What a wild week we all just witnessed. The two conference leaders, just one week after clinching their divisions, both fall. Houston loses their third in a row, moving Chicago into first in the Central, St. Louis gets a win against a playoff calibre team, and 4 more teams clinch playoff spots after a crazy week of action.
The Machine knew that they needed a win in the Big Easy to stay within range of a fading Houston Gambler squad. The Breakers new that only a win could keep them from playoff elimination. Both clubs came out swinging, but in the end it was Coach Schottenheimer’s plucky Chicago club that got the job done and now the Machine find themselves in first place with a huge showdown with the Gamblers next week.
Chicago got it done by combining a short passing game with red zone runs, as Watters and Mario Bates combined for 3 scores on the ground despite only gaining 60 total rushing yards on the day. New Orleans had their run game working much better, with Marcus Dupree rushing for an even 100 yards and erric Pegram adding another 44 to the Breakers total, but unlike Chicago, the New Orleans run game was unable to convert yardage into scores, at least not enough scores.
New Orleans opened the scoring as Timm Rosenbach found Herman Fontenot for a 14-yard TD on their first drive. Seven minutes later a 5 yard scamper from Bates equalized the scoreboard. New Orleans responded with the only score of the 2nd quarter, a 36-yard Mazzetti field goal. In the third Chicago took its first lead of the day as this time it was Ricky Watters powering in from 10 yards out. Chicago doubled up with the first score of the final period, again Bates getting the ball over the goalline and the Machine took a 21-10 lead.
But, New Orleans, which had found it tough to score all day, broke into the endzone thanks to the legs of Marcus Dupree. They went for 2 and got it, now trailing only by 3 at 21-18. On their next drive, a controversial defensive pass interference call helped the Breakers get into the red zone before their offense fizzled. They settled for the game-tying score with 2:22 left to play. That 142 second gap between the Breaker score and the final whistle proved to be too long as Scott Zolak, who has made the most of his chance to start for the injured Bernie Kosar this season, led a furious 2-minute drill. Not willing to settle for 3 and leave New Orleans a full minute to equalize, the Machine went for it on 4th and 1 at the New Orleans 22. They got the conversion as Watters jumped the pile for just enough. 3 plays later, it was Aubrey Matthews catching a quick slant from Zolak and bouncing off the tackle attempt by SS Jessie Blount. Chicago had broken open the tie and taken the win.
The loss for New Orleans moved them to 6-9 and mathematically eliminated them from the playoffs, and an upset Mike Ditka fumed during the post-game press conference. But, for Chicago, the win, combined with a Houston’s recent slide, now puts the Machine in the driver’s seat. A win, or another tie against Houston next week and it could be the Machine’s first ever Central Division title, and all in a season where Bernie Kosar was out for the entire year.
HOU 23 BAL 33
Houston came into Baltimore with hopes of snapping their 2-game losing streak, but the Blitz had their own agenda. Picking off Kelly twice, including a pick-6 by Leslie Frazier, and sacking Kelly 6 times, including a safety in the 2nd quarter, helped Baltimore knock off the Western Conference Champs and move their own record to 8-7, still very much alive in the playoff hunt.
DEN 34 BIR 17
Another shocker as Denver came into Legion Field and manhandled the Stallions. The Gold sacked Favre 5 times and forced 2 interceptions as the Southern Division Champs seem to have lost the fire that helped them win 6 in a row to take the division crown. QB Mark Brunell only threw for 141 on 12 of 23 passing, but he also scrambled 4 times for 44 yards, showing a bit of a dual threat to the Stallions. Timmy Smith added 2 scores and the Blitz find themselves now with a huge game next week against Philly, who may rest some starters, but likely not many as they need a win to hold off Pittsburgh.
PHI 27 NJ 15
The Stars clinched a playoff berth (but not the division) with a convincing win over their arch rivals from New Jersey. Cris Carter, Kelvin Bryant and Charlie Garner all scored, and the Philly D held New Jersey to only 5 Roger Ruzek field goals as the Generals simply could not punch it in when they got close. New Jersey is still in the mix at 8-7, but cannot afford a week 16 loss.
