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I'm currently working on them now and this is yet another side effect of just 1 BYE. We have 2 extra wildcard games that I need to preview and review. How long before the NFL goes to a 16 team playoff with no BYES? Probably when they expand to 36 teams, you know a Europe Division will be coming in a decade or so.
We have 4 new playoff teams and 10 returning from last season's playoffs as the chase for World Bowl XXXI begins tonight. The Philadelphia Bell (15-1) and Portland Storm (14-2) have the #1 seeds and get the BYES tonight. The returning American Conference teams in addition to Portland are the San Jose SaberCats (13-3), Oklahoma Outlaws (12-4), Houston Gamblers (11-5), and the Memphis Showboats (11-5).
The Los Angeles Express (11-5) made the playoffs for the first time since 2001 while the Midwest Division Champion Cleveland Thunderbolts (10-6) haven't been since 1988.
The National Conference also returns 5 teams to the post season, including the aforementioned Philadelphia Bell. Joining them are the New Orleans VooDoo (14-2), Orlando Renegades (10-5-1), Birmingham Stallions (13-3), and the New Jersey Generals (9-7).
Two former Atlantic Division heavyweights, the Baltimore Stars (1997) and Washington Federals (1999), return to the post season for the first time this century. In the late 80's/early 90's it seemed they always played 3 times a season. From 1987 to 1995, one of these teams was in the World Bowl except 1991 when New Orleans made it. Baltimore won the division with an 11-5 record, besting Washington (8-8) by 3 games, yet the Federals still snag the 7th seed.
Previews coming soon, getting the info together now.
Looking at the team stats, Houston is the better team. Add the fact that Houston has played 33 playoff games between 1989 and today while Cleveland's last playoff game was 1988 and I probably should have picked a higher winning margin for Houston. Cleveland could be dangerous however, as they are at home and all the pressure is seemingly on the Gamblers. ________________________________________________________________________________
Los Angeles Express (11-5) @ Oklahoma Outlaws (12-4)
Last Playoff Appearance:Los Angeles 2001 Oklahoma 2003 Playoff Records:Los Angeles 9-10 (1-0 World Bowl) Oklahoma 12-10 (1-1 World Bowl)
Head to Head: Oklahoma beat Los Angeles 20-3 Week 8 of 2002. This is the first post season game between these teams.
Injuries:Los Angeles 6 probable, 1 questionable, 1 doubtful Oklahoma 7 probable, 3 doubtful, 1 Out
Prediction:Los Angeles 20 Oklahoma 16
I smell an upset as Los Angeles is on a 4 game winning streak and they're not as banged up as Oklahoma. The Outlaws have won 2 in a row but their offense has struggled, scoring just 46 points the last 4 games while the Express average 30 a game over the same span. _________________________________________________________________________________
Memphis Showboats (11-5) @ San Jose SaberCats (13-3)
Last Playoff Appearance:Memphis 2003 San Jose 2003 Playoff Records:Memphis 30-15 (5-0 World Bowl) San Jose 7-14 (1-0 World Bowl)
Head to Head: Memphis beat San Jose 20-14 Week 4 of 2002. Memphis is 2-1 vs San Jose in the post season.
Injuries:Memphis 5 probable, 1 questionable, 2 doubtful, 1 Out San Jose 8 probable, 1 questionable
Prediction:San Jose 23 Memphis 16
Both teams have 9 players on the injury report but the Memphis injuries are more severe and the team stats heavily favor San Jose with their top offense and almost top defense. It wouldn't surprise me to see the Showboats pull the upset, especially if San Jose misses some 4th down conversions and/or 2 point tries but I get the feeling the SaberCats will find a way to advance.
I see this game as a coin flip despite Orlando's decisive Week 1 win. That was awhile ago and over the course of the season, their team stats were very similar and the Stallions only lost to #2 seed New Orleans the rest of the season. Orlando was having a fine season before the last 2 weeks, which I assume was for resting players for the playoffs since they had the division wrapped up. Can they turn it back on in the playoffs? _________________________________________________________________________________
New Jersey Generals (9-7) @ Baltimore Stars (11-5)
New Jersey limps into the playoffs on a 4 game losing streak while Baltimore has won 3 in a row, and the Generals offense has scored just 23 points during the streak. In fact, the Generals haven't scored more than 3 points in a game the last 3 weeks. Bruno took over a mess and while he'll say they aren't that good yet, the Stars should have more than enough to handle the Generals. ________________________________________________________________________________
Washington Federals (8-8) @ New Orleans VooDoo (14-2)
New Orleans has the top defense to go with the 2nd best offense and the VooDoo finished 3-2 vs playoff teams. Washington was just 1-7 with an average margin of nearly 17 points in those losses.
