Pittsburgh Franchise Football League 2011 News & Notes

Week 10

 

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WEEK 11 - Final Regular Season Week

Upcoming week 11 is the final regular season week of the PFFL season. After week 11 each team in each conference will be given a ranking designation from 1 thru 12 according to their finish in the standings. This ranking will remain with each team for the remainder of the season. A team's rank determines where a team competes in the postseason (teams 1 thru 8 in the Playoffs to start and 9 thru 11 Consolation Tournament only) and who they will be matched up against. The highest rank always plays the lowest rank. Postseason information and formats can be accessed here: Playoff Formats  Below is what's at stake in the final regular season week.   Finish first or second earn a playoff birth and two byes in weeks 12 & 13 Finish third or fourth earn a playoff birth and a bye in week 12 Finish fifth thru eighth earn a wildcard birth play in week 12 Finish ninth thru twelfth play in the Consolation Tournament in week 12

PFFL East Standings

Franchise VP W-L-T PF PB Max PF PP PA PWR Eff Strk x Cleantown 30 6-3-1 1390 0 185 1553 1251 36.97 89.5% L3 z Cousins Mc 28 7-3-0 1333 57 169 1494 1163 34.97 89.2% W3 z IC Lightning 25 7-3-0 1255 135 191 1450 1142 33.99 86.6% W2 z Dego's R Us 25 6-4-0 1248 142 143 1354 1239 32.41 92.2% W4                       z Capital 24 6-4-0 1216 174 150 1371 1252 32.12 88.7% W3 z Syndicate 21 5-5-0 1204 186 148 1339 1175 29.67 89.9% L4 z Commish East 20 5-5-0 1161 229 147 1397 1214 30.15 83.1% L1 T Bones 18 4-6-0 1195 195 166 1379 1160 28.70 86.7% W1                       Midquippa 14 3-6-1 1118 272 140 1335 1173 26.24 83.7% L2 Weekend Warriors 13 4-6-0 1076 314 130 1263 1148 25.46 85.2% L3 Nasty Aggravators 11 3-7-0 1036 354 142 1304 1206 24.27 79.4% L1 The Jolly Roger 11 2-6-2 1020 370 129 1209 1129 21.86 84.4% W1

