Just past the halfway point of the season so lets take our 1st look at the playoff picture.

AXC

1. Buffalo Skull Crushers 9-0
2. Dakota Blizzard 8-1

3. Oakland Outlaws 6-2-1
4. Pittsburgh Blitzkreieg 5-3-1
5. Texas Hold'em 7-2 (1 GB div)
6. Houston Roughnecks 5-3-1 (0 GB div)

7. Michigan Wolverines 5-4 (3 GB div/1/2 GB wc)
8. KC Chaos 5-4 (1 1/2 GB div/1/2 GB wc)
9. Toronto Titans 5-4 (1/2 GB div/1/2 GB wc)
10. New York Empire 4-5 (5 GB div/1 1/2 GB wc)
11. Vancouver Vandals 4-5 (2 1/2 GB div/1 1/2 GB wc)
12. Miami Nemesis 4-5 (5 GB div/11/2 GB wc)
13. New England Crusaders 3-6 (6 GB div/2 1/2 GB wc)
14. Cincinnati Defenders 3-6 (2 1/2 GB div/2 1/2 GB wc)
15. Denver Extreme 2-7 (4 1/2 GB div/3 1/2 GB wc)
16. Daytona Beach Bull Sharks 1-7-1 (6 1/2 GB div/4 GB wc)

12 teams within 1 1/2 games of a playoff spot.

14 teams within 2 1/2 games of a playoff spot.

NXC

1. Vegas Black Sharks 9-0
2. Gem City Gangsters 7-2

3. Brooklyn Hitmen 7-2
4. Tampa Bay Fireballs 4-5
5. Montana Grizzlies 6-3 (1 GB div)
6. Philadelphia Slayers 6-3 (1 GB div)

7. Saint Paul Punishers 6-3 (1 GB div/0 GB wc)
8. Seattle Barbarians 5-4 (4 GB div/1 GB wc)
9. Providence Islanders 3-6 (4 GB div/3 GB wc)
10. Los Angeles 3-6 (6 GB div/3 GB wc)
11. Carolina Cobras 3-6 (1 GB div/3 GB wc)
12. Atlanta Dominators 2-7 (2 GB div/4 GB wc)
13. Arizona Wranglers 2-7 (7 GB div/4 GB wc)
14. Memphis Maniacs 2-7 (2 GB div/4 GB wc)
15. Zehlendorf Zecken 1-8 (6 GB div/5 GB wc)
16. Washington Warriors 0-9 (7 GB div/6 GB wc)

11 teams within 2 games of a playoff spot.

13 teams within 3 games of a playoff spot.

WEEK 11

AXC

1. Buffalo Skull Crushers 11-0
2. Dakota Blizzard 10-1

3. Oakland Outlaws 7-3-1
4. Houston Roughnecks 7-3-1
5. Texas Hold'em 9-2 (1 GB div)
6. Toronto Titans 6-4-1 (1/2 GB div)

7. Pittsburgh Blitzkreieg 6-4-1 (1/2 GB div/0 GB wc)
8. New York Empire 6-5 (1/2 GB wc)
9. Michigan Wolverines 5-4-1 (4 1/2 GB div/1 GB wc)
10. Vancouver Vandals 5-6 (2 1/2 GB div/1 1/2 GB wc)
11. KC Chaos 5-6 (2 1/2 GB div/1 1/2 GB wc)
12. Miami Nemesis 4-7 (2 1/2 GB wc)
13. Cincinnati Defenders 4-7 (3 1/2 GB div/2 1/2 GB wc)
14. Denver Extreme 4-7 (3 1/2 GB div/2 1/2 GB wc)
15. Daytona Beach Bull Sharks 3-7-1 (3 GB wc)
16. New England Crusaders 3-8 (3 1/2 GB wc)


11 teams within 1 1/2 games of a playoff spot.

14 teams within 2 1/2 games of a playoff spot.

