ISFL NEWLETTER 

 

The Internet Simulation Football League Newsletter

Volume #19 Issue #20 – January 16, 2016

 

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Current League Officers

Commissioner: Mark McNeil (blades99@rochester.rr.com)

League Statistician: Mark McNeil (blades99@rochester.rr.com)
Games Coordinator: Dave Stewart (david_stewart@comcast.net)

ISFL WWW site: http://www.blades99.com/ISFL/ISFL.htm

ISFL Review Board:  Jeff Barricelli, Dave Stewart, Don Antonelli

 

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LEAGUE NOTES

 

I.   Message from the Commissioner

II.  News from Around the League

III. Standings

IV.  Wild Card Results

V.   Divisional Round Schedule

VI.  Transactions

VII. Other News including Players of the Week

 

I. MESSAGE FROM THE COMMISSIONER

 

The divisional round was four good, close games but the higher seed moves on in every matchup and we have a final 4 of some very good teams that should make for great championship games.  Files are located on the main page of the website and you can get started setting games up with them due on 1/25/16.  Good luck to all in your quest for the Super Bowl.  Awards final ballot will hopefully be up tonight, please make sure to get your votes in.  Still would like to see any more ballot discussion if you have any input you would like to give or proposals to add.  Game files are located on the website for the end of the regular season.  Please make sure you get started on game contacts asap, home teams should make contact by Wednesday and the game should be set up no later than Thursday of each week.

 

I can’t stress enough that you need to IMMEDIATELY send me your game export when the game is complete.  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 moving along if it is missing at the deadline.

***There is a new game update available on the website, dated 08/14/15 *** 

 

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.  Also, be sure you give me enough names as the more injuries the more likely someone else already grabbed the guy you want. 

 

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.

 

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II. News from Around the League 

 

AFC Divisional Round Recaps

Dallas Cowboys at Tennessee Titans

Division rivals, Cowboys and Titans, meet for the third time this season. Just as the other games played out, this game goes down to the end. Was mostly a defensive game in the first half, but Titans manage to get to the break with a 10-0 lead.

 

Titans take the kickoff and open the 3rd quarter scoring with a FG to stretch the lead to 13-0. Dallas subsequently takes their first possession of the 3Q, use up 8:27 of time on 16 plays from scrimmage, and punch in the score on a 4 yard plunge by McCoy. The drive was kept alive by one of 5 (yes, five) 4th down conversions in the game by Dallas. Titans answer by covering 65 yards on the next drive in just two plays as Rivers finds Olsen in the seam for a 43 yard score. Titans up 20-7. Dallas goes on another long scoring drive, aided by another 4th down conversion as well as a timely facemask by the Titans which negated a big 3rd down hold by the Titans’ D. With 7:50 left in the game, McCoy finds paydirt again and it surely appeared like the Cowboys OL was starting to wear down the Titans’ defense. Titans 20-14. Titans only get a FG out of the next possession, but it puts us 2 scores up which is huge. Just as huge, is that we are able to grind nearly 5 minutes off the clock. Dallas gets the ball back with only 2:50 left and needing two possessions and scores. However, after one first down, Dallas is unable to get another one as 3 straight passes fall incomplete. Was a good game and another well-called game by Dan.

Second half saw only 7 total possessions. Luckily for the hometeam Titans, the Cowboys only got their hands on the ball 3 times in that half. The first two resulted in TD’s. Kind of an odd game in that Tennessee never trailed, but Dallas dominated the time of possession. Action MVP was QB Philip Rivers but the real MVP was the offensive line which opened holes for the RB’s to keep running through.

Congrats to Dan on a fine season.

Looks like the Titans will prepare to face a very strong New England team.