PFFL East Week 11
#1 Cleantown vs. #4 Degos R Us
z Capital 133 x Cleantown 109	They continue with their evil plan of conquest without victory. Four straight weeks without a win and their reward is? TWO BYES! Need just one more loss for the #1 seed. Of course we fully expect them to earn the #1 seed but just for the sake of argument anyway here it is: 3VP earned locks up #1 anything less give the Cousins an opportunity to steal the top spot in the final week. Ok I did my duty but like we said we fully expect them to win the #1 rank in the East without winning. After that I guess their evil plan continues with a 2011 championship without any playoff victories and after that I guess nothing left but total world domination. Chris Johnson finally has that break out week they have been waiting on all year helping them to finally break into the top tier for the first time this year. Their fourth straight win puts them in good shape to earn a bye but a bye not a lock; that would take a 4VP win this week. Just two teams are capable of stealing the bye from them and that's the Syndicate and Capital. Just 1VP will keep the Syndicate at bay and after that all they need to do is match or better any VP earned by Capital. If they end up tied in VP with Capital it could come down to total points and advantage Degos who have 32 more.
z Dego's R Us 137 Midquippa 120
#2 Cousins Mc vs. #6 Syndicate
z Cousins Mc 146 Nasty Aggravators 79	Answer the call with a key win that not only puts them in the drivers seat for two byes, but sets them up for a legitimate shot at the #1 seed. Two byes are totally in their own control but will need help from Cleantown to earn the #1 ranking. Earning just 2VP not only locks up two byes but can even steal the top spot if Cleantown comes up empty. But 1VP or less opens the door for not just one but two teams to steal the second bye from them. Although it is not so indicated they will get at least one bye even if they fail to win any VP because of total points which isn't considered in the xyz designations. And considering they have some major bye issues with their WR corps this week, 0VP is a real possibility. Somebody needs to tell them that although Cleantown is being rewarded for going winless in four straight, it doesn't mean they will also. Absolutely falling apart down the stretch and now fall off the top tier entirely to 6th. They at least lock up a wildcard but four straight losses has them 4VP from a bye with just one week to go and a brutal scenario left to earn a bye: First they must earn all 4VP or forget it. At the same time the Degos can't be allowed to earn even one. If that goes down they must now outscore the Degos by 45. If they get this far it will now be up to what Capital does. If Capital earns more than 1VP all their hard work goes for not but if after getting past the first scenario Capital also earns 0VP, the bye is theirs. If Capital does get 1VP however along with earning 4VP themselves and the Degos get shutout, they will still have to outscore Capital by 13. I know they would prefer doing it Cleantown's way by just simply losing but the Syndicate isn't one of Kevin's teams so they can forget it.
The Jolly Roger 112 z Syndicate 92
#3 IC Lightning vs. #9 Midquippa
z IC Lightning 114 Weekend Warriors 89	Not a big scoring week but a big win that has at least one bye looking all but locked up. Two byes still possible but with just one scenario: Earn all 4VP while Cousins Mc earns none. For a single bye it will take 3VP to make it impossible for anyone to steal it from them. Less than 3VP and all they have to do is match or better whatever VP the Degos earn. If plan B fails plan C would entail earning no less than 1VP less than Capital. The extra win they have over the Degos and Capital has the advantage heavily in their favor. And I will no longer be mentioning the week 1 loss to Commish East because their thrilling 1-point win in the Sandlot League over Commish Sandlot has shut me up. Yea Vincent! We told them that it was most likely all or nothing they win this past week because they would be without Foster in week 11 and you don't want a must game with your most productive player on a bye. Well it was nothing in week 10 so now in week 11 they are down to this one and only one scenario for a wildcard and they will have it without Foster. First they must win and earn all 4VP; second the T Bones must lose and fail to earn any VP. I told you you should have won last week.
z Dego's R Us 137 Midquippa 120
#5 Capital vs. #11 Nasty Aggravators
z Capital 133 x Cleantown 109	Three straight wins have now given them an opportunity for a bye. They will have two opportunities actually and both will be determined by what IC Lightning and the Degos R Us do. At 1VP behind the Degos are the easier target because of win total. If after week 11 is over they have more VP than either one they get a bye. A tie in VP with the Lightning won't do it but they can get by with a tie in VP with the Degos if they also outscore them by 33. If they fail with any of the above they at least will have a wildcard to fall back on. The bad news is they didn't have one of their QBs on a bye this week so once again they had to choose between the two of them. I don't have to tell you how that turned out. The good news is it didn't make a difference in the game. But more bad news they lose a must win game. At least they don't have to scoreboard watch anymore.
z Cousins Mc 146 Nasty Aggravators 79
#7 Commish East vs. #10 Weekend Warriors
z Commish East 75 T Bones 142	Two more injuries this week. Might as well have kept Jamal Charles for all the points being scored by his replacements. With Newton and Smith having an off day wouldn't have won anyway. At least have a wildcard locked up so this week anyway the injuries don't matter. A 0VP week 10 leaves them zero chance in week 11.
z IC Lightning 114 Weekend Warriors 89
#8 T Bones vs. #12 The Jolly Roger
z Commish East 75 T Bones 142	Barring a total collapse and 4VP week from Midquippa, all but lock up a wildcard with their victory. Earn their second weekly second but decision to bench Fitz cost them a first and possibly a Team of the Week. I know some of the experts were advising sitting him this week but others were advising you never sit a stud. Think the latter advice is best. Do what they could winning but needed the T Bones to lose to make it matter.
The Jolly Roger 112 z Syndicate 92

