Round 3 of the Playoffs

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Adobery made the title game in his 2nd full season in CTL. Opus is no stranger to this event, having won the title 2 seasons ago, 24-21 over TSBGOD's Patriots. On paper, the nod should go to the home team Vikings. On the controller, hands down the nod goes to Opus. Opus has had a string of titles, probably having rings for each one of his fingers I'm sure. Adobery himself has a few titles, but that was before his brief retirement. Both teams won 10 games on the regular season. Minnesota has a bright future, as the savvy GM abilities of Ryan paid off for his future seasons as well. This is it for Opus. His last game in the CTL. We all know the storyline, we all want to fade off into the sunset. Onto the game breakdown. Minnesota has Testaverde, Miami has Stewart. Rating wise, advantage Vikings, play skill wise, advantage Fish. Minnesota has the better running back, but Miami had Karim-Abdul Jabbar and his 44 ms finish 3rd in rushing on the season. Again advantage Miami. I will give the nod at WR/TE to Minnesota as Ryan is more pass happy, then Opus' scramble/ground control game. Defensively as a unit, the Vikings are probably better, but again Opus is probably a top 5 defender playing in online tecmo. Special teams is a wash, doubt either get used. This will be a war. Opus is the early betting favorite in Vegas. Oddsmakers have him as a 10 point favorite. If I was playing pick'em with the spread, I would take Minnesota. But this is tecmo, and the score starts at 0-0. Stewart kills Minnesota on the ground, and just doesn't force a mistake, while Vinny gets picked off twice. I'll take Opus to win his 2nd ring and retire....for now I hope.
Miami 24 - 14.

Round 2 of the Playoffs

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Minnesota plays host to the Pittsburgh Steelers for their 3rd matchup of the season. Both teams won 1 game in the regular season. Minnesota only tallied 318 total
yards in both games combined. Pittsburgh on the other hand was able to move the ball well. Pittsburgh racked up 640 yards FROM scrimmage, more than doubling that of
their opponent. The week 11 game was played in the Metrodome, just like this one will. A deafining home crowd, and a solid game by Corey Dillon is just what the doctor
ORDERed for a home win. However, I do see Doug Flutie playing a career type game to keep his team in this one. Expect a lot of passes to his go to man, WR Antonio
Freeman. Freeman will go over the century mark and haul one pass in for a score. This game is so close, I believe it goes into Overtime. Minnesota wins the toss, and
Pittsburgh never sees their offense take the field again. RB Corey Dillon gains 122 yards, 56 of them coming on his playoff, game clinching drive in overtime to advance to
the big dance.
Minnesota 27-21.

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Chicago welcomes the Miami dolphins for the Conference championship. Chicago fought an intense battle in the opening round of the playoffs to squeek by the Dallas
Cowboys. Miami on the other hand, put the division champion Oilers away easily. Everyone knows that Coach Opus is trying to go out on a good note. Opus is on fire
recently, and is looking primed for another WTF title. He probably is the favorite here as well with the remaining teams. Chicago will have something to say about that.
One thing is for sure, the Bears will have to score more than 7 points like they did against Dallas to win this game. What I see playing out, is Sowa getting frustrated while
Miami QB Kordell Stewart picks up 6, 9, 4, 2, 5, 9 and moves the chains, not wanting to test the sure handed safety Kwamie Lassiter. Stewart and Abdul-Jabbar will be
able to grind some very efficient clock eating drives and put this one away in the 3rd quarter. Chicago QB John Elway will be picked off twice in the game trying to mount a
comeback. Losing the turnover battle against Opus, is almost for sure the factors in the equation to a playoff loss. Miami advances again to another title game.
Miami wins 28 - 7.

Round 1 of the Playoffs

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Arizona plays host to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the playoffs. Arizona comes in with a 12-1 record, the only blemish coming to #3 seeded Baltimore. Zona which has some big ballers on the Defense,
Chad Brown, John Lynch, Brian Dawkins, and Aaron Glenn dominated the league. The Cardinals only allowed 137 pts this season. That was 3rd best in the league. A 14-10 week 6 victory serves as some optimism
among the Cardinal fans. At the same time however, it serves the same purpose for the terrible towel. In the loss, Pittsburgh held QB Eagles and company to NEGATIVE 2 yards rushing. Also holding the QB to 4 of
20 passing. They did give up 235 yards on 4 completions. To me looking at those numbers, it was JJ city that game. That's almost 60 yards a clip. Not having watched the game, I'd say Pittsburgh controlled the
game, just couldn't get it done when it mattered. Pittsburgh was leading 10-0 at the half, and in the 4th quarter they were blitzed for 2 touchdown passes to Rod Smith. Arizona does boast the leagues best record,
however this is the playoffs. Everyone's record now is 0-0. And for the 2nd straight 1-4 matchup, I will take the underdog in terms of seed and roll with the Steelers to advance.
Pittsburgh 24-17.

