ISFL NEWLETTER |
The
Internet Simulation Football League Newsletter
Volume #15 Issue #19 – January 8, 2012
************************************************************************
Current League Officers
Commissioner: Mark McNeil (blades99@rochester.rr.com)
League Statistician: Mark McNeil (blades99@rochester.rr.com)
ISFL
WWW site: http://www.blades99.com/ISFL/ISFL.htm
ISFL
Review Board: Jeff
Barricelli, Dave Stewart, Don Antonelli
************************************************************************
LEAGUE NOTES
I.
Message from the Commissioner
II.
News from Around the League
III.
Standings
IV.
Round 2 Playoff Results
V.
Round 3 Playoff Schedule
VI.
Transactions
VII.
Other News including Players of the Week
I.
MESSAGE FROM THE COMMISSIONER
Buffalo continues their run as they knock off their second higher ranked
opponent of the playoffs, upsets abound as Denver knocks off the Jets
and in the NFC NO also pulls off a mild upset to get to the conference
finals. The conference
finals are ready to go, so go ahead and get your game contacts going and
good luck to all!
Awards ballot is up and can be found at
http://www.kwiksurveys.com/online-survey.php?surveyID=OCMIHG_96b21c12. This is
mandatory and ALL must cast a vote within the next two weeks as it
closes on Sunday, January 15th at midnight.
Any questions, let me know.
Also,
ballot prop discussions are welcome to begin.
Please see the email I sent out for specifics and feel free to
send either to me or the list for everyone to toss it around a bit.
I
can’t stress enough that need to IMMEDIATELY send me your game export
when the game is complete.
This is the second straight week that a host had something come up and
forget to send me an export.
It takes about 30 seconds following your game to export it and send it
to me. Send your write up
later on, that’s fine, but I MUST have the game export as soon as the
game ends or I’ll have to sim the game to keep things.
***A
new game update is available dated 11/29, please get it from the ISFL
website before you play any games this week.***
Don’t
forget, if you lose a player for 2 or more games, you can ask for an
injury replacement, but it must be done the same week as the injury, so
don’t wait, get those requests in right away and take advantage,
especially the teams who are already challenged for the amount of games
they have to work with.
Reminder that you MUST send a boxscore and writeup to the league after
each game. The home team is
responsible for this, but either team can do it, as long as it does get
done. Also, you MUST send me
the game export immediately after the game is complete.
It takes about 30 seconds, so I shouldn’t have to chase you down
for that file after a game, just get it in right away so I don’t have to
guess whether a game has happened or not.
***********************************************************************
II.
News from Around the League
In
the AFC, Buffalo pulls off the upset, 20-6 over Dallas to move on.
Denver also pulls off an upset as they win the rubber match
against the NY Jets, 35-27.
The
AFC Championship is down to the 4 and 6 seeds, both very good teams, as
Buffalo heads to Denver.
In
the NFC, Detroit wins a defensive battle over Jacksonville, 9-3, and New
Orleans beats Seattle 20-13 to move on.
The
NFC Championship has New Orleans heading to Detroit as the Lions are the
only division winner left in the playoffs and this one should be one
heck of a game.
***********************************************************************
Denver (35) at NY Jets (27)
BRONCOS UPSET JETS TO REACH AFC CHAMPIONSHIP, 35-27
Freeman Tosses Three TD Passes, Runs for Another
January 8th, 2012: The king is dead. Long live the king.
The Broncos upset the two-time defending ISFL Champion New York Jets in
New York to advance to the AFC Championship Game behind Josh Freeman's
three touchdown passes and one touchdown rushing. Freeman was stellar in
the contest, completing 17 of 23 for 260 yards, and rushing for another
64 yards to lead the Broncos in rushing.
The teams went back and fourth in the first half, with each team taking
the lead three separate times in an exciting 21-17 half that found the
Broncos with the narrow four-point lead.
The Broncos never trailed after scoring just before the end of the first
half. In the second half, the Broncos broke the back-and-forth trend,
scoring another touchdown to open the third quarter to go up by 11 at
28-17. After a Jets field goal cut the Broncos lead to 28-20 early in
the fourth quarter, the Broncos quickly came right back with a dagger
through the heart of the Jets, with Freeman throwing long and connecting
with Dwayne Bowe for a 65-yard touchdown to take a 35-20 lead with just
13 minutes remaining in the contest.
