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It's been an exciting season for the IFL and in spite of the fact that every team has played 13 games the most surprising fact must be that every single division is still up for grabs and that includes 13-0 Orlando in the NC East.
With Divisional games scheduled across the league in the final weeks here is a team by team run-down on the AC playoff race.
NOTE: This is my first attempt at one of these so there may be an error here or there, let me know if you spot one and I'll update the post.
AC NORTH
Cleveland (9-4)
Remaining games: at Iowa City, Vancouver, at London
Any two wins in the last three games will give Ira's Clawz the division title and a win over Iowa City or London will secure them a wild card berth at the very least. Three wins and a loss by both Anchorage and West Virginia will give them homefield advantage through the playoffs.
RB Mercury Sander is the league's leading rusher and journeyman QB Grant Bechtel is having a career year as the Clawz tighten their grip on a post-season berth.
Iowa City (9-4)
Remaining games: Cleveland, Calagary, at Montreal
Must win this week against Cleveland to have a chance at the division title. Must win at least two out of three to be guaranteed a playoff berth and can still qualify with one win and just one loss in the last three weeks by St Louis, Murfreesboro and Columbia or two losses by Los Angeles.
A killer defense and elite play by QB Samuel Hillery has been the key to Iowa City's season. In their last 29 regular season games WLB Erick LaBounty has 28.5 sacks and CB Nate Leisure has 15 INTs. Throwing the ball against these guys seems like a losing proposition.
London (5-8)
Remaining games: at Montreal, at Arizona, Cleveland
Technically still alive for the playoffs but their chances are just not good. They need to run the table in the final three weeks AND they need either St Louis or Murfreesboro to drop their last three games AND Columbia to drop their last three games.
ILB Tim Kunz has been the standout performer by the Monarchs and leads the team in tackles but he can't do it on his own.
Montreal (3-10)
Remaining games: London, at Salt Lake City, Iowa City
Out of the hunt but could be spoilers for both Vito's Stallions and Dawgfan's Arsenal.
AC SOUTH
St Louis (7-5-1)
Remaining games: at Murfreesboro, Georgia, Houston
A win over Murfreesboro and one more win in the last two weeks will give the Archers the division title capping off a pavement to penthouse turnaround after finishing 3-13 last year. Can also win the division with one win by them and two losses by Murfreesboro, Houston and New Orleans. Outside shot at a wild card berth and would need Los Angeles, Iowa City and even Columbia to implode for that to happen. For the Archer's it's a case of win the division or watch the playoffs from home.
Offensive woes and injuries haven't stopped Hooper from putting together a solid season and he controls his own destiny at the business end of the season.
Murfreesboro (7-6)
Remaining games: St Louis, Tulsa, New Orleans
The Mules finish out the season with three straight home games the first of which, against St Louis, is a must-win if they want to take the division crown. Can win the division if they win all three remaining games or with a win against St Louis next week and if St Louis loses their last two games. Like the Archers they are a long shot for a wild card berth.
Rookie WR Sean Sparrow has been a revelation for the Mules on offense and DE Edgar Lutzen, known primarly as a run stopper, has quietly accumulated 11.5 sacks on defense.
Houston (6-7)
Remaining games: at New Orleans, at Texas, at St Louis
The Renegades will need to become Road Warriors to have a chance at the division title. They must win all three remaining games and they need St Louis and Murfreesboro to win no more than one game. If they finish 9-7 they can qualify for a wild card berth if Cleveland or Iowa City AND Los Angeles go 0-3 in the last three games AND Columbia AND Murfreesboro wins no more than one game...I think! This is where it starts to get REALLY confusing but the upshot is their chances are not great at this point.
Houston's playoff dream took its biggest hit in Week 5 when, in spite of beating Anchorage 17-16, they lost starting QB Damon Harris for three weeks. Without Harris in the lineup the Renegades went 0-3 and at this point in the season Hoosier must be looking at that stretch and wondering "what if".
New Orleans (6-7)
Remaining games: Houston, at Little Rock, at Murfreesboro
Pretty much like Houston's situation above. The Demon Deacons need to win all three remaining games and need Cleveland or Iowa City, Murfreesboro, St Louis, Columbia and Los Angeles to all self-destruct. Mathematically Münchhausen's team is still alive but his prospects are decidedly grim.
