Week 4

With five of our six ties featuring sides  above .500 going out against opponents below that mark the Week 4 fixture card set us up for a possible traditional Kumbaya weekend or the exact opposite but the reality was something a little in between. Outside of another gauntlet chucking Wellington Rising outing that saw the NZ side thrash the Scunthorpe Steelers, arguably the most eye catching result was the simultaneous snuffing out of two opposing 100% records as Andy got one over (again) on the Commish. However  the real meat and potato's of this weeks round of results were really about what happened, or didn't happen in the closing 3 NFL fixtures spreading from the SNF to MNF action. Late Sunday we saw the Craigo Coyotes snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in their all 1-2 clash against the Jesmond Chiefs, while moving into Monday a surprise hold on win for the Garthdee Gryphons over the defending champion Special K, allied to less astonishing hold on's for Pittodrie Div pairing the Laurel Lions and Westburn Blades (over the  Arnhall Dolphins and Argyll Apaches respectively), really gave the  overall Division picture a whole new feel. The Bon Accord is now a group of two halves with a 2 game split between the Rising/Drillers and the remaining two sides but over in the Granite Div, the Killers inability to put away the Birds on Monday (coupled to the CalX & Jesmond Chiefs earlier success) means that grouping is a very tight affair indeed, with only one win covering all four sides. The Westburn Blades emerged as the last side with an intact 100% record and are still closely shadowed ( as expected) by the 3-1 Laurel Lions, but the Bayler's upset win allowed the Gryphons to move into wildcard contention at 2-2, leaving the Craigo Coyotes as cellar dwellers in a truly spread Pittodrie Division. Scoring was up there on the high side once again (357 pts) with QB's now steadily  finding their groove but it was more of a general high level across the board without any significant stand-outs position wise. Next week we transition from the  early to mid season phase of the campaign, and of course watch out for the first batch of NFL bye weeks , which will have an impact for sure. I will likely begin the individual title update (Title Watch) in the immediate aftermath of next weeks fixtures. Incredibly that's already 24 games down....and 61 to go. Does your road to the 2024 ALFF Title start here ?

 

Posse Chase Drillers Out Of Town

QB Lamar Jackson hurdles in for a game clinching CalX score.

It looked like a trap game, smelled like a trap game.... and guess what....  it WAS as trap game !  When two ALFF teams with opposing 100% records come face to face any time outside of the opening 3 weeks of the season you can almost bet the house the supposed underdogs will at least come close to an upset. Throw in the fact Coach McConnachie Jnr seems to reserve his best for duels with the Commissioner, then it should not have shocked precisely no-one  that the previously winless Caledonia Express held on with room to spare on Monday night to see