Lavonardo

Why they play the game
by jpeepz (CC)

Nöykkiö ‘niners is the champion!

The bowl game was again an eighteen point victory, and the second ever for a team fielded by me (the first one happened in 2007).

Key to the game was quarterbacking, on both ends of the gridiron. While Drew Brees produced once again (and dismantled the 27 year old Dan Marino yardage record in the meanwhile), the opponent’s playmaker, Tony Romo, netted a zero against the Eagles.

As in the semifinal, I was losing bad, before the last game of the week. In Monday Night Football Saints dismantled the Falcons, and the duo of Brees & Colston netted me 40+ points, and Matt Bryant, Atlanta’s kicker, added twelve. Apart from a suspiciously quiet Greg Olsen (a fat zero from a game where Panthers scored 48 points), the whole team delivered.

The draft, where I picked last went much better than I originally thought. Out of top 15 players, Nöykkiö ‘niners fielded three (Brees, Jones-Drew and Welker) and the top defense (SF). Two players were hurt by long injuries and would probably been higher in the standings (Austin and Forte). Then again, a lot of players went down this season, so I was lucky to retain the top guns in healthy form.

Bring on the next season.

And in the real world: Niners and Saints both in the playoffs.

The last regular season game had a lot going for it. On account of the four game skid midway of the season, the Nöykkiö Niners were far from being guaranteed a spot in the playoffs. I had to win, and I had to win a team who was ahead of me in the standings and had whipped the niners earlier in the season.

The game was a high-scoring thriller.

And the victory rests on the shoulders of one man only – Maurice Jones-Drew scored four times and netted the niners a neat 37 points. When Marques Colston caught two touchdowns (of four Brees threw), and Marion Barber filled Matt Forte’s boots with a very respectable performance, the ‘niners came out ahead.

The bad news of the week was the confirmation of Matt Forte’s injury, the good news the return of Miles Austin (in the hope that I would never have to rely on the spectacularly unreliable Tebow->Decker connection).

Back by marcovdz (CC)

Finally won again, the progress was getting desperate to say the least.

The game was a shootout – both teams put up 100+ points.

In the end it was the huge effort by Drew Brees (four thrown and one run TD) on Monday Night Football that settled the result. Slotted in Eric Decker (off a zero-catch game last week) since every other WR was hurt. And the Tebow-Decker connection rewarded – a touchdown and some decent yardage. Wes Welker had a monster game once again, but Matt Forte continued to be quiet on the offense. San Francisco’s defense was outplayed by the home team in Baltimore, and they netted just a single point.

The bench is on the depleted side due to Austin’s persistent injury, Beanie Wells put up close to 27 points against St. Louis, and was the most effective RB of the week (and probably leads to selection headaches this week).

Green Bay continues their perfect season, and the ‘niners suffered their second loss, the Saints looked awesome in a victory over Giants. And the poor Colts are still winless, making the case for Peyton Manning’s past MVP awards ever so much stronger.

Bring on week 13!

Passau Street by Larry Myhre (CC)

Lost the tenth game of the season by the narrowest margin thus far – 0.56 points: 94.28 vs. 94.84.

Three players off the bench would have won me the game. But that’s no consolation, as the opponent kept the Chicago defense off the field – the Bears D took home a massive 37 points.

The ‘niners is now at .500 after three consecutive losses. And with the Saints’ bye rolling in, time to get two new guys on the field (I don’t trust Jay Cutler, and I need one more receiver since Miles Austin remains hamstring-hurt) – let’s see what the waiver-wire brings in.

In the league the Packers won for the ninth game, and ‘niners held back Giants for their eighth win.

Bring on week 11!

Big Truck by Timitrius (CC)

The ‘niners suffered back-to-back losses. First a tiny one ad then a 29 point howler.

Got beaten fair and square – with the exception of Wes Welker and the San Francisco defense every player on the field was outscored by the opponent.

And when Reggie Bush suddenly found his game, and Aaron Rodgers once again torched over 30 points, the loss was certainty.

The two available benchmen, kicker Billy Cundiff and receiver Eric Decker, would have erased twelve points off the deficit – so this was just one of those weeks when no amount of juggling would have improved things.

San Francisco continued their already expectation-defying season, Colts lost once again, and Tom Brady failed to work his comeback magic in a loss to Giants.

Bring on week 10!

Halloween Pumpkins by Russ Osborne (CC)

Seventh week netted the ‘niners a 52 point monster victory.

The key to the victory was the Saints 62-7 whupping of the Colts. Brees threw five TDs, two of them to Colston, and the defense played like a grabby wall.

The New Orleans’ game hid the deficiencies of the rest of the air force – Miles Austin, Nate Burleson and Greg Olsen combined for a total of 3.1 points.

Matt Forte scored well against Tampa Bay, netting 24 points.

Bring on week 8!

Sets of Train Wheels by cliff1066 (CC)

‘niners roll on, with an eight point victory over a rival to the high spots in the standings.