PFFL Central Standings

Franchise VP W-L-T PF PB Max PF PP PA PWR Eff Strk x Arnie's Army 30 8-1-1 1298 54 162 1420 1094 35.72 91.4% T1 x Park Valley 29 7-3-0 1292 60 167 1480 1209 34.83 87.3% W1 z H Hammers 24 6-4-0 1215 137 162 1416 1156 32.87 85.8% W4 z JR's Boys 21 5-4-1 1188 164 144 1477 1151 31.73 80.4% T1                       TD's 21 4-6-0 1352 0 193 1504 1317 32.02 89.9% L3 Sharks 20 6-4-0 1144 208 134 1265 1191 28.66 90.4% L2 Frannie's Train 19 5-5-0 1127 225 179 1229 1150 26.64 91.7% L2 TnT 18 4-6-0 1174 178 179 1336 1219 26.16 87.9% W2                       Bartertown 17 4-6-0 1183 169 151 1315 1216 27.20 90.0% W1 Snake & Shake 15 4-6-0 1149 203 137 1347 1221 27.06 85.3% W2 Little Johnny & Will's 14 4-6-0 1113 239 158 1284 1190 26.09 86.7% L4 Twisted Helmets 14 2-8-0 1152 200 155 1358 1273 26.96 84.8% L1

PFFL Central Week 11
#1 Arnie's Army vs. #2 Park Valley
z JR's Boys 115 x Arnie's Army 115	The situation was reversed from last Monday as this time they are the trailing team going into the final game. Down a significant 23 but with a significant player in Jordy Nelson or more accurate a significant QB throwing to him. Considering the game finishes in a tie Nelson got the exact deficit of 23 no more no less breaking the 7 game win streak. The thing is the tie doesn't matter much unless they tie again this week. The Valley has been chasing them for the past several weeks and until now hasn't been able to catch up. The Army still leads by 1VP but that doesn't matter any more except for another tie then that extra 1VP would come into play. Both teams have two byes locked up so this game is called king of the hill. The winner gets the #1 ranking in the Central and the loser #2. Have been playing second fiddle to Arnie for five straight weeks but never able to quite catch up. Showing they got a strong kick coming down the stretch they put up a Team of the Week performance to pull within 1VP and force an all or nothing show down in the final week. No mystery here; barring a tie the winner is #1 the loser #2.
TD's 139 x Park Valley 167
#3 H Hammers vs. #4 JR's Boys
z H Hammers 128 Sharks 113	Went into Monday night down 5 but don't think they were much worried with AP going and Finley for insurance. Very key win that while it doesn't totally lock up a bye, it totally comes close. For the second straight week they will be playing the #4 team with them at #3. But their competition isn't so much the #4 team as the #5 and 6. They are the two that would like to steal the bye they are currently in line for but all they need is just 1VP to make sure that doesn't happen. With just 1VP earned the worst that happens is they drop to #4. A 0VP week however opens the door for both the TD's and the Sharks. Both would have to score all 4VP to their 0 but the possibility is there and that is it. The Boys are no stranger to ties recording a record three in 2008 but the one less VP for this week makes this week that much more interesting for all concerned. With as many as four teams in range the odds say they will need to win this game to stay in the top tier and earn a bye. But just winning may not be enough. All 4VP earned is the only sure guarantee of a bye. Anything less and they open the opportunity door to as many as four other teams.
z JR's Boys 115 x Arnie's Army 115
#5 TD's vs. #9 Bartertown