Although the Jets came back with a touchdown of their own to cut it to
35-27, they didn't get the ball back again until just over a minute
remained in the contest, and the Broncos Malcolm Jenkins then picked off
a desperation Brett Favre heave down the middle to take the ball back
and end the competitive phase of the contest.
The Broncos, who came into the game relatively healthy (minus only
sub-linebacker Kaluka Maiava), suffered a number of key injuries during
the game but were able to overcome them all. In the first quarter, they
lost starting cornerback Tracy Porter and starting linebacker Ernie
Sims. Porter's injury is the most severe, and he may miss the remainder
of the post-season. Then they lost starting guard (and long-snapper)
Josh Sitton for most of the rest of the game. Finally, they lost their
other starting guard, Eric Wood, for the remainder of the game plus
probably next week as well. That meant, for most of the time after the
Broncos fell behind 17-14, they were operating behind a makeshift
offensive line that consisted of two backup guards in Nick Cole and
T.J.Lang. At that point, the Broncos, who only carried seven offensive
linemen into the game, had no margin for error, and nobody available off
the bench.
But after the game, Hank Sienzant had only good things to say about the
offensive line. "They played great," he said from the excited Broncos
locker room. "We didn't change a thing when we lost both Josh [Sitton]
and Eric [Wood]. I want to commend T.J.Lang for the great job he did
stepping into the fray. He made a great block on Ryan's [Torain] long
gain that set up our touchdown coming out after halftime. How many times
was Josh sacked?" Told it was none, Sienzant said again, "They played
great all game. We rushed for over 150 yards and Josh was just superb
back there."
But it wasn't all due to the line's blocking. On numerous occasions,
Freeman pulled the ball down and ran after pressure forced him from the
pocket. Freeman was able to capitalize with some great runs, including
the first two plays of the second half, but it wasn't all the offensive
line. Freeman confirmed that as well. "Everybody stepped up and played
great today," he said after emerging from the post-game locker room
pandemonium. My receivers made some great catches, and Dwayne [Bowe]
just played out of his mind (Bowe was matched up against future
Hall-of-Famer Charles Woodson for most of the contest, and Bowe caught
six for 151 yards and one score).
The Jets scored first in this game, taking the opening kickoff and
marching right down field in an unrelenting drive that looked like they
wanted to bury the upstart Broncos from the outset. But the drive lost
steam when Michael Turner was stuffed on a trap play on third and two
from the Bronco six yard line, failing to pick up the first down and the
Jets had to settle for a Connor Barth field goal from 23 yards out for a
3-0 lead 6:29 into the contest.
The Broncos came right back, scoring in a hurry after a Deji Karim
kickoff return to the Broncos 45. After that kick, the Broncos wasted no
time getting on the board, moving 55 yards in just four plays to their
first of five touchdowns in the contest. Freeman came out throwing long,
something he had great success with all game, and hit Bowe on the
Broncos first play from scrimmage on a long slant for 31 to the Jets 24,
and then, after two plays gained ten yards and a first down at the 14,
called his own number and deftly faked a handoff to Ryan Torain and
bootlegged it in the endzone for the Broncos first lead of the contest
at 7-3.
But this veteran Jets squad, which may not hold together much longer,
came right back with a touchdown drive of their own on their second
possession, scoring from 15 yards out on a Jon Kitna to Maurice Morris
screen pass to take a 10-7 lead late in the first quarter. The drive
took only seven plays and gained 69 yards, taking nearly five minutes
off the clock. Kitna was four-for-four on the possession, for 47 yards,
and Michael Turner chipped in with two runs for the other 22 yards.
After a Broncos next possession petered out at the Jets 37, Jon Ryan
punted the ball dead at the Jets three yard line, and the Broncos
defense forced their first three-and-out of the game. Taking over at
their own 39, the Broncos opened the march with six straight passes,
moving to the Jets 23 on Freeman's five of six for 38 yards, before
Freeman pulled the ball down on the seven play and picked up 19 yards on
a scramble before sliding down at the Jets four-yard-line. A pitchout to
Ryan Torain around right end for the final four yards on the next play
finished off the drive in style, giving the Broncos a 14-10 lead 7:31
into the second quarter. It was already the fourth lead change of the
game, and there was yet more to come.