 

Cleveland Browns at New England Patriots

 

In a windy night at Foxboro, the Patriots and the Browns square off for the first game of the divisional playoff.
The visiting team starts really strong, with a perfect first drive that ended with a 13 yards TD pass from QB Joe Flacco for Miles Austin and allow them to take an early lead: 7-0.
The Patriots try to keep their rhytm, even forcing a 4th & 1 on the opponent 44, but this ended to be a mistake, as the pass from Manning to Evans falls incomplete and Cleveland get the ball.
But the Browns are not able to capitalize the gift, and the drive ends with a punt.
In the second drive, the home team offense is more focused, and able to efficently moves the ball down the field from their 20 and closing it with a 1 yard TD by Cam Newton: 7-7.
Cleveland offense try to do the same, but here the opponent defense stap up and for 4 times stops the brown at the goal line and forces a key turnover on down.
After that, the second quarter see the 2 teams exchange a punt until the last drive.
Here New England, with 1.41 left, has the second good drive of the evening, driving from their 31 to the end zone, thanks to a big run from Newton and a couple of good passes from Manning, that close the drive with a beatiful pass to Evans for a 11 yards TD with only 5 seconds left in the first half: 7-14 .
The second half see the Patriots with the ball, trying to make a break, but suddenly the offense is no more able to move the ball smoothly and the result is a punt.
Luckily for the home team, Cleveland offense has the same trouble, so the third quarter see only a FG by the Brown that set the score at -4 for New England: 10-14.
But, as ofter we saw in the past, after the quiet ther is the storm (well, maybe was the opposite...).
First the Patriots' RB, Forsett, bring on his back the offense and with 60 yards on 5 carries, allows Cam Newton to score his second TD of the game: 10-21.
Cleveland takes the punch, but when the game seams over for them, Knile Davis make them another gift fumbling the ball on the NE 27.
And here the home team have to thanks their defense again, as it is able to stop the Brows and force them to a FG. Key play, a 4 yard loss run by RB star Laveon Bell.
From now on, the Patriots takes the lead of the operations, running the ball to run the clock and sitting in the back waiting for the last attempt of comeback from Cleveland.

The game was very balanced for most of the day, but maybe the difference was in the running game. NE runs for 203 yards on 32 carries, CLE 95 on 24.
The MVP, for the game, was Eli Manning, but the real one, in my opinion, was Justin forsett, with his 141 yards on 19 attempts.
Last but not least, hats off to Bob, who played a great game. As i wrote, it was really balanced, and both team could win.

That's all Falks.
Daniele / NE

 


NFC Divisional Round Recaps

 

Philadelphia Eagles at Detroit Lions

 

Lions stumble out the gate, turn it over twice deep in own territory, Eagles make ‘em pay and race to 17-0 lead.
Patience and pass interference penalties help the NFC East champs work their way back into the ballgame, finding themselves down by just 7 at the half.
Eagles now suffer a couple miscues to open the third qtr, a Manning INT and a Benny Cunningham K-O return fumble help propel Detroit into their first lead of the day.
Philly pieces together an impressive drive, come 1st and goal from DET 7, defense stiffens, Jeff’s boys forced to settle for the chip shot FG and a 20-20 tie.
Into the 4th quarter we go, Manning & Co. maneuver in Lion territory, stall, Nick Folk called on for 54 yd attempt, nails it and Eagles forge 23-20 advantage.
With seven minutes and change remaining in regulation, DET launches its drive of the day to keep their season alive.
Sixteen plays, bleeding Eagle timeouts, capped by 3 yd Marshawn Lynch TD run and Detroit advances to the next round 27-23.
Real good game Jeff, you had your troops in position to win all day, congrats on another successful season!

 

 

Arizona Cardinals at New Orleans Saints

 

It was quite a game with 2 blocked FG's and 2 punt returns for TD's.  Special teams played a huge part in this one.  