A productive running game lead by Jimmy Reiter and Brantley Bryant hasn't been enough to offset an inefficient passing attack and an inability to convert on third down. DE Herb Vega is a mainstay on the defensive line and has been roughing up opposing QBs all season (11.5 sacks, 20 Hurries, 19 Knockdowns).
AC EAST
West Virginia (9-4)
Remaining games: Columbia, Vermont, at Norfolk
This one is easy: if West Virginia beats Columbia next week they win the division. If they lose next week the Beasts can still win the division with just one win as long as Columbia loses one game (and given the Fire has to play Orlando in Week 16 there's a pretty good chance that will happen). If Columbia wins it's remaining three games West Virginia will qualify for a wild card spot with two wins and even with one win (and even zero wins) as long a bunch of other teams (Cleveland, Iowa City, Los Angeles) implode. But with games against Vermont (2-11) and Norfolk (4-9) chances are WVA will take the title. Three straight wins and one loss by Anchorage, Cleveland and Iowa City will give the Beasts home field advantage through the playoffs.
Up until three weeks ago the Beasts were looking unstoppable with a 9-1 record but their bubble was burst in Week 12 with a 37-25 loss to Orlando and they haven't won since, dropping successive games to Anchorage and Newark. Admittedly that three game losing streak is against a trio of teams with a combined record of 32-7 but it puts a lot more pressure on West Virginia this week when they host Columbia for a shot at clinching their division.
Columbia (7-6)
Remaining games: at West Virginia, Orlando, at Hartford
It doesn't look great for the Fire at this point in the season and they will need a lot of help to qualify for the post season. As above, Columbia needs to win all three remaining games and needs West Virginia to lose all three to take the division. If Columbia wins all three and West Virgina loses two it will come down to tie-breakers, the priority of which I'm not sure. Wins by Columbia over West Virginia and Hartford will give them a shot at a wild card spot as long as Los Angeles loses to Fresno and Anchorage and St Louis and Murfreesboro lose at least one game each.
Solid defense and running game have not been enough for Columbia to overcome QB K.C. Grant's ongoing ball-security issues (11 Int and 7 Fumbles this year, 112 career INT and 27 career Fumbles)
Norfolk (4-9)
Remaining games: Hartford, at Newark, at West Virginia
Out of the playoff race and unlikely to upset anyone's post season chances.
Hartford (2-11)
Remaining games: at Norfolk, at Massachussets, Columbia
No post season prospects and in a race for the first overall pick of the 2032 draft with Lansing, Vermont, Montreal and Portland.
AC WEST
Anchorage (9-4)
Remaining games: Portland, at Dakota, Los Angeles
Portland holds a one game lead over division rival Los Angeles and needs to pace the Matadors over the next two weeks to have a chance to clinch the division. If both the Lynx and the Matadors win their next two games it all comes down to their game in Week 17 with the winner of that game taking the AC West. Anchorage will qualify for a wild card berth with one more win. Three wins by the Lynx will give them home field advantage on tie-breakers.
QB Walter "Mako" Mahovlich is having the best year of his career with a QBR of 100.4 and helping his team to the sencond best 3rd Down conversion rate in the league.
Los Angeles (8-5)
Remaining games: at Fresno, Madison, at Anchorage
Two victories will see Los Angeles qualify for the post season with, at worst, a wild card berth as long as Columbia loses one of their last three games. Can take the division with three wins but can also take the division with two wins as long as one of them is over Anchorage in Week 17 and as long as Anchorage loses to either Portland or Dakota.
RB Cory Hanks, acquired in a trade from Columbia during the off-season, is one the league's best all-purpose backs and has helped propel QB Don Barrett and WR Kevin Petrolis to career-best performances.
Fresno (5-8)
Remaining games: Los Angeles, at Lansing, at Portland
Out of the race, could dent LA's hopes for the division crown if they pull off the upset next week.
Portland (3-10)
Remaining games: at Anchorage, Pennsylvania, Fresno
The Seals have been out of contention for some time and Armic is plotting his moves for the 2032 draft.
If the playoffs started today:
AC North: Cleveland (3)
AC South: St Louis (4)
AC East: West Virginia (2)
AC West: Anchorage (1)
Wild Cards; Iowa City (5), Los Angeles (6)
Wildcard Round: Cleveland vs Los Angeles, St Louis vs Iowa City
With Divisional games scheduled across the league in the final weeks here is a team by team run-down on the AC playoff race.
