We are at the halfway point of the season so lets take a look at the playoff picture. This is season 18 of the Quick and the Dead so we also look at each teams playoff history.

American Conference

1. Duluth Timbers 7-1
6/17 playoffs
2. Hamburg Blue Devils 6-2
7/17 playoffs/4 Conference/4 Championships
3. Utah Raptors 6-2
1/17 playoffs
4. Oak Island Treasure 5-3
6/17 playoffs/1 Conference
5. Mayfield Bakers 6-2
8/17 playoffs
6. San Antonio Rampage 5-3
3/17 playoffs
7. Letterkenny Shamrocks 4-4
11/17 playoffs/2 Conference/1 Championship
8. Blue Rock Heisenbergs 4-4
13/17 playoffs/4 Conference/1 Championship
9. Tokyo Far East 4-4
9/17 playoffs
10. Synn City Chupacabras 4-4
3/17 playoffs
11. Vancouver Bears 4-4
5/17 playoffs

5 teams are 2-6 or worse and with the exception of a 2nd half of the season explosion, they are most likely out of the playoff race. 11 teams are within 1 game of a playoff spot which is amazing. This conference should be fun to watch in the 2nd half of the season.

National Conference

1. Charleston Hammers 8-0
10/17 playoffs/1 Conference/1 Championship
2. Deadwood Dust Devils 8-0
9/17 playoffs
3. Carolina 7-1
1/17 playoffs
4. Omaha Storm 5-3
8/17 playoffs
5. Great Falls Quicksilver 6-2
17/17 playoffs/16 Conference/9 Championships
6. Hawaii Black Sharks 6-2
5/17 playoffs
7. Tampa Bay Corsairs 5-3
0/17 playoffs
8. Tucson Outlaws 4-4
5/17 playoffs
9. Philadelphia 3-4-1
7/17 playoffs
10. Green Bay 3-5
6/17 playoffs
11. Chicken Wing Foghorn Leghorns 3-5
7/17 playoffs

Again, 5 teams have records of 2-6 or worse and even more so than the American Conference are practically out of the playoff race. This division is very top heavy as only 7 teams are within 1 game of a playoff spot and there are 2 undefeated teams at the top. 11 teams are within 3 games of a Wildcard spot but in reality 10 wins probably won't be good enough to get in the playoffs. Teams win 3 or 4 wins are starting their playoffs now as they may need to win out to make it.

Didn't want to hijack the good game thread, but we will see how much of a juggernaut the Hammers are. We've ridden a fairly weak division and schedule but playing you this week will be a good test. Sucks to have Richard Adams, the league leading receiver while missing several games(#humblebrag), get hurt right before our game but I'm much more worried about my defense getting toasted by you.

And I'd rather my offense be better than in the GM League 2...

I'm not trying to make excuses or anything but this upcoming game means zilch to me. I will be resting anyone with a hangnail and starting mostly backups so this game is more of my bye week since you and the Dust Devils had both the #1 and #2 seeds locked up and I'm locked in at #3.

Now if you lose this game, then you should worry....lol

Final Playoff picture

American Conference

Byes
1. #3 Duluth Timbers 14-2
2. #7 Hamburg Blue Devils 12-

3. #6 Vancouver Bears 11-4-1
4. #12 San Antonio Rampage 11-5
5. #2 Mayfield Bakers 14-2
6. #8 Blue Rock Heisenbergs

National Conference

Byes
1. #1 Charleston Hammers 16-0
2. #4 Deadwood Dust Devils 15-1

3. #5 Great Falls Quicksilver 12-4
4. #11 Omaha Storm 10-6
5. #9 Carolina 12-4
6. #13 Hawaii Black Sharks 10-5-1

Wildcard Weekend

AMERICAN CONFERENCE

#2 Mayfield Bakers 27
@
#12 San Antonio Rampage 9

Despite losing the turnover battle 3-1, the Bakers took control of this game in the 2nd quarter and won going away. The Bakers outgained the Rampage 350-159 in total yards while winning the time of possession battle 39:30 to 20:30. Bakers QB Franklin Hughs threw for 279 yards and 3 TDs hitting WR Carl Roberts 9 times for 97 yards and 2 TD receptions.