NXC

1. Vegas Black Aces 11-0
2. Gem City Gangsters 9-2

3. Brooklyn Hitmen 8-3
4. Carolina Cobras 5-6
5. Saint Paul Punishers 8-3 (1 GB div)
6. Montana Grizzlies 7-4 (2 GB div)

7. Philadelphia Slayers 6-5 (2 GB div/1 GB wc)
8. Seattle Barbarians 5-6 (2 GB wc)
9. Tampa Bay Fireballs 4-7 (1 GB div/3 GB wc)
10. Atlanta Dominators 3-8 (2 GB div/4 GB wc)
11. Providence Islanders 3-8 (5 GB div/4 GB wc)
12. Los Angeles 3-8 (4 GB wc)
13. Arizona Wranglers 3-8 (4 GB wc)
14. Memphis Maniacs 2-9 (3 GB div/5 GB wc)

Washington and Zehlendorf officially eliminated.

10 teams within 2 games of a playoff spot.

Love the name change

WEEK 13

AXC

1. Buffalo Skull Crushers 12-1
2. Dakota Blizzard 12-1

3. Houston Roughnecks 9-3-1
4. Oakland Outlaws 8-4-1
5. Texas Hold'em 10-3 (2 GB div)
6. Toronto Titans 8-4-1 (1 GB div)

7. Pittsburgh Blitzkreieg 8-4-1 (1 GB div/0 GB wc)
8. Vancouver Vandals 7-6 (1 1/2 GB div/1 1/2 GB wc)
9. Michigan Wolverines 6-6-1 (2 GB wc)
10. New York Empire 6-7 (2 1/2 GB wc)

Kansas City, Denver, New Engalnd, Miami, Cincinnati and Daytona are all eliminated.

8 teams within 1 1/2 games of a playoff spot.

10 teams within 2 1/2 games of a playoff spot.

Buffalo controls the tiebreaker with Dakota via a head to head win for control of the top seed.

Dakota clinches a bye with 1 more win and needs to win out and have Buffalo lose a game to jump from #2 to #1.

Houston needs to basically win out and have either Buffalo or Dakota lose out to get a bye. Houston has a 1 game lead over both Pittsburgh and Toronto and holds a 2-2 division record. If they win out, they win the division and secure the #3 seed. The week 14 matchup with Toronto is huge!

Oakland can't secure a bye but has a 1 1/2 game in their division over Vancouver. If Oakland wins 2 of their last 3 games, they win the division and secure at least the #4 seed. The week 14 matchup with Pittsburgh has huge playoff implications for both teams.

Texas needs a win to secure a Wildcard spot. They need to win out and have Dakota lose out to win the division. Avoiding a severe collapse, they should lock up the #5 seed.

Toronto is just 1 game behind Houston for the division lead and they are 4-1 in the division. A win in week 14 over Houston would put them in the driver's seat to win the division. If they beat Houston, they would be in 1st place based on thier 5-1 division record with 2 games versus 5-8 teams remaining. Is 17 straight seasons of a playoff drought be over???

Pittsburgh sits a game behind Houston and finished with a 3-3 division record. If all 3 teams (PIT,HOU,TOR) end up tied then Toronto wins based on division record. It appears 2 of the 3 division teams will make the playoffs so Pitt is routing for Toronto to beat Houston while they beat Oakland forcing a 3 way tie in the division with 2 games remaining.

Vancouver is on the outside looking in but have won 2 games in a row and their last 3 opponents are 4-9, 3-10 & 3-10. Vancouver needs to win out to finish 10-6 and hope Oakland loses 2 of their last 3 games to win the division. Oakland plays Pittsburgh in week 14 followed by Arizona (3-10) and Michigan (6-6-1). If Oakland beats Pittsburgh, they Pittsburg to lose 1 of their last 2 and have Tornonto lose 2 of their last 3 to make the playoffs. There is a chance but they need lots of help.

Michigan is hanging on by a pinkie finger to make a Wildcard spot. They need to win out to become 9-6-1 and have both Toronto and Pittsburg lose 2 of their last 3 to create a 3 way tie for the last Wildcard spot which goes to tiebreakers. To guarantee a playoff spot, they need to win out and have Toronto lose 2 of 3 while Pittsburgh loses out. I'm saying there is a chance!

New York is hanging on by the nail of their pinkie finger to make a Wildcard spot. They need to win out and have both Toronto and Pittsbutgh lose out plus have Vancouver and Michigan lose at least 1 game each. A lose or a win by Tornoto or Pittsburgh eliminates them.