NOTE: This is my first attempt at one of these so there may be an error here or there, let me know if you spot one and I'll update the post.
AC NORTH
Cleveland (9-4)
Remaining games: at Iowa City, Vancouver, at London
Any two wins in the last three games will give Ira's Clawz the division title and a win over Iowa City or London will secure them a wild card berth at the very least. Three wins and a loss by both Anchorage and West Virginia will give them homefield advantage through the playoffs.
RB Mercury Sander is the league's leading rusher and journeyman QB Grant Bechtel is having a career year as the Clawz tighten their grip on a post-season berth.
Iowa City (9-4)
Remaining games: Cleveland, Calagary, at Montreal
Must win this week against Cleveland to have a chance at the division title. Must win at least two out of three to be guaranteed a playoff berth and can still qualify with one win and just one loss in the last three weeks by St Louis, Murfreesboro and Columbia or two losses by Los Angeles.
A killer defense and elite play by QB Samuel Hillery has been the key to Iowa City's season. In their last 29 regular season games WLB Erick LaBounty has 28.5 sacks and CB Nate Leisure has 15 INTs. Throwing the ball against these guys seems like a losing proposition.
London (5-8)
Remaining games: at Montreal, at Arizona, Cleveland
Technically still alive for the playoffs but their chances are just not good. They need to run the table in the final three weeks AND they need either St Louis or Murfreesboro to drop their last three games AND Columbia to drop their last three games.
ILB Tim Kunz has been the standout performer by the Monarchs and leads the team in tackles but he can't do it on his own.
Montreal (3-10)
Remaining games: London, at Salt Lake City, Iowa City
Out of the hunt but could be spoilers for both Vito's Stallions and Dawgfan's Arsenal.
AC SOUTH
St Louis (7-5-1)
Remaining games: at Murfreesboro, Georgia, Houston
A win over Murfreesboro and one more win in the last two weeks will give the Archers the division title capping off a pavement to penthouse turnaround after finishing 3-13 last year. Can also win the division with one win by them and two losses by Murfreesboro, Houston and New Orleans. Outside shot at a wild card berth and would need Los Angeles, Iowa City and even Columbia to implode for that to happen. For the Archer's it's a case of win the division or watch the playoffs from home.
Offensive woes and injuries haven't stopped Hooper from putting together a solid season and he controls his own destiny at the business end of the season.
Murfreesboro (7-6)
Remaining games: St Louis, Tulsa, New Orleans
The Mules finish out the season with three straight home games the first of which, against St Louis, is a must-win if they want to take the division crown. Can win the division if they win all three remaining games or with a win against St Louis next week and if St Louis loses their last two games. Like the Archers they are a long shot for a wild card berth.
Rookie WR Sean Sparrow has been a revelation for the Mules on offense and DE Edgar Lutzen, known primarly as a run stopper, has quietly accumulated 11.5 sacks on defense.
Houston (6-7)
Remaining games: at New Orleans, at Texas, at St Louis
The Renegades will need to become Road Warriors to have a chance at the division title. They must win all three remaining games and they need St Louis and Murfreesboro to win no more than one game. If they finish 9-7 they can qualify for a wild card berth if Cleveland or Iowa City AND Los Angeles go 0-3 in the last three games AND Columbia AND Murfreesboro wins no more than one game...I think! This is where it starts to get REALLY confusing but the upshot is their chances are not great at this point.
Houston's playoff dream took its biggest hit in Week 5 when, in spite of beating Anchorage 17-16, they lost starting QB Damon Harris for three weeks. Without Harris in the lineup the Renegades went 0-3 and at this point in the season Hoosier must be looking at that stretch and wondering "what if".
New Orleans (6-7)
Remaining games: Houston, at Little Rock, at Murfreesboro
Pretty much like Houston's situation above. The Demon Deacons need to win all three remaining games and need Cleveland or Iowa City, Murfreesboro, St Louis, Columbia and Los Angeles to all self-destruct. Mathematically Münchhausen's team is still alive but his prospects are decidedly grim.