WSH 18 PIT 23
Washington is another 8-7 club that has to play its best next week after losing to the Maulers in Three Rivers Stadium. The Feds held Mike Rozier in check (27 yards on 14 carries). But made too many mistakes, including 4 turnovers, which helped the Maulers take control of the game. Alan Risher hit Raynard Brown for a score and Kyle Kramer scooped up a Barry Word fumble and returned it for a score as the Maulers stay tied with Philadelphia atop the Division.
MEM 30 JAX 14
Memphis helped their playoff chances immensely and all but eliminated the Bulls with a resounding road win in the Gator Bowl. Greg Boone again ran strong, gaining 103 yards on 23 tough carries. It was Tommy Agie who benefited, scoring on two short runs, and Jo-Jo Townsell put the icing on the cake with a short TD reception for the Showboats, who face Birmingham next week with a chance to match the Stallions’ record, but fully knowing that they can at best be a Wild Card due to tiebreakers.
TBY 30 ORL 17
The Bandits improved their record to 7-8, but have slim hopes of making the playoffs due to the sheer number of 8-7 clubs ahead of them. Erric Rhett rushed for 103 and a score to power the Bandit offense, and the defense held Orlando to only 78 yards rushing in the road victory. Orlando will finish the season against St. Louis in a game that could determine draft order in this expansion season.
MGN 27 TEX 20
Following the Panther win, both clubs sit at 7-8 and on playoff life support, needing a lot of help from other games next week to sneak into the postseason. Michigan got a strong game from veteran Marcus Allen, who rushed for 119 and 2 scores to power the Panther offense. Glen Carano threw for 2 scores, but only completed 46.8% of his passes, leading to a lot of missed conversions on 3rd down.
POR 14 ARZ 31
By the time Arizona played late on Sunday afternoon, they knew that a win would clinch a playoff spot for the Wranglers. They played like it was a playoff game, with Robbie Bosco completing 72.2% of his passes and the combo of Lester and James rushing for 150 yards and 2 scores against the hapless Thunder defense. Portland locked up a 10-loss season, and by all accounts ensured the departure of Dennis Erickson as Head Coach.
OAK 10 STL 24
Oakland, having clinched the Pacific Division the week before, came out flat against St. Louis, and the Knights pounced on the opportunity to earn a bit of respect. David Archer had his best game of the year, named Offensive POTW, after throwing 3 TD’s and completing 27 of 39 on the day. The Knights blitzed early and often, throwing Hebert from his game and sacking the MVP candidate a season-high 6 times in the upset win.
Denver came into this week with perhaps the toughest task of any team. To remain alive for the playoffs they needed to travel to Birmingham and knock off perhaps the hottest and the best team in the league, the defending USFL Champions. They did just that with a ferocious defensive pressure strategy, and the leader of that defense was veteran LB Kurt Gouveia. Not only did Gouveia lead the Gold in tackles (9) but he also opened up the 2nd half with a pick of Favre run back for 6, a score that gave Denver a shocking 24-7 lead. He would also add a force fumble, knocking the ball out of the hands of James Joseph, and a recovery, pouncing on a ball that DE Oliver Barnett swatted from the hands of Favre. After the game, Gouveia credited coach Wade Philips for the brilliant gameplan and his teammates for playing a swarming, hard hitting 60 minutes, but no one on the Denver defense this week deserves more credit than Gouveia, the 1988 Defensive Player of the Year, and still a force for the Gold.
We got some clarity this week, with 4 more clubs clinching playoff spots thanks to the tiebreaker system. Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, both 10-5 have 2 games on the rest of their division and both will make the postseason, but neither can rest their players if they want to guarantee a home playoff game next week, and only 1 can be the division champ. The tiebreaker goes to Philadelphia, so Pittsburgh has to hope that Baltimore can pull off the upset next week against the Stars.
In the West, Arizona and Chicago also earned playoff berths with their wins this week. Chicago can win the Central with a victory against Houston in the final week of the season, while Arizona is now playing to be the #3 seed and avoid a Wild Card Weekend matchup.