I could see Los Angeles pulling an upset but I'm not picking that to happen. Both offenses are ranked similar but Portland's 4th ranked defense should produce 1 more stop than the 18th ranked defense of the Express. Portland had a week off to get healthy and they're playing at home, which certainly doesn't hurt their chances. ______________________________________________________________________________
Houston Gamblers (12-5) @ San Jose SaberCats (14-3)
Last Playoff Appearance:Houston 2003 San Jose 2003 Playoff Records:Houston 39-14 (8-0 World Bowl) San Jose 8-14 (1-0 World Bowl)
Head to Head: San Jose beat Houston 31-24 Week 10 of this season. Houston is 3-1 vs San Jose in the post season.
Injuries:Houston 2 probable, 4 questionable San Jose 11 probable, 1 questionable
Prediction:San Jose 26 Houston 23 OT
This is a coin flip game and it's hard to pick against CJ, as he's been winning titles lately, recently taking NFL League and Quick and the Dead titles. I know those aren't the USFL but they are still tough leagues to win. San Jose did beat Houston in the regular season and their team stat rankings are better than the Gamblers. Houston is the healthier team and that almost tilted my pick toward the Gamblers but the SaberCats have been dealing with multiple injuries all season and kept on winning, so I'll pick them to win in OT.
Last Playoff Appearance:Orlando 2003 Philadelphia 2003 Playoff Records:Orlando 8-11 (0-1 World Bowl) Philadelphia 2-7
Head to Head: Philadelphia beat Orlando 20-15 Week 12 of this season. This is the first post season meeting between these teams.
Injuries:Orlando 3 probable, 4 questionable, 1 doubtful, 1 Out Philadelphia 3 probable, 1 Out
Prediction:Philadelphia 19 Orlando 10
Philadelphia earned the top seed by playing solid football for 16 weeks and I expect that trend to continue. The Bell are the only team still playing that hasn't been to a World Bowl, and while I didn't predict a World Bowl winner on the forum, they are my pick to represent the National Conference. Orlando is certainly capable of beating Philadelphia and they played them tough Week 12, but the Renegades are too banged up and not playing their best football. _______________________________________________________________________________
Baltimore Stars (12-5) @ New Orleans VooDoo (15-2)
New Orleans is the better team right now, though Bruno deserves credit for Baltimore's quick turnaround. The Stars will have a good gameplan in place and will likely keep it close but the VooDoo have a top 2 offense and the #1 defense and should be able to withstand Baltimore's challenge. Look out for Baltimore in 2005 and beyond.
Well it won't be long before we find out which two teams will face off in World Bowl XXXI. Will we have a first time champion? We will if Orlando or New Orleans wins it all. All 4 teams still playing have at least made the World Bowl before as Portland is looking for their 7th World Bowl, New Orleans their 6th, and it would be the second time for San Jose and/or Orlando.
San Jose beat Portland earlier this season and their team stats are also better on both sides of the ball despite the Storm actually being the #1 seed. On the injury front, San Jose is thin on the OL but most of their playmakers are healthy while Portland is thin at RB and may have to rely more on the passing game. I see this as a coin flip game with San Jose having a slight edge. ______________________________________________________________________________
National Conference Championship
Orlando Renegades (12-5-1) @ New Orleans VooDoo (16-2)
Playoff RecordsOrlando 9-11 (0-1 World Bowl) New Orleans 22-20 (0-5 World Bowl)
Head to Head: New Orleans beat Orlando 26-24 Week 7 of this season. New Orleans is 1-0 vs Orlando in the post season.
Injuries:Orlando 7 probable, 3 questionable, 1 Out New Orleans 6 probable, 1 questionable
Prediction:New Orleans 17 Orlando 16
Another coin flip game IMO as the worst ranked unit is the 6th ranked Orlando defense. Both teams are solid on both sides of the ball and the outcome will likely hinge on turnovers, and maybe health. New Orleans injuries are clustered along the OL while Orlando has them spread out. I simply picked the team with the slightly better team stats.