A productive running game lead by Jimmy Reiter and Brantley Bryant hasn't been enough to offset an inefficient passing attack and an inability to convert on third down. DE Herb Vega is a mainstay on the defensive line and has been roughing up opposing QBs all season (11.5 sacks, 20 Hurries, 19 Knockdowns).
AC EAST
West Virginia (9-4)
Remaining games: Columbia, Vermont, at Norfolk
This one is easy: if West Virginia beats Columbia next week they win the division. If they lose next week the Beasts can still win the division with just one win as long as Columbia loses one game (and given the Fire has to play Orlando in Week 16 there's a pretty good chance that will happen). If Columbia wins it's remaining three games West Virginia will qualify for a wild card spot with two wins and even with one win (and even zero wins) as long a bunch of other teams (Cleveland, Iowa City, Los Angeles) implode. But with games against Vermont (2-11) and Norfolk (4-9) chances are WVA will take the title. Three straight wins and one loss by Anchorage, Cleveland and Iowa City will give the Beasts home field advantage through the playoffs.
Up until three weeks ago the Beasts were looking unstoppable with a 9-1 record but their bubble was burst in Week 12 with a 37-25 loss to Orlando and they haven't won since, dropping successive games to Anchorage and Newark. Admittedly that three game losing streak is against a trio of teams with a combined record of 32-7 but it puts a lot more pressure on West Virginia this week when they host Columbia for a shot at clinching their division.
Columbia (7-6)
Remaining games: at West Virginia, Orlando, at Hartford
It doesn't look great for the Fire at this point in the season and they will need a lot of help to qualify for the post season. As above, Columbia needs to win all three remaining games and needs West Virginia to lose all three to take the division. If Columbia wins all three and West Virgina loses two it will come down to tie-breakers, the priority of which I'm not sure. Wins by Columbia over West Virginia and Hartford will give them a shot at a wild card spot as long as Los Angeles loses to Fresno and Anchorage and St Louis and Murfreesboro lose at least one game each.
Solid defense and running game have not been enough for Columbia to overcome QB K.C. Grant's ongoing ball-security issues (11 Int and 7 Fumbles this year, 112 career INT and 27 career Fumbles)
Norfolk (4-9)
Remaining games: Hartford, at Newark, at West Virginia
Out of the playoff race and unlikely to upset anyone's post season chances.
Hartford (2-11)
Remaining games: at Norfolk, at Massachussets, Columbia
No post season prospects and in a race for the first overall pick of the 2032 draft with Lansing, Vermont, Montreal and Portland.
AC WEST
Anchorage (9-4)
Remaining games: Portland, at Dakota, Los Angeles
Portland holds a one game lead over division rival Los Angeles and needs to pace the Matadors over the next two weeks to have a chance to clinch the division. If both the Lynx and the Matadors win their next two games it all comes down to their game in Week 17 with the winner of that game taking the AC West. Anchorage will qualify for a wild card berth with one more win. Three wins by the Lynx will give them home field advantage on tie-breakers.
QB Walter "Mako" Mahovlich is having the best year of his career with a QBR of 100.4 and helping his team to the sencond best 3rd Down conversion rate in the league.
Los Angeles (8-5)
Remaining games: at Fresno, Madison, at Anchorage
Two victories will see Los Angeles qualify for the post season with, at worst, a wild card berth as long as Columbia loses one of their last three games. Can take the division with three wins but can also take the division with two wins as long as one of them is over Anchorage in Week 17 and as long as Anchorage loses to either Portland or Dakota.
RB Cory Hanks, acquired in a trade from Columbia during the off-season, is one the league's best all-purpose backs and has helped propel QB Don Barrett and WR Kevin Petrolis to career-best performances.
Fresno (5-8)
Remaining games: Los Angeles, at Lansing, at Portland
Out of the race, could dent LA's hopes for the division crown if they pull off the upset next week.
Portland (3-10)
Remaining games: at Anchorage, Pennsylvania, Fresno
The Seals have been out of contention for some time and Armic is plotting his moves for the 2032 draft.
If the playoffs started today:
AC North: Cleveland (3)
AC South: St Louis (4)
AC East: West Virginia (2)
AC West: Anchorage (1)
Wild Cards; Iowa City (5), Los Angeles (6)
Wildcard Round: Cleveland vs Los Angeles, St Louis vs Iowa City
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