BMEFA 2007-08: The Fifth and Final Race to the Wire ...

[RooMorgans]

Hello fans and friends, another day of play in the BMEFA is in the books, and Baltimore's league has now decided its 8 playoff teams, its statistical leaders, and look forward to the playoffs and championship in February.

Left on the card today were a few make-up games. As any season should, the drama came down to the very last game, as the majority of the league looked on to see who would grab a playoff spot in a loser-is-out scenario. In addition, the league's two unbeatens clashed in Dallas.

OAKLAND (Travers) 21, BUFFALO (Carter) 0
* In the Raiders' first kickoff the day, it was the passing of Vince Evans (6-of-8, 175 yards, 2 touchdowns) and the speed of receivers Willie Gault and Cliff Branch that proved too much for Buffalo to handle. Oakland scored on passes of 65 and 70 yards, keeping its playoff dreams alive. OJ Simpson ran for 40 yards for the Bills.

NEW ORLEANS (Martin) 14, HOUSTON (Sharpe) 7
* A New Orleans team that had its struggles all year offensively came to life in a big way in a win over Houston that gave the Saints the Walsh Division championship. Drew Brees ran 12 times for 40 yards, while going 7-of-8 through the air for 127 yards and 2 touchdowns. It's proof our coaches are getting better and "hitting the books" to study, as Brees had 1 completion for the season coming in. Reggie Bush caught the two scores, including one on the next-to-last play, as the Saints go marching into the playoffs as the #3 seed at 5-3.

DALLAS (Baxter) 14, PITTSBURGH (Morgans) 7
* Folks, this was the most lopsided 14-7 game in EF history. Dallas scored on a Troy Aikman run from 15 yards, then an Aikman pass to Butch Johnson for 20 yards. Jim Jeffcoat forced and recovered a fumble, and Cliff Harris had 4 tackles. Dallas finished 8-0 with the win, toning down the offense in the second half. Pittsburgh's lone score came on the game's next-to-last play, a 68-yard hookup from Ben Roethlisberger to Matt Kranchick, the only Steeler player whose base seemed prepared to handle the field at the home of the Silver Surfers. Pittsburgh finished 7-1. Congrats to Adrian on an undefeated regular season!

That left one last game between Oakland and Houston. The loser would miss the playoffs. A Houston win would put the Texans in as the 8th seed, with Cincinnati 7th. An Oakland win would put the Raiders at the 7 seed, with Cincinnati 8th.

OAKLAND 21, HOUSTON 0
* The Raiders rolled into the playoffs on the back of a 36-yard touchdown from Evans to Branch, and an interception return for a touchdown by Rod Martin. A late score provided the final margin, but the key play was turned in on the next-to-last play of the first half, when Houston hit a pass and had a receiver strolling to the end zone. However, he was tracked down at the 4 by Rod Martin, and Houston couldn't score on the last play, leaving the game at 7-0. Martin's interception ended the Texans' first drive of the second half, making it 14-0, and that was that. Houston finished 3-5.

Regular-season wrap up, standings, stat leaders, and playoff matchups in subsequent posts.

Ed

[RooMorgans]

FINAL STANDINGS

(Playoff teams in bold)

WALSH DIVISION
W-L PF PA TEAM
5-3 70 62 NEW ORLEANS
4-4 62 93 CINCINNATI
3-5 72 91 HOUSTON
2-6 27 80 CLEVELAND

NOLL DIVISION
W-L PF PA TEAM
8-0 155 26 DALLAS
6-2 95 81 BALTIMORE RAVENS
5-3 81 51 BALTIMORE COLTS
2-6 40 72 CHICAGO
0-8 0 112 NEW ENGLAND

LOMBARDI DIVISION
W-L PF PA TEAM
7-1 153 77 PITTSBURGH
5-3 143 89 DETROIT
5-3 143 81 OAKLAND
2-6 42 79 PHILADELPHIA
2-6 55 144 BUFFALO

[Reginald Rutledge]

Outstanding Wrap up Ed! Great coaches and great guys. No disrespect to the other coaches but my sentimental choice is Will Travers.

Reg

[RooMorgans]

Playoff matchups ...

To be played the second Saturday in February; top 3 seeds are division winners:

QUARTERFINALS, 10 a.m.
No. 8 Cincinnati (4-4) at No. 1 Dallas (8-0)
No. 7 Oakland (5-3) at No. 2 Pittsburgh (7-1)
No. 6 Detroit (5-3) at No. 3 New Orleans (5-3)
No. 5 Baltimore Colts (5-3) at No. 4 Baltimore Ravens (6-2)

SEMIFINALS, 1:30 p.m.
Cincinnati/Dallas winner vs. Colts/Ravens winner
Oakland/Pittsburgh winner vs. Detroit/New Orleans winner

SUPER BOWL III, 5 p.m.
Semifinal winners at home field of higher seed.