The Jets took the lead back at 17-14 on their next possession, but as
events proved, it would be the last time they led in the game. Jon Kitna
converted a third-and-inches on a quarterback sneak to get the ball to
the Jets 40, and then hit Braylon Edwards for 24 down to the Broncos 36
on a long slant. One play later, Maurice Morris broke the longest run of
the contest for the Jets, lugging the leather to the Bronco 17 for a big
19 yard gain. A screen to fullback Daniel Fells gained 11, and then
Kitna hit Brian Hartline from six yards out on the next play for the
go-ahead score and the fifth lead change of the game.
With just 3:03 left in the first half, the Broncos knew they had to get
serious if they wanted to win. Facing the Jets in the second half with
the Jets crowd at full throat wasn't something they wanted to do.
Already without starting guards Josh Sitton and Eric Wood, they had to
scratch and claw for every yard, with veteran Ricky Williams replacing
an ineffective Ryan Torain (just three for nine yards rushing in the
first half) and providing the necessary spark to ignite the final Bronco
possession of the first half. Williams opened the possession with an
eight yard run, and after a holding penalty against Maurkice Pouncey,
picked up another three before Freeman hooked up with Dwayne Bowe for 11
yards to convert the third and nine and move the ball to the Bronco 46.
Three straight runs to Williams followed, with Ricky picking up zero,
nine, and then on a third and one, breaking off-tackle for 13 to move
the ball to the Jets 32 with exactly one minute left in the half. Thanks
to the veteran backup, the Broncos had found their running game. Three
passes from Freeman got the touchdown, with Freeman hitting Delanie
Walker from seven yards out on a short out pass with just 12 seconds
left in the half. Ricky Williams did not play again in the contest, but
his six for 34 rushing on the possession was just the lift the Broncos
running game needed.
This was the first of three touchdowns the Broncos would score while
holding the Jets to just a field goal, part of a 21-3 run that broke the
game open in Denver's favor. The Broncos scored again after taking the
second half squib kickoff back to their own 44. Running on every down
now (some of them scrambles by Freeman) and overcoming two penalties, a
third and 11, and converting a fourth and two from the Jets 32 yard line
against the wind, the Broncos moved the ball 59 yards on the ground to
the Jets seven yard line. Ryan Torain picked up 26 yards on a key draw
play on second and fifteen after a penalty against Lang, and overall
gained 34 yards rushing on five rushes on the march. Freeman's only pass
of the series was good for a seven-yard touchdown to Brandon Pettigrew
just inside the pylon and gave the Broncos a 28-17 lead. It was his
second touchdown pass in as many throws, as his last pass of the first
half ended in the seven-yard touchdown to Delanie Walker, and his first
pass of the second half was good for the Pettigrew touchdown.
The rest of the third quarter devolved into the two teams going back and
forth, but not with scoring, but rather with punts. After each team
punted twice, the Jets took over with 3:30 left in the third quarter at
their own 23, and put together their best drive since their lead-taking
march in the second quarter. They overcame a Michael Johnson sack of
Kitna that left them in a third-and-12 hole with an 18-yard completion
to Brian Hartline from Brett Favre, then Kitna hit Hartline again for 22
down to the Broncos 27. But two more plays could only gain five yards,
and the Broncos then stuffed a screen for Fells for a one-yard loss. The
drive took just over five minutes off the clock, gaining 54 yards on ten
plays and enabled the Jets to cut the Broncos lead to 28-20 on the Shaun
Suisham field goal of 41 yards into the wind early in the fourth
quarter.
It took just one play from scrimmage for the Broncos to top that.
Following the Karim kickoff return to the Bronco 35, Josh Freeman went
deep for Dwayne Bowe, connecting with him over Charles Woodson down the
middle and Bowe outraced everyone to the endzone for the 65-yard
touchdown to give the Broncos a more secure 35-20 lead with just 13:01
left in the contest. The touchdown was the third in the Broncos 21-3 run
and the third touchdown pass by Josh Freeman in his last four throws (as
Casey Stengel would say, "You could look it up"). Hank Sienzant would
say that "Josh was very judicious and deliberate in his throws. He
pulled it down and ran when the Jets had good coverage, and threw
bullets most of the rest of the time."