Despite an awkward showing by the Saints’ mainstays (Brees copping three interceptions, the defense ending up with a flat zero in points), there was a bright spot in the New Orleans team: Marques Colston. Now apparently fully headled from a collarbone injury, his 17 points were a nice take for the team. The RBs were steady, though I am starting to worry about the Jags offense creating enough opportunities for MJD. Nate Burleson scored after a drought, but the difference between him on the bench and Miles Austin’s game was only two points – good to have him back, nonetheless, as the bye season is already upon the team.

In the real world NFL the biggest news was Detroit’s loss. To San Francisco, so this was doubly sweet. Nowadays there’s only one unbeaten team – the reigning champions, Green Bay, steamroll along.

Bring on week 7!

Boing! by Lisa Stickler (CC)

Week three ended in yet another high-scoring victory.

In the absence of Miles Austin (out for at least a week on account of a hamstring injury), the heroes of the ‘niners were familiar names. Drew Brees and Wes Welker. The former continued aerial assault with three TDs and plenty of yardage, while the latter set a Patriots’ team record with 216 receiving yards. Greg Olsen scored his first TD, San Francisco defense picked up a lot of points and Maurice Jones-Drew ran aplenty (without crossing the goal line, unfortunately). The disappointment of the week was Nate Burleson, the Detroit Lions offensive steamroller seems to have little room for him (with Calvin Johnson getting plenty of quarterbacking love).

Unless Austin recovers, it’s time to go WR-shopping, the receiving corps is getting more and more shorthanded by the week.

The biggest news in the real NFL continue to be the two surging teams: Bills and Lions are both 3-0. The former at the expense of New England, Tom Brady’s uncharacteristic four picks doomed the team. ‘niners and Saints are both 2-1, the Colts 0-3 (with no sign of Peyton returning).

Bring on week 4!

Marques Colston, whose whole career has been plagued with injuries, is out for a month with a broken collarbone.

In the real world this leads to Drew Brees spreading his passes to a wider crowd, in my team this leads to Nate Burleson coming in from the bench.

baton twirler by Sarah Korf (CC)

The first week in the Yahoo 766281 ended up in a high-scoring victory. 154 – 111 is quite a tally in a game.

The team played well. Drew Brees’ 29 points in the Saints’ loss to Packers on opening day were an impressive foundation, and the rest of the offense piled on the points. Highlights included Wes Welker’s 160 yards / 2 TDs, Matt Forte’s 158 / 1 TD and Miles Austin’s high output despite an injury.

But the top honours in tuesday morning quarterbacking go to San Francisco defense. I mistrusted the Saints in the hands of the reigning champions and opted to pick a second defensive team from the waivers. The ’49ers were nothing short of awesome – they shut down the Seahawks on the first half, and despite allowing touchdowns on the second half managed to round up five sacks and a couple of picks and fumbles. Too bad punt / kickoff returns do not count for D/ST as Ted Ginn’s back-to-back returns for touchdowns would have increased the punishment even more.

I toyed with the idea of benching Austin in favour of Nate Burleson, but decided against it, and was thus rewarded by the Cowboy.

The opponent’s RBs put up scary numbers. Both Ray Rice and LeSean McCoy scored 25+ points, and the rest of the BORDER BANDITS scored admirably well. Apart from the defense. Usually reliable Steelers were demolished by Ravens (hence Ray Rice’s massive output), and that netted a sad -3. Adding insult to injury was the alternate on the bench: Chicago, who also picked up an amazing 24 points.

In the actual league the biggest news was Indianapolis loss in the hands of Houston Texans. Even if Kerry Collins didn’t play horribly at all, the absence of Peyton Manning was clearly visible in the Colts’ 27 point defeat. The othet big surprise was Buffalo’s huge margin victory in Kansas City.

In other news my survival football team lost on the very first week, who knew Kansas City would play so bad home.

Bring on week two!

I’m participating in fantasy football again this season.

Nöykkiö ‘niners plays in the fabulous Yahoo! Public 766281 division.

Yesterday’s draft didn’t start too well, as I got (according to tradition, almost) the very last spot, the tenth.

By the time I made the first two picks, the high-expectations running backs were long gone.

Settled on two trusty warhorses: Drew Brees as the QB and Maurice Jones-Drew as the featured back. Brees was the third quarterback to be selected – Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers got chosen before him on the first round.

As the league was far less crowded than last year’s, the following rounds were not entirely long-shot based. Chose (once again) Marques Colston for the aerial attack, and for the second time Matt Forte on the ground.

The tight end, kicker and defense picks were all just after the first choices in those buckets – Greg Olsen, Matt Bryant and the Saints are not the top-notch picks by any means, but all of them should be reasonably productive. The mantle of the secondary QB went to Jay Cutler, who stood on the block surprisingly long.

The last rounds were spent in less than optimal territory. Nate Burleson’s Lions have been surprisingly effective this pre-season, but Detroit’s team carries a stigma from many under-achieving seasons. Michael Crabtree is (again) in contractual hot water. Lance Kendricks is the longest of the shots – the Rams’ rookie TE scored twice in the four pre-season matches, and was a regular target.

Bring on week 1, kicking off with the New Orleans Saints visiting Green Bay!