Bottom 8 Online Franchise Week 8 - TCrouch's Blog

TCrouch's Blog

Bottom 8 Online Franchise Week 8

Posted on September 4, 2009 at 11:51 AM.

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Last Week's Games

Game of the Week:

(5-2) Browns (TJ) 26, (1-5) Packers 24
Cleveland and Green Bay traded scores through most of the game in this one, but the real story was Coach Cutini losing Brady Quinn and Jamal Lewis to injury. The offense never really got on track (with 4 field goals), but D. Jackson and C. Francies returned a pair of picks for touchdowns to give the Browns the win.

The Rest:

(7-0) Chargers 30, (0-8) Chiefs (Rustedwalleye) 13
The Chiefs scored first, on a Succop field goal. That's the good part. Unfortunately, the Chargers then ran off 10 straight points. The Chiefs struck back and it was only 13-10 Chargers at halftime. But poor Kansas City couldn't hold the fort for all four quarters. This is becoming a consistent problem for the Chiefs, and local talk radio stations are blasting Coach Walleye. The Bolts scored 17 points in the 4th quarter to cruise away with the win.

(5-2) Rams (Longhorn) 44, (3-3) Colts 7
Longhorn jumped all over the Colts from the opening gun, scoring in the first minute. He would score 4 more TD's and a Field Goal before the Colts answered with a touchdown in garbage time to get on the board. A snoozer from beginning to end, but Steven Jackson returned to MVP form, carrying the ball 30 times for 185 yards and 3 TD's.

(7-0) Bills (Dookie) 31, (0-6) Panthers 20
Carolina put up a fight in this game for the first half, going into the locker room trailing 21-13. Nobody could do much of anything in the third, and then the Bills scored 10 in the 4th to pull away. Carolina found the end zone with :51 remaining to make it look a bit more respectable, but nobody can touch the Bills right now.

(6-1) Saints (Steve) 42, (2-4) Dolphins 24
The Dolphins let one slip away here. They were leading 24-21 in the fourth quarter, only to see explosive Saints score 21 straight points in the 4th. With the way Drew Brees is playing (22 for 32, 375 yards, 3 TD's and 2 INT's in the contest), the Saints aren't out of any game until the final gun.

(4-3) Redskins (mgoblue) 47, (4-2) Eagles 41
It's taken A LOT of work, but the Redskins have now won four straight. After opening the season 0-3, the 'Skins have found a serious groove with their passing game, as Jason Campbell leads the league in yardage and TD's. That is such a surreal sentence to read. Coach mgo has really found a way to motivate the streaky starter, and it's paid off with a winning month.

Human Rankings

#1 (LW #1) (7-0) Bills - Dookie
The Bills are rolling. Period. Dookie has found a way to win every game in a multitude of ways. This team may secure home field advantage in the AFC Playoffs.

#2 (LW #2) (6-0) Jaguars - Altimus
The Jaguars will have something to say about home field before it's all over, though. The two top squads in the human rankings are on a collision course.

#3 (LW #3) (5-1) Saints - Steve
Steve has found a way to win ballgames with an explosive offense (and also an explosive defense, but not always the good kind). Most games he'll put up 40+ points, and the defense will give up yards but not points. They're also opportunistic, nabbing critical (and timely) turnovers.

#4 (LW #4) (5-1) Lions - Terry
The Lions had the week off, so they may look a bit rusty this week. That's not good. The passing offense must get clicking early to hold this ranking.

#5 (LW #5) (5-2) Browns - TJ
The Browns had injury issues in week 7, but still managed to pull out the win despite a TD-less performance from his offense. Mustering just four field goals on offense won't usually get the job done--but this week it was just good enough for a 2 point win.

#6 (LW #6) (5-2) Rams - Longhorn
Steven Jackson returns to form, and so does Longhorn's playoff chances. He will run roughshod over the Lions putrid rushing defense this week.

#7 (LW #7) (4-3) Redskins - mgoblue
mgoblue has done an amazing job in turning this team around. Early in the season, the offense couldn't do much, and the defense wasn't helping. As we near the midway point of 2009, however, they could be looking to make some noise in the NFC playoffs. Coach of the year so far.

#32 (LW #8) (0-8) Chiefs - Rustedwalleye
Dale is already looking ahead to next season. One more loss assures him of a losing season in KC, and it hasn't been pretty. The Chiefs are playing opponents tough for 3 quarters consistently. They're also consistently collapsing in the 4th.

Next Week's Games:

(5-2) Rams (Longhorn) @ (5-1) Lions (Terry)
The Rams are looking to improve to 6-2 at the midpoint of the season with a victory over the Lions. Steven Jackson has been an absolute terror for the league this season, and it shouldn't change against the Lions. Coach Crouch will have the Lions ready to play, but it will be all he can do to contain Jackson long enough to come out with a victory. Prediction: Rams 31, Lions 17.

(3-4) Texans @ (7-0) Bills (Dookie)
Dookie finds a way to win every week. The Texans have a strong pass rush and an outstanding receiver/running back tandem, but Trent Edwards struggles to complete passes without turning the ball over. A few turnovers will turn a close game into a blowout. Prediction: Bills 42, Texans 10.

(5-2) Browns (TJ) @ (3-3) Bears
The Browns have been bitten by the injury bug, so that will play a big factor in this game. If Jamal Lewis can't go, this one could get away from Cleveland. They'll have to show more offense than they did last week, and I'm not sure that will happen against the Bears defense. Prediction: Bears 28, Browns 24.

(6-0) Jaguars @ (3-3) Titans
Throw out the records. When the Jags and Titans play, it's an absolute war. Chis Johnson's speed must be accounted for on every snap, but Altimus' squad has been adept at forcing turnovers this season. Kerry Collins may not have enough left in the tank to will the Titans to victory past the Jags this time. Prediction: Jags 31, Titans 23.

(3-3) Falcons @ (5-1) Saints (Steve)
The Saints have had the offense to hang with anybody in the league, but the defense is still a question mark from week to week. It will not be easy this week against Michael Turner, Matt Ryan, Roddy White, and Tony Gonzales. The Falcons will get their yards. The question is whether they'll get their points. I'm betting they will. Prediction: Falcons 38, Saints 31.