Pittsburgh Franchise Football League 2011 News & Notes

Week 9

 

Around the League

PFFL East Standings

Franchise VP W-L-T PF PB Max PF PP PA PWR Eff Strk z Cleantown 29 6-2-1 1282 0 185 1434 1118 37.93 89.4% L2 z Cousins Mc 24 6-3-0 1187 95 169 1335 1084 33.51 88.9% W2 z IC Lightning 22 6-3-0 1141 141 191 1309 1054 33.01 87.2% W1 Syndicate 21 5-4-0 1112 170 148 1233 1063 30.47 90.2% L3                       Dego's R Us 21 5-4-0 1111 171 143 1206 1119 30.69 92.1% W3 Commish East 20 5-4-0 1086 196 147 1261 1072 30.73 86.1% W3 Capital 20 5-4-0 1083 199 150 1238 1143 30.94 87.5% W2 T Bones 14 3-6-0 1053 229 166 1203 1085 26.44 87.5% L3                       Weekend Warriors 13 4-5-0 987 295 130 1146 1034 25.47 86.1% L2 Midquippa 13 3-5-1 998 284 140 1204 1036 25.99 82.9% L1 Nasty Aggravators 11 3-6-0 957 325 142 1194 1060 24.68 80.2% W2 The Jolly Roger 8 1-6-2 908 374 129 1097 1037 20.94 82.8% L1