 

Arizona's De'Anthony Thomas started as he takes the opening kick-off 80 yards.  New Orleans stout defense holds and a big 3rd down personal foul penalty pushes AZ back for a long FG attempt.  Calais Campbell blocks the kick (His first of 2 blocks in the game) and NO holds.  It seamed like the whole day New Orleans just couldn't convert a short 3rd down on the ground.  The Saints ended up converting 4 of 14 3rd downs.  Arizona wasn't any better with 6 of 19.  But the Saints pin AZ at the 11 and hold them to a 3 and out to get good field position.  Russell Wilson takes the team to the 3 yard line and the drive stalls and settle for a 3-0 lead on Justin Tuckers FG.  Arizona gets on the board when Anquan Boldin beats the short zone on a long cross and Tom Brady finds him for a 44 yard TD and a 7-3 lead that lasts until half.

 

The Saints take the 2nd half KO and drives inside the red zone.  Again, the Cardinal's defense holds inside the 10 on a 3rd and 1 and Justin Tucker hits his 2nd FG of the game to close it to 7-6.  Arizona later drives and attempts a 52 yard FG to extend the lead but Calais Campbell blocks his 2nd of the game and NO gets a short filed.  The Saints drive far enough to take the lead on a Justin Tucker 44 yard FG early in the 4th quarter.  Both defenses hold but MVP Tavon Austin takes a punt return 85 yards for a score.  But the next time NO gets the ball and punts De'Anthony Thomas returns it for 76 yards and a score and gets AZ right back in the game trailing 14-16.  Arizona gets 1 last chance with 1:52 on the clock and no time outs.  With the Superdome crowd going nuts the Saint hold as Arizona goes 4 and out.

 

It's always a tough game between these 2 teams.  New Orleans sweeps Arizona this year with wins of 3 points, 6 points and 2 points.  Congratulations on a fine season for Andy and his team.  

 

New Orleans travels to meet Dave Stewart's Detroit squad in the conference championship.

 

 

Coming up in the AFC Championship Game we have a matchup of the best team in the conference all season in the Titans who lost just once and have played stifling defense all year while New England comes in with the best offense, so strength vs strength in this one.  The Patriots used a 3 headed monster at QB in the last round to sneak by Cleveland with Newton running in a pair of TDs and Manning leading the way passing.  Philip Rivers will need to be the difference for Tennessee and have a good day against a good but not great Patrtiots defense who can have plays made against them.  The Titans will look to get to their first Super Bowl while the Patriots look to go back after their win in Super Bowl XVII.

Coming up in the NFC Championship Game we have the two best teams all season as Detroit just rolled through their schedule and come in at 18-0 on the season and the Saints weren’t far behind at 16-2.  Detroit has the best offense in the league and will look to keep the gas pedal down and try and push the Saints who have a good defense and will try to slow things down.  Both teams have been to the Super Bowl in the past with the Saints holding two wins and the Lions one, but it has been a while so these teams are hungry to re-assert their dominance on the league and take home another championship.

 

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III. STANDINGS

 

http://www.blades99.com/ISFL/Standings15.htm

 

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IV. RESULTS – Divisional Round Results

 

Philadelphia 23 Detroit 27
 Dallas 14 Tennessee 23
 Cleveland 13 New England 21
 Arizona 14 New Orleans 16   

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V. SCHEDULE

 Championship Games

AFC
New England Patriot at Tennessee Titans

NFC
New Orleans Saints at Detroit Lions

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VI. TRANSACTIONS

 

 

AFC

BUF –
CHI –

CLE –
DAL –

DEN –

HOU –

IND –

MIN –

NE  -

NYJ –

PIT –
SD  -

SF  -

TEN –

 

NFC

ARZ –

ATL -

CAR –

DET –

GB  -
JAX –

KC  -

MIA –
NYG –
NO  - Sign Kyle Wilber to replace Anthony Barr through Super Bowl.

