ISFL NEWLETTER
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The
Internet Simulation Football League Newsletter
Volume #26 Issue #21 – January 19, 2023
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Current League Officers
Commissioner: Mark McNeil (blades99@rochester.rr.com)
League Statistician: Mark McNeil (blades99@rochester.rr.com)
ISFL
Review Board: Hank Sienzant,
Don Antonelli, Ed Minshull
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LEAGUE NOTES
I.
Message from the Commissioner
II.
News from Around the League
III.
Standings
IV.
Divisional Round Results
V.
Championship Round Schedule
VI.
Transactions
VII.
Other News including Players of the Week
I.
MESSAGE FROM THE COMMISSIONER
More
upsets are the order of the day in the divisional round as three lower
seeds move on and just Chicago is able to take advantage of their home
field to move on. So we have Indianpolis, a 5 seed, moving on to try and
get their first win against Chicago this year in the AFC.
In the NFC New England will try and slow down Jacksonville in a
battle of teams with solid offenses and very good defenses.
Giving a little extra time for this round since we ran so late,
but if the games get done sooner I will move things on to the Super Bowl
as soon as I can.
As
you have likely seen, ballot discussions are underway on the mailing
list, please feel free to weigh in in the discussions and/or bring up
any ballot proposals you think may be a positive change/addition for the
league.
Look
for the awards ballot to be coming soon
Please, do your best to be on time when you set you games and and don’t
forget you should be CCing me each time. Also, you should be sending out
a boxscore (which you have to save after the game) and a .xbx file for
each game and a small write up would be nice as well for each game.
Don’t forget that if you need a
sub for a game you should be emailing Jeff Shelton directly to set that
up rather than going through the email list to avoid confusion on who is
subbing. Playoff files will be out shortly, please get them and get
going on game contacts as soon as possible and make sure you are CCing
me on those so I know what is going on.
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.
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
In
the AFC Tennessee puts up a fight but the Bears continue to roll along
and down another opponent to get to the conference championship game.
Steelers don’t get another good game from Heinicke and the Colts
ride a big first half surge to down the home team and face the Bears for
the third time this season.
In
the NFC what looked to be a defensive struggle turned into a high
scoring game as the Patriots relied on Jared Goff to thrown for 300
yards and 3 TDs and earn the win over the Houston Texans who had been
rolling along all year. In a rematch of a week 18 game that the Jags won
to get their division, Jacksonville again rides the arm of Mahomes to
just get by the Saints in another tight game where the Jags defense
holds on for the final quarter.
Coming up in the AFC Chicago will try and beat Indianapolis for a third
time and as we have already seen in the last round with Houston/NE this
is not an easy thing to do. Rodgers will have to put in a full game this
time though as he will be facing a much better offense on the other side
than the Steelers and will need to score points to get a win. In the
end, the Bears will survive a close one with a 4th quarter
win.
Coming up in the NFC Mahomes will have to continue to carry the Jags
offense, but it’s their defense who should be the difference as they are
able to shut down Goff. NE’s
defense will have to keep their team in the game and hope that Goff can
again outplay what is on paper a better QB if they want a chance at the
big game. In the end, the
Jags will score enough to squeak out a win and hold on at the end.
Game
Summaries from Divisional Round
Tennessee – 21, Chicago – 30
The Bears return to the playoffs for the first time
in years. Now the question would be if the teams strange run of good
luck would continue or not.
The Bears win the toss and elect to defer. A solid
kick pins the Titans deep with their drive starting on their own 12. The
Bears defense comes out strong, holding the Titans to three yards on
three plays and Tennessee punts. Bears returner Olszewski manages a
decent return but fumbles the ball away, the Titans recovering on the
Bears 49. Not the start the fans were looking for. The Bears defense
again steps up, allowing only 1 first down and force another Titans
punt. Olszewski again gets a solid return of 14 yards, setting the Bears
up on their own 19. The Bears offense fails to cross midfield and the
Titans get the ball back on their 20. The Titans switch to their ground
game, with RB Sony Michel having gains of 11, 15 and 21 yards before RB
Aaron Jones goes off tackle for 35 yards and the lead. 7-0 Titans with
4:43 left in the first.
The teams again trade punts to close out the first.
Chicago then manages a drive that was the polar opposite of the Titans,
grinding down the field with small gains before Bridgewater hits TE
George Kittle from 15 out to tie the game. 7-7 with 9 minutes in the
half.
Tennessee again winds up punting on their next
drive, but Bridgewater badly misfires on a slant and Titans SF Rodney
McLeod picks it off and returns it to the Bears 1 yard line. While the
Bears defense tries their best, Jones again cross the goal line,
although this time from about 5 inches out. 14-7 Titans with 5:15
left in the half.