TD's 139 x Park Valley 167	Every year there is at least one enigma team and it seems the TD's are claiming the honor this year. First in points but not in the top tier in the standings and in theory could even miss the playoffs; but the schedule at least has made that impossible. While their destiny isn't completely in their own hands, the schedule has also made a bye possible. Depending on what the JR's Boys do they could actually get a bye with a single VP earned but with other teams vying, the odds are long on that. While a 4VP win doesn't guarantee a bye, it guarantees only one scenario can prevent it. The JR's Boys would have to earn 4VP and the Hammers earn at least 1VP in the loss. Of course playing without Foster this week 4VP will be a tall order. Do what they have to do which is win for a chance in week 11 and now have that chance. It won't be easy scheduled against the conference leader in points but at least still alive. Just 1VP could actually be enough but will be relying on what other teams do no matter what. Obviously 4VP gives them their best chance but it will still depend on what all four middle tier teams do in the way of VP earned.
Bartertown 141 Little Johnny & Will's 110
#6 Sharks vs. #8 TnT
z H Hammers 128 Sharks 113	Lose a key game and while a wildcard is still in their own control, a bye is now not. They will be relying on what other teams do for that. But at least earn 1VP in the loss that helps in all scenarios this week. That 1VP earned means just 1VP could get them either a wildcard or a bye. The wildcard is guaranteed with 1VP but will need a lot of help for the bye with just 1 but it is possible because of their win total. Earn just 2VP in the win but very fortunate to play one of just two teams they outscore. And those 2VP are the difference in the bottom and middle tier and the difference in having or not having control of their own destiny. It will take all 4VP to guarantee a wildcard but they at least have matters in their own hands. Anything less than 4VP and even the 11th place team is in range.
Frannie's Train 70 TnT 107
#7 Frannie's Train vs. #10 Snake & Shake
Frannie's Train 70 TnT 107	They bottom out with 32 less points than the next worst team. Those throw away games are looming large now. Mathematically it's still possible they get a bye, but it is also possible they don't even get a wildcard. Destiny at least still in their control and you have to believe Vick & Company will do better most weeks. Circumstances still favor a wildcard at least and 3VP will make that a certainty. Anything less however and the door is opened for Bartertown. A repeat of this week and and even Snake & Shake could come into play. Showing the heart of a champion, the defending champion tenaciously holds on with back to back wins that keeps them in the conversation. Kind of behind the 8 ball and will need help but 3 or more VP and it's possible they get a chance to defend their title. No matter what happens you have to salute them for at least getting out of the cellar after 8 straight weeks.
Snake & Shake 111 Twisted Helmets 102
#11 Little Johnny & Will's vs. #12 Twisted Helmets
Bartertown 141 Little Johnny & Will's 110	Four losses in a row has all but eliminated them but mathematically at least still breathing. It would take 4VP then a scenario that includes winning the Power Ball but people actually do win it so I hear. Lose to the team that just spent 8 weeks in the cellar. Bad ending to a bad season.
Snake & Shake 111 Twisted Helmets 102