NXC

1. Vegas Black Aces 13-0
2. Saint Paul Punishers 10-3

3. Brooklyn Hitmen 9-4
4. Carolina Cobras 6-7
5. Montana Grizzlies 9-4 (1 GB div)
6. Gem City Gangsters 9-4 (1 GB div)

7. Philadelphia Slayers 8-5 (1 GB div/1 GB wc)
8. Seattle Barbarians 7-6 (2 GB wc)
9. Tampa Bay Fireballs 5-8 (1 GB div)
10. Atlanta Dominators 4-9 (2 GB div/)

Providence, Washington, Los Angeles, Arizona, Zehlendorf and Memphis are eliminated.

8 teams within 1 games of a playoff spot.

10 teams within 2 games of a playoff spot

Vegas needs a win to secure the top seed and have locked up at least the #2 seed. A win versus 3-10 Arizona in week 14 essentially makes week 15 & 16 pseudo Byes since they will mean nothing besides chasing perfection.

If Saint Paul can win out, they secure the #2 seed and would need Vegas to lose out to gain the top seed. They have a 1 game lead over both Gem City and Montana in their division and are 2-2 in the division. Saint Paul has the toughest schedule with games versus Gem City (9-4), Vegas (13-0) and Montana (9-4) remaining. If they win both division games, they win the division.

Brooklyn has a 1 game lead over Philly for thier division crown and they have a 4-0 division record. They have a game with Philly in week 16 which could determine who wins the division. They have a chance to secure a bye depending who wins the North division and with what record.

Carolina has only one path to the playoffs and that's as a division winner to secure the #4 seed. They currently have a 1 game lead over Tampa Bay, 2 game lead over Atlanta and have a 3-1 division record. They play Atlanta twice in their last 3 games so the division is clearly a 3 team race. Carolina needs 2 wins and a Tampa Bay lose to secure the division.

Montana hasn't made the playoffs in the 17 year history of the XFL but they have a legimate shot to make it this season. If Montana wins 2 of their last 3 games...they are in! Best case scenario for Montana is they win out and Brooklyn loses a game which gives Montana the division title and the #2 seed. If Montana wins both division games (Zehlendorf, Saint Paul) and loses to Philly, they need both Gem City and Saint Paul to lose a game to win the division. Week 14 features Gem City versus Saint Paul which is huge while Montana plays 1-15 Zehlendorf.

Gem City is 1 game behind Saint Paul with the Punishers on their schedule this week. Montana is the third party in this dance for division supremacy and they have a 4-0 division record. Gem City needs to win out and have Monatan lose a game to win the division. Falling short of a division crown, Gem City needs 2 wins and a Philly lose to secure a Wildcard.

Philadelphia is 1 game behind for the division and Wildcard. Philly plays Brooklyn in week 16 which should determine the division winner. If Philly wins out they will make the playoffs.

Seattle is alive but on life support. They need to win out to finish 10-6. They need Philly to lose a game and have either Montana or Gem City lose 2 games just to create a 3 way tie for the #6 seed which sets up a tiebreaker scenario which they might lose. To guarantee a playoff spot, they need to win out, have Philly lose 2 games and have either Montana or Gem City lose out...like I said life suport!!!

Tampa Bay is one game behind Carolina for the division title and only path to the playoffs. Tampa Bay needs to win out to finish 8-8 with a 4-2 division record and have Carolina lose 2 of their last 3 games to win the division.

Atlanta has a chance!!! If they win out which includes beating Carolina twice, they finish 7-9 with a 4-2 division record. They need Tampa Bay to lose 2 of their last 3 to win the division. Tampa Bay swept Atlanta so if they finish tied then Tampa Bay wins the division.

WEEK 14

AXC

1. Buffalo Skull Crushers 13-1 y*
2. Dakota Blizzard 12-2 y

3. Houston Roughnecks 10-3-1 x
4. Oakland Outlaws 8-5-1
5. Texas Hold'em 10-4
6. Pittsburgh Blitzkreieg 9-4-1 (1 GB div)

7. Toronto Titans 8-5-1 (2 GB div/1GB wc)
8. Vancouver Vandals 8-6 (1/2 GB div/1 1/2 GB wc)


Michigan and New York eliminated.

8 teams within 1 games of a playoff spot.



Buffalo controls the tiebreaker with Dakota via a head to head win for control of the top seed. They need a win or Dakota lose to secure the top seed.

Dakota clinched the division despite losing since Texas lost. They just need a win or Houston lose to secure the #2 seed. They need to win out and have Buffalo lose out to secure the #1 seed.