#8 Blue Rock Heisenbergs 15
@
#6 Vancouver Bears 10

This was a strange game with the Bears scoring the only touchdown in the game and jumping out to a 10-0 lead with 13:02 remaining in the 2nd quarter before the Heisenbergs defense completely shut down the Bears offense allowing just 71 yards of offense the rest of the game. The Heisenbergs never hit paydirt but their K Gustavo Fring hit fieldgoals on 5 consecutive possessions starting at 6:00 remaining in the 2nd quarter to 4:26 remaining in the 3rd quarter to win the game. Fring went 5/6 on fieldgoal attempts including 52 and 54 yarders.

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

#9 Carolina 21
@
#11 Omaha Storm 26

The Storm jumped out to a 23-7 lead in the 1st half scoring on 5 of their 7 1st half possessions before Carolina made a late push scoring 2 4th quarter touchdowns to make the score 26-21. Carolina actual got the ball with 3:22 remaining in the game, down 5 and thier 26 yard line but the final drive stalled at their 45 allowing the Storm to hang on for the win. Carolina had chances but 2 missed fieldgoals really came back to bite them.

#13 Hawaii Black Sharks 7
@
#5 Great Falls Quicksilver 30

The Quicksilver aren't the dominate team they once were since despite making the playoffs 18 straight seasons, they are playing in the Wildcard round for just the 2nd time since 2028. While new powers have emerged in the Conference, the Quicksilver have been written off by most of the pundits but they showed signs in this game versus the Black Sharks that they aren't dead yet. The Quicksilver jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the 1st quarter before the Black Sharks answered with a touchdown. After that score, the Quicksilver scored 16 unanswered points and held the Black Sharks to 68 total yards in the last 3 quarters of football. Quicksilver QB Michael Currier threw for 350 yards and 3 TDs while RB Ivan Cuccia ran for 98 yards.

Divisional Round

AMERICAN CONFERENCE

#8 Blue Rock Heisenbergs
@
#3 Duluth Timbers

#2 Mayfield Bakers
@
#7 Hamburg Blue Devils

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

#11 Omaha Storm
@
#1 Charleston Hammers

#5 Great Falls Quicksilver
@
#4 Deadwood Dust Devils

Divisional Round

AMERICAN CONFERENCE

#8 Blue Rock Heisenbergs 17
@
#3 Duluth Timbers 23

The Timbers started the game quick with a 6 play 75 yard TD drive on their opening possession and after forcing a 3 and out by the Heisenbergs, they tacked on a 6 play 43 yard drive which led to a fieldgoal to give them a 10-0 lead.
The Heisenbergs answered in the 2nd half after several punts pinned the Timbers deep in their own end, they hit paydirt on a 6 play 50 yard drive that started at midfield. Near the end of the 2nd quarter, another Luis Roberts punt pinned the Timbers on their 10 before a costly fumble by FB Timothy Sommers gave the Heisenbergs another short field. QB Edward Cox threw an apparent interception on the 1st play of the drive but it was nullified by a pass interference penalty and 3 plays later, Cox would capitalize on his 2nd chance by hitting WR Danial Matthews on a 12 yard TD pass to take a 14-10 lead with 1:05 remaining in the 1st half.
The Timbers would get the ball back with 0:57 left in the 1st half and on a 3rd and 3 from their own 25, QB Donald Teal hit WR James Thompson on a 75 yard TD pass to take a 17-14 lead into halftime.
The Heisenbergs opened the 2nd half with a 10 play 63 yard drive that stalled on the 12 yard line before settling on a 29 yard fieldgoal to tie the game at 17.
The Timbers answered with a 10 play 71 yard drive that stalled at the 4 yard line before K William Smith missed an apparent chip shot field goal before the Heisenbergs were called for being offsides which gave Smith a 2nd chance which he nailed to take a 20-17 lead.
3 successive punts and the Timbers once again found themselves pinned deep in thier own territory at the 1 yard line but a 9 play 68 yard drive put them in fieldgoal position but Smith missed wide left with 9:56 remaining in the game.
The Heisenbergs again went 3 and out but their punter Roberts once again pinned the Timbers on thier own 5 yard line but a 12 play 66 yard drive gave Smith another fieldgoal attempt which he nailed extending the Timbers lead to 23-17.
The Heisenbergs got the ball back with 2:36 left in the game, down 6 and went on a 9 play 74 yard drive reaching the Timber 1 yard line on a 1st and goal pass from Cox to FB Bob Rooney setting up 2nd and goal from the 1 with 1:12 left in regulation.
This ended the game