With time in the half running low, this time the
Bears abandon their slow grind, getting 10 yards or more on every play
of the drive except one, allowing Tee Higgins to get across the goalline
and tying the game with 2:21 in the half. 14-14.
The Titans are again forced to punt after gaining
about 20 yards and the Bears left the clock run out. Game is tied at 14.
The Bears down the 2nd half kickoff and take over
at the 25. A long drive (16 plays totaling more than 6 minutes) ensues
with the Bridgewater back to his dink and dunk habits. However the Bears
do manage to score, overcoming 4 and inches conversion that was
challenged. The Bears converted on the next play followed by a short
pass to TE Kittle and the Bears take the lead for the first time in the
game. 21-14 Bears with 8:48 left in the third.
Tennessee looks like they're going to have the same
type of drive but WR Landry suddenly breaks through the Bears secondary
and races 47 yards for the score. The game is again tied, 21-21, 4:25
left in the third.
The Bears again slowly move down the field. Before
stalling on the Titans 17 and settling for a field goal, they've ran
another 6 minutes off the clock with the patented Bridgewater short
passing game. 24-21 Bears with 13:30 to go in the game.
Titans QB Mac Jones misses three throws and the
Titans punt it deep. The Bears again slowly advance up the field,
although this time it's by design instead of being due to their QB's
arm. Relying on carries from 3rd TB Deejay Dallas, TB Stevenson and a
Bridgewater scramble, the Bears get to the Titans 7 before settling for
another field goal. 27-21 Bears with 4:06 left in the 4th.
The Bears defense again steps it up, forcing the
Titans into a 4th and 2 on their own 32. With just over 2 minutes to go,
Jones sets up in the pocket but pressure from the Bears ends forces him
to try dumping it off to FB Kyle Juszczyk and it falls incomplete. The
Bears offense can't move the ball at all, only managing to burn 16
seconds off the clock before settling for another FG, however this makes
it a two score game. 30-21 Bears
The Titans go to the air, but a pick of Jones by CB
Akhello Witherspoon puts paid to any comeback dreams. A couple of kneel
downs and the Bears have won.
Indianapolis – 23, Pittsburgh – 16
First half was all Indianapolis as if something
could go wrong, it probably did for the Steelers with picks, fumbles,
penalties taking away big plays, you name it and it went wrong as Indy
built a 20-0 lead in the game. Rogers starts things off on his
second possession with an 87 yard drive and a 20 yard TD pass to Hunt
which gives the Colts a 7-0 lead. Steelers go three and out and Indy
moves just 28 yards in 8 plays and settle for a long Gay FG from 55 yard
out and a 10-0 lead. Teams trade punts as the Steelers can't go
anywhere and in fact on our second time around we end up running just 1
official play as we get penalized two plays in a row including a big
holding call after a 26 yard screen pass to Jacobs that would have got
us back in the game. At 2nd and 34 from our 22 Steelers coaching is so
pissed at their own team they punt and Sri actually had to ask if I
meant to do that (yeah, I was done at that point). This plan
actually ended up working out as we get a big punt and a fair catch,
Indy only manages 32 yards and gives it back and we gained about 15
yards on the exchange. But then Heinicke throws a pick and Indy
turns that into a FG and a 13-0 lead. We then proceed to fumble
the next kickoff and Rodgers doesn't waste it hitting Jones for a 8 yard
TD pass and it's 20-0. Steelers finally get things rolling in the
final minutes and move 67 yards in 9 plays, finishing off with an 8 yard
TD pass to Osborn but then of course Slye misses the XP and we head to
halftime down 20-6. Jacksonville – 22, New Orleans – 21
In a rematch of the last game of the year
Jacksonville goes to New Orleans and pulls out the win. The game
is scoreless for the first quarter. The Jaquars take a 9-7 lead,
missing the extra point. The Saints drive down and get a TD right
before the half. 14-9 with getting the ball in the second half.
The Saints are driving to begin the 3rd quarter when Bosa strips Drake
for a turnover that changes the whole game. The Saints defense
holds but get the ball back at the 7-yard line. This leads to
great field position and Mahomes hits Cooks for a 23-yard TD and the
lead. Wilson comes back with a 67-yard play to Adame and the
Saints take the lead back 3 plays later. Mahomes and Cooks get
another long TD pass, this time from 56 yards, then Drake fumbles for
the 2nd time. A missed 2-point conversion has the Jags up 22-21.
The Saints are driving when Wilson throw an INT at the 1 yard-line.
The Saints had 2 more shots, but it wasn't meant to be as they get
their 4th turn-over at the end. Congratulations to Marty and the
Jaguars with a well-deserved win.
