We are just past the midpoint of the season so lets take a look at the playoff picture in both conferences.

AMERICAN CONFERENCE

1. Blue Rock Heisenbergs (7-2)
2. Oklahoma City Cheetahs (7-2)

3. Tokyo Far East (7-2)
4. Indianapolis (6-3)
5. Oak Island Treasure (6-3)
6. Utah Raptors (5-4)

7. Portland Pioneers (5-4)
8. Mayfield Bakers (5-4)
9. Vancouver Bears (5-4)
10. Synn City Chupacabras (4-5)
11. Duluth Timbers (3-5-1)
12. Kansas Triple Threat (3-6)
13. San Antonio Rampage (2-7)
14. Buffalo (1-7-1)
15. Letterkenny Shamrocks (1-8)
16. Hamberg Blue Devils (1-8)

All 16 teams are within 4 games of a playoff spot with the top 6 seeds seperated by just 2 games. 11 teams are within 2 games of a playoff spot.

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

1. Great Falls Quicksilver (8-1)
2. Niagara Falls Rapid Fire (8-1)

3. Chicken Wing Foghorn Leghorns (7-2)
4. Hawaii Black Sharks (6-3)
5. Bermondsey Lions (8-1)
6. Omaha Storm (6-3)

7. Rock City Cyclones (5-4)
8. Detroit (5-4)
9. Tampa Bay Corsairs (5-4)
10. Carolina (4-5)
11. Philadelphia (4-5)
12. New Orleans Voodoo (3-6)
13. Seattle (3-6)
14. St. Lawrence Muskies (2-7)
15. Green Bay (1-8)
16. Columbus Cardinals (0-9)

This Conference has more separation as all 16 teams are within 6 games of a playoff spot. Similar to the American Conference 11 teams are with 2 games of a playoff spot. The top 6 seeds are seperated by 2 games.

The influx of new owners has upped the level of competition in this league to an alltime high. The final stretch run should be exciting with 22 teams within 2 games of the 12 playoff spots.

With just 3 games remaining, let's take a look at the current player picture.

AMERICAN CONFERENCE

1. Blue Rock Heisenbergs (11-2) 1st
2. Tokyo Far East (11-2) 3rd

3. Indianapolis (10-3) 4th
4. Oak Island Treasure (10-3) 5th
5. Oklahoma City Cheetahs (9-4) 2nd
6. Mayfield Bakers (6-7) 8th

7. Portland Pioneers (6-7) 7th
8. Vancouver Bears (6-7) 9th
9. Duluth Timbers (5-7-1) 11th
10. Synn City Chupacabras (5-8) 10th
11. Utah Raptors (5-8) 6th
12. San Antonio Rampage (5-8) 13th
13. Kansas Triple Threat (4-9) 12th

Buffalo, Letterkenny Shamrocks and the Hamberg Blue Devils have been eliminated. Tokyo, Blue Rock and Indianapolis have clinched their division. Oklahoma and Oak Island are battling for their division with the loser most likely the 5th seed. 8 teams are still alive for the 6th seed. 3 teams are tied, another is 1/2 game back with 3 more teams 1 game out and the 8th team is 2 games out.



NATIONAL CONFERENCE

1. Bermondsey Lions (12-1) 5th
2. Great Falls Quicksilver (12-1) 1st

3. Omaha Storm (10-3) 6th
4. Hawaii Black Sharks (9-4) 4th
5. Niagara Falls Rapid Fire (11-2) 2nd
6. Chicken Wing Foghorn Leghorns (9-4) 3rd

7. Rock City Cyclones (8-5) 7th
8. Philadelphia (8-5) 11th
9. Detroit (7-6) 8th

Tampa Bay Corsairs, Carolina, New Orleans Voodoo, Seattle, St. Lawrence Muskies, Green Bay and the Columbus Cardinals have been eliminated. Only Great Falls has clinched their division while Bermondsey and Niagara Falls have clinched a playoff spot. 4 teams are battling for the 6 seed while Omaha and Chicken Wing are fighting for the division title. Hawaii and Rock City are battling for the division title. Bermondsey and Niagara Falls are battling for the division title.

22 teams are alive for the 12 playoff spots.

Well another regular season is in the books so let's take a look at the playoff teams.

American Conference

1. Tokyo Far East (13-3) #5
2. Blue Rock Heisenbergs (13-3) #4

3. Oklahoma City Cheetahs (12-4) #8
Vs
6. Portland Pioneers (9-7) #12

4. Indianapolis (12-4) #7
Vs
5. Oak Island Treasure (12-4) #6

NationalConference

1. Bermondsey Lions (15-1) #2
2. Great Falls Quicksilver (15-1) #3

3. Omaha Storm (12-4) #9
Vs
6. Chicken Wing Foghorn Leghorns (10-6) #13

4. Hawaii Black Sharks (11-5) #10
Vs
5. Niagara Falls Rapid Fire (14-2) #1

The 12 playoff teams are ranked in the top 13 of the quick and the dead rankings with only #11 Detroit just missing the playoffs by 1 game. This positively reinforces that my power rankings are pretty accurate.