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Baltimore travels to Minnesota in what is probably the most anticipated matchup off the weekend. This should be a real slobber knocker to quote good ole' JR FROM WWE. The Minnesota Vikings owner has requested
I do not put him to win the game. This would establish a major jinx on him. So in fulfilling his request I will put him to be bouncing out and starting vacation soon. Onto the facts and logic behind moving Baltimore on. These 2 teams also saw each other one time this season. Way back in week 1, Baltimore escaped with a home victory, 24-14. Baltimore RB Ricky Watters amassed 100 yards on only 4 carries. I'm not a mathematician, but at 25 yards a carry, I believe that is very efficient. Minnesota QB Vinny Testaverde completed 3 passes to the wrong purple uniform. Being picked off 3 times against a very good coach usually isn't good for the equation of a victory. Both teams come in at 10-3 on the season, but looking at the overall numbers they both got their in 2 totally different ways. The Vikings tallied 318 total points this season, 2nd best in the league. Baltimore however only scored 258. That's 60 points more, than Baltimore.  Still they were able to win 10 games just like the Vikings. Simple stuff, if it's a shootout, Minnesota takes it. Nail biter, defensive matchup...the Ravens win. I again see a tight game as you would expect FROM two teams with identical records. Going back to what I told Ryan, Quote the Raven Nevermore.
Ravens 20-17.

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Chicago surprisingly to some won home field advantage with their #1 seed in the playoffs. Opening up on their playoff schedule, is the visiting and even more surprising Dallas Cowboys. Chicago has the swagger of a
12-1 record, while Dallas comes in at 8-5. Dallas was able to knock off some top competition so this will not be Bears blowout. These two teams hooked up in the regular season. A 17-7, week 8 victory over Dallas.
As the Dallas coach puts it, he was 2 yards away FROM pulling the upset off. 2 times Neil O'Donnell was stuff on scrambles that left him 1 yard short of moving the chains, and turning the ball over to the opposition.
Dallas definitely held the upper hand in the passing game in their first meeting. O'Donnell threw for 180 yards, while the Bears combo of QBs only went for 58. Running the football went Chicago's way, holding the
edge at 121 to 20. When it's all said and done, this should come down to a crucial 4th down conversion in the 4th quarter. Who will need it, its a coin flip. Even though Chicago has the league's best record and the
Cowboys coach is getting his first taste of any type of playoffs in online tecmo, I will go with my boy Peterson with the upset. Peterson do not let me down.....If you do, I'm stripping you of your first first round pick in
1999, and rewarding the expansion, Tennessee Titans the pick.
Dallas 24 - 21.

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Tennessee beat Miami twice in the regular season. Will it be a 3rd times a charm for the fighting fish? The two powerhouses led the league in team defense for points allowed. Miami cracking the triple digits right at
the end of the season. This game should show great defense and like most epic battles, whoever wins the turnover battle has the obvious advantage. Opus has already submitted his resignation papers to the
commissioners office. While it stinks to lose our best player after the season for the 2nd straight year, CTL must move on. Surely Opus wants to go out on top ala John Elway and win his last ever game as a member
of the league. Canes hasn't won a championship since 1991. That was a long time ago. Sure he gets a pretty good team to the playoffs year after year, but his title drought has brought up discussion of replacing the
head football coach. Last season these two clubs faced off in the first round of the playoffs as well. It started off horrendously for Miami, being down in a 14 point hole, after 1 or 2 fumbles. Miami kept their
composure, something that the Oilers were not able to do, especially when All League RB Terrell Davis went down to injury. Davis wasn't hurt all year, then his hamstring pulls up tight in the biggest game of the
season. Miami went on to win 28-21 and hold the Oilers out of the end zone almost 3 full quarters. It is tough to beat anyone 3 times in one season. Let alone the best player in the league. For prediction purposes, I
can't put me losing.
Oilers 28-14.