https://fantasy-league.myfootballnow.com/watch/5412#938203

#2 Mayfield Bakers 41
@
#7 Hamburg Blue Devils 3

This was a lopsided affair as the Blue Devils threw an interception on their opening drive setting up the Bakers with a short field and they quickly capitalized 3 plays later when QB Franklin Hughs hit WR Edmond Kennedy on a 15 yard TD pass.
The Bakers forced a quick 3 and out and 2 plays later Hughs hit WR Michael Swartz for a 61 yard TD pass.
The Bakers dominated the 1st half taking a 31-0 lead into halftime after their 7 1st half possessions resulting in 4 touchdowns, a fieldgoal, a missed fieldgoal and a punt.
The Bakers took their foot off the gas in the 2nd half but still outscored the Blue Devils 10-3 to win the game 41-3.
QB Franklin Hughs threw for 358 yards and 5 TDs without a pick.

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

#11 Omaha Storm 20
@
#1 Charleston Hammers 17

This game had all the makings of a total mismatch as the undefeated Hammers hosted the 11th ranked Storm who came in 10-6 and heavy underdogs. While heavy money was dropped on the Hammers and excitement was growing for a Conference Championship matchup between the Hammer and the Dust Devils, the Storm didn't get the memo.
The Storm forced the Hammers into a 3 and out on thier 1st drive then quickly answered with a 5 play 72 yard drive that stalled on the 7 yard line and they settled for a fieldgoal.
The Storm forced another punt but RB Freddy Ashcraft fumbled giving the Hammers a short field at the 39 yard line. The Hammers managed just 15 yards but capitalized off the turnover with a fieldgoal of their own knotting the game 3-3.
The Hammers forced a punt and took over at their own 15 where they went on a 13 play 54 yard drive which resulted in a fieldgoal to give them the lead 6-3.
Into the 2nd quarter and the Storm quickly answered the Hammers fieldgoal with a 59 yard TD pass from QB Parker Everhart to WR Phillip Bess to give them a 10-6 lead with 12:27 left in the 1st half.
The rest of the 1st half featured 5 punts and the clock running out on the next 6 possessions which left the Storm up 10-6 at halftime.
The Storm opened the 2nd half with a 75 yard TD pass from Everhart to Sherman Hampton on the 1st play from scrimmage which gave them a 17-6 lead and suddenly the Hammer were in trouble.
The Hammers next possession found them barely moving the ball and ended on QB Daniel Wiles getting picked by WLB Barry Meyerson and giving the ball on the Hammers 47 yard line.
The Storm had great field position but quickly lost 11 yards on a sack by RDE Anthony Abdul which set up a 2-21 but the sack was nullified on the next play due to a defensive pass interference penalty. This gave the Storm 1st and 10 from midfield but another sack by DT Craig Michael lost them 12 yards setting up a 2nd and 22 but once again a costly facemask penalty wiped that out giving the Storm 1st and 10 from the Hammers 41 yard line. Another pass interference penalty helped the Storm get into fieldgoal range and gave them a commanding 20-6 lead with 8:35 left in the 3rd quarter.
Although the Hammers were forced to punt on their next drive, their defense forced another interception which gave them the ball at the Storm 46 yard line. The Hammers moved the ball down to the 7 yard line setting up a 1st and goal from the 7 but that's where the drive stalled and the Hammers had to settle for a chip shot fieldgoal closing the lead to 20-9 with 2:14 left in the 3rd quarter.
As the game moved into the 4th quarter, both defenses took over forcing 7 consecutive punts and the Hammers were forced to go for it on 4th and 10 from their own 48 with 2:56 left in the game down 2 scores. They turned it over on downs and all hope was lost but the Storm oddly threw the ball on 1st and 10 and were promptly picked off giving the Hammers some life.
The Hammers had the ball at the Storm 27 and 4 plays later RB Timothy Beal ran for a 11 yard TD and they added a 2 point conversion making the score 20-17 with 1:55 remaining in the game.
The Hammers failed on their onside kick but used all 3 timeouts forcing the Storm into a 3 and out which gave the Hammers the ball at their own 12 with 1:35 left in the game.
The Hammers had no timeouts and threw 4 straight completions which moved them to the Storm 47 yard line with 29 seconds left. Then the Hammers ran the ball for some insane reason which gained them 3 yards and ran the clock to 8 seconds. The Hammers hit an 11 yard pass down to the 33 yard line with 3 seconds remaining but the play was nullified by a holding call and any chance to tie the game with a long fieldgial disappeared.