PFFL East Week 10
#1 Cleantown vs. #7 Capital
IC Lightning 157 z Cleantown 129	For a third straight week Cleantown fails to win. So what! What do they need to win for? Three straight weeks without a win and they still have the largest VP lead over second in the league and still lead the league in points. Winless in three straight weeks and you have a 5VP lead! There are two games left so I guess two more loses and they lock up the #1 seed. I think they have a good chance of losing two more don't you? Two loses, two byes. I thought I did something special when I beat them but I guess instead I was just doing them a favor. Yea Kevin... Needing seven points from the Philly defense on Monday night for a win I would think they felt pretty good about it. Considering the Philly defense gave up 30 points what they feel good about was a fumble recovery for a TD which without they lose. Ok two big stretch run victories in a row so where are they now? Well since they're not Cleantown and they didn't lose, they drop one position to 7th. But looks can be deceiving. The reality is although they drop to 7th, the win all but locks up at least a wildcard and puts them just 1VP from a bye. And more good news they're playing Cleantown who will probably lose on purpose.
Capital 110 T Bones 108
#2 Cousins Mc vs. #11 Nasty Aggravators
Cousins Mc 169 Weekend Warriors 98	After a narrow four-point win last week, Cuz leaves no doubt this week earning the ultimate weekly prize, Team of the Week Honors. With two weeks left they have themselves in position to earn two byes and even have the #1 ranking, mathematically anyway, still a possibility. The z designation confirms a playoff birth but with 5 teams in range at 4VP or less, a bye is far from locked up. And the schedule is such a loss could drop them right out of the top tier. At the same time the schedule has given them a game against a team with the 11th rank and 230 less points. Wildcard birth locked up but a very pivotal game for the byes. With Stafford on a bye they get a break from making a choice between their two good QB's. And a break was needed considering they have made the wrong choice in 8 of 9 weeks. Considering they score in the bottom four they get another break as their opponent puts up the smallest number in the East giving them a much needed win even though a 2VP win. Mathematically still alive they will be scoreboard watching this week. Along with obviously needing a win themselves, they will be rooting first and foremost for the T Bones to lose. Although they also need the two teams directly above them to lose, it won't matter if the T Bones make the playoffs because if they do, they don't.
The Jolly Roger 88 Nasty Aggravators 101
#3 IC Lightning vs. #9 Weekend Warriors
IC Lightning 157 z Cleantown 129	I would congratulate them on beating the #1 team in the league but who hasn't lately. I will congratulate them however on a big scoring week moving them up to third and putting at least one bye totally in their own control. The schedule favors them this week with a game against a bottom tier team but the entire top four has a favorable schedule so probably another must win if they want to at least hold their position. With the byes behind them all that's left is to get McFadden back as he could be the difference in earning that second bye that comes with second place. I say second place only because with just two games left first is out of reach. But it wouldn't have been if... The three game win steak is now a distant memory replaced by the more recent two game losing streak. And the second loss of the two has returned them to the land of the lost. All is not lost however as they are just 1VP from a wildcard; but what looks to be lost is control of their own fate. Yes that is a lot of lost talk but what else is there to talk about when your in the bottom tier. They will now rely on the T Bones to open up what looks to be the last spot available. The 5th thru 7th teams are still mathematically in range but the odds say they are out of range. So the situation isn't so much about what they do because they could actually lose their last two and still back into a wildcard. It is more about what other teams do because if the T Bones match or better them in VP the last two weeks, most likely what they do just won't matter.
Cousins Mc 169 Weekend Warriors 98
#4 Syndicate vs. #12 Jolly Roger
Dego's R Us 129 Syndicate 106	Down 46 going into Monday night, I guess how optimistic you are depends on who you have left.  If it's Vick and Maclin you have to at least feel you have a fighting chance. After all that's 23 a man and Vick can throw up 40 himself at any time. Well maybe if they were playing Dallas. Ok it's crunch time and you have now lost three in a row. Well if Cleantown can remain in first, and by a large margin, without a win in three straight games, they can certainly at least stay in the top tier. They do but barely. And by barely I mean by a single point. Not a VP or a win, a single point. A wildcard is merely a formality but a bye will need to be earned. Needing to break a three game losing streak the schedule gods are kind at least with a game against the last place team. They could really use Best back but it looks like he is out again. Had a chance on Monday night down 13 with Cutler and DeSean Jackson left, but LeSean McCoy would have none of it. The problem now is they are totally at the mercy of too many other teams. They could finish the year with back to back 4VP wins and it probably won't matter. Because mathematically they are not eliminated I 'm not saying they have no chance. But I am thinking it.
The Jolly Roger 88 Nasty Aggravators 101
#5 Degos R Us vs. #10 Midquippa
Dego's R Us 129 Syndicate 106	Although they had a 46 point lead going into Monday night, I'm sure they were completely aware that Vick and Maclin were more than capable of overcoming it. Never really challenged though they win their third straight keeping them in the thick of the bye hunt. They currently sit in 5th but for all intent and purpose they are tied for 4th with the Syndicate as just one single point separates them. We mentioned last week of the bye troubles they have in week 11 so it would seem they need to win this week or rely on bench players the following week to earn a bye. And those bench players in week 11 will be going up against the #1 team in points Cleantown while this week it's the 10th ranked team who they have outscored by more than 100. So absolutely it would seem it's this week or bust.  It's two straight weeks now the Midquipps blow a win in the 11th hour of a game. Last week the Jolly Roger came from 22 back to tie them on Monday night and this week they lose to Commish East by four on Sunday night because the Steelers defense couldn't maintain or improve on their starting 10 points finishing with just 6. Just 1VP back of 8th and still two games remaining they still have a very good chance of earning a wildcard. Although there seems to be plenty of opportunity left in two games remaining, the problem is in that second game they have some serious bye issues and first and foremost of them is Arian Foster. Because of this I would think it's all or nothing this week.
Commish East 117 Midquippa 113
#6 Commish East vs. #8 T Bones
Commish East 117 Midquippa 113	With their high power combination of Newton and Smith on bye, they pull off a four point win that keeps them in the thick of it. Following a four game losing streak after the loss of Charles et al., they put together a three game win streak that has them streaking toward a bye. If Newton can keep it going, they just might get one. It appears the bad luck that Commish East was able to expel, has found a new home in the T Bones. Hey I don't wish bad luck on anyone but you know what they say: better you than me. They have now lost two straight games by a total of six points. Ok that's the bad news or bad luck however you want it but at least the reality is their fate is still in their own hands. They currently sit in 8th above the cut line 1VP ahead of the bottom tier. But there are two teams sitting at that 1VP back and one of them has more wins so even though they control their own destiny, there is very little margin for error.
Capital 110 T Bones 108

