With so many teams still fighting to qualify for the post season, Week 16 had the feel of an extra playoff week. Let's see just how the dominos fell.
Storm 38 Invaders 20
This was THE game in the American Conference everyone was looking at since the result would have a trickle down effect. Oakland would have won the division with a victory and they got off to a good start, leading 17-7 at halftime. The Invaders had 360 yards for the game and won the turnover battle, but the Oakland defense had no answer for Portland WR/RB Timothy Roquemore, who ran 16 times for 128 yards and caught 9 passes for 268 and 3 TD's.
The second half was stormy as Portland dominated 28-3 thanks to Roquemore's huge game. The win gives Portland a 13-3 record, good enough for the West division crown and the #2 seed. Oakland fell to 11-5, and would need results from other games to go their way.
Thunderbolts 19 Gold 17
With the Oakland loss, Denver had a chance to get into a 3 way tie for the #6 seed with a win. The Gold were in this position thanks to 3 last second wins, but sometimes you have to take the bad with the good. Denver lost on a last second FG to Oakland last week and Cleveland kicked the game winner with 0:10 left.
Denver fumbled away the kickoff so there was no last play magic forthcoming. That was Jake Peralta's second lost fumble of the game, as he fumbled a punt away as well. Denver had 3 turnovers on offense in total plus a missed FG so the Gold had their chances in this game. The loss eliminates Denver, so who will be the #6 seed?
Wranglers 32 Wheels 15
Given the other scores, Arizona would be the #6 seed if they could defeat the Wheels. Detroit's offense put up 314 yards, but only had FG's in their 2 red zone trips. Arizona was a perfect 3 for 3 in the red zone as the Wranglers offense was too much for the Wheels defense. Arizona jumped out to a 17-3 halftime lead and outscored the Wheels 15-5 after the Wheels cut the deficit to 17-10. Arizona RB Desmond Kirkland had 158 yards rushing/receiving and a TD.
Federals 20 Stars 17 (OT)
One of the key games in the National Conference, these bitter division rivals needed extra time to decide this one. Washington was already in the playoffs, but a win would give them home field advantage. Baltimore would qualify for the playoffs with a win but would need to scoreboard watch with a loss.
Baltimore had a late 17-10 lead and Washington had just turned it over on downs at their own 28, so it seemed victory was within their grasp. Stars QB Jon Snow would throw an INT however, and Washington drove down the field for the tying TD with just under a minute left in regulation. Baltimore got the ball first in OT and promptly went three and out. Washington got the ball after a punt and played keep away, holding the ball until there was just 1:13 left in OT when John Bazile nailed the game winning chipshot.
Panthers 32 Bandits 15
To determine Baltimore's fate, we must see other results, and we need to sort out the Southeast division. Tampa Bay would be the division winner with a win over Midwest champs Michigan, but the Panthers intercepted 6 passes, 5 off Melvin Driggers as the Panthers took advantage of the frequent short fields.
The win pushes Michigan to 12-4, good for the #3 seed in the American Conference. The loss takes Tampa Bay to 11-5 and scoreboard watching.
Bulls 27 Hornets 13
If Jacksonville could defeat Charlotte, they would be Southeast division champs, thanks to the Bandits loss and the Bulls regular season sweep of the Bandits. Jacksonville had 401 yards of offense, compared to just 194 for Charlotte and the Hornets tossed 4 INT's. Despite all that, it was a 13-13 game midway through the 3rd, thanks to sloppy play by Jacksonville. The Bulls had 3 turnovers of their own and Paul Sidwell missed 2 of 4 FG tries as the Bulls did their best to keep the game close.
Two Joseph Serio to Stanton Redmon TD passes in the 3rd quarter was the difference in the game, taking that 13 all tie to a 27-13 Bulls lead. The victory makes Jacksonville 11-5 and Southeast division champs. Tampa Bay loses the division on a tiebreaker but the Baltimore loss gives the Bandits a wildcard berth.
VooDoo 19 (NY) Stars 17
Just two things left to decide at this point, the East winner and the last wildcard spot. Given the results of other games, New Orleans just needed to win, while New York would need a win and a New Jersey loss. These two teams put on an aerial show, combining for 112 pass attempts. A back and forth first half saw the Stars of New York with a slim 17-16 lead.