PFFL West Standings

Franchise VP W-L-T PF PB Max PF PP PA PWR Eff Strk y Brookline 29 7-3-0 1353 0 177 1534 1131 36.08 88.2% W1 y Bid 66 Bandits 29 7-3-0 1293 60 166 1490 1276 35.34 86.8% W1 y Schleprock 27 6-4-0 1334 19 166 1516 1268 35.31 88.0% W2 z Detroit Lions 23 7-3-0 1195 158 151 1387 1066 32.95 86.2% W3                       z Irish Talbots 22 6-4-0 1190 163 153 1417 1143 30.96 84.0% W2 Smiley's Snipers 21 4-6-0 1222 131 149 1429 1240 29.98 85.5% L1 MNE 20 6-4-0 1138 215 142 1322 1211 28.82 86.1% W1 B&B 19 6-4-0 1120 233 168 1269 1123 27.82 88.3% L1                       Archie's 17 4-6-0 1156 197 154 1324 1207 28.60 87.3% L3 Endzonerz 14 3-7-0 1112 241 140 1314 1270 25.95 84.6% L4 French River 12 3-7-0 1106 247 153 1254 1197 24.89 88.2% L1 Commish West 9 1-9-0 1111 242 126 1255 1198 23.55 88.5% L3

PFFL West Week 11
#1 Brookline vs. #5 Irish Talbots
B&B 82 y Brookline 93	Aaron Rodgers pulls it out for them on Monday night but just 2VP in the win has made week 11 very interesting for sure. One bye locked up but  now dead even with the Bandits and 3rd just 2VP away. The 60 point advantage they have over the Bandits at least somewhat keeps their destiny for the top spot in their own hands with a 4VP win. A win of any kind will guarantee 2nd and two byes. The worst they do is third. Get the win that locks up a wildcard and now have a chance for a bye. The only opportunity available is the one currently occupied by the 4th place Lions. The Lions have 1 more VP, 1 more win and 5 more points. If they do surpass the Lions they will still have to stay ahead of the Snipers and MNE but first things first and that's the Lions.
Endzonerz 120 z Irish Talbots 143
#2 Bid 66 Bandits vs. #11 French River
y Bid 66 Bandits 132 Archie's 105	As expected they get the win but to their credit it's a 4VP win that closes the gap to zero with Brookline. Have one bye locked up but the second bye still unsecured with Schleprock in range at 2VP back. 3VP will lock up that second bye but because of their 60-point lead the #1 rank will still be determined by Brookline. If Brookline match or better anything the Bandits do they lock the Bandits out of the top spot. Actually would still have a chance if they won this week but they didn't. But Kevin still has the first place Cleantown and first place Arnie's Army so no tears please. Yea Kevin!
French River 93 z Detroit Lions 131
#3 Schleprock vs. #10 Endzonerz
y Schleprock 152 Smiley's Snipers 148	The Snipers give them all they can handle forcing them to convert a weekly first just for a win but those 4 more points more than the Snipers they get keeps the top two in range. Actually have an equal chance at both 1st or 2nd this week but first must win their final game. Barring a 2VP loss will need one of the top two to lose along with their win so destiny for the second bye not totally in their control. The worst they do this week is fall to 4th so one bye no matter what. A win would have kept their chances alive but the loss kills it.
Endzonerz 120 z Irish Talbots 143
#4 Detroit Lions vs. #6 Smiley's Snipers
French River 93 z Detroit Lions 131	Key win that keeps them in the top tier and in control of a bye. A loss would have had them in 6th and needing help to get back in but now it is theirs to lose. Because of their win total they don't need the whole nine yards as 3VP is enough to lock up a week 12 vacation, but anything less and not only their opponent this week but also the 5th place Talbots can unseat them. The extra win they have could save them if they fail to win this week. Tough, tough loss that keeps them on the outside looking in. Competing in VP but at a big disadvantage in wins so even if they beat the Lions and earn 4VP, it will take just 2VP to keep the Lions ahead of them. And if they do get by the Lions they will still need to pass the Talbots in VP because they also have the advantage over them in wins. The 2VP earned this week in the loss keeps them in the bye hunt but the misfortune of playing the #1 team in points has really hurt their chances.
y Schleprock 152 Smiley's Snipers 148
#7 MNE vs. #8 B&B
MNE 104 Commish West 95	Win as expected making this week much less stressful than it would have been otherwise. Remote shot they win a bye but actually possible if they earn 4VP. A wildcard not officially locked up but just 1VP earned will make it official. But a 0VP week will make it possible for Archie's to knock them out with a 4VP week. It's just one scenario only they don't get a wildcard but it is still there. Not often but once in a while owners have asked me to include their personal comments in the newsletter. This week Kevin has asked me to do just that concerning the B&B-Brookline game. Now I'm not sure if he is speaking as one of the Talbots owners or French River. Or for that matter Cleantown or Arnie's Army. Whichever team he would like the comments to be credited to isn't as important as the comments so here goes. "How the hell do you play Flacco over Tom Brady. How the hell do you sit Brady period."  Now understand his comments not mine. But I will say this: Had they played Brady they win, by a single point yes but they do win and lock up a wildcard. Their destiny is still in their own hands but the loss does make it possible for Archie's to steal their wildcard. They need just 2VP to make that impossible so a win or a loss with a top four finish and the Brady thing is moot; but if not I anticipate more rhetoric next week from our new contributor.
B&B 82 y Brookline 93
#9 Archie's vs. #12 Commish West
y Bid 66 Bandits 132 Archie's 105	The thing is even if they had won (assuming that would mean just 2 more VP than they got) they would still be below the cut line in 9th and needing a win in the final week. Ok one more VP behind than they were last week but needing a win they get a team that has won just once in 10 tries. If they do what everyone else in the West has done then all they need to do is hope for some help. There are three teams that are mathematically in range so considering who they play this week actually not that bad off at all. Yea Kevin
MNE 104 Commish West 95