Houston needs to basically win out and Dakota lose out to get the #2 seed. Houston has clinched sat least a Wildcard spot.. Houston has a 1 game lead over Pittsburgh and holds a 3-2 division record. If they beat Cincinnati in week 16, they clinch the division.

Oakland can't secure a bye but has a 1/2 game in their division over Vancouver. If Oakland wins out they win the division and secure at least the #4 seed. They need a win and a Vancouver lose to win the division.

Texas needs a win to secure a Wildcard spot. They also secure a playoff spot with loses by Toronto combined with either Oakland or Vancouver losing.

Toronto is just 2 games behind Houston for the division lead and they are 4-2 in the division. They need to win out, have Houston lose out and Pittsburgh lose a game to win the division. They are 1 game behind Pittsburgh for the #6 seed and they need to win out and have Pittsburgh lose a game to clinch that 6 seed.

Pittsburgh sits a game behind Houston and finished with a 3-3 division record. They need to win out and have Houston lose a game to force a tie for the division crown. This will send it to a tiebreaker. If Pittsburgh wins out and Houston loses out then Pittsburgh wins the division and Houston becomes a wildcard.

Vancouver is on the outside looking in but have won 3 games in a row and their last 2 opponents are 3-10 & 3-10. Vancouver needs to win out to finish 10-6 and hope Oakland loses 1 of their last 2 games to win the division. Oakland plays Arizona (3-10) and Michigan (6-6-1). If Vancouver can't win the division then a Wildcard becomes a Longshot. Even if they win out to finish 10-6, they would need Texas to lose out, Pittsburgh to lose out and Toronto to lose a game just to set up a tiebreaker with Texas.


NXC

1. Vegas Black Aces 14-0 z*
2. Saint Paul Punishers 11-3 x

3. Brooklyn Hitmen 10-4
4. Carolina Cobras 7-7 y
5. Montana Grizzlies 9-5 (2 GB div)
6. Philadelphia Slayers 9-5 (1 GB div)

7. Gem City Gangsters 9-5 (2 GB div/0 GB wc)
8. Seattle Barbarians 8-6 (1 GB wc)

Tampa Bay and Atlanta are eliminated.


8 teams within 1 games of a playoff spot.



Vegas has locked up the #1 seed so their last 2 games are meaningless unless they plan on chasing perfection.

If Saint Paul can win out, they secure the #2 seed. They have a 2 game lead over both Gem City and Montana in their division and are 3-2 in the division. Saint Paul has secured at least a Wildcard spot and needs a win or Gem City and Montana lose to win their division. Saint Paul needs 2 wins, 1 win and Brooklyn lose or 2 Brooklyn loses to secure the #2 seed.

Brooklyn has a 1 game lead over Philly for thier division crown and they have a 5-0 division record. They have a game with Philly in week 16 which could determine who wins the division.

Carolina has clinched the division and will be the #4 seed.

Montana needs to win out and have Saint Paul lose to undefeated Vegas to win the division and the #3 seed. If Brooklyn also loses out they would get the #2 seed. Montana just needs to win out to make the playoffs as a wildcard.

Gem City is 2 game behind Saint Paul for the division title. They need to win out, have St Paul lose out plus Montana lose a game to set up a tiebreaker with Saint Paul at 11-5 for the division crown. The good news is if they win out they have a good chance to make the playoffs as a wildcard because Montana and Philly who are also 9-5 play each other in week 15. But if Philly wins and Brooklyn ends up 11-5 too then maybe Gem City misses the playoffs if Philly wins the division???

Philadelphia is 1 game behind Brooklyn for the division and plays them in week 16. If Philly wins out they will clinch at least a Wildcard spot and possible division title.

Seattle is alive but on life support. They need to win out to finish 10-6. They need Philly to lose a game and have either Montana or Gem City lose a game just to create a 3 way tie for the #6 seed which sets up a tiebreaker scenario which they might lose. To guarantee a playoff spot, they need to win out, have Philly lose 2 games and have either Montana or Gem City lose out...like I said life suport!!!

WEEK 15

*disclaimer*
The below breakdown isn't official because I use the standard NFL playoff tiebreakers and it has occurred in the past that MFN does it differently.

