NFLBP PLAYER NEWSLETTER ed. Robert Crowther
Offensive performance of the week goes to Seattle for 524 yards, 30 first downs, 19/21 on third down and 5 TD's. Defensive performance of the week goes to Arizona for limiting the Raiders to 192 yards and preventing an offensive TD. Special teams performance of the week goes to Green Bay for 189 yards on returns and three field goals.
Gameplan Experience: NFLBP 49ers, 1996-98 - 2 NFC West Championships, won Superbowl I, record 30-10, NFLBS Seahawks, 1997-99 - 1 AFC West Championship, record 21-14
Likes: American Football (not too surprising, given the location!), golf, snooker, reading
Favourite teams: 49ers, Packers, Claymores
Favourite Authors: Terry Pratchett, Robert Jordan, David Eddings, Anne McCaffrey
Notes: Currently trying to get used to a 9-5 job after 4 years at uni (in terms of finding time to do things - the money took no getting used to at all!)
In season two: The Arizona Cardinals managed 44 points in one half, it was against the Panthers but still an impressive achievement. The Raiders and Dolphins continued their perfect runs with comfortable wins over Jacksonville and Denver respectively, while the Packers shutout the Eagles to remain unbeaten.
Week one at Lions, W 33-25. A good start to the season against a team that had been tipped for success this season. Detroit couldn't run the ball effectively, and when their ground game stalls Frank Reich suffers. The game started the Lions downward spiral, but Joe Nedney had a good debut for Arizona and the offense did well.
Week two vs Redskins, W 27-6. Special teams were excellent for Arizona in this win. A kickoff return TD and an interception return TD, both in the third quarter, killed the game as a contest. Washington did well in stopping the Cardinals running game and this match marked the start of a dire Arizona offense (which still continues).
Week three vs Bears, W 29-18. Five field goals and an 82 yard kickoff return TD were the highlights of this awful game (in terms of Arizona's offense). You all saw my game report, so I won't bore you with this tedious match again!
Week four vs Panthers, W 25-10. Arizona keep winning against lesser opponents, like this game against Carolina. The match itself was dull, boring, tedious and an Arizona win. The Cardinals offense sputtered, and couldn't even run on the Panthers frail run defense.
Week five at Cowboys, W 19-10. Arizona showed everyone how to win without an offense in this game. Step 1 - have an excellent special teams corps. Step 2 - Er, that's it! Joe Nedney, my main man, hit 4/4 field goals and returns did well.
Week six vs Raiders, W 12-7. A tight defensive struggle, the trademark of the Arizona season. My MVP (#6) kicked another four field goals to win the game. Boomer Esiason (Mr Spaghetti Arm) threw his second interception return TD of the season, but the Cardinals offense got into field goal range enough times.
Dolphins at Chiefs
PR-One way traffic yet again! After their pounding last week by the Pack, it looks like a scalping by the Chiefs this week - that is if a fish can be scalped? CHIEFS BY 7
MD-On current form, you have to take KC - offensively, they've always been good, but now the defence is overachieving as well. CHIEFS BY 3
DB - DOLPHINS BY 1 RC - CHIEFS BY 3
Bills at Seahawks
PR-Can Coach Wilkinson keep the momentum going after a good win on the road in week six, against the strong D of the Bills? BILLS BY 7
MD-Two teams who like to run the ball, so the deciding factor is likely to be run defence. Seattle's offence has been racking up yardage, but their soft defensive front should mean that it won't get much possession. BILLS BY 7
DB - BILLS BY 10 RC - BILLS BY 7
Jets at Browns
PR-This is a 'must win' match up for the much improved Browns, against a strong Jets team. My head says Cleveland, but my heart hopes for the Big Apple. JETS BY 1
MD-Cleveland come off their first bad performance of the season, but should rebound here. BROWNS BY 9
DB - BROWNS BY 6 RC - JETS BY 3
Patriots at Bengals
PR-I really do believe in miracles, but I cannot see one happening here, though I live in hope! BENGALS BY 20
MD-New England's offence is patchy at the best of times, so don't expect too many points for the away team against what may be the league's best defence. BENGALS BY 14
DB - NO PREDICTION RC - BENGALS BY 14
Steelers at Broncos
PR-This is no way for the schedules to kick a team when it's down. Being hammered by the boys from the Bay one week then rushed to high altitude the next. But, we have a chance - after all Dallas got 14 against them last week! NO PRED
MD-Pittsburgh have been having problems stopping the run - not a failing you can get away with against Denver. BRONCOS BY 10
DB - BRONCOS BY 1 RC - STEELERS BY 3
Jaguars at Raiders
PR-This is the week when the resurrection of the Raiders can take place. RAIDERS BY 14
MD-A chance for Oakland to regroup after two close losses, as Jacksonville should offer little resistance. RAIDERS BY 17
DB - RAIDERS BY 14 RC - NO PREDICTION
Cardinals at Rams
PR-In spite of the great win on the road last week, it is impossible to see any further than the Cardinal juggernaut ploughing onwards. CARDINALS BY 20
MD-An interesting matchup between the on-form Rams offence and a tough Arizona defence, but this won't decide the game - St. Louis will struggle to contain the Cardinal offence. CARDINALS BY 12
DB - CARDINALS BY 10 RC - CARDINALS BY 10
Cowboys at Panthers
PR-Probably the hardest game of the week to call. Home advantage, and a better scoring record, should see the Panthers to victory - or should it? PANTHERS BY 1
MD-Dallas are struggling to find offensive rhythm, but should be too strong here. The Carolina run defence is much improved, but it's now easier to pass on this unit. COWBOYS BY 7
DB - COWBOYS BY 3 RC - PANTHERS BY 3
Redskins at Bucs
PR-Another touch one to call. Both teams 3-3 and pretty close on scoring too. Home field? BUCS BY 1
MD-Washington are better offensively, Tampa Bay defensively. A game which may turn out to be important in terms of the playoffs at the end of the season, and a tough one to call. I'll go with the home team. BUCS BY 1
DB - REDSKINS BY 1 RC - BUCS BY 3
Eagles at Lions
PR-Even in the Lions' den the Eagle will soar high. EAGLES BY 14
MD-If Philadelphia can keep the mistakes out of their play, like they did in week 6, this one should be easy for them. EAGLES BY 10
DB - EAGLES BY 1 RC - EAGLES BY 3
Packers at Saints
PR-Now this is a game! Both coaches will be sweating and fine tuning. I really fancy New Orleans to come through, and in the air as well! SAINTS BY 7
MD-One team must lose their perfect record here in the game of the week. The Green Bay defence has been giving up yardage on the ground, a failing which New Orleans are more than capable of taking advantage of. SAINTS BY 7
DB - PACKERS BY 3 RC - PACKERS BY 1
Bears at 49ers
PR-If San Francisco don't win this one easily then Pittsburgh might as well go into liquidation, after the way they took the Steel Town men apart last week! 49ERS BY 16
MD-The key here is to stop the Chicago passing game, as the Bears haven't run the ball well, and the 49ers offence is moving the ball. Taking advantage of a weak Chicago offensive line to put pressure on the QB is vital, as the 49er secondary is the weakest area of the defence. NO PRED.
DB - 49ERS BY 8 RC - 49ERS BY 7