Week 13 Game of the Week

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Minnesota has sealed the division. Well not really. The only team than can catch them and pass them are the New York Jets. New York has only played 7 games this season so they are a few games back. However, they still are tied in the L column with the Vikings, each having 2. Minnesota sitting at 9-2 has clinched a playoff birth, but is wanting more. If their cards play right, they could possibly end up with home field advantage throughout their conference playoff. The Vikings were able to squeeze out a victory in their previous matchup. 21-17 was the final in their week 5 tilt. The stats might be misleading. New York killed Minnesota in first downs. 14-4 was the difference there. The only stat that matters though is what the scoreboard as the clock hits triple 0 on the tecmo clock. Due or die game for the Jets, not so much for the Vikings. With their playoff birth at stake, RB Curtis Martin comes to ball and goes for over 100 yards on the ground and 2 scores. Leaving the top seeded Vikings to watch the rest of the games in hopes of a few losses to preserve their top spot in their division.
Jets win at home, 24-14.

Week 12 Game of the Week

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Arizona and Baltimore are tied as of now. Both sit 9-1 in their division. Both are tied for the #1 spot in their conference and their division. The loser will drop FROM 1 to 3 very fast however. Baltimore technically is a game up on the Cardinals as they hold the tie-breaker, having won the previous week 4 matchup, 21-17. The lone blemish on the Cardinals season so far, could come back to haunt them. A win this week will put them back in the driver's seat with one week left to go. Looking at the tale of the tape, both teams are about as evenly matched as you could possibly get. Both have solid QBs, RBs, WRs, and Defensive units. I do have to predict a winner. Raven CB Terrell Buckley will light up the scoreboard, netting not 1 but 2 picks in this game. QB Eagles will not have a stellar game and give the game away for his team. Baltimore will then grind the clock out and win a slugfest on the back and really the legs of RB Ricky Watters. Watters will find pay dirt 3 times and sealed a much needed leap frog win for the Ravens.
Baltimore 28 - 14.

Week 11 Game of the Week

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The battle for the division takes place in this epic tilt. Minnesota hosts the visiting Steelers. At the time of press release, the Vikings were a half a game up on the Steelers. Minnesota having a 6-2 record, while Pittsburgh boasts a 5-2 record. Earlier this season in week 3, the Steelers defended their home turf with a 24-14 victory. Steeler RB Jamaal Anderson was able to control the clock with a good rushing day. Anderson tallied 114 yards on 11 carries for 2 TDs, while his opposite counterpart Corey Dillon only amassed 56 yards. Since this game, Minnesota has caught fire. Winning 4 straight and flying high in hopes of snagging the division title. A win here, almost assures them of at least a playoff birth. This should be one wild finish in the Vintage Division. This time around I believe Vinny Testaverde does in his old team and propels his Vikings to the much needed win with a 2 TD performance and 178 yards through the air.
Vikings win 24 - 17.

Week 10 Game of the Week

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Chicago plays host to another New York team, this time the Jets. The bears are one of 2 undefeated teams left, the other being the fighting fish FROM Miami. Chicago has relied heavily on their defense to obtain this perfect 7-0 record so far. Leading these monsters of the midway, is sack attack artist, Kevin Greene. Greene who has 10 sacks already on the season, only half way through the year, will no doubt obtain all league honors this year. Greene however wants more than that. "Yeah, I've had a pretty good season so far, but I've played a long career and I've got sacks, but I want what we all play for. I want that championship ring. This GROUP is playing hard and is the best I've ever played on. If we just play for the teammate right next to us, I don't see why we fall short in our title run." For Greene and company to continue their streak, they must defeat discdolo. Discdolo is a veteran of the game and will bring his "A" game for sure. I expect to see a huge dose of RB Curtis Martin in this matchup. Martin will run right at Greene and neutralize the great off the snap speed of Greene. Martin goes for 2 touches and 88 on the ground. A costly turnover in the 3rd quarter will be the undoing of the Bears however, and allow the Jets to squeak out a victory. New York pulls the upset and snaps the streak.
Jets win 28-17.

Week 9 Game of the Week

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New York faces off against the visiting Vikings this week in our featured game of the week.  Adobery has never played Eifersucht80 in his ctl career, so it definitely will be a chess match. The G-Men are reeling, losing 2 straight, both to conference rivals. Vikings have won 2 straight and find themselves in the thick of the playoff hunt in the King Kong Conference. Will one streak get snapped and start a new one for the other club? Or will both continue? I think both streaks continue and Vikings QB Vinny Testaverde(FROM the U) plays a very solid game and throws for 2 scores and runs for another. His counterpart on the Giants offense, Brad Johnson will not be so pleasant as he will be forced into throwing 2 balls into the purple people eaters. Giants RB Garrison Hearst after the game, "Johnson better get things fixed. We have lost 3 games in a row. This isn't Giants football. We are expected to win every game, compete every game, win championships. Something has to be different for us to get back on the right track."

