I also believe the field is wide open. This season we have had many matches where these top teams played against teams that are not yet on the same level. For me this was the first real tough match. And it looks so clear looking at the result but it was close enough fire the fourth quarter. Anything can happen which makes it fun !

RL Week 4 Headlines
Team of the Week: La Spezia Sprugoleans
So Alexmi "only" went 1-1 this week, but up against two playoff-caliber teams, this was a big step forward for La Spezia Sprugoleans. It is worth noting that this isn't the same Sprugoleans team that started the season as Alexmi has boosted his roster strength. In the first match of the week, Sprugoleans let a 21-6 lead against Växjö Gladiators AFC slip away. Ravencorp started the comeback with consecutive 3rd Qtr TD drives that were started with INTs. Then early in the 4th Qtr, with a chance to go up 28-20, Sprugoleans was stuffed on a 3rd and goal from the 3yd line and settled for the FG for a 24-20 lead instead. After the Gladiators' next drive ended inside the LSS's 10yd line with a missed FG, it looked like Alexmi was going to pull his first upset of the week. But a quick three-and-out gave the Gladiators a second shot, and Ravencorp capitalized with a game-winning TD drive, 27-24. The Philadelphia Phoenix were not so fortunate. It seems Worpex's boys have one clunker every season, and this time it was La Spezia Sprugoleans that caused it. This game was surprising not just because of the result, but the one-sided onslaught by Alexmi, winning 39-3.

Game of the Week: Schrodingers Cats 40, Devon Warriors 38
More like game of the year! Devon had Dolfin on the ropes, but the Schrodingers Cats found a way to land on its feet, as they usually do (doesn't feel like all of Dolfin's games are close?). The Warriors took the early lead, going up 21-7 before the Cats added a crucial FG just before the half. The Cats cut a little deeper into the Warriors' lead in the 3rd Qtr making it a 31-24 game entering the 4th Qtr. After failing to score on the first drive of the 4th, Cats P Drew Sapp came up huge with a 53 yd punt downed on the Warriors 5 yd line. The next play, DE Jett Jarvis came up with a safety on a sack to make it 31-26. Getting the ball back, the Cats threw an INT on the very next play, and Devon took the ball the distance on the next drive to extend the lead to 38-26. Once again, the Cats threw an INT on the first play of the next drive, and this one looked over. But the Warriors struggled to move the ball and then missed a 49yd FG attempt. The Cats wasted no time in moving the ball and found the endzone making it 38-33, Devon. The Warriors responded by driving the ball all the way to the Cats' 13 yd line when Warrior RB Takumi Kawaii fumbled the ball. But with only 3:43 remaining, Dolfin needed to go 86 yards to win. Apparently, that was just enough time. Cats QB Clifford Whiteside went 8/11 on the game-winning drive with the final play being a 13yd TD pass as time expired and the Cats won 40-38.

Other Week 4 Headlines
The Konjarnik HighTowers must feel fortunate to escape Chicago with a 27-24 win over the Cubbies. After shutting down JackBauer's offense for most of three quarters, holding the Cubs to just 10 points, two long pass plays in the 4th Qtr (TDs of 80 and 70yds) combined with a couple of missed short FG attempts put Ulero on upset alert. But with about 5 minutes remaining and down 24-20, the HighTowers engineered a 61yd TD drive, moving the ball with ease to take the lead 27-24 with 2:10 remaining. The Cubs ran out of deep pass plays a little too soon and Ulero survived the scare.

The Alpin Ducks managed their first win of the season, 27-23, over the Kaunas Hurricanes. The Ducks looked like they had this game wrapped up, leading 24-13 in the 4th Qtr and having possession. But a 63yd INT for a TD breathed new life into Valdes' team. But Kanard settled things down by taking control of the ball and winning the field position battle leading to a FG to go up 27-20. The Hurricanes had a chance, but with 2:19 remaining and facing a 4th and 3 on the Ducks' 28yd line, the Hurricanes kicked a FG instead of trying to keep the drive alive for a game-tying TD. The Hurricanes made the FG, but never got the ball back and Kanard got his win.

The Munich Runners delivered a statement win, knocking off previously undefeated Michigan State Spartans 48-10. This was actually a close game for three quarters with Buziano's team holding a 20-10 advantage. Proving that fortune favors the bold, the Runners had a chance to make it 23-10 but kept the offense on the field on a 4th and 1 on the Spartan 8yd line, and the result was a game-changing TD to go up 27-10. That play opened the floodgates as the Runners poured it on after that with three more 4th Qtr TDs to make this look more lopsided than it actually was. Fortune also favors the team that wins the turnover battle and the Spartans 5 turnovers (4 INTs and a fumble) were just too much to overcome.

Elite Update: All of the SD teams have played 8 games and all teams are above .500, the only division that can claim this distinction. The Elite SD's have feasted on the other divisions, going 20-6 when not playing each other. The Cutbacks are in the driver's seat to win the division, and it could be an interesting race between the rest of the division for second place and a likely WC spot. With a lot of divisional games still to be played (Cutbacks: 4, Celtics: 4, DCW: 5, Ravens: 5), the final pecking order will be determined by these head-to-head matches.

Another excellent write up ! Thank you Doc !

I fear we will have a new bot team in the league soon with Little Town Devils not connecting this month yet.

I did better without my new coaches

Marinarul, you are still the number one seed in our conference so you can rest easy. I am just saying that I am currently the number 2 seed and if I can hold it I just need to have some luck in two games. Over all these years of playing this game I have had some incredible teams that have taken more than one what I considered impossible loss. A few seasons ago my 5 experience 50 everything QB threw 7 interceptions in one game ( 5 to a CB that was 42 speed, 3.5 experience, basically 40 skills and oh yes under 40 intelligence).

ooh...i was thinking that you want a rematch with Buzi and that is not depending only on your own luck....

You are right, it will also depend on your luck or misluck ...

Just kidding - if somehow the `spartans don't make it to the finals I will see to challenge his team in a friendly match

I'm not quitting, but I need to take a little break. Too much going on in RL and this game is more of an annoyance right now than fun. Hoping just a few weeks and I'll be reinvigorated for next season.

THis is the Elite slump. All of a sudden successful 1.1 managers remember that there is a RL. Been there.

I was really looking forward to the weekly report.

If I may nominate a team as TOTW : Gdańsk Redskins ! Impressive win today over KHT.