PFFL Central Standings

Franchise VP W-L-T PF PB Max PF PP PA PWR Eff Strk x Arnie's Army 28 8-1-0 1183 30 162 1275 979 35.58 92.8% W7 z Park Valley 25 6-3-0 1125 88 160 1306 1070 32.88 86.1% L1 H Hammers 20 5-4-0 1087 126 162 1272 1043 31.46 85.5% W3 Sharks 19 6-3-0 1031 182 134 1135 1063 28.54 90.8% L1                       JR's Boys 19 5-4-0 1073 140 144 1334 1036 31.69 80.4% W1 Frannie's Train 19 5-4-0 1057 156 179 1130 1043 27.68 93.5% L1 TD's 19 4-5-0 1213 0 193 1357 1150 31.73 89.4% L2 TnT 16 3-6-0 1067 146 179 1211 1149 25.73 88.1% W1                       Little Johnny & Will's 14 4-5-0 1003 210 158 1172 1049 26.06 85.6% L3 Twisted Helmets 14 2-7-0 1050 163 155 1214 1162 27.27 86.5% W1 Bartertown 13 3-6-0 1042 171 151 1171 1106 25.49 89.0% L1 Snake & Shake 12 3-6-0 1038 175 137 1219 1119 26.16 85.2% W1

PFFL Central Week 10
#1 Arnie's Army vs. #5 JR's Boys
Frannie's Train 109 z Arnie's Army 128	A 77 point lead going into Monday night might sound prodigious, but considering the Train had nearly half their team to play with the likes of Vick, McCoy, and Maclin, that 77 could have turned into 7 with time left on the clock very easily. However except for maybe McCoy, an off night for the rest and an on night for the Army who record their seventh straight victory. The second highest win streak in the league is just three. Their Cleantown team may have more points but Arnie has an x. That means they have locked up two byes with two weeks yet to play. Very rare for sure. Still something to play for though as the #1 ranking is still being contested by those pesky Valley people. The Army increases their lead by 1 to 3VP but the Valley is still within a one game range. A win this week could lock up #1 but either way they get two byes. Play without Newton and Smith and still pull off a big win. We mentioned last week that their week 9 game would determine the meaning of their last two so here it is: The win moves them out of range of the bottom tier and well within range of the top. The win doesn't officially lock up at least a wildcard but makes at least a wildcard look very likely. The win also means another win most likely puts them in the top tier because #3 and #4 are playing each other. Another win would make a second place finish and two byes a real possibility.
JR's Boys 129 Sharks 84
#2 Park Valley vs. #7 TD's
H Hammers 141 Park Valley 137	Down 21 with Barber and the Bears defense they had their work cut out for them on Monday night. I'm sure when Barber scored they thought they had a real shot at the come back victory. Considering how well Chicago did in the game you would think their defense would have more than 7 points but they didn't and the Valley didn't win. What they did win was two very important VP for a top four finish in points. Those two VP keep them within range of the top spot and 3rd out of range; for this week anyway. A win this week could lock up two byes if not place them in first all together. Of course that could only happen if Arnie loses. A loss could set up a possible all or nothing week 11 game for not just two but any byes. More of a schedule loss here as all four top scoring teams for the week played each other and they just had a little less than their opponent. And this isn't the first time for them. Leading in points yet sitting in 7th indicates this is a regular occurrence for them. And if it happens two more times they could in theory miss the playoffs with the most points in the Central. They are actually 3rd overall in the league in points. Because of the up and down pattern of their scoring they would be in 7th even without the VP system. The problem is they either put up a big number or a small one and haven't gotten away with any of the small ones. They may be in 7th but are actually tied with 4th in VP so their destiny is still very much in their control.
TD's 139 TnT 146
#3 H Hammers vs. #4 Sharks