#5 Great Falls Quicksilver
@
#4 Deadwood Dust Devils

16 out of the 17 seasons in the Quick and the Dead history, the Great Falls Quicksilver have won the National Conference and played in the title game. 2028 was the only season they missed out and it was a lose in the Conference Championship game which prevented them from doing it.
The Dust Devils entered the game favorite to make it 16 of 18 but this game quickly became a defensive slugfest. Neither team could get much offense going as the Dust Devils had just 3 drives of 40 or more yards while the Quicksilver had only one such drive.
The Dust Devils scored a TD at 9:18 remaining in the 3rd quarter after an interception gave them a short field and the rest of the game featured 10 punts, an interception and the clock running out. The Quicksilver had 82 total yards after that Dust Devils TD while the Dust Devils managed just 78 total yards.

Conference Championship

AXC

#2 Mayfield Bakers
@
#3 Duluth Timbers

NXC

#11 Omaha Storm
@
#4 Deadwood Dust Devils

We will crown a 1st time Champion...congratulations to the winners....a full write-up to follow but it looks like one he'll of a matchup between 2 veteran owners.

It may be the last title in this league unless we get some fresh blood...I hate to see an 18 year old league die but we are down to 17 owners...

I hope everyone stays while I recruit hard for some owners....if we don't get a fresh influx by the end of the offseason....it may be a wrap.

If you are here....give me a few weeks...don't quit please!!!

Conference Championship

AXC

#2 Mayfield Bakers 17
@
#3 Duluth Timbers 3

The Bakers and Timbers battled all season for division supremacy. They both ended up 14-2 while splitting the season series between them with each winning at the others home field. It all came down to a seemingly meaningless non-conference lose by the Bakers to the Omaha Storm which gave the Timbers the division and the tiebreaker among common opponents.

The Conference Championship started with the Bakers going on an 8 play/75 yard touchdown drive on the opening possession of the game capped by a 10 yard TD pass from QB Franklin Hughs to WR Laurence Olson to open the scoring at 7-0.

The Timbers 1st drive stalled at their own 40 and they were forced to punt. This was followed by 2 more drives ending in punts before the Bakers began a long drive which looked promising before Franklin Hughes threw an interception at the Timbers 35 yard line.

The Timbers got rolling but QB Donald Teal threw a costly interception from the Bakers 32 yard line leaving the score 7-0 with 10:29 remaining in the 1st half.

The defenses took over the game here as 7 straight possessions ended with punts taking into halftime with the Bakers up 7-0.

The Timbers got the ball to start the 2nd half but again we're forced to punt by the Bakers defense.

The Bakers 1st possession of the 2nd half went much like their 1st possession of the game as they went on a 6 play/75 drive capped by a Hughs TD pass to WR Michael Swartz for 26 yards making the score 14-0 with 11:00 minutes remaining in the 3rd quarter.

After trading punts, the Timbers finally seemed to break through and score a touchdown when QB Teal hit WR Thompson for a 70 yard TD pass but there was a flag on the play and it was called back for holding on LG Frank Nelson. After the penalty, all the life seemed to come out of the Timbers and the drive stalled at midfield where once again they were forced to punt.

The Bakers ran the clock on their next drive with a 8 play 51 yard drive that used 4:44 off the clock and resulted in a 46 yard fieldgoal with 12:55 left in the game.

The Timbers next drive was a must score drive and they were once again called for holding setting up 1st and 20. Despite converting a 1st down a few plays later, on 2nd and 4 at the Timbers 45, Teal was sacked leaving them in 3rd and 15 which finally forced them to punt once again with 9:10 left in the game.

The Bakers went to the ground game, running the clock down to 5:41 before punting it back to the Timbers.