New
England – 34, Houston – 27
No
summary
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III. STANDINGS
http://www.blades99.com/ISFL/Standings22.htm
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IV. RESULTS – Divisional Round Results
Jacksonville 22 New Orleans 21
V.
SCHEDULE
Championship Round Playoffs
VI.
TRANSACTIONS
AFC
BUF –
CLE –
DEN –
GB
-
LAC –
LAR –
NYJ –
PIT – TEN –
NFC
ARZ –
ATL –
DET –
HOU –
JAX –
KC
- MIA –
NO
- Returned Kenjon Barner and Danny Shelton to FA pool.
PHI –
SEA –
TB
-
DRAFT
PICKS FORFEITED:
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VII.
OTHER NEWS:
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK:
WEEK
ONE
OFFENSE: Keenan Allen, MIN – 12 catches, 202 yards, 2 TDs
WEEK
TWO
OFFENSE: Justin Jefferson, DET – 12 catches, 252 yards, 4 TDs
DEFENSE: CJ Mosley, NE – 19 tackles, 5 stuffs, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble
recovery
WEEK
THREE:
OFFENSE: Kirk Cousins, LAC – 23 of 31 for 329 yards, 4 TDs
DEFENSE: Jordan Hicks, PHI – 16 tackles, 2 stuffs, 1 pass defense
WEEK
FOUR:
OFFENSE: Jalen Hurts, PHI – 28 of 44 for 302 yds, 3 TDs, 134 rush yds, 2
TDs
DEFENSE: Marcus Davenport, BUF – 2 sacks, 10 tackles, 1 Stuff, 1 Hurry,
2 Forced Fumbles
WEEK
FIVE:
OFFENSE: Dak Prescott, DET – 44 of 57 for 422 yards, 5 TDs
DEFENSE: Shaq Thompson, NYJ – 2 INTs, 7 tackles, 2 Pass Defenses, 1 TD
WEEK
SIX:
OFFENSE: Tua Tagovailoa, DEN – 27 of 33 for 465 yards, 5 TDs
DEFENSE: Robert Quinn, NO – 3 sacks, 7 tackles
WEEK
SEVEN:
OFFENSE: Teddy Bridgewater, CHI – 27 of 46 for 357 yards, 5 TDs
DEFENSE: Nick Bosa, SEA – 3 sacks, 3 tackles
WEEK
EIGHT:
OFFENSE: Carson Wentz, TB – 25 of 48 for 297 yards, 4 TDs
WEEK
NINE:
OFFENSE: Joe Burrow, NYJ – 26 of 30 for 275 yards, 3 TDs
WEEK
TEN:
OFFENSE: Stefon Diggs, CAR – 12 catches, 209 yards, 1 TD
DEFENSE: Kevin Byard, PHI – 2 INTs, 6 tackles, 1 Pass Defense
WEEK
ELEVEN:
OFFENSE: Joe Burrow, NYJ – 24 of 34 for 306 yards, 3 TDs
DEFENSE: Eric Kendricks, SEA – 2 INTs, 12 tackles, 1 pass defense
WEEK
TWELVE:
OFFENSE: CeeDee Lamb, LAR – 10 catches, 269 yards, 1 TD
DEFENSE: Mathew Judon, TB – 3 sacks, 9 tackles
WEEK
THIRTEEN:
OFFENSE: Cooper Kupp, TB – 14 catches, 248 yards, 3 TDs
DEFENSE: JC Jackson, KC – 2 INTs, 12 tackles, 4 pass defenses
WEEK
FOURTEEN
OFFENSE: Davis Mills, CHI – 33 of 48 for 434 yards, 2 TDs
DEFENSE: Rashan Gary, NYJ – 2 sackes, 8 tackles, 1 stuff
WEEK
SIXTEEN
OFFENSE: Russell Wilson, NO – 22 of 34 for 409 yards, 4 TDs
DEFENSE: Kevin Byard, PHI – 2 INTs, 5 tackles, 1 pass defense, 1 forced
fumble
WEEK
SEVENTEEN
OFFENSE: Antonio Brown, CAR – 18 catches, 195 yards, 2 TDs
DEFENSE: Trayvon Mullen, NYJ – 2 INTs, 4 tackles
WEEK
EIGHTEEN
OFFENSE: Josh Jacobs, PIT – 29 carries, 163 yards, 4 TDs
DEFENSE: Darius Leonard, KC – 1 INT, 16 tackles, 1 stuff
WILDCARD ROUND
OFFENSE: Aaron Rodgers, IND – 35 of 46 for 386 yards, 4 TDs
DEFENSE: Shelby Harris, TEN – 3 sacks, 6 tackles
DIVSIONAL ROUND
OFFENSE: Jared Goff, NE – 23 of 32 for 302 yards, 4 TDs |