H Hammers 141 Park Valley 137	Originally they were probably glad their opponent had to use Marion Barber as one of their RBs but when he scored on Monday night maybe not so much. But they do hold on and the win and that along with other favorable circumstances allows them to slip into the top tier for the stretch run. The fact they do it without AP makes it that much better and indicates they may be here to the end. However while the top two have separated from the pack 3rd thru 7th is a tight as it gets so anything but secure here. Add in the fact that they are playing the 4th place team and this game is all about staying in the top tier. A loss doesn't mean they can't recover in week 11 but no guarantee what the situation will be in the final week. Key game for a bye this week. Because of their win total the Sharks had one to give here. The extra win keeps them in the upper tier but they used up their get out of jail free card and now must win to stay in byeland. With Drew Brees off in week 11 it might be now or never for a bye this week. If they pull it off the win total goes up again which might make a week 11 loss sustainable. Bottom line I don't see them getting a bye if they lose this game but at least in great shape for a wildcard.
JR's Boys 129 Sharks 84
#6 Frannie's Train vs. #8 TnT
Frannie's Train 109 z Arnie's Army 128	Down 77 going into Monday night Marty was actually very optimistic and I don't blame him. Quite a few times Vick and company have put up gaudy numbers bringing them from far back to easy victories. It just didn't happen this time. They gave some games away earlier to set up their team for the stretch run but this loss wasn't in their plans. Neither was Peyton Hillis' extended absence. McCoy is definitely worth two of most other backs and they may just have to rely on that the rest of the way unless the obvious happens and they make another trade. Which I'm sure is just a matter of time. Just about every game this week is key for each team and this one is no exception. Those earlier throw away games may have possibly threw away their season. This game will tell a lot. Their WRs are their strength but they can thank Reggie Bush for this one. If this were a survivor contest you can be sure the TD's would have been the default pick and responsible for a lot of casualties. Upsets are what keep things interesting and this win keeps this season interesting for TnT. After five straight loses they come back to life with a weekly first and a win over the Central point leader. The win pulls them out of the gutter and into serious contention for a wildcard anyway. A bye is too much of a long shot but their destiny is now in their own hands for a postseason birth.
TD's 139 TnT 146
#9 Little Johnny & Will's vs. #11 Bartertown
Snake & Shake 124 Little Johnny & Will's 101	On a free fall now with their third straight loss and a loss to the last place team makes it sting even more. Their problem is they have good players putting up mediocre numbers. And Miles Austin won't be putting up anything for a while. The damage is done and so is their margin for error. Needing a win usually you want a game with a lower ranked team but in this case they actually need the opposite. A game with #11 means they have to rely on other teams to beat their competition meaning their destiny is not in their own control this week anyway. Not necessarily need to win both final games but losing this game could make week 11 moot. We thought they wouldn't need to win all three of their final games for a wildcard but right now it looks like maybe they did. No doubt they need to win both their final two but even then no guarantee. This game is for the opportunity for a possible meaningful game in week 11.
Bartertown 114 Twisted Helmets 124
#10 Twisted Helmets vs. #12 Snake & Shake
Bartertown 114 Twisted Helmets 124	Possible season saving win that keeps the mathematics open for a wildcard birth. What we have here is four desperate teams in the bottom tier and they are all playing each other. The two winners will continue to be relevant with the two losers probably relegated to CT duty. We promised we wouldn't pull the plug if they won and we are of our word. But the word this week is if they don't win again it's lights out. Even then no guarantee but life is precious and we will give them every chance before ending it.
Snake & Shake 124 Little Johnny & Will's 101