Ed

[RooMorgans]

RUSHING LEADERS
1. McNair, Ravens: 27 carries, 352 yards, 5 TD.
2. Roethlisberger, Steelers: 25 carries, 229 yards, 1 TD.
3. Springs, Cowboys: 16 carries, 176 yards, 5 TD.
4. Ross, Lions: 10 carries, 124 yards, 1 TD.
5. Jones, Colts: 18 carries, 120 yards, 1 TD.

PASSING LEADERS
1. Roethlisberger, Steelers: 62-of-77, 1,055 yards, 15 TD, 0 INT.
2. Aikman, Cowboys: 29-of-39, 933 yards, 12 TD, 0 INT.
3. Schaub, Texans: 38-of-54, 839 yards, 5 TD, 2 INT.
4. Palmer, Bengals: 25-of-57, 771 yards, 10 TD, 1 INT.
5. Evans, Raiders: 29-of-52, 693 yards, 9 TD, 1 INT.

RECEPTIONS
1. Bettis, Steelers: 17 catches.
2. Parker, Steelers: 13 catches.
3. #30, Texans: 12 catches.
3. Quick, Eagles: 12 catches.
3. Ross, Lions: 12 catches.

RECEIVING YARDS
1. Quick, Eagles: 310 yards, 2 TD.
2. Bettis, Steelers: 280 yards, 3 TD.
3. Ross, Lions: 268 yards, 3 TD.
4. #30, Texans: 246 yards, 3 TD.
4. Houshmanzadeh, Bengals: 228 yards, 1 TD.

RETURN LEADERS
1. Ross, Lions: 15 returns, 918 yards, 6 TD.
2. Sayers, Bears: 11 returns, 459 yards.
3. Manning, Colts: 8 returns, 370 yards, 1 TD.
4. White, Eagles: 9 returns, 271 yards.
4. Anderson, Ravens: 10 returns, 271 yards.

TACKLE LEADERS
1. Jeffcoat, Cowboys: 20 tackles
2. Haley, Cowboys: 19 tackles
3. #35, Lions: 14 tackles
4. Hampton, Steelers: 12 tackles
5. Smith, Colts: 11 tackles
5. #66, Lions: 11 tackles
5. #73, Lions: 11 tackles

TACKLES FOR LOSS LEADERS
1. Jeffcoat, Cowboys: 12 tackles for loss.
2. Haley, Cowboys: 10 tackles for loss.
3. Smith, Colts: 5 tackles for loss
3. #78, Browns: 5 tackles for loss.
5. #73, Lions: 4 tackles for loss.
5. #98, Texans: 4 tackles for loss.
5. Carmichael, Eagles: 4 tackles for loss.
5. Hampton, Steelers: 4 tackles for loss.

SACKS LEADERS
1. Jeffcoat, Cowboys: 7 sacks.
2. Haley, Cowboys: 6 sacks.
3. #78, Browns: 4 sacks.
3. #98, Texans: 3 sacks.
5. Smith, Colts: 2 sacks.
5. #73, Lions: 2 sacks.

TURNOVER LEADERS
1. Jeffcoat, Cowboys: 5 fumble recoveries
2. Townsend, Steelers: 2 interceptions.

[RooMorgans]

Originally Posted by Reginald Rutledge

Outstanding Wrap up Ed! Great coaches and great guys. No disrespect to the other coaches but my sentimental choice is Will Travers.

Reg

Thanks Reg, I enjoy doing these as it's kind of a throwback to my old days as a sports writer.

And I think the stats and the wraps are an important function of a successful league. It's my way to give back and I hope everyone enjoys them.

The main thanks go to Smitty and Tron, without whom we wouldn't have this league, and as a result of their hard work in getting it together, I've and many others have now had 3 fun-filled seasons and we are already looking ahead to our fourth.

And yes, Will is going to be a factor. He was on his game today big time. I don't like my chances facing him in the first round and will need my absolute best effort to win. There will be no easy games for anyone in these playoffs.

And that's the way it should be!

Ed

[Raven maniac]

To Sean, Smitty Ed, Adrian, Will and all in the BMEFA thank you for a great season. I hope the College season will be even better. Again thanks

Darrian

[Coach K-LO]

THANKS FOR THE POST OF THE ACTION, ROO


GOOD LUCK TO ALL THE PLAYOFF TEAMS! KEEP UP POSTED ON THE DATES SO THAT SOME INTERESTED OBSERVERS CAN COME OUT AND ENJOY THE ACTION.....

K-LO

********,
I just don't know how this happens? I may be letting the cat out of the bag ,but BMEFA will run a High School League this spring! Tron is fighting for his electric life. If I don't kick much Kazzazz this spring I will morph into the bright light never to be seen again! I can't stand you chumps! You guys better not show up for the playoffs 'cause I'm going to beat you up!

P.S.
Happy Birthday Adrain Baxter

[BAXTER]

Ed,

You are reaaly good at this, man. Keep up the good work!

Sean,

You had to let the cat out the bag. Dag nabbit!:rolleyes:


Sean and Darrian,

Thanks for the lesson last play date. It forced me to do some reading I had planned on doing for quite sometime. Thanks for that much needed push.

-Adrian-