WEEK FOURTEEN REPORT

(Playoffs Round One)

For the second year in a row we have the same two franchises winning opening round playoff games. Congratulations to both Bullseye and Eighty-Eight, Late! for winning their Round One games and advancing to the second round. And we can say goodbye to PTP: Peyton's Trailerpark Posse! and Corey Dillon The Ball Carrier as they are the next two teams to start their vacation early and have their rosters frozen until next year's draft.

Bullseye's 120-87 victory over PTP: Peyton's Trailerpark Posse! was in doubt for most of the day on Sunday. In the third quarter of their QB's game, Todd Bouman had amassed but a single fantasy point. Meanwhile, RB Anthony Thomas was struggling in Chicago. In what seemed like less than 10 minutes actual time, these two players singlehandedly mounted the fiercest of comebacks putting up a combined 47 points for the week. After WRs Derrick Mason and Plaxico Burress put up an additional 41 points -- this one was over. Next week, the defending champs take on Dippity Doo, a franchise who has yet to play their first playoff game.

In the other contest, Eighty-Eight, Late! coasted to an easy 97-70 victory over Corey Dillon The Ball Carrier. In the early going, RB Corey Dillon was indeed the ball carrier as he ran in two scores and finished up with 20 points Sunday morning. But he was alone this week when it came to putting up solid scores -- and this franchise put up the 4th worst playoff score all-time. Eighty-Eight, Late! got decent scoring from all of their positions this week and have now won a league high 6 playoff games. In Round Two they will face NGL^© in what should be an excellent showdown.

O.K., here is the updated playoff bracket:

Playoff Schedule

Here is a preview of the Second Round games:

Bullseye (#3 seed) vs. Dippity Doo (#2 seed)

Despite their many injuries (Culpepper, Edgerrin, etc.), Bullseye is still producing. One must wonder when the bottom is going to fall out from underneath them and their patchwork offense. No disrespect intended to our 2000 championship team, but Bullseye can't throw perfect darts every week with Todd Bouman, Michael Bennett, or Dominic Rhodes. If they're going to repeat they will need a little help. Welcome, Dippity Doo, if you will to the 2001 playoffs. This squad is participating in the postseason for the first time in their short three-year FFL career. And they might be just the inexperienced type of team that Bullseye needs to keep progressing through the playoff bracket. Final Score: Bullseye 85, Dippity Doo 80.

This is a very difficult matchup to forecast. Both teams have the potential to post over 120 points in any given week, but this week's matchups aren't incredibly great for either squad. NGL^© has the luxury of RB Shaun Alexander as an option this week and WR Randy Moss has been on a tear of late. Their other star receiver, Rod Smith, has a bye this week -- and NGL^© might have to go with Derrick Alexander. And don't forget about QB Jeff Garcia, who will be challenged by the best pass defense in the NFL -- the Philadelphia Eagles. On the other side of the ball, Eighty-Eight, Late! has their starting QB Aaron Brooks visiting Tampa Bay while RB Priest Holmes faces the always stingy San Diego defense. They might not even field a decent #2 running back this week, as their rookie rusher Travis Henry left the game Sunday before halftime and never returned. Early word is he has knee damage. Despite all of these difficult scenarios, I still believe both squads will score over 100. And without trying to sound like Lou Holtz, I'll give the nod in this one to NGL^©. Final Score: NGL^© 108, Eighty-Eight, Late! 104.

The Commish