PFFL West Standings

Franchise VP W-L-T PF PB Max PF PP PA PWR Eff Strk z Brookline 27 6-3-0 1260 0 177 1413 1049 36.16 89.2% L1 z Bid 66 Bandits 25 6-3-0 1161 99 166 1354 1171 34.36 85.7% L1 Schleprock 23 5-4-0 1182 78 166 1358 1120 33.89 87.0% W1 Detroit Lions 20 6-3-0 1064 196 151 1242 973 31.58 85.7% W2                       B&B 19 6-3-0 1038 222 168 1154 1030 28.48 89.9% W2 Smiley's Snipers 19 4-5-0 1074 186 149 1277 1088 29.53 84.1% W1 Irish Talbots 18 5-4-0 1047 213 153 1257 1023 29.28 83.3% W1 MNE 17 5-4-0 1034 226 142 1206 1116 27.92 85.7% L1                       Archie's 16 4-5-0 1051 209 154 1195 1075 28.61 87.9% L2 Endzonerz 13 3-6-0 992 268 140 1174 1128 25.40 84.5% L3 French River 12 3-6-0 1014 246 153 1140 1066 25.34 88.9% W2 Commish West 9 1-8-0 1016 244 126 1131 1094 23.78 89.8% L2

PFFL West Week 10
#1 Brookline vs. #5 B&B
Smiley's Snipers 124 Brookline 112	Maclin is capable of putting up 22 at any time but he failed to put up even half that this past Monday night leaving Brookline with their third loss. The Bandits also lose but they earn 2VP in the loss closing the gap to 2VP. Brookline did leave a lot of points on the bench that could have locked up two byes but even though it is currently not indicated, I'm pretty sure they will get no less than one no matter what. Could lose the last two and still get two byes so in very good shape for sure. But to make sure they will need to win. Just one of the last two should be more than enough. B&B had issue with the fact they had more wins than some of the teams above them in the standings. The fact that they were dead last in West points going into the week would indicate they should be very grateful they weren't last in the standings also. But this week points weren't a problem as they best their previous high by 38 to earn their first weekly first and just missed a Team of the Week by 1 point. The big week jumps them up three positions in the standings to 5th and to the front door of the top tier. They don't quite lock up a wildcard but make one now highly likely. The schedule is being rough on them with back to back games with the top two teams in the conference but if they do to the the #1 this week what they just did to the #2, their destiny should be in their own hands in the final week for a bye.
B&B 168 Bid 66 Bandits 140
#2 Bid 66 Bandits vs. #9 Archie's
B&B 168 Bid 66 Bandits 140	Don't think they were expecting this from the last team in points. And it's not like they had a bad week themselves; they beat anyone else they play this week. Ok unlucky loss but they at least pick up ground on Brookline who also loses. A win this week locks up at least one bye and possibly two if Schleprock loses. And if Brookline loses they unseat them at the top with one week to go. But it is still possible they fall out of the top tier if they lose both their last two but just loses alone won't be enough for that. Things would have to fall perfectly against them for that. And considering they play a team this week with well over 100 less points and some major RB roster problems, highly unlikely. I know I did some whining in the East over injuries and bad luck but you know what they say, no matter how bad you have it someone always has it worse. With Peyton Hillis looking like he may never return Archibald's backfield is practically nonexistent. And in week 11 it will be because the only viable one they have is on a bye along with their QB Drew Brees. Throw in the loss of Miles Austin and you have that someone who has it worse. In the condition they're in can't see them winning two in a row and since they are below the cut line in 9th right now, probably a very must win this week.
Schleprock 123 Archie's 97
#3 Schleprock vs. #6 Smiley's Snipers
Schleprock 123 Archie's 97	After a hard loss last week they get an easy win this week. Considering that both top two teams failed to win you would think they would at least move up a spot but the Bandits 2VP earned in their loss keep that from happening. They are closer now than they were last week but remain out of the top two. The key here I would think is earning at least one bye insuring McFadden is playing in your first playoff game. I wouldn't think two byes are needed but when he does come back they have one of the best backfields in the league of Rice, Jackson and McFadden. And if the newly acquired Miles Austin is ready by week 13, this team will be very hard to beat in the postseason. Especially if they end up with a second bye almost insuring Miles plays in their first playoff game. After coming up short in two close games, I'm sure they were thinking here we go again up 22 on Monday night against Maclin. But Maclin like the whole Philly team comes up short. Ok key game that pulls them from the brink and now even a bye possible. They can be thankful that their opponent's McFadden isn't playing this week but their patience has to be wearing thin waiting for Andre Johnson to come back for them. Not sure when he is playing again but earning a bye would be huge in that respect. Also huge is if Tebow can continue his fantasy production. The latter is the key to earning a bye and the former is the key to how deep in the playoffs they get.
Smiley's Snipers 124 Brookline 112
#4 Detroit Lions vs. #11 French River
Commish West 92 Detroit Lions 131	The schedule seems to be absolutely in love with them down the stretch. Looking to get back into the top tier before it's too late they get a game with the last place team and win easy. Now looking to stay in the top tier they get a game with the 11th place team while the two teams just 1VP below who would like to steal their spot both have games against top tier teams. But between those two and the Talbots who are just 2VP back, all it takes is for one to win to unseat them if they lose. Not a do or die game but if they lose it will be do or die next week, for a bye anyway. Seemed to have come alive down the stretch. But is it too little too late? Mathematically no but they will need help. They will be doing some score watching this week but first and foremost they will be looking for MNE to lose.
French River 131 Endzonerz 88
#7 Irish Talbots vs. #10 Endzonerz
MNE 106 Irish Talbots 116	Squeeze out a win that keeps their head above water. They move from 9th to 7th and now have 2VP breathing room between them and a CT birth. A bye still possible but lets not get greedy here. First things first and that's to earn a birth period. The schedule at least is on their side with a game against the #10 ranked team. A win this week and it will all be about greed because that should lock up a wildcard. Hanging on by a finger but at least still hanging. The two point loss in week 8 put them at a disadvantage but this loss puts them at the mercy of circumstance. It now not only matters what they do but also what other teams do. A win this week would be huge but they will still be relying on other teams losing to make room for them to move up.
French River 131 Endzonerz 88
#8 MNE vs. #12 Commish West
MNE 106 Irish Talbots 116	They have to be wondering how the hell they lost to a backfield of BJGE and Ryan Grant and all of their 8 points. I'll tell you how: Vincent Jackson's 39. Jackson hasn't scored more than 20 points but once this year and that was back in week 2. Ok no worries because one their destiny is still in their own hands, two they are still above the cut line and three they play Commish West this week. Yea Kevin Yea Kevin...
Commish West 92 Detroit Lions 131