But these Jets didn't win the last two ISFL championships by giving up
on a game when trailing in the fourth quarter. They came right back with
a touchdown of their own, but with the Broncos in a dime defense for
most of the rest of the way, they had to do it patiently. Running on
five consecutive downs after a pass for nine to open the series, the
Jets moved to the 39 of the Broncos, then Kitna went deep for Edwards,
connecting for 25 to the Broncos 14 yard line with 8:36 to play. But
with the Broncos conceding yardage grudingly, and in small chunks, it
took the Jets another six plays and another 3:25 off the clock,
including a fourth and five completion to Braylon Edwards, to put the
seven points on the board. Daniel Fells three-yard reception from Kitna
ended the drive with a touchdown, cutting the Bronco lead to 35-27, but
with just 5:09 to play. Overall, that drive took 13 plays to move 80
yards and took nearly eight minutes off the clock.
The Broncos came out throwing, expecting the Jets to be anticipating the
run, and the calls worked to perfection, at least to start, as Freeman
connected on three for three for 47 yards to move to the Jets twenty at
the two minute warning. But with the Jets having all three timeouts
left, the Broncos wanted more, and wanted to force the Jets to burn
their timeouts on defense and then wanted to put up at least a field
goal to go up by eleven. That plan failed miserably when Freeman
audibled away from the called runs and threw three straight incompletes,
preserving all three Jet timeouts and then Mason Crosby missed the 43
yard wind-aided field goal attempt, keeping the Jets within one score
with 1:33 remaining in the contest.
The Jets got one completion from Kitna to Hartline for 17 to move the
ball to midfield, but then inserted Brett Favre into the game for the
final time in his Jets career (he had announced before the game that he
would really - no, really - finally, absolutely retire when the Jets
playoff run came to a close). Favre completed one pass to Donald Driver
for six yards on an out pass, then threw deep under heavy pressure,
getting hit as he threw by a blitzing Will Witherspoon, and threw up a
wounded duck that was picked off by safety Malcolm Jenkins at the Bronco
22, and returned 59 yards to the Jets 19, from where the Broncos secured
the win with a trio of kneel downs by Freeman.
Game Notes: Will Witherspoon played exceptionally well again, and it
would be a shame if he doesn't get some All-Pro recognition someday
soon. He had five tackles, a sack, two hurries, and a forced fumble on
his sack of Favre in the third quarter. The fumble was recovered by the
Jets, but the sack came on third down, forcing a Jet punt. He also had a
key hit of Favre on the pick by Jenkins that preserved the Bronco lead.
Terrell Thomas was the leading Bronco tackler with 12, while Charles
Woodson led the Jets with eight. James Harrison blitzed frequently, but
the Bronco offensive line did a good job of keeping Freeman secure in
the pocket. The only hurries of Freeman came from Julian Peterson, who
has probably played his last game as a pro, Kevin Williams, and Dave
Ball. Freeman used his size and nimble feet to escape pressure on
several occasions and picked up positive yards when he scrambled (three
for 35). Michael Turner ran the ball effectively, picking up 101 yards
on 21 carries (4.8) but did not score. while Ryan Torain was held to 55
yards on 12 carries (4.6), but reached paydirt once. Hartline and
Edwards both caught six for the Jets, with Edwards gaining 83 yards and
Hartline leading the team with 108 yards and one TD reception. The
Broncos Dwayne Bowe had six catches for 151 yards and one score,
accounting for more than half of the Broncos 260 yards in the air.
Delanie Walker was the Broncos next leading receiver, with four for 38
and one score. Freeman completed 17 of 23 for 2260 and three scores,
putting up a 150.4 rating, while Jon Kitna acquitted himself well in
defeat, completing 22 of 31 for 254 and three touchdowns. Brett Favre
completed two of three for 24 yards, but was sacked once and threw the
game-ending pick in the final minute.
Injuries: Josh Sitton's injury probably cost the Broncos three points
late in the contest when the Broncos had a 35-27 lead and were trying to
extend it to an 11-point lead on Mason Crosby's 43-yarder with the wind.
