[MIJB#19]

General Manager Notes: Man Down...

The extremely tight European Division came down to an exciting finish. Let's run down the last 5 weeks of the regular season. Did we make the playoffs?

Week 13 at Fort Wayne
The final stretch started with a cakewalk opponent. But only in our dreams did we roll them up with a 40-6 score. In reality, we played our turdiest game of the season. Curiously enough, we got the lead a couple of times and the only score that got us behind was a 63-yard pick six. Which turned out to be the only score of the entire second half. We didn't even got closer than midfield in the fourth quarter. QB Renaldo Wilson threw for 256 yards with 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. The sole touchdown pass went to TE Arnie Huffman.
Result: 13-20 loss

Week 14 vs Texas
In a game where we struggled to get into the end zone, we got into the red zone frequently enough to slowly, yet steadily, build on our biggest takeaway day of the season, forcing 5 turnovers, including a pick six from rookie CB Andre McAninch. QB Renaldo Wilson completed a touchdown pass to WR Roman Randle, amidst his 243 yards and 2 interceptions, as he shared in the struggles with the Texas quarterback's 5 giveaways. There were times we were proud of this kind of wins. Maybe we should be again given how much we invested in our defense in recent drafts.
Result: 26-10 win

Week 15 at Paris
With how the division was shaping up, this was looking like it could be the make or break game for both 8-5 teams in their pursuits for the division title. Gothenburg (7-6) was falling behind and Bordeaux (6-6) still playing catch up.
Paris was up 10-0 before we did anything well, as QB Renaldo Wilson got intercepted on our first play from scrimmage, right after Paris had taken a 3-0 lead on their first possession. The game quickly turned into a shootout and by half time we had taken a 17-13 lead.
The defenses took over control in the second half and despite that the game remained turnover free, the crucial element was shaping up to be our ability to keep the field position in our advantage. A late 47-yard field goal got us 20-16 up, which meant Paris had to play for a touchdown or nothing. A drive for the ages commenced from their 18-yard line. They got out of a 2nd and 25 situation, twice converted on 3rd and 4. With 46 seconds remaining, Paris arrived at our 4-yard line, surely to pound it in and leaves little time to even get into field goal range and try to reach overtime. The Musketeers chose to throw the ball and contrary to the earlier 3rd down situations, their backfield players and tight end failed to make the catches, on 4th and all or nothing, Paris decided to throw for it and as their star receiver Tevin Mayes made the catch, our LB Jorge Mayes kept him about a yard short from reaching the end zone But it didn't end there as with 21 seconds remaining, we chose to run from our own 1-yard line and RB Renaldo Billodeaux was tackled in the end zone for a safety. Still trailing by 2 points and after a holding penalty on the kickoff return, Paris had 1 more hail mary play from their own 12-yard line. CB Zachary Blair batted the ball down, game over, after a game finish for the ages.
Wilson threw for 182 yards and 1 touchdown versus 1 interception. TE Kyle Baker and RB Renaldo Billodeaux scored the touchdowns.
Result: 20-18 win

Week 16 at Moontown
After two prior piss poor games against cellar dwellers of the 2120 season (Rochester and Fort Wayne), visiting the worst team in the league was by no means going to be regarded as a walk in the park. TE Francisco Andersen walked off after just 1 play from scrimmage with a separated shoulder and out for the rest of the game. We carried on and smooth sailed to a 14-0 lead. Then on third down on our first possession in the second quarter, QB Renaldo Wilson took a late hit, no penalties given, and he had to be carted off with a concussion. Moontown responded with a long touchdown drive, whilst our rookie QB Al Schneider responded with a 55-yard pass to WR Roman Randle on Schneider's first play from scrimmage. A couple of plays later, RB Jackson Powell ran it on for the a 21-7 lead. Moontown responded with an impressive drive with long throws and just as we hoped to reach half time with the 21-14 lead, Schneider was strip sacked at our half and a field goal trimmed the lead. On our next drive, with under a minute to go, Schneider was strip sacked again on 3rd and long, but this time rookie DT Floyd Dillon made a key play, sacking their quarterback and as the clock ran out, they didn't get a field goal attempt to make 21-17 the half time score.
Despite our defense playing well, Schneider was picked off at midfield on the first play of our first possession in the second half. The defense bailed him out, forcing three and out. We drove downfield on our next possession, until Schendier was picked off again, this time seeing the ball get returned 76 yards for a touchdown and a 24-21 deficit. A couple of 15-yard penalties then helped us out and eventually Schneider connected with WR Roman Randle for the go-ahead touchdown. On the ensuing drive, the tides really turned as LB Sam Hastings picked their quarterback off deep inside their redzone and Hastings returned it the full 9 yards with the touchdown. The game then slowed down and as our defense took control, our offense did just enough to score a bunch of field goals to extend the lead. A couple of failed fourth down attempts later, the game was over.
QB Al Schneider threw for 211 yards, 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions after QB Renaldo Wilson had thrown for 107 yards and 2 touchdowns. WR Roman Randle caught 10 passes for 189 yards and 1 touchdown. TE Kyle Baker, TE Arnie Huffman and RB Jackson Powell scored the other offensive touchdowns. LB Sam Hastings accounted for the defensive touchdown.
Result: 41-24 win

Week 17 vs Gothenburg
With a 10-5 record we secured a trip to the playoffs with this final game to go. Behind us, both Bordeaux and Paris were sitting 9-6, but playing head-to-head, only one of them would be able to catch up if we'd lose to Gothenburg. Curiously, Gothenburg already 'çlinched' last place with their 7-8 record. A win or tie would make us division winners, but a loss would only cost us the division if Bordeaux would catch up. The latter would be a likely scenario as Bordeaux was playing at home and on a 6-game winning streak. Moreover, my confidence in QB Al Schneider wasn't very high after his 4 turnovers at Moontown...
We struggled early on as our first three drives ended with a pair of interceptions sandwiching yet another 40-something field goal getting missed by K Jeffery DeGroot. In return, our defense held ground well and by half time, Gothenburg had settled for field goals 4 times. We were trailing only 12-7 as we responded with a touchdown after a short field situation.
Despite remaining mistake free in the second half and seeing Schneider play well, his inferior scrambling skills to QB Renaldo Wilson's made clear that we were not as good, whilst in return, Gothenburg did find the end zone a couple of times to see the flipflopping lead go the Giants' way with under 4 minutes to go. We had our chances, but came short today. Schneider threw for 254 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. WR Rodolfo Lane and first game rookie TE Jackson Henselman made the receiving touchdowns, RB Jackson Powell had the rushing touchdown.
Result: 22-26 loss

Over in Bordeaux, the Paris Musketeers pulled the upset win and gifted us the division title, seeing Paris also go into the playoffs. Even luckier, the Atlanta Vipers choked as well, which kept them to a 9-7 record and into the 4th seed.

European Division:
1. Maassluis 10-6
2. Paris 10-6
3. Bordeaux 9-7
4. Gothenburg 8-8

Next up, Paris at Maassluis. My hopes to beat them for the third time this season are quite low as we'll still be without QB Renaldo Wilson and TE Francisco Andersen. Switching to a more run heavy game plan isn't in our best interest either, seeing how much RB Renaldo Billodeaux has been struggling with our current offensive coordinator, despite playing from behind a pretty good offensive line. The defense has made a difference in recent games, with some big plays from the first round pick investments and the hard to forget goal line stand in Paris. Which will be on the Musketeers' mind as well, them hoping to get their three times the charm...