Post by MGB01 on Aug 5, 2006 19:32:08 GMT -5
Quick question: what was that in Pittsburgh Saturday night? Remember back to week two of the 2005 season, when the Ironmen beat up the Hitmen 46-0 at the Meadowlands. It took them a season-ending eight game win streak to make people look past that. Of course our ulterior motive here? Now the prospect of the XFL North champ finishing 5-7 is unfortunately very likely with the Hitmen and Enforcers on the road this week against teams that are playing for their own division/playoff spot. The Enforcers have the edge for two things: 1)They merely need a Hitmen loss and they're in the playoffs, 2)Omar Jacobs looks to have revitalized the team in successive weeks, so stealing one in Vegas may not be out of the question. Plus they may get a Jason Gesser-less Outlaws, who are already without Hodges Mitchell--although that may not be a bad thing. But Matt Kegel has shown he's a more-than-capable backup, he threw three touchdowns to beat Seattle last week.
Congrats out to Mike Jones, whose seat was burning after what-in-the losses to Washington and Carolina at midseason, but has the Rage back in the playoffs. He's not out of the woods yet, however. The Rage aren't assured of a first-round bye yet, and with the X-Bowl in Orlando, pressure for Jones to get the Rage "home" for the X-Bowl will be to the max.
So going into the final week of the season, your XFL power rankings:
1. Orlando (8-3): Rage still with one piece of business left before playoffs, doing something about that 0-fer-Jacksonville mark.
2. Las Vegas (7-4): Poor Hodges not even likely to get a Vegas farewell.
3. Memphis (7-4): Imagine the party on Beale Street if 'Ax get the Hitmen that showed up last week, you might even see Elvis.
4. Kansas City (7-4): Impressively snapping a three-game slide on the road plus a five-INT game from your opponent's second-string QB (even in a win) bumps you ahead.
5. Los Angeles (7-4): We'd imagine Bob Toledo would like his chances in KC just a little better with Woody Dantzler back under center.
6. Dallas (7-4): Current slide costing Vipers not only perhaps the playoffs but chance to maybe bump "Days of our TO" down a page.
7. Seattle (6-5): Reign's playoff chances hinge on winning where they've lost a combined 76-0 in two games.
8. San Francisco (6-5): Not to state the obvious, but it's hard to win when you produce only one field goal out of six turnovers.
9. Jacksonville (6-5): AH-AH-AH-AH, BARELY ALIVE, BARELY ALIVE.................
10. Chicago (5-6): Please Mark Criner, at least try even if Hitmen lose.
11. Birmingham (5-6): When was the last time Steve Spurrier gave a "spirit of the game" speech?
12. New York (5-6): Look at it this way, if they miss the playoffs--in the Yankee-Met-Giant-Jet city that is New York, no one'll notice.
13. Carolina (4-7): How's this for thinking ahead? Colonels already have their 2007 QB situation solved.
14. Pittsburgh (3-8): Unbelievably, the Ironmen will finish a decent 3-3 at home.
15. Washington (3-8): Here's a thought for '07: Steve Spurrier back in D.C.?
16. Detroit (2-9): Um, how bout the Tigers?!?!?!?!
GAMES TO WATCH:
Los Angeles at Kansas City Sun 4:00 USA
Both teams come in with division title aspirations. The Xtreme win the XFL West with a win or a Las Vegas loss, while the Monarchs situation is a bit more complicated, as they need help from both Birmingham and New York if they are to complete the unlikely story. Woody Dantzler returns at QB this week after Gino Guidugli was horrible last week, yet got the win because the Xtreme defense bailed him out. The Monarchs got a huge win in Birmingham, and no telling how much that will fuel them this week. LenDale White outrushed his prior three-game slumber, with 69 yards on 17 carries in a 29-14 win over Birmingham.
New York at Memphis Sun 1:00
Dallas at Birmigham Sun 1:00
Chicago at Las Vegas Sun 4:00
By the time the Enforcers take the field in Vegas, they could be XFL North champions if the Maniax beat the Hitmen. The Maniax helped themselves greatly by tripping up Dallas last week; win and the 'Ax are XFL South champs, which makes the Hitmen's road harder. The Outlaws may take the field with Matt Kegel at QB and the Harrison-Simonton committee at RB with Hodges Mitchell a definite out and Jason Gesser sure to be a game-time decision. Omar Jacobs has been on fire since taking command two weeks ago. Despite their late-season swoon, the Vipers can still take the division with a win and help from New York.
Orlando at Jacksonville Sun 8:00 UPN
This edition of the SSB isn't as juicy with the Rage already having wrapped up the XFL East and the Bulls only barely alive for a playoff spot because of two slip-ups at home earlier in the season (Birmingham, Chicago). But the Bulls can still do two things to their Central Florida rivals: 1)Deny them a first-round bye--if possible, and 2)Continue to be thorn in their side in Jacksonville, where the Bulls have won all four matchups.
THE REST:
Washington at Carolina Sat 8:00 USA
The "why is this on TV" whine aside the Colonels really are a much better team than their 4-7 indicates, and if Ricky Ray doesn't falter as their QB in 2007, the Colonels should be a playoff team. In fact the Colonels are in a similar position to where the Maniax were last year. Unfortunately for Norm Chow, that may also require a coaching change.
Seattle at San Francisco Sun 4:00
The Demons' offensive ineptitude and failure to take advantage of the Xtreme's likely cost them the playoffs, now they can once again deny the Reign their first ever winning record as they did last season in the finale. The Reign still have an outside shot at the playoffs with a win.