Sandlot Defending League Champion M4

Welcome to the 2nd season of the PFFL Sandlot League

 

PFFL Stuff

The Score: Depending on your point of view, week 10 was either slightly above average or well below it. It was slightly above the last five all of which had byes but well below the first four all of which were without as was this week. Considering the scoring didn't return to the high numbers before the byes started, the lockout theory may ring true. Many experts believe that the lockout effected the defenses much more than the offenses resulting in the high scoring that was seen early in the year. And the fact that the scoring didn't return to those high numbers this week without byes would seem to corroborate. The yearly average dropped a half point but remains well above the overall beginning average. Week Year Beginning East Central West Overall 2011 5-Year Ave 112 118 116 115.3 119.3 116.9 ● Reminder: Thursday games the rest of the year except week 17. Very important do not drop a player from your roster that was in your lineup on Thursday. That action will lock your lineup and you will be unable to make any changes for the remainder of the week. As you know waivers are performed on Friday so make sure you don't drop any players in your lineup on Thursday in those waivers. ● Reminder: The Trading Deadline is this Sunday morning at 3:00 am. Please cooperate on Sunday and vote on any outstanding trades. Don't be alarmed by that whimpering sound you hear in the background. That's just Marty. ● Aaron Rodgers was taken out of the game because it was a blowout with 10:00 minutes remaining and still had 30 points.   ●  Note: Teams may increase their rosters to 20 starting next Tuesday at noon. Also after this week there are two waiver weeks left and teams may acquire up to 5 players in each of those last two weeks. The free agent deadline is Friday, December 2 at 8:00 pm. ●  We talk about enigma teams in the PFFL every year but I think for the first time the league has an enigma player in Tim Tebow: His game performance compared to his fantasy production has been defying all logic but this week surpasses all logic. How does a QB throw just two passes and not only win his game, but gets more fantasy points than Michael Vick or Cam Newton. ● This Weeks Byes: Houston, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Pittsburgh ● Regular Season Games Remaining: | 1 |

League Total Point Rankings Rk Franchise PF 1 x Cleantown 1390 2 y Brookline 1353 3 TD's 1352 4 y Schleprock 1334 5 z Cousins Mc 1333 6 x Arnie's Army 1298 7 y Bid 66 Bandits 1293 8 x Park Valley 1292 9 z IC Lightning 1255 10 z Dego's R Us 1248 11 Smiley's Snipers 1222 12 z Capital 1216 13 z H Hammers 1215 14 z Syndicate 1204 15 T Bones 1195 16 z Detroit Lions 1195 17 z Irish Talbots 1190 18 z JR's Boys 1188 19 Bartertown 1183 20 TnT 1174 21 z Commish East 1161 22 Archie's 1156 23 Twisted Helmets 1152 24 Snake & Shake 1149 25 Sharks 1144 26 MNE 1138 27 Frannie's Train 1127 28 B&B 1120 29 Midquippa 1118 30 Little Johnny & Will's 1113 31 Endzonerz 1112 32 Commish West 1111 33 French River 1106 34 Weekend Warriors 1076 35 Nasty Aggravators 1036 36 The Jolly Roger 1020   Average 1194

PFFL Defending League Champion Snake & Shake

Welcome to the 20th Season of the PFFL!