A PASSING FANTASY ISSUE 29 1998 SEASON WEEK SEVEN

NFLBP PLAYER NEWSLETTER ed. Robert Crowther


In this issue...

WEEK SIX REVIEW BY QUENTIN JENKINSON

The Packers kept up their perfect start to the season by overcoming Miami. Special teams did well for Green Bay while their defense prevented a touchdown from being scored. Erik Kramer was knocked into next week at Buffalo, eleven hurries and seven sacks meant that his O-line obviously fell asleep during the game! Five field goals from the Bills clinched it for them. New York clinched their win with a fourth quarter touchdown over the Panthers. Carolina stopped the run again, we'll have to start barracking someone else's run defense soon! Two fourth quarter touchdowns sealed the win for St Louis over the Patriots. New England did well on offense but the Rams air attack was simply too much for them. San Francisco got back to their winning ways with a strong performance at home to the Steelers. Pittsburgh kept handing the ball over to the 49ers so they couldn't keep up when the Niners pulled away in the second half. New Orleans trampled all over the Jaguars run defense for an emphatic win. Jacksonville were never really in the game and now need to start winning if they hope to make the playoffs. The Bengals found a way to stop the Washington offense, don't let them on the field! Excellent ball control football from the Cincinnati offense killed the clock and ate up the yards. A very solid win for the Eagles in the Dawg Pound. Philadelphia played good ball control football and didn't turn the ball over, whereas the browns committed three turnovers. Ding Dong! The wicked witch of the (AFC) West is dead! Arizona once again prevented the Raiders from scoring an offensive touchdown (as last season) while Joe Nedney kept up his perfect kicking record - 4/4 field goals in this game. The Broncos kept up their good start by dispatching the Cowboys. Dallas have been playing very poorly over recent weeks and, if they're not careful, the playoff race will pass them by. Absolutely brilliant offensive display from the Seahawks at Detroit. The Lions couldn't keep up with the scoring of the high octane Seattle offense, conceding ten points in the fourth quarter to lose their sixth straight game. Kansas City put in another good defensive display against the visiting Bucs. Tampa Bay couldn't move the ball at all as the Chiefs offense showed them how it's done.

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.


PLAYER PROFILE

Name: Martin Devine Age: 22

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!)


THIS WEEK IN HISTORY

In season one: The Panthers, after winning their first ever game in week six, went to visit undefeated New Orleans. The newsletter editor confidently predicted 'Carolina broke their duck last week, but a win against the Saints is too much to ask' and went so far as to predict a winning margin of two touchdowns. So, really, it was hardly surprising that the Panthers came from behind to win by six points... (I wasn't the only one, four other contributors - Peter Wilkinson, Quentin Jenkinson, Martin Devine and Ian Rothwell - all picked the Saints to win by 21, 14, 10 and 6 respectively) Definitely the biggest shock of the NFLBP's short history.

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.


SEASON SO FAR - ARIZONA CARDINALS

Alternatively titled - 'Wot! No offense?' or 'Joe Nedney for President'.

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.


WEEK SEVEN PREVIEW

Predictions this week from Pat Ratcliffe, Martin Devine, Darren Birtchnell and myself.

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

Rob

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