Late in the 3rd quarter, still down 17-16, the VooDoo decided to go for it on 4th and 4 from the 16 rather than try a go ahead FG. The pass fell incomplete and the Stars still led by 1 going into the 4th. With 3:08 left, Stars K Daniel Hall was wide right on a 30 yard FG try, meaning the VooDoo just needed 3 for the win. New Orleans drove down the field, using all of the clock as K Jordan Fuller drilled the game winning FG.
New Orleans improves to 11-5 and I would guess the tiebreaker was net points before common games. If NFL tiebreakers were used, the VooDoo would be the #6 seed based on common games, but they are the #5 seed according to MFN.
Generals 31 Steamer 0
The (NY) Stars loss gave New Jersey the East, but the Generals needed a good game anyway for a confidence boost, as they've struggled down the stretch for the second straight year. For one week anyway, the Generals defense looked like the Generals defense of past seasons as they shutout Shreveport, holding them to 119 total yards. Offensively, the star was RB Rudi Johnson, who had a combined 202 yards and a TD, rushing for 114 with 88 receiving.
New Jersey wins the East at 10-6 and host a wildcard game as the #4 seed against New Orleans again.
Stallions 22 Breakers 3
Birmingham's defense held Boston to 64 yards passing and 166 total yards, enabling the Stallions offense to keep settling for FG's. Gerald Hinton made all 5 attempts as Birmingham wraps up the all important second BYE with their 13-3 record.
Outlaws 13 Showboats 6
With home field wrapped up, the Showboats opted to rest some starters, including their QB. Rookie QB Ronald Brown has the skill set to succeed in this league, but his play showed he still has a learning curve to get over. Brown was 13/44 on the day for 197 yards and an INT. Oklahoma continued their ground and pound attack, although it didn't generate many yards today. 40 rush attempts got just 59 yards, but a Shane Falco TD pass to Leroy Jenkins midway through the 4th for the game's only TD enabled Oklahoma to rope up a victory.
Gamblers 26 Bell 10
Houston had the #5 seed all wrapped up and opted for a balanced attack. The Gamblers settled for FG's on all 3 red zone trips, but the Houston defense intercepted 3 passes and had 2 sacks. There were no 300 yard passers or 100 yard skill guys in this game.
Hawaiians 19 Express 17
This was a strange looking box score. Los Angeles ran 24 times for 296 yards against the Honolulu defense, and they completed almost as many passes to the Hawaiians as they did to themselves. Express QB Dale Pritchard had a brutal day, going 6/34 for 100 yards and 5 INT's, while also taking 3 sacks. Hawaiians K Howard Bury had a nice game to end his rough rookie season, connecting on 4/5 FG attempts including the game winning 50 yard FG inside of 2 minutes.
Despite their second straight loss, Los Angeles wins the Pacific with their 7-9 record and hosts Houston in the wildcard round.
Renegades 23 Blitz 7
Despite losing the turnover battle 3-0, Orlando was all over Chicago in this game. The Renegades held the Blitz to 182 yards while gaining 495, 381 in the air. Orlando led 23-0 before Chicago scored a garbage time TD to avoid the shutout.
Blazers 13 Maulers 6
Pittsburgh is ownerless again, so if you know anyone send them our way please. This game featured 338 combined yards from both teams, 15 punts and 7 FG attempts. The usually reliable Pittsburgh K Bret Curley was just 2/5 on FG's, his 3 misses today being 1/3 of his 9 misses all season.
Force 20 SaberCats 13
Georgia had 318 yards of offense while holding San Jose to 163, 75 of that coming on the SaberCats lone TD late in the game. San Jose ran for 12 yards on 20 carries and rookie QB Ellis Soza had a rough game, 8/39 for 151 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT. Georgia had nearly a 41-19 advantage in time of possession.
Gunslingers 16 Sun 13 (OT)
The box score was about as even as the scoreboard in this overtime game. Neither QB topped 170 yards, no receiver topped 50 yards and no rusher topped 75 yards. The difference in the game was Wilmer Kimble's OT INT, as it set San Antonio up at midfield. From there, the Gunslingers drove 22 yards and Brian Johnson kicked the ball through the uprights for the game winning 46 yard FG.
