Eight of the 12 playoff teams from 1989 also made it in 1990, leaving us with 4 new playoff teams...San Jose, Chicago, Shreveport and Orlando. The Renegades only skipped one playoff year, last qualifying in 1988. The Chicago Blitz are making their first playoffs since 1985 and Shreveport was last here in 1981. Coming into this season, San Jose and Boston were tied for the longest span since their last playoff game, both not having qualified since our inaugural season of 1974. San Jose's Pacific Division title breaks that drought and the tie, but Boston shouldn't feel bad. The Breakers had their best season since 1985 and they still have one up on the Charlotte Hornets, who have never qualified.

American Conference Wildcard Round

Honolulu Hawaiians (11-5) @ San Jose SaberCats (12-4)

Point Spread: San Jose -7

Honolulu: Offense 10th Defense 25th
San Jose: Offense 8th Defense 11th

Playoff Records: Honolulu 0-7 San Jose 0-1
Last Playoff Appearance: Honolulu 1989 San Jose 1974

Head to Head: Honolulu and San Jose split their regular season games and have not met in the playoffs

Injuries: Honolulu 5 probable, 2 questionable, 1 doubtful San Jose 5 probable, 2 questionable, 1 doubtful

Prediction: San Jose 34 Honolulu 31

One of these teams will get their first ever playoff win, but which team? Will it be Honolulu and their Marvin Lewis-esque 0-7 playoff record? Or will it be San Jose in just their second ever post season game? I have to give the SaberCats a slight edge, as they only lost by 1 to the Hawaiians but beat them by 16 in the rematch.
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Houston Gamblers (14-2) @ Chicago Blitz (9-6-1)

Point Spread: Houston -4

Houston: Offense 4th Defense 7th
Chicago: Offense 16th Defense 13th

Playoff Records: Houston 17-4 (4-0 World Bowl) Chicago 4-5 (0-1 World Bowl)
Last Playoff Appearance: Houston 1989 Chicago 1985

Head to Head: Last played Week 4, 1989 Houston won 26-10, never faced each other in the post season

Injuries: Houston 4 probable, 2 doubtful, 1 Out Chicago 6 probable, 1 doubtful

Prediction: Houston 27 Chicago 13

I can't pick against Houston in the Wildcard round, as their sustained playoff success over the years plus a better roster give the Gamblers a clear edge over Chicago. The best chance for the Blitz is a ball control offense and having their defense force Tony Dean into mistakes.
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National Conference coming later today, after I get a few hours sleep.

National Conference Wildcard Round

Shreveport Steamer (8-8) @ New Jersey Generals (11-5)

Point Spread: New Jersey -8

Shreveport: Offense 14th Defense 8th
New Jersey Offense 17th Defense 4th

Playoff Records: Shreveport 3-6 New Jersey 20-11 (2-4 World Bowl)
Last Playoff Appearance: Shreveport 1981 New Jersey 1989

Head to Head: New Jersey defeated Shreveport 16-6 Week 2, 1990...New Jersey is 2-1 against Shreveport in post season play

Injuries: Shreveport 3 probable, 2 questionable New Jersey 6 probable, 3 questionable, 1 Out

Prediction: New Jersey 16 Shreveport 13

Both teams are struggling entering the post season as Shreveport lost 4 of their last 6 while New Jersey lost 2 of their last 3. Both teams have average offenses and top 10 defenses, so I expect a low scoring defensive battle.
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Washington Federals (13-3) @ Orlando Renegades (9-7)

Point Spread: Washington -6

Washington: Offense 3rd Defense 9th
Orlando: Offense 21st Defense 14th

Playoff Records: Washington 5-9 (0-1 World Bowl) Orlando 3-3
Last Playoff Appearance: Washington 1989 Orlando 1988

Head to Head: Washington defeated Orlando 36-12 in Week 12 1990...First ever post season game against each other

Injuries: Washington 1 probable, 4 questionable Orlando 3 probable

Prediction: Washington 34 Orlando 20

Washington is in the same boat as Houston, an elite team stuck in a division with another elite team and having to play as a wildcard all the time. The Federals scored at least 20 in every game but one, so they should be able to score on Orlando's average defense. Renegades RB Ben Dehaven is probable with an ankle injury, and if he's limited or unproductive, it could be a long day for the Orlando offense.