Minnesota steals one 21-10.

Week 8 Game of the Week

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These 2 teams do not like each other.  Or should I say the 2 coaches do not like each other.  This sometimes happen when your alter egos get in the way of each other.  Both have been claimed to be the same person.  The Patriots who have been the powerhouse in this conference FROM the beginning taking on a new breed and up and comer the Cardinals. Last season, the Cardinals announced they were taking the championship. They were promptly thumped out of the playoffs, but we all could have wondered what would have happened if these two bitter rivals actually faced off in round 2. This isn't the playoffs, but a lot is on the line. New England already tallying 3 losses on the season, been a long time since that happen, could be in great danger if they drop another one. New England is in a scrap with the Vikings/Jets/Steelers for divisional supremacy, that currently has them 3rd in the race. Arizona is sitting pretty at 6-1 so far a top of their division. Arizona might be hosting the playoffs this season instead of the norm, cold Foxboro. Onto the game....Arizona RB Robert Smith MUST have a big game to beat the Patriots. This might be a stiffer feat than normal, as many are aware of the defensive play calling FROM one TSBGOD. I do not feel confident in QB Eagles throwing ability with CB Jimmy Hitchcock in the opposing secondary. I feel Hitchcock wins that battle. New England also must be weary of a superstar CB, Aaron Glenn. Glenn most willingly will welcome the rookie QB Peyton Manning to the pros with a couple thefts if able. RB Priest Holmes will score 2 TDs and Arizona will go for it deep in their own territory and turn the ball over on downs and Manning will put it away by 3 scores. Arizona adds a garbage TD late.

 New England 28-17.

Week 7 Game of the Week

96 TITLE GAME VIDEO

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Week 7's game of the week shows Miami hosting the Patriots FROM New England. Out of conference teams, but they are well aware of each other. For the past 4 or 5 years these teams have both made the playoffs and have been dominant in the league. 2 seasons ago Miami beat New England I believe on the last play of the game or with very little time left on a JJ in the Super Bowl. Instant Classic video that I have also posted here for your viewing pleasure. ../96/roms/CTL96WK16.nes is the rom.  That was 2 seasons ago and both teams have drastically changed. New England doesn't have Steve Young anymore, they have a Young in the making in QB Peyton Manning. Miami has double threat talent Kordell Stewart taking snaps FROM center now. Stewart leads the league in passer rating with a 123.0. Manning is around middle of the pack, partly due to his 5 picks on the young season, with a rating of 95.4. If New England wants to win this game, Manning must not add to his 2nd in the league 5 interceptions on the season. Miami will capitalize on the turnover and put this game out of reach early if that happens. Which in turns makes a snowball effect, it would be bombs away and who knows the interceptions that will be thrown and what the outcome of the game will be. Fortunately for the CTL, I believe this game will be a battle. Miami probably will add in a dose of the run, the Slash Stewart run. Stewart will take his 5 yards and get out of bounds. I see Stewart moving the chains and gaining close to 50 yards on the ground, adding almost 200 through the air and Miami will hold on to the win against the visiting Patriots and drop New England back to .500 on the season at 3-3.
Miami wins 24 - 17.

Week 6 Game of the Week

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In week 6 we have 2 division leaders, and 2 undefeated teams. Both the New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens come into this epic showdown at 2-0. One will leave a loser for the first time in the 98 CTL season. Only home field advantage is on the line, well a drivers seat to that position. We are only half way through our long season, so still plenty of football. The Ravens are led offensively by captain and quarterback, Steve Beuerlein. Beuerlein is 3rd in the league in passer rating with a 118. Not too shabby. With 3 TDs to 0 picks, and 247 passing yards it has helped propel Baltimore to early wins over Arizona and Minnesota, 2 other playoff contenders. A 3rd defeated of a conference foe, proves Baltimore is for real and should be primed for a deep run in the playoffs. Now onto New York. Nothing fancy stands out for the Jets. No one is atop the leader board, but this is more of a team effort. New York grinds it out slowly and plays sound defense. Think of it as a chess match. Discdolo will pawn for pawn with you, if he can gain a pawn in the end. Getting the pawn across the board and he checkmates you with your one error. A very tactical player, who doesn't make many mistakes. If anyone is the "Queen" of the Jets, it would definitely be superstar RB Curtis Martin. Although Martin's numbers don't prove it, as he only has 87 rushing yards on the season. To me that just means New York does what it takes to win, not pretty, but effective. I must pick a winner, I'll roll with the home town team.
New York wins 20-17.