But the snap from Maurkice Pouncey was a little low, and it threw off
the timing of the kick just enough for Crosby to miss wide right.
Denver's Eric Wood is listed as doubtful for next week's championship
game, but will be a game-time decision. The Broncos lost Ernie Sims
early, but Robert Ayers played well at linebacker in his stead, as the
Broncos overcame every obstacle to beat the defending ISFL Champions on
their home turf. Hank Sienzant summed it up best after the game,
reflecting back on the Broncos loss to the Jets in their fifteenth game
of the regular season that denied them the division crown. "If we are
going to win two of three every year from the Jets, I'll gladly take the
regular season loss in exchange for the playoff win."
A Look Ahead: The Broncos will face the winner of the Buffalo Bills at
Dallas Cowboys matchup. If the Bills can upset the Cowboys, the Broncos
will be at home for the AFC Championship game, so the Broncos will be
rooting for the Bills for purely selfish reasons. If the Cowboys win,
the game will be played in Dallas. The Broncos are now one win from
reaching the Super Bowl. When the Broncos were 0-9 to start last season,
did any Broncos fans among you dare to think this was remotely possible?
We didn't either.
Buffalo (20) at Dallas (6)
New
Orleans (34) at Green Bay (14)
The NO Saints
traveled to the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field to face the Central
Division Champion Green Bay Packers.
Game time temperature was 18 degrees with a slight wind.
Both teams knew it would come down to stopping the other teams
running game.
The first
quarter was dominated but two NO drives combined with a three and out by
GB. Arian Foster scores the
first 2 TD’s of the game for a 14-0 Saints lead.
The Packers defense didn’t have an answer for the dynamic duo of
Foster and Charles. GB
countered with Rashard Mendenhall and the Saint can’t find a way to stop
him in this wild 2nd quarter.
That sets up a 34 yard Philip Rivers to Jeremy Maclin 34 yard TD
pass and a Lambeau leap as the crowd goes nuts.
This is when the game gets pretty wild as NO drives down into the
red zone only to have Brody Eldridge get the ball stripped by the Packer
defense. 3 plays later Ike
Taylor intercepts Philip Rivers to get the ball back but Tony Romo
throws an interception to Derek Cox.
3 turnovers in 5 plays was pretty crazy.
The half is about over when a bad snap on a punt gives a last
play gift field goal to the Saints and a 17-7 halftime score.
GB gets the second half kick and
comes out throwing but a holding penalty stalls the drive.
The Packers half time adjustments don’t work and the dynamic duo
run it right down the field and Arian Foster score his 3rd TD
of the game. Disaster
strikes on the Packers next drive as ILB Ray Maualuga gets a pick six
and all of a sudden the Saints are up 31-7 and it’s the beginning of the
4th quarter.
Green Bay tries to come back but too little too late and the NO Saints
advance the Conference Championship Game with a 34-14 road win.
Tony Romo
praised the offensive line and how well both Arian Foster and Jamaal
Charles were able to hit the holes all game.
“We wore them down and were able to control the time of
possession”. Ray
Maualuga said on his 65 yard interception for a touchdown “I read Philip
Rivers eyes on had a great break on the ball.
The rest at the end of the 3rd quarter break
definitely helped me with that play”
New Orleans
awaits the winner of the Jacksonville @ Detroit game to see where they
travel next.
Jacksonville (3) at Detroit (9)
Two hour plus grinder where every play felt like it might
be the one to break things open.
*******************
III. STANDINGS
http://www.blades99.com/ISFL/Standings11.htm
***********************************************************************
IV.
RESULTS – Round 2
Jacksonville 3 Detroit 9 New Orleans 34 Green Bay 14 Denver 35 New York(A) 27 Buffalo 20 Dallas 6
***********************************************************************
V.
SCHEDULE – Championship Games
AFC
Championship Game
VI.
TRANSACTIONS
AFC
BUF –
CLE –
DAL –
Return Letroy Guion and David Bruton to the FA pool.
DEN –
Sign Tarell Brown to replace Tracey Porter through the Super Bowl.