Good luck to all playoff teams as we embark on the quest for the World Bowl XVII trophy. It's nice not having any controversy hanging in the air this year, so let's enjoy our playoffs while we also enjoy the 2020 NFL season kicking off tonight.

Go Texans! (Don't like them much, just hate the Chiefs.)

Good luck Blitz/Crimson tonight. Best of luck to you and hope its a great game.

San Jose rookie WR Mark Hsu set 2 records last night. Most yards in a playoff game (404) breaking the record set in 1977 by Tampa Bay WR Edward Conner. His 6 TD receptions breaks the record of 5, set in 1985 by Birmingham's Mark Peterson.

American Conference Divisional Round

Houston Gamblers (15-2) @ Portland Storm (15-1)

Point Spread: Portland -6

Houston: Offense 4th Defense 7th
Portland: Offense 5th Defense 1st

Playoff Records: Houston 18-4 (4-0 World Bowl) Portland 7-7 (1-0 World Bowl)
Last Playoff Appearance: Houston 1989 Portland 1989

Head to Head: Portland defeated Houston 34-20 Week 6 1988 in their last game...Houston is 1-0 vs Portland in the post season

Injuries: Houston 3 probable, 2 questionable, 1 doubtful, 2 Out Portland 3 Probable

Prediction: Portland 24 Houston 23

While Houston QB Tony Dean has been throwing INTs the last 2 weeks, Portland QB Oscar Willis has reverted to his turnover prone ways from time to time as well. The Storm should get Timothy Roquemore back for this game, and are the more healthy team overall. Portland is the defending Champs while the Gamblers are certainly no stranger to post season play, and winning championships themselves. It's tough to pick either of these teams to lose, but I'll take the current Champs in a squeaker.
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San Jose SaberCats (13-4) @ Memphis Showboats (15-1)

Point Spread: Memphis -7

San Jose: Offense 8th Defense 11th
Memphis: Offense 1st Defense 3rd

Playoff Records: San Jose 1-1 Memphis 19-6 (4-0 World Bowl)
Last Playoff Appearance: San Jose 1974 Memphis 1989

Head to Head: Memphis defeated San Jose 50-12 Week 1 1990...no previous playoff games against each other

Injuries: San Jose 5 probable, 3 questionable Memphis No Injuries Reported

Prediction: Memphis 51 San Jose 48

One thing you need to beat a team like Memphis is an ability for big plays and an offense that can score with them, and San Jose has that going for them. San Jose GM hollyhh2000 has been on a roll across MFN lately ad I would not be shocked by an upset here, but I just can't pick against Memphis in the playoffs yet.

National Conference Divisional Round

Washington Federals (14-3) @ Baltimore Stars (15-1)

Point Spread Baltimore -4

Washington: Offense 3rd Defense 9th
Baltimore: Offense 6th Defense 2nd

Playoff Records: Washington 6-9 (0-1 World Bowl) Baltimore 11-7 (0-2 World Bowl)
Last Playoff Appearance: Washington 1989 Baltimore 1989

Head to Head: Baltimore swept Washington in 1990 and Baltimore is 5-0 against Washington in the post season

Injuries: Washington 4 probable, 1 questionable, 1 doubtful Baltimore 7 probable, 1 questionable

Prediction: Washington 26 Baltimore 24

Baltimore may be 5-0 against Washington in the playoffs, these teams usually at least split in the regular season. Washington has looked better than Baltimore has the last several weeks, and I'm sure the Federals are sick of always losing to the Stars in the playoffs. John Bazile nails a 52 yard FG at the gun to advance against...
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New Jersey Generals (12-5) @ New Orleans VooDoo (13-3)

Point Spread New Orleans -4

New Jersey: Offense 17th Defense 4th
New Orleans Offense 2nd Defense 5th

Playoff Records: New Jersey 21-11 (2-4 World Bowl) New Orleans 8-11 (0-2 World Bowl)
Last Playoff Appearance: New Jersey 1989 New Orleans 1989

Head to Head: New Orleans defeated New Jersey 23-13 Week 8 1990...New Jersey is 5-0 against New Orleans in the playoffs

Injuries: New Jersey 7 probable, 1 questionable, 1 Out New Orleans 5 probable

Prediction: New Orleans 25 New Jersey 17

New Orleans is sick of always losing to New Jersey in the playoffs, and the VooDoo have one of, if not the most dynamic playmakers in the league in Nicholas Dorey. New Jersey did rediscover their passing offense against Shreveport, but they also made too many mistakes in that game that, if repeated, could result in a blowout. I'll say the Generals get out to a 14-0 lead early before the VooDoo come back with the Chuck Woolery (2 and 2) with 2 TDs and 2 2 point conversions for a 16-14 halftime lead. New Jersey will then take a 17-16 lead mid 3rd, before New Orleans kicks 3 of their own to win 25-17.

Just found another post season record that was set Wildcard Weekend. It took 17 years, but we finally had a punt return for a TD in the post season. New Jersey RB "Dr." Sam Beckett returned a punt 61 yards for a TD in the 3rd qtr, turning a 20-13 game into 27-13 and giving the Generals a huge momentum boost.

No drama in the divisional round as all 4 winners won by double digit margins.

American Conference Championship

Memphis Showboats (16-1) @ Portland Storm (16-1)

Point Spread: Portland -7

Memphis: Offense 1st Defense 3rd
Portland: Offense 5th Defense 1st

Playoff Records: Memphis 20-6 (4-0 World Bowl) Portland 8-7 (1-0 World Bowl)

Head to Head: Week 15 1990 Portland defeated Memphis 41-31...They have split 2 playoff games, last one was last year's Conference Championship won in OT by Portland

Injuries: Memphis 1 probable 1 Out Portland 1 probable 1 questionable

Prediction: Portland 34 Memphis 31

Clash of the Titans Part 2, Portland won last year's CC game in OT against Memphis and they meet again for a spot in World Bowl XVII. Portland also defeated Memphis in Week 15, so I have to pick the Storm again.

If Portland wins, they will be going for back to back World Bowl titles.

If Memphis wins, they will be playing to break their tie with Houston and win their 5th World Bowl under a 3rd different owner/GM.
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National Conference Championship

Washington Federals (15-3) @ New Orleans VooDoo (14-3)

Point Spread: Washington -1

Washington: Offense 3rd Defense 9th
New Orleans: Offense 2nd Defense 5th

Playoff Records: Washington 7-9 (0-1 World Bowl) New Orleans 9-11 (0-2 World Bowl)

Head to Head: Last regular season game was 1988 Week 4 VooDoo 14 Federals 10...New Orleans is 2-1 against Washington in the post season, though Washington beat New Orleans in last season's divisional round

Injuries: Washington 4 probable, 1 questionable, 2 doubtful New Orleans 6 probable

Prediction: New Orleans 26 Washington 24

It's difficult picking against any of the final 4 teams as they are all excellent, but I have to pick someone. Washington finally beat their playoff nemesis Baltimore and now face a VooDoo team that has yet to make a World Bowl under current ownership. I know Smirt wants to change that, and I figure he'll come up with something to help them finally get there.

Whichever team wins this game, they will be trying to win their first World Bowl title while facing a juggernaut team. Good luck guys.

Oh, no.

Lets see, neither one went 16-0 so that's a problem. Catbird seat with 15-1 (and no worries of the perfect season sim engine wallop). Showboats possess massive team pedigree and a 2-headed monster of rules and Infinity's deep-thinking strategies. Storm has team pedigree, an elite GM and a team fortress-d by taking the league over in the past 2 seasons or so. In other words, f***. LOL