Week 5 Game of the Week

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Pittsburgh travel to face their border rival the Cincinnati Bengals in our week 5 game of the week. Pittsburgh sits at 1-1 and the Bengals at 1-2. This is not a must win game, but it appears the winner will vault themselves into a good candidate for the last wild card position. I see this is a clash of the tailback. Both teams bring studs to the game. Pittsburgh has 63 MS Jamal Anderson, while the Bengals have 56 MS Barry Sanders. Both are in the top 5 in rushing on the season. The deciding factor will be which defense can come up with a bigger game and contain these stars. Its a coin flip really, but I give the slide edge to the Steelers as a defensive unit. Late in the fourth quarter with the game tied up and the Bengal defense stuffing the box to stop the run, QB Doug Flutie does it again. Flutie will lead his team to a long, clock-draining drive that puts his team in pay dirt with a shade under a minute to go in the game. Flutie will mix up some nice dump passes and screens to go along with his occasional scramble to lead his Steelers to victory.

Steelers go on the road and steal one FROM Ohio fans, 17-10.

Week 4 Game of the Week

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San Diego returns home this week to once again be nabbed for game of the week honors. This time the Chargers will host the Chicago Bears. Currently both teams sit deadlocked a top the Historic Division, both teams being 2-0. Some may be surprised by the strong start in baxterbear's early career as a CTL member. Most are not surprised by sowa's 2-0 start. Here's a bold statement by me. Whoever wins this game, goes on to win this division. I know it is early in the season, but both players on starting off right and this win would just catapult them into the driver's seat. Chicago LB Kevin Greene already has 5 sacks on the young season and is a terror for opposing QBs. Every time San Diego quarterback, Trent Green, gets to the line, he better look for #91. Greene will no doubt put tremendous pressure on Green. I see RB Eddie George being his safety valve. George will have a few dump off passes and probably close to 50 receiving yards to go with about 80 on the ground in an all around effort that puts his Chargers in first place.
Chargers win 21-13.

Week 3 Game of the Week

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San Diego travels cross country this week to take on the undefeated Giants. Both teams for that matter are blemish free. New York sits at 1-0, and the Chargers are 2-0. New York escaped with a first week victory over the Atlanta Falcons. A costly late turnover helped pave the way for RB Garrison Hearst and the Giants to win. San Diego normally starts 2-0. But normally Lefty is the coach. This season baxterbear has stepped in WHERE Lefty left off without missing a beat. Baxterbear is one of the hottest players going now and should not be overlooked, as he's got some serious game. RB Eddie George currently leads the league in rushing with a total of 285 yards on 23 carries and 3 TDs. Front runner for the MVP I'm sure. For the Chargers to keep on their roll, George must be a workhorse. He must have close to the 20 carry mark in this game and keep Eifer at bay. The key is which RB has the bigger day. It's David vs goliath. It's Veteran vs New player. San Diego is the superior team on paper, but I just don't like counting out Eifer. With sorry cracker jack QB Brad Johnson and his 38 pc, Eifer managers to pull through and stay undefeated.
New York in a tight battle, 24-21.

Week 2 Game of the Week

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Me and My boy Peterson square off for the game of the week in the 2nd week of the season. We have been playing tecmo against each other for almost 20 years. We probably played a total of 20 scrimmage pre season games, with him winning 2. The other games...weren't so close for the Cowboys. If Dallas can stick to their gameplan and run RB Marshall Faulk, this will keep Oiler QB Steve McNair and RB Terrell Davis off the field. It will definitely be fireworks in big D as these best friends clash on the CTL Gridiron. In the end, I think my experience will come through, even though Dallas as the superior team I believe. TD takes his boys to the win column, while going for 150 on the ground againt 'da boys.
Oilers win 31-17.

Week 1 Game of the Week

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Chaos has been missing in action due to computer issues, I think. Rust may set in upon this opening week battle between two legitimate playoff teams out of the King Kong Conference. And who knows down the road, they might be playing against each other in the playoffs. The key matchup I feel is how will Raven QB Steve Beurlein be able to neutralize the flashy Viking secondary. I feel he won't and will toss 2 picks, both to Viking FS Kurt Schultz. With a plus 2 advantage in the turnover battle, Minnesota cruises to an opening week win on the road.
Vikings 28-14.