Teams still on the outside but able to control their own destiny include 9-6 Memphis, and, among the 8-8 Eastern teams, 8-7 New Jersey is in a win-and-in situation. The same is true for both 7-7-1 Houston and 8-7 Denver. If Houston can beat Chicago next week and snap their 3-game losing streak, they will leap up to the #2 seed. Washington, Baltimore, Michigan and Texas are all mathematically alive, but need help to reach the postseason.
With one week left, we are interested in the end of season awards, many of which seem too close to call. While it seems clear that Bobby Hebert could be the Comeback Player of the Year with the big season he has had, he is also a potential MVP, with Brett Favre being his main competition. Whoever loses out on MVP is very likely the Offensive POTY, as Houston’s losing streak has dropped Jim Kelly behind the top two. Looking at Defensive POTY, arguments can be made for Houston CB Ashley Ambrose, who leads the league in tackles (not a great thing for a CB usually) but is also in near the top of the league in interceptions, and has 2 defensive TDs this season. Also in the race are Baltimore’s Leslie Frazier (82 tackles, 7 interceptions and a whopping 4 defensive scores) and Dexter Manley, who has 15 sacks and 2 safeties for the Federals.
Rookie of the year will likely come down to Errict Rhett, who needs an even 100 yards in Week 16 to gain 1,000, and Birmingham’s Aaron Glenn, who has 4 interceptions, 5 forced fumbles and can reach 100 tackles with 9 more in week 16.
Finally, Coach of the Year could be a nail biter. There is a lot of support for Philadelphia’s Raymond Berry, but there is also a growing vote for Chicago’s Marty Schottenheimer, who has the Machine poised to win the division after losing Bernie Kosar for the year and playing most of the season with Scott Zolak at QB.
Late season injuries are the bane of every team. Those playing out the string don’t want to jeopardize their contract negotiations, those on the bubble want to be at full strength in the final weeks, and those with playoff berths in hand do not want to see their strengths diminished right before the postseason, but the final weeks are like any other weeks and there are always game-impacting injuries. Perhaps the worst case this week is Oakland’s Ron Rivera, a leader on defense, who will miss the entire postseaston after breaking a bone in his ankle in a dogpile early in this week’s games.
New Jersey is looking at a potential fracture to the collarbone of their LT, William Israel. Chicago will be without Wendell Davis at wideout after he suffered a groin injury this week, and Pittsburgh could be without FS pat Terrell for as many as 4 weeks with a hip injury. Scott Zolak suffered a late game injury to his non-throwing hand, but is expected to play the all important final game for the Machine, while Houston may be without Howard Ballard, who is listed as questionable for the season finale.
New Jersey lost Oliver Luck late in their loss this week, but with Flutie expected to be in full health for the finale, it may not have an impact. Finally, Baltimore has made two key positions a possible game time decision, with TE Deems May and LB Barney Bussey listed as probable, but observers in practice saying that both had greatly reduced loads this week.
You have to love Week 16 football, and this year, pretty much every playoff team has to play their starters because the divisions and the seeding is still up in the air in both conferences. Houston @ Chicago may be the biggest game of the week, as it is a direct head-to-head battle for the Central Division title, but do not count out how important the Baltimore-Philadelphia and Texas-Pittsburgh games are. A loss by the Stars and the Maulers can take over the division.
Arizona and Denver have a big clash, though moreso for the Gold, who do not yet have their ticket to the postseason and have a win-and-in scenario. Memphis would love to earn a bye but they have to play the Stallions this week, who also need a win to potentially earn home field advantage. They too are hoping the Stars lose so they can regain their place as the #1 seed.
In other games we have Tampa @ Jacksonville, New Orleans @ Michigan, and Washington @ New Jersey. The Bulls, Panthers, Feds and Generals all have playoff hopes still alive, so expect some fights in these games. And finally we have St. Louis @ Orlando. A win by either club guarantees the first pick of the draft to the other, so this will be a weird game to watch, but then again, with so many clubs fighting for their playoff lives, who is going to tune in to a battle of also-rans trying to get a draft pick? Not this fan.