Sandlot Defending League Champion M4

Welcome to the 2nd season of the PFFL Sandlot League

 

PFFL Stuff

The Score: It wasn't quite as high as the first four weeks but the scoring was decisively up from the previous four weeks of the byes. After four straight declines the yearly average went up although just slightly one tenth of a point. This year's scoring is currently three points higher than the average of the previous five years. Week 9 Year Beginning East Central West Overall 2011 5-Year Ave 119 123 119 120.3 119.8 116.9 ● Correction: The PFFL's controller and overall fact checker Franklin of the Sharks has informed us that this statement from last week: "Every team in the league has at least one sub-100 point week except the Sharks and Commish West. Yes that's right, the 1-7 Commish West." wasn't entirely correct. At the time Brookline also was without a sub-100 point week. This week we will be sure not to leave Brookline out because they are now the ONLY team in the league without a score under 100. According to Franklin anyway! ● Last week I said Flacco isn't that good. While I still don't think he's that good, he was really good in that last drive on Sunday night.   ● Reminder: Starting this week there are Thursday games the rest of the year except week 17. This year you don't have to put in a complete lineup anymore as the system will now allow partial lineups on Thursdays but I recommend you do. And 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. ● Arnie's Army is on a 7 game winning steak. The next longest streak is 3. ● The JR's Boys finally did it. After a 90.8% efficiency rating this week they finally get above the 80 percentile. There are now no teams under 80% in efficiency. There are a total of five teams above 90: two in the East, three in the Central and none in the West. ● Having the most points scored against doesn't necessarily doom a team but usually at least inhibits their success; but it hasn't seemed to hurt the Bid 66 Bandits at all currently in 2nd place in the West. ● Cleantown has failed to win the last three weeks yet continue to maintain the largest VP lead over second of 5. Yea Kevin... ● This Week's Byes: There are no byes in week 10 and week 11 is the final week for byes. ● Regular Season Games Remaining: | 2 |

League Total Point Rankings Rk Franchise PF 1 z Cleantown 1282 2 z Brookline 1260 3 TD's 1213 4 z Cousins Mc 1187 5 x Arnie's Army 1183 6 Schleprock 1182 7 z Bid 66 Bandits 1161 8 z IC Lightning 1141 9 z Park Valley 1125 10 Syndicate 1112 11 Dego's R Us 1111 12 H Hammers 1087 13 Commish East 1086 14 Capital 1083 15 Smiley's Snipers 1074 16 JR's Boys 1073 17 TnT 1067 18 Detroit Lions 1064 19 Frannie's Train 1057 20 T Bones 1053 21 Archie's 1051 22 Twisted Helmets 1050 23 Irish Talbots 1047 24 Bartertown 1042 25 Snake & Shake 1038 26 B&B 1038 27 MNE 1034 28 Sharks 1031 29 Commish West 1016 30 French River 1014 31 Little Johnny & Will's 1003 32 Midquippa 998 33 Endzonerz 992 34 Weekend Warriors 987 35 Nasty Aggravators 957 36 The Jolly Roger 908   Average 1078

PFFL Defending League Champion Snake & Shake

Welcome to the 20th Season of the PFFL!