Good luck to all the owners in the playoffs and for those that missed the playoffs, I hope you all return for the 11th season of the Quick and the Dead!

Wildcard Recap

AMERICAN CONFERENCE

#12 Portland Pioneers 12
@
#8 Oklahoma City Cheetahs 6

A defensive battle where neither team reached the endzone. Despite causing 2 turnovers and having an edge in time of possession, the Cheetahs feel short in the battle of fieldgoals. Portland's kicker Joshua Berry was the star of the game hitting all 4 of his fieldgoal attempts including a 55 yarder.

#6 Oak Island Treasure 27
@
#7 Indianapolis 20

This game was 13-10 at halftime before the Treasure pulled out to a 27-10 lead in the 4th quarter. Indianapolis attempted a comeback but fell short 27-20 when they turned the ball over on downs at the Tresure 32 yard line with 1:35 remaining in the game. The star of the game was Treasure QB Noel Morgan who went 23/32 for 284 yards and 3 TDs.

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

#13 Chicken Wing Foghorn Leghorns 3
@
#9 Omaha Storm 40

The Storm jumped out to a 21-0 lead at 8:45 remaining in the 1st quarter and coasted to a 40-3 win. Storm QB Howard Kimball was the star of the game as he went 34/49 for 397 yards and 4 TDs.

#1 Niagara Falls Rapid Fire 33
@
#10 Hawaii Black Sharks 3

Niagara had over twice the offensive yardage as the Black Sharks, 475-220 on way to a convincing win. Niagara WR Lyndon Benbow was the star of the game catching 5 ***** for 100 yards and 2 TDs.

Divisional Round Preview

AMERICAN CONFERENCE

#12 Portland Pioneers
@
#5 Tokyo Far East (-3)

#6 Oak Island Treasure
@
#4 Blue Rock Heisenbergs (-12)

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

#1 Niagara Falls Rapid Fire
@
#2 Bermondsey Lions (-6)

#9 Omaha Storm
@
#3 Great Falls Quicksilver (-13)

Divisional Round Recap

AMERICAN CONFERENCE

#12 Portland Pioneers 24
@
#5 Tokyo Far East 6

The Pioneers defense held Tokyo's offensive to just 184 yards of total offense on way to a convincing win. Portland abandoned the run from the start throwing the ball 60 times led by QB Bobby Bush who went 37/54 for 312 yards and 3 TDs.

#6 Oak Island Treasure 33
@
#4 Blue Rock Heisenbergs 12

The Heisenbergs opened the game with a bang, a 104 yard kickoff return for a touchdown but then repeatedly shot themselves in the foot with 4 turnovers and allowing a safety. Oak Island's QB Noel Morgan went 19/27 passing for 234 yards, 4 TDs and 1 INT.

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

#1 Niagara Falls Rapid Fire 24
@
#2 Bermondsey Lions 13

Bermondsey may have won the division over Niagara but Niagara got the last laugh as they scored 4 touchdowns on way to a 24-13 win. Niagara failed on all four 2 point conversion attempts but the Lions couldnt capitalize as they managed just one touchdown. Niagara QB Martin Rodriguez was efficient going 22/31 for 214 yards and 3 TDs.

#12 Portland Storm 23
@
#3 Great Falls Quicksilver 44

The Quicksilver put up 501 yards of offense on way to a convincing win. Despite turning the ball over 4 times including a pick 6, Great Falls held Portland out of the endzone on offense until the 4th quarter. Great Falls QB Jim Zorn went 22/36 for 329 yards and 5 TDs.

Conference Championship Preview

AMERICAN CONFERENCE

#12 Portland Pioneers
@
#6 Oak Island Treasure (-1)

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

#1 Niagara Falls Rapid Fire
@
#3 Great Falls Quicksilver (-7)

Conference Championship Recap

AMERICAN CONFERENCE

#12 Portland Pioneers
@
#6 Oak Island Treasure (-1)

The Pioneers kept it close with their air raid offense pulling to within 21-17 early in the 3rd quarter before the Treasure scored the final 16 points.

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

#1 Niagara Falls Rapid Fire
@
#3 Great Falls Quicksilver (-7)

In a defensive struggle, neither offense had much success putting the ball in the endzone. Great Falls hit a couple more fieldgoals and held off Niagara Falls.

The Quick and the Dead Title game

Great Falls Quicksilver (-9)
Vs
Oak Island Treasure