AXC

1. Buffalo Skull Crushers 14-1 z*
2. Dakota Blizzard 13-2 y*

3. Houston Roughnecks 11-3-1 x
4. Oakland Outlaws 9-5-1
5. Texas Hold'em 11-4 x
6. Pittsburgh Blitzkreieg 10-4-1

7. Toronto Titans 9-5-1
8. Vancouver Vandals 9-6


8 teams alive.

Buffalo is locked in at #1

Dakota is locked in at #2

Houston has clinched at least a Wildcard spot.. Houston has a 1 game lead over Pittsburgh and holds a 3-2 division record. If they beat Cincinnati in week 16 or Pittsburgh loses they clinch the division and the #3 seed. If they lose and Pittsburgh wins then they fall to the #5 or #6 seed.

Oakland needs a win over Michigan or have Vancouver lose to Arizona to win the division and secure the #4 seed. If Oakland loses amd Vancouver wins, Oakland is out of the playoffs.

Texas has secured a Wildcard spot and a win or Pittsburgh lose locks them in at the #5 seed. A lose coupled with a Pittsburgh win drops them to the #6 seed

Toronto needs a win and a Pittsburgh lose to secure the #6 seed.

Pittsburgh needs to win to guarantee a playoff spot. A win coupled with a Houston lose wins them the division and the #3 seed. If they lose, they need Toronto to lose also to get the #6 seed.

Vancouver needs to beat Arizona and have Oakland lose to Michigan to win the division and the #4 seed.


NXC

1. Vegas Black Aces 14-1 z*
2. Saint Paul Punishers 12-3 y*

3. Brooklyn Hitmen 10-5 y
4. Carolina Cobras 8-7 y
5. Montana Grizzlies 10-5 x
6. Seattle Barbarians 9-6

7. Philadelphia Slayers 9-6
8. Gem City Gangsters 9-6


8 teams alive.



Vegas has locked up the #1 seed.

Saint Paul has locked up the #2 seed

Brooklyn has locked up the #3 seed.

Carolina is locked uo the #4 seed.

Montana has clinched a playoff spot. If they win they secure the #5 seed. If they lose, they need Seattle to lose to clinch the #5 or they drop to the #6 seed.

Gem City needs to win and have Seattle and Philly lose to clinch the #6 seed.

Philadelphia needs beat Brooklyn and have Seattle lose to clinch a Wildcard spot.

Seattle has a strong heartbeat and just need to beat 14-1 Vegas to clinch a playoff spot. Vegas has clinched the top seed and may rest some starters.

I was wrong about Houston and Pittsburgh because Houston had a 7-0-1 record in common games versus Pittsburg 7-1 record. When I checked it to make this post...I counted Houston as 7-1 in common games because the tie wasn't bold just like a lose....sorry!

Huge shout out to Trslick and his Montana Grizzlies for making the playoffs for the 1st time in 18 seasons.

Trslick has been the owner in 16 of those seasons and moved the team outta Detroit years ago in hopes of changing their luck.

WILDCARD WEEKEND

AXC

BYES
1. Buffalo Skull Crushers 15-1
2. Dakota Blizzard 14-2

#5 Texas Hold'em 12-4
@
#4 Vancouver Vandals 10-6

#6 Pittsburgh Blitzkreieg 11-4-1
@
#3 Houston Roughnecks 11-4-1

NXC

BYES
1. Vegas Black Aces 15-1
2. Saint Paul Punishers 13-3

#5 Montana Grizzlies 10-6
@
#4 Carolina Cobras 9-7

#6 Philadelphia Slayers 10-6
@
#3 Brooklyn Hitmen 10-6

PLAYOFF HISTORY

BUFFALO
16th straight playoff appearances
5x Conference Championship
2x XFL Championship

DAKOTA
18th straight playoff appearances
7x Conference Championships
3x XFL Championship

TEXAS
9th playoff appearance
1x Conference Championship
1x XFL Championship

VANCOUVER
5th playoff appearance

PITTSBURGH
13th playoff appearance

HOUSTON
5th playoff appearance

VEGAS
9th playoff appearance

SAINT PAUL
13th playoff appearance

MONTANA
1st playoff appearance

CAROLINA
10th playoff appearance
2x Conference Championship
1x XFL Championship

PHILADELPHIA
8th playoff appearance
1x Conference Championship
1x XFL Championship

BROOKLYN
12th playoff appearance
1x Conference Championship

Hey we made it, then we lose our top two RB's!