[MIJB#19]

General Manager Notes: Falling but still floating
Yup, we've lost 4 of the last 5 games. And we're still leading the division.

It's a silly season. Today we managed to get a shot at upsetting the Chesapeake Chitterlings in their own house and we blew it.

In the first quarter we forced them to punt, then fumbled and lost possession to give them 46 yard to go and succeed for a touchdown. We responded with a 34-yard field goal and then saw penalties push them from field goal range to punting to maintain their 7-3 lead.

In the second quarter we struggled again in their territory, settling for a 44-yard field goal. Then we give up a 45-yard paas to set up their 14-6 lead taking touchdown. Our response a 6 1/2 minute drive to trim the deficit to 14-13. Right after the two-minute warning Alexander Marty picks their QB off and gain just enough ground to kick a 29-yarder towards a 16-14 half time lead.

Third quarter, we're forced to punt, but our OL stars somehow hunt down their punt returner and make him fumble and Howard Humphrey collects his league leading 3rd and 4th fumble recovery of the season. Yes, he had to save Moe Sheldon's ass after a strip sack as well. We came a yard short for a first down and settled for a 19-14 lead with a 40-yard field goal. They responded with a solid drive, but they too come a yard short and settled for a 36-yard kick (19-17). We reached midfield, sadly punted and failed to pin them deep. By the end of the third quarter, they reached midfield.

In the fourth, we had nothing against their running game and see them take a 24-19 lead. After a solid kickoff return, we got three-and-outed, but finally pinned them deep at their own 3-yard line. Our defense responded with a quick stop, but their punt pushed us back to our 37-yard line. Moe Sheldon then started to look like Brandon Bell (yes, I went there), running for 7 yards, converting 3rd down to Branden Sandlin, reaching Theodore Bondy for 34 yards and then Sandlin again for the 16-yard touchdown. After the two-point conversion (Sheldon to Reggie Thongchanh) we got back in the lead: 27-24. They responded with a third down 33-yard bomb, but we defended our red zone enough to force a 33-yard field goal for the 27-27 tie. We reached the tow-minute warning without enough progress to score, but our defense responded more impressively to give us the ball back with 44 seconds to go. Moe Sheldon got sacked and on the very next play gets picked off. 15 seconds to go, one play for them: Corwin Blanchett finds Casey Alexandre for a touchdown. 34-27, game over, basically. We went for the long bomb, obviously, but it got picked off.

A back and fort close game, that we had a chance to win, or at least get to overtime, but instead managed to lose. We knew Sheldon could be a bit of a problem against the pass rush, but didn't expect him to throw a game losing interception. A fumble maybe, but not a late game pick.

On the bright side, Paris also lost. The football gods are keeping the pressure on us to hold onto the division lead. With Gothenburg and Bordeaux both winning, it heats up.

Standings:
1. Maassluis 7-6
2. Paris 7-6
3. Gothenburg 7-6
4. Bordeaux 6-7

Next week: Gothenburg at Paris and we host Bordeaux. Yes, I kid you not, this division race is incredibly tight. Week 17 is still the most crucial game for us, hosting Paris, but week 15 is close behind. As close as it may look, Bordeaux still needs a miracle to win the division, as their hopes to get tie-breakers are up in smoke and the head-to-head clashes inside the division mean the division winner will be at minimum 8-8. Our tie-breaker situation is smooth, but the week 17 game against Paris is a can't afford to lose game in that regard.

And with this team this season, we thought we knew what we could expect: two close victories followed by a blowout loss. But after the choke jobs against Gothenburg, Harlem and Chesapeake, had we held on to winning two of them, we were one win away from the playoffs. Now, we'll have to keep on winning and winning and hope to see Bell back in action with the season on the line.

Do I think we got this? Yes, I do actually. Moe Sheldon should be doing better than last season. Theodore Bondy has finally returned to his normal level of play, while Ronnie Hammond and Branden Sandlin prove to be worthy WR2 and WR3. The running game is quite good, usually, the defense really isn't the bottom 6 that the yardage figures make you believe we are. No wait, we actually have been dreadful against the run, giving up 6.23 yards per carry. That's 0.76 yards worse than second worst. Good heavens.

Anyway. The defense might be mindboggling bad, we're a pretty good team, most of the time. I've regained faith in this team, we can beat anybody, we should be able to keep this going, or rather, get back to the 6-2 form we had. Let's do this, Merchantmen!