PHI –

SEA –

STL –
TB  -

 

 

DRAFT PICKS FORFEITED:


HOU #3 ’15 – No backup TE and not enough Rushes on roster
STL #3 ’16 – No Long Snapper/No Backup QB

TB #5 ‘15 – No Long Snapper

 

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VII. OTHER NEWS:

 

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK:

 

WEEK ONE

OFFENSE: Tom Brady, ARZ – 31 of 43 for 405 yards, 4 TDs
DEFENSE: Bruce Irvin, STL – 3 sacks, 5 tackles

 

WEEK TWO

OFFENSE: Nick Foles, DEN – 23 of 27 for 332 yards, 5 TDs

DEFENSE: Ndamkong Suh, JAX – 3 sacks, 5 tackles

WEEK THREE:

OFFENSE: Leveon Bell, CLE – 28 carries, 212 yards, 2 TDs

DEFENSE: George Selvie, MIA – 3 sackes, 8 tackles

 

WEEK FOUR:

OFFENSE: CJ Anderson, MIA – 29 carries, 199 yards, 1 TD

DEFENSE: JJ Watt, SEA – 3 sacks, 5 tackles

 

WEEK FIVE:

OFFENSE: CJ Anderson, MIA – 25 carries, 161 yards, 2 TDs

DEFENSE: DeAndre Levy, HOU – 18 tackles

 

WEEK SIX:

OFFENSE: Demaryius Thomas, STL – 10 catches, 155 yards, 3 TDs

DEFENSE: Michael Brockers, ATL – 3 sacks, 4 tackles

 

WEEK SEVEN:

OFFENSE: Dez Bryant, CAR – 14 catches, 246 yards, 2 TDs

DEFENSE: Timmy Jernigan, SD – 3 sacks, 8 tackles

 

WEEK EIGHT:

OFFENSE: Marshawn Lynch, DET – 17 carries, 130 yards, 3 TDs
DEFENSE: Derrick Morgan, NYJ – 6 sacks, 6 tackles, 3 forced fumbles

 

WEEK NINE:

OFFENSE: Demarco Murray, MIN – 34 carries, 172 yards, 2 TDs

DEFENSE: Cameron Wake, NE – 4 sacks, 5 tackles

 

WEEK TEN:

OFFENSE: Derek Carr, CAR – 29 of 38 for 365 yards, 5 TDs

DEFENSE: Parys Haralson, IND – 5 sacks, 9 tackles

 

WEEK ELEVEN:

OFFENSE: AJ Green, SEA – 7 catches for 215 yards, 3 TDs

DEFENSE: Sheldon Richardson, CAR – 3 sacks, 4 tackles

 

WEEK TWELVE:

OFFENSE: Le’Veon Bell, CLE – 28 carries, 179 yards, 3 TDs

DEFENSE: Elvis Dumervil, PHI – 4 sacks, 7 tackles, 2 hurries, 2 forced fumbles, safety

 

WEEK THIRTEEN:

OFFENSE: Tre Mason, DEN – 22 carries, 179 yards, 2 TDs

DEFENSE: William Gay, SF – 15 tackles

 

WEEK FIFTEEN

OFFENSE: Aaron Rodgers, IND – 25 of 39 for 350 yards, 4 TDs

DEFENSE: Demarcus Ware, JAX – 3 sacks, 4 tackles, 1 INT

 

WEEK SIXTEEN

OFFENSE: Antonio Brown, CAR – 19 catches, 285 yards, 4 TDs

DEFENSE: Paul Kruger, NE – 4 sacks, 8 tackles

 

WEEK SEVENTEEN

OFFENSE: Marshawn Lynch, DET – 17 carries, 145 yards, 2 TDs

DEFENSE: Calaise Campbell, NO – 3 sacks, 3 tackles

WILDCARD ROUND

OFFENSE: Drew Brees, DAL – 31 of 42 for 345 yards, 2 TDs

DEFENSE: Elvis Dumervil, PHI – 5 sacks, 8 tackles, 1 safety

 

DIVSIONAL ROUND

OFFENSE: Ben Roethlisberger, DET – 23 of 33 for 232 yards, 2 TDs

DEFENSE: Chandler Jones, TEN – 1 sack, 11 tackles, 1 forced fumble

 

 
 

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