HOU –
IND –
MIN –
NE
-
NYJ –
PIT –
SF
-
TEN –
NFC
ARZ –
ATL -
CAR –
DET –
GB
-
KC
-
MIA –
NO
- Sign Keydrick Vincent to replace Anthony Herrera through Super
Bowl.
NYG –
PHI –
SEA –
STL –
TB
-
DRAFT
PICKS FORFEITED:
None
***********************************************************************
VII.
OTHER NEWS:
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK:
WEEK
ONE
OFFENSE: Matt Forte, NY Giants – 155 yards, 3 TDs
WEEK
TWO
OFFENSE: Eli Manning, Houston – 27 for 32, 291 yards, 4 TDs
DEFENSE: Alphonso Smith, Miami – 2 INTs, 10 tackles
WEEK
THREE:
OFFENSE: Michael Vick, Seattle – 14 for 25 for 221 yards, 5 TDs
DEFENSE: Charles Johnson, Arizona – 3 sacks, 4 tackles, 1 forced fumble
WEEK
FOUR:
OFFENSE: Terrell Owens, St. Louis – 11 catches, 161 yards, 1 TD
DEFENSE: Camerion Wimbley, Buffalo – 3 sacks, 6 tackles
WEEK
FIVE:
OFFENSE: Matt Cassel, Dallas – 29 of 41 for 427 yards, 4 TDs
DEFENSE: Derek Landri, Minnesota – 4 sacks, 7 tackles
WEEK
SIX:
OFFENSE: Rashard Mendenhall, Green Bay – 22 carries, 145 yards, 3 TDs
DEFENSE: Trent Cole, NY Giants – 2 sacks, 8 tackles
WEEK
SEVEN:
OFFENSE: Phillip Rivers, Green Bay – 27 of 42 for 375 yards, 4 TDs
DEFENSE: Lawrence Jackson, Seattle – 5 sacks, 5 tackles
WEEK
EIGHT:
OFFENSE: Jamal Charles, New Orleans – 18 carries, 140 yards, 2 TDs
WEEK
NINE:
OFFENSE: Tom Brady, Buffalo – 17 of 25 for 344 yards, 4 TDs
DEFENSE: Osi Umenyiora, Atlanta – 7 sacks, 8 tackles
WEEK
TEN:
OFFENSE: Shaun Hill, Pittsburgh – 28 of 39 for 332 yards, 3 TDs
DEFENSE: Troy Biermann, Carolina – 4 sacks, 5 tackles
WEEK
ELEVEN:
OFFENSE: Michael Bush, Tennessee – 19 carries, 130 yards, 2 TDs
DEFENSE: Trent Cole, NY Giants – 2 sacks, 10 tackles
WEEK
TWELVE:
OFFENSE: Josh Freeman, Denver – 18 of 26 for 165 yards, 4 TDs
DEFENSE: Brian Orakpo, Dallas – 3 sacks, 7 tackles
WEEK
THIRTEEN:
OFFENSE: Andre Johnson, Dallas – 9 catches, 144 yards, 3 TDs
DEFENSE: Jamaal Anderson, St. Louis – 2 sacks, 10 tackles
WEEK
FIFTEEN
OFFENSE: Ladainian Tomlinson, Jacksonville – 20 carries, 100 yards, 1 TD
DEFENSE: Ike Taylor, New Orleans – 1 INT, 11 Tackles
WEEK
SIXTEEN
OFFENSE: Rashard Mendenhall, Green Bay – 33 carries, 242 yards, 2 TDs
DEFENSE: Tramon Williams, Kansas City – 2 INTs, 3 Tackles
WEEK
SEVENTEEN
OFFENSE: Arian Foster, New Orleans – 27 carries, 179 yds, 2 TDs
DEFENSE: Jason Babin, Philadelphia – 3 sacks, 4 tackles
WILDCARD ROUND
OFFENSE: Tom Brady, Buffalo – 23 of 34 for 249 yards, 2 TDs
DEFENSE: Antoine Bethea, New Orelans – 1 INT, 10 tackles
DIVSIONAL ROUND
OFFENSE: Arien Foster, New Orleans – 26 carries, 153 yards, 3 TDs
DEFENSE: Ray Maualuga, New Orleans – 1 INT, 65 yd TD, 5 tackles |