The Timbers finally went on a drive while the Bakers played a bent but don't break defense. The drive went 13 plays for 87 yards where the Timbers settled for a fieldgoal from the 1 yard line with 2:28 remaining in the game.

It was too little too late for the Timbers as the Bakers advance to the Title game 17-3.



NXC

#11 Omaha Storm 3
@
#4 Deadwood Dust Devils 20

The Omaha Storm have been on a whirlwind trip through the playoffs, in the Divisional Round they matched up with the undefeated Hammers and came out victorius. Their reward, a trip to Deadwood to play the 15-1 Dust Devils whose only lose was a 3-0 defeat to Tampa in week 16 while resting starters.

The game started off with several short drives in a battle of field position. After exchanging punts, the Storm found themselves pinned on their own 4 yard line and they went 3 and out and had to punt from their own 8, giving the Dust Devils great field position at their own 47.

The Dust Devils went on a short 7 play, 40 yard drive getting as close as the 8 yard line before settling on a chip shot 31 yard field goal to give them the early lead 3-0 with 3:09 remaining in the 1st quarter.

On the Storms subsequent drive, the 1st play was a 49 yard pass from QB Everhart to WR Phillip Bess with a defensive penalty for facemasking tacked on to give the Storm 1st and 10 from the Dust Devils 11 yard line. A short pass followed by 2 runs left them with 4th and 3 from the 4 where the Storm elected to kick the short fieldgoal which tied the game 3-3 with 1:02 left in the 1st quarter.

The Dust Devils next drive was all about establishing the run where on a 12 play, 75 yard drive, they ran the ball 9 times for 58 yards including a 1 yard TD run by RB Oliver Hester. This made the score 10-3 with 9:01 remaining in the 1st half.

The Storms next drive, they tried to establish their running game, handing the ball off 4 straight plays but came up short on a 3rd and 5 and were forced to punt from their 42 down to the Dust Devils 15 yard line.

The Dust Devils had their running game going and they went on a 10 play, 58 yard drive that eventually stalled on the Storm's 27 yard line resulting in a 44 yard fieldgoal to extend their lead to 13-3 with 1:11 left in the 1st half. The drive ate 5:05 off the clock with a nice mix of 6 runs and 4 passes.

The Storm got the ball back on their 25 yard line and 1:08 left in the half. They started the drive off with a 9 and 7 yard run before calling a timeout with 0:18 left. On 1st and 10 from their 41, they hit consecutive pass plays of 11 and 35 yards which put them on the Dust Devil 14 with 0:06 left in the half before K Fernando Wong missed a 31 yard fieldgoal which sent the game into halftime with the Dust Devils up 13-3.

The Dust Devils got the ball first in the 2nd half and went on a 6 play, 75 yard touchdown drive highlighted by RB Patrick Gardner's 36 yard run followed by QB William Huey's 7 yard TD pass to WR Trevor Killian. Thus the lead was stretched to 20-3 with 11:59 left in the 3rd quarter.

The missed fieldgoal to end the half followed by the touchdown drive by the Dust Devils to start the 2nd half seemed to break the Storm. From the 11:55 point of the 3rd quarter to the 4:18 point of the 4th quarter, a span of 22:37 minutes in the 2nd half, the Storm managed just 29 yards of total offense.

The Dust Devils ran the ball a total of 51 times in the game for an amazing 310 yards. The Storm were deflated in the 2nd half after the touchdown but their defense did create 3 fumbles which stopped the Dust Devils from scoring anymore.

The Storm finally put together a drive on their last possession of the game going 8 plays for 83 yards but the drive stalled on a 4th and goal from the 5 where QB Parker Everhart pass was knocked down on the line of scrimmage. The Dust Devils took over on downs with 3:06 remaining in the game and they ran out the clock to win 20-3.

I've been inviting solid owners via PM and it is already paying off dividends. We are currently up to 22 owners but Rednu may be leaving at the end of season spin for personal reasons.

That still gives us 21 owners and I hope more join and more invitations will be sent.

Thanks everyone for hanging in there!!!

Good luck tonight to both

Wolveraider

&

Warthog

Both great veteran owners and both deserving of a Title.....here's hoping we get an epic quadruple overtime thriller that ends on a wild walk off touchdown!!!!