Week Fifteen Newsletter

• A pat on the back to our buddy Coach Nerz.  This is as close as the Norris has ever come and I'm sure it hurts coming up just that much short.  Nevertheless, the Norris finally put to bed the Buccaneer jinx of swooning low and long in November and December as in years past.  In fact, with the win, his Norris affected the playoff race by giving the Mystics their 4th all-time appearance as this season's wild card entry.  It also set up an either/or scenario between the Swords and PMS entering the Monday night game.  PMS would win or else face execution.  The Swords were spectators waiting for the vote from the jury.

• The Swords finished the regular season as losers in three of their final four games.  The Norris closed the season by winning five of six.

• The Swords managed to backdoor their way into the playoffs thanks to All World's upset of PMS (called by the Swami, I do recall).  With Coach Pedersen's strong rushing attack, that could be all the luck the Swords need to slice and dice their way to a 2nd league championship.

• PMS was staring a playoff berth in the face entering Monday night with Peyton Manning still in their pocket.  However, for the 1st time in 28 games, Peyton failed to throw a single TD pass.
• The Swami predicted a big game from Eddie George.  A big game he had, scoring 18 points and proving to be the deciding factor.
• How far will Antonio Freeman's stock fall next draft day?
• PMS can point to its 0-2 record against All World in 2000 as one of the primary reasons it missed out on the playoffs.

• Montezuma's Revenge had better watch out or else it may get a reputation for coming up big in the big games.  Kudos in any event to Coach Unger on two accounts:  first, for his team's strong late season run as the Zuma won 3 of its last 4 despite never scoring more than 36 points before this week in the run; and second for the team's first ever divisional crown in its 3rd season in the league, rendering all the rest inconsequential.
• The Iguanas and the Revenge each finished with 8-7 records.  The Revenge won the division by sweeping the Baker Boys this season.

• The Bearded Clams completed a one season turnaround that saw them drop from a 1999 playoff team to the league's worst season in its sophomore season.
• This game was for bragger's rights.  Now Coach Widtfeldt can proudly say his team finished 11th but at least it was out of the cellar.
• Talk about defense.  Of 18 total starting positions, only Fred Taylor's found the endzone for either team.
• The Clams closed out the season by scoring the fewest total points each of the last four weeks.
• The Clams dropped their final five games.

• Retreads finished the season strong, with divisional wins when they counted.  But this will be Coach Detwiler's first time out of the playoffs.  P.S.  Joey, I'll be calling to get the trophy.  I'll need to put a new plaque on it for some lucky team
• Retreads faced some adversity in 2000, allowing five games of more than 50 points scored against them.
• Daunte Culpepper for OFFL MVP?
• Coach Will of Bandwagon G showed his true colors in 2000, failing to call in...what was it?...two?...three?...lineups this season and practically disappearing from the scene as his team faded sadly off into the sunset by Week 9 in search of the elusive P.Y. O'Rourke and the Bone Club.  Or was it Hunter S. Young?

• My, my, my.  Good things come to those who wait.  It took a season where Coach Wassem actually thought his team had been mathematically eliminated before the Natural Mystics finally qualified for the playoffs for the 1st time since 1997.
• The King of Dogs got Terrell Owens' 1st TD in a month in a bright spot for them heading into the playoffs.  Congratulations to Coach Rady on his team's first ever playoff appearance in his 3rd OFFL season.
• It's never dull when the Mystics are on the field.  Led by Edgerrin James, the Dogs came back from a 26 points MNF deficit to fall by only 6.  James had 20.  The difference was that Marshall Faulk had 26.
• The Mystics scored more points than any other team this season.  They also gave up more points than any other team this season.
• The Doggies finished a worst to first season after having the worst OFFL record at 2-13 last season.  This year they captured the #1 seed (and the jinx that goes with it) with a 9-5-1 mark.

League Records:

• Scoring was back up in the league this season, averaging 33.6 points per team per game.  This was a difference of seven more points from 1998, the previously highest scoring season ever.  Interestingly, points were increasing later in the season when the temperatures were falling.
• The Mystics' 634 points was the 3rd highest league total ever behind the Retreads' 714 in 1998 and the Swords 654 in the same season.  The Mystics scored 624 points last season.
• PMS' 576 points scored was the 11th highest team total ever.
• The Clams' 366 points scored is the sixth lowest team total ever.
• The Mystics gave up 568 points, the 5th highest team total ever allowed.  The Iguanas allowed 562 for #8 on the all-time list and the Bearded Clams allowed 560, good for #10 on the all-time list of points allowed in one season.  The Iguanas allowed 59 or more points in a single game three times this year.
• The Revenge-Iguanas game was the 13th highest scoring ever.  The Norris-Swords game ranks #19.
• Three teams scored 50 or more points this week, bringing the season total to 24, a new league record.