Pittsburgh at Detroit Sun 1:00
The only intrigue here is that both teams could have different pivots next season, although the Ironmen have actually resembled a potent team with Quincy Carter. Ford would be closing down its doors for good if they were as potent as the Mustangs offense, only Darnell McDonald (73 rec, 1040 yards, 6 TD) has shone offensively--and probably can't wait to get out of Motown. A loss for the Mustangs would mean a pitiful 2-10 mark for a team that burst on the scene in 2004 at 8-4, which would have been good enough for a playoff spot if they had come in a year later. But as bad as things are, there should be no reason to dump Al Lugenbill.
Congrats out to Mike Jones, whose seat was burning after what-in-the losses to Washington and Carolina at midseason, but has the Rage back in the playoffs. He's not out of the woods yet, however. The Rage aren't assured of a first-round bye yet, and with the X-Bowl in Orlando, pressure for Jones to get the Rage "home" for the X-Bowl will be to the max.
So going into the final week of the season, your XFL power rankings:
1. Orlando (8-3): Rage still with one piece of business left before playoffs, doing something about that 0-fer-Jacksonville mark.
2. Las Vegas (7-4): Poor Hodges not even likely to get a Vegas farewell.
3. Memphis (7-4): Imagine the party on Beale Street if 'Ax get the Hitmen that showed up last week, you might even see Elvis.
4. Kansas City (7-4): Impressively snapping a three-game slide on the road plus a five-INT game from your opponent's second-string QB (even in a win) bumps you ahead.
5. Los Angeles (7-4): We'd imagine Bob Toledo would like his chances in KC just a little better with Woody Dantzler back under center.
6. Dallas (7-4): Current slide costing Vipers not only perhaps the playoffs but chance to maybe bump "Days of our TO" down a page.
7. Seattle (6-5): Reign's playoff chances hinge on winning where they've lost a combined 76-0 in two games.
8. San Francisco (6-5): Not to state the obvious, but it's hard to win when you produce only one field goal out of six turnovers.
9. Jacksonville (6-5): AH-AH-AH-AH, BARELY ALIVE, BARELY ALIVE.................
10. Chicago (5-6): Please Mark Criner, at least try even if Hitmen lose.
11. Birmingham (5-6): When was the last time Steve Spurrier gave a "spirit of the game" speech?
12. New York (5-6): Look at it this way, if they miss the playoffs--in the Yankee-Met-Giant-Jet city that is New York, no one'll notice.
13. Carolina (4-7): How's this for thinking ahead? Colonels already have their 2007 QB situation solved.
14. Pittsburgh (3-8): Unbelievably, the Ironmen will finish a decent 3-3 at home.
15. Washington (3-8): Here's a thought for '07: Steve Spurrier back in D.C.?
16. Detroit (2-9): Um, how bout the Tigers?!?!?!?!
GAMES TO WATCH:
Los Angeles at Kansas City Sun 4:00 USA
Both teams come in with division title aspirations. The Xtreme win the XFL West with a win or a Las Vegas loss, while the Monarchs situation is a bit more complicated, as they need help from both Birmingham and New York if they are to complete the unlikely story. Woody Dantzler returns at QB this week after Gino Guidugli was horrible last week, yet got the win because the Xtreme defense bailed him out. The Monarchs got a huge win in Birmingham, and no telling how much that will fuel them this week. LenDale White outrushed his prior three-game slumber, with 69 yards on 17 carries in a 29-14 win over Birmingham.
New York at Memphis Sun 1:00
Dallas at Birmigham Sun 1:00
Chicago at Las Vegas Sun 4:00
By the time the Enforcers take the field in Vegas, they could be XFL North champions if the Maniax beat the Hitmen. The Maniax helped themselves greatly by tripping up Dallas last week; win and the 'Ax are XFL South champs, which makes the Hitmen's road harder. The Outlaws may take the field with Matt Kegel at QB and the Harrison-Simonton committee at RB with Hodges Mitchell a definite out and Jason Gesser sure to be a game-time decision. Omar Jacobs has been on fire since taking command two weeks ago. Despite their late-season swoon, the Vipers can still take the division with a win and help from New York.
Orlando at Jacksonville Sun 8:00 UPN
This edition of the SSB isn't as juicy with the Rage already having wrapped up the XFL East and the Bulls only barely alive for a playoff spot because of two slip-ups at home earlier in the season (Birmingham, Chicago). But the Bulls can still do two things to their Central Florida rivals: 1)Deny them a first-round bye--if possible, and 2)Continue to be thorn in their side in Jacksonville, where the Bulls have won all four matchups.
THE REST:
Washington at Carolina Sat 8:00 USA
The "why is this on TV" whine aside the Colonels really are a much better team than their 4-7 indicates, and if Ricky Ray doesn't falter as their QB in 2007, the Colonels should be a playoff team. In fact the Colonels are in a similar position to where the Maniax were last year. Unfortunately for Norm Chow, that may also require a coaching change.
Seattle at San Francisco Sun 4:00
The Demons' offensive ineptitude and failure to take advantage of the Xtreme's likely cost them the playoffs, now they can once again deny the Reign their first ever winning record as they did last season in the finale. The Reign still have an outside shot at the playoffs with a win.
Pittsburgh at Detroit Sun 1:00
The only intrigue here is that both teams could have different pivots next season, although the Ironmen have actually resembled a potent team with Quincy Carter. Ford would be closing down its doors for good if they were as potent as the Mustangs offense, only Darnell McDonald (73 rec, 1040 yards, 6 TD) has shone offensively--and probably can't wait to get out of Motown. A loss for the Mustangs would mean a pitiful 2-10 mark for a team that burst on the scene in 2004 at 8-4, which would have been good enough for a playoff spot if they had come in a year later. But as bad as things are, there should be no reason to dump Al Lugenbill.