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| Gregory Shea, RB, Memphis |
The Portland Storm (11-4) and Denver Gold (10-5) split during the regular season. If Denver were to defeat Arizona in Week 16 and Portland were to lose to Birmingham, both teams would end up 5-1 in the division. Both teams would be 11-3 against common opponents. But Portland would be 9-3 in the conference vs. Denver's 8-4. So, what we are saying is, Portland has clinched the West Division. But Denver is in as the wild card, their first playoff appearance since 1974.
Oklahoma (11-4) made the playoffs in its first season under rookie head coach RoyceR. The Honolulu Hawaiians (11-4), under old-timer trslick, are in the playoffs for the first time since 1975.
The National Conference still has a couple division races to decide. The South Division title is on the line (despite what the standings read) when the Georgia Force (11-4) and New Orleans VooDoo (10-5) meet to wrap up the regular season. And, theoretically, a VooDoo loss could put the Shreveport Steamer into the playoffs — if MFN's AI is correctly interpreting the NFL tiebreaker system.
The Philadelphia Bell (10-5) and New Jersey Generals (10-5) are tied for the East Division lead entering their games vs. the Michigan Panthers and Baltimore Stars, respectively. The teams split during the regular season, but Philadelphia finished 5-1 in the division to New Jersey's 4-2, thanks to the New York Stars' upset of the Generals in Week 4.
Of course, the Tampa Bay Bandits (10-5) are in the playoffs (yawn). There is a party atmosphere in Washington (political pun unintended), where the Federals (10-5) have clinched their first Atlantic Division title, snapping Pittsburgh's string of six consecutive championships.
Some interesting notes from Week 15:
- Jose Fouche kicked a 28-yard field goal as the clock hit zero in overtime, giving the Detroit Wheels a 34-31 win over the New Jersey Generals. Mario Valencia's 29-yard pass to Bobby Logan set up Fouche's game-winner. That completion was preceded by an unnecessary roughness penalty against the Generals two plays earlier. New Jersey CB Mike Williams intercepted three passes.
- The Tampa Bay Bandits took a 38-14 lead after three quarters and went on to defeat the Honolulu Hawaiians, 44-35, in a battle of division leaders. Bandits WR Michael Popa caught seven passes for 196 yards and four TDs.
- In a potential playoff preview, the Oklahoma Outlaws took a 28-6 halftime lead against Portland and went on the beat the Storm, 38-18. Portland QB William Hill threw 70 passes, but none went for a TD, only the third time this season Hill has not thrown a touchdown pass. His Oklahoma counterpart, Dale Brown, fired four TD passes.
- The Chicago Blitz led Memphis, 31-14, with a minute to play in the third quarter but the Showboats rallied for a 37-31 victory on James Perry's 12-yard TD pass to Gerard Hall with 5:22 to play.
- Arizona WLB Joseph Graham had 9 tackles, a hurry, an interception, and a sack, but the Michigan Panthers won their fourth in a row by beating the Wranglers, 29-17.
- Tony Smith passed for 557 yards and five TDs as the San Antonio Gunslingers rolled past the Oakland Invaders, 42-19. San Antonio has won three of its last five, the exceptions being a 1-point loss to Memphis and an overtime defeat to Houston.
Week 16 Preview
The South Division title is on the line when the New Orleans VooDoo (10-5) hosts the Georgia Force (11-4). The Oklahoma Outlaws (11-4) are at Washington (10-5) in a battle of playoff teams. The Houston Gamblers (7-8) will try to finish at .500 for the first time in franchise history when they host the Chicago Blitz (7-8). The Los Angeles Express (8-7) will try to move to 14-0 all -time against the Southern California Sun (3-12).Record Book
- Portland QB William Hill has already set the league record for passing yards in a season (7,347) and TD passes in a season (58).
- Washington RDE John Broussard has set a league record with 33 sacks this season. Georgia's Ryan Moore and Tampa Bay's William Lewis previously shared the record of 31. New Jersey's James Lockette and Oklahoma's Albert Cruz have 26 with one game to play.
- Oakland's Christopher Curtis has 2,178 receiving yards this season. He will likely finish among the top 10 all-time. Oklahoma's Dusty Heckman holds the record with 2,548. Curtis also has 20 TDs, which will rank among the top 10 all-time as well. He is only 115 yards shy of the record for total yards in a season, held by former teammate Jason Brooks (3,426).
- Three players have tied a league record by returning kickoffs 110 yards for TDs—Portland's James Orourke, Birmingham's Billy Baldwin, and New York's Allan Howard. Howard Cardenas of Philadelphia set a league record with an 83-yard punt return.
- Houston's Daniel McCormack needs one field goal of 50 yards or longer to tie his league record of 16, set last season. McCormack and Oakland's Lester Reed both have 50 career field goals of 50 yards or longer.
- Denver's Duane Cunningham needs one more rushing TD to tie his league record for a WR of 10 rushing TDs in a season.
