secondary, especially after seeing San Francisco. But if he's rushed, Seattle wins. This game, as surprising as it sounds, is a toss-up. But I'll take Seattle, on their schedule that prepped them for this game, their defensive line, and that I won't leave them now, after I started with them in the preseason.
WINNER: Seattle

HFC Division Division Winners and Playoff Predictions

Valley: Cincinnati. Their offense is too good for this division. They're 3-0 within the Valley, and while Indy could push them, I don't think Cincy could give up this lead.

Midland: Pittsburgh. As if there's any other team in this division that can take them...

Gulf: Miami. They have a really tough four weeks coming up, and then....nothing. If they go 2-2 over this stretch, they'll win the division by two games. Tampa could make a push, but there are some traps left in their schedule.

Pacific: Los Angeles. Seems academic, doesn't it?

Wild Card: Tampa and San Diego. San Diego? Well, yes. They only have two super tough teams left, Boston this week, and Los Angeles in Week 17. With Ladell Suggs, who may be the most underrated quarterback in the league, they have a chance to really go on the roll they were on in the first quarter of the season. I don't know if Indianapolis, the other favorite to take the sixth spot, could really nail it down. So, I'll take San Diego.

Playoff Tree:

Home Field: Los Angeles
First-Round Bye: Pittsburgh

First Round:

Tampa (5) @ Cincinnati (4): Toughest matchup of the first round, by far. It's a pick-em game. So...after flipping a coin, I'll take Cincinnati for their experience. Tampa will be a great team with Dick Dinkins at the controls...but this is as far as he gets this year.
WINNER: Cincinnati

San Diego (6) @ Miami (3): San Diego may have gotten this far, but I think it's ludicrous to think they'll get further. Miami could make Ladell Suggs' life miserable; these two have faced off, with Miami winning 35-26 in Week 5. In the rematch, I think Miami will take them again.
WINNER: Miami

Divisional Round:

Cincinnati (4) @ Los Angeles (1): Well, there's experience. And there's the Home Wrecker. And when you have the Sammies Two (Baw and Hoambrecker), as well as the defense the Marshalls have...well, the Royals will be crowned, all right.
WINNER: Los Angeles

Miami (3) @ Pittsburgh (2): Another pick-em. I'm taking Pittsburgh on the basis that it'll be frickin COLD in the Burgh. Also, Billy Rolovich has proven capable of winning big games.
WINNER: Pittsburgh

Conference Championship:

Pittsburgh (2) @ Los Angeles (1): Really tough game. I mean...you'll see the steam from LA, and it won't be the smog. The question of the hour is...will the Pittsburgh defense be able to handle Sammy Hoambrecker for an entire game? You know, I think they will, but I think Los Angeles will still win this game in the final minute. Special teams will do in Pittsburgh in this game.
WINNER: Los Angeles

Washington Bowl I: Seattle vs. Los Angeles

The preseason prediction still holds up. And I think Los Angeles has the upper hand here because of Sammy Hoambrecker. I just don't know if Quincy Jones will hold up for the entire playoffs. He may be hurting once the Bowl rolls around. But Hoambrecker is an absolute horse, and seems to be getting better and better as the weeks go by. I think Los Angeles will ride Hoambrecker to the title.
WINNER: Los Angeles by 6

Other predictions...

MVP: QB Steve Banks, Houston
Offensive Player of the Year: QB Steve Banks, Houston
Defense Player of the Year: CB Tavares Cook, San Francisco
Offensive Rookie of the Year: QB Dick Dinkins, Tampa
Defensive Rookie of the Year: SS Jack McCoy, Philadelphia
Coach of the Year: Bill Doran, Pittsburgh
First overall pick next year: Kansas City
First player taken: OT Gene Herron
Biggest free agent next year: FS Cecil Hall
Darkhorse to make playoffs this year: San Diego, New Orleans, Dallas
Could implode: Miami, Michigan, San Francisco

Cup O' Joe - Week 8 Predictions

A bad week means we're looking to get back on track. Then again, 7-7 is a bad week, so we're not hurting so much.

Game of the Week:

Tampa (5-2) @ Miami (5-1): A huge division in the Gulf gives Tampa their second-straight Game of the Week. We were wrong on them last week, when we predicted them to fall to Houston, and they rolled right past them 51-27. Go us. This week, we think Tampa QB Dick Dinkins will be the difference. He threw for FIVE touchdowns, a league record, last week in the win over Houston. He also opened up the rushing game, as Patrick Putzier ran for 112 yards, and the Blazers ran for 223 and all. It appears Tampa is running on all cylinders, and they'll be hard to stop this week, even in Miami. The Blitz have won five in a row since losing their opening game, a 44-7 blowout in Houston. The defense for the Blitz is suspect, and I think Tampa will take the division lead in a surprising rout.
Prediction: Tampa 41, MIAMI 20 (4-2, GOTW predictions)

Other Games (home team in CAPS):
Houston 45, KANSAS CITY 14
Indianapolis 27, NASHVILLE 24
Chicago 28, ST. LOUIS 27
CINCINNATI 24, Arizona 17
BOSTON 17, New York 14
WASHINGTON 34, Iowa 16
San Francisco 30, CLEVELAND 24
Seattle 23, LOUISVILLE 20
Portland 30, OAKLAND 16
NEW ORLEANS 34, Atlanta 30
Pittsburgh 10, MICHIGAN 6
DENVER 17, Baltimore 13
SAN DIEGO 20, Carolina 17

Last Week: 7-7
Season: 60-42

Cup O' Joe - Week 7 Predictions

So, I missed Week 6. We'll treat it as 7-7 as a result.

Game of the Week:

Tampa (4-2) @ Houston (4-1): Tampa has recovered from some early bumps to be right there in the division standings. Houston had their first loss, a shocking defeat to Tampa's division rival New Orleans. However, Houston won't have quite a tough time with Tampa's defense than they had with the Knights. They will also have Steve Banks back, putting their offense into high octane for this week. Look for a monster game out of Craig Stephens, and Houston will get back on track with a big victory.
Prediction: HOUSTON 41, Tampa 31 (4-1, GOTW predictions)

Other Games (home team in CAPS):
Cincinnati 24, CLEVELAND 23
NEW YORK 31, Chicago 20
Arizona 34, WASHINGTON 24
SEATTLE 27, Philadelphia 17
CAROLINA 13, Nashville 10
DALLAS 16, Kansas City 9
Michigan 20, IOWA 7
INDIANAPOLIS 23, San Diego 20 (OT)
Minnesota 19, BALTIMORE 14
ATLANTA 24, Pittsburgh 17 (UPSET SPECIAL)
SAN FRANCISCO 20, Boston 17 (OT) (Upset Special #2)
PORTLAND 23, St. Louis 13
LOS ANGELES 34, Denver 14
Last Week (5): 9-5
Season: 53-35

Cup O' Joe - Week 7 Rumblings and Grumblings

Here's the news for Week 7:

- Seattle ran the ball down the throats of the Shamrocks on Sunday, and threw rather effectively with Marco Brandt, the third-string QB who got the nod over injured starter Monte Meier. Brandt was 24-of-38 for 243 yards and a touchdown in the Tritons' 34-14 win. Brandt will more than likely play again this week against Louisville, as the Tritons nurse Meier back to health. This is good news for fantasy players, who have Quincy Jones on their roster. Jones had three touchdowns against the 'Rocks last week, and has his best output, yardage-wise, since Week 1. Jones COULD be the top running back in football, but the Tritons have limited his carries to under 15 the past two weeks. They turned him loose for 22 carries, and he went for 101 yards and had his first 3 TD game.

- How about the Chicago Fire? They have this rotating door with players coming in and out for the first six weeks...have a near mutiny on a team fight because of a pool on who was going to be traded next (Noland Maynard was the one who was tagged, and the 15-year vet went after 6-6, 276-pound defensive end Koren Powers, starting a locker room brawl that saw two players, including start TE Clayton Daufeldt, get injured. So, did the rickety old quarterback get respect out of the brawl? Well, maybe not so much as when he scrambled 23 yards for the game-winning score with 55 seconds left, as Chicago shocked the Empire. This with Maynard suffering an elbow injury, too.

- As we look around the league at some of the teams who are currently projected to pick high in the first round, we look at the current #1 overall pick, Kansas City, and see what they need most. The #1 need they have is at offensive tackle, and with gamebreaker prospects at other positions, we could see them going at the tackle spot, if there's one that shows the kind of skills that comes along once in a lifetime. In this case, we see OT Gene Herron, out of San Jose State, being a potential candidate, along with OT Tony McMullen. McMullen has been a beast in the Big Ten, but Herron has a lot of size, and hasn't let a defender NEAR QB Zeke Walker (#72 prospect) this season. He could be a major part in the Gamblers' effort towards re-signing QB Marc Hamdan, who has been adamant that he won't resign with the club unless they commit to fixing the line.

- The big game this week is, of course, the Gulf Division battle in Miami, where the Tampa Blazers will try to take out the division-leading Blitz. But another key battle is one in the Pioneer, where all four teams will have tough games. San Francisco, who nobody can figure out, will go to Cleveland, where the Blues are coming off a tough loss to unbeaten Cincinnati. This is a trap game for the Generals, and nobody knows how this team will do from one game to the next. Seattle, meanwhile, goes to Louisville (as we wrote about earlier). Oakland has the only home game this week, but it's against Portland, who has struggled and is looking to right their ship. The Gulf and the Frontier divisions have become the most contested divisions, with all teams in each still able to do damage.

- Finally, Dallas fans are clamoring for the debut of corner Tripp Welbourne, who has sat out the year on the practice squad. He may start next week against Michigan; if so, he would give the Outlaws a MUCH needed boost on their pass defense. He has immense talent, and can contribute immediately. Another player who could come off the practice squad is Cleveland OT Chad Coleman, who is considered the third-best prospect in the league right now. Cleveland should give him a chance to see what he can do; he could solidify a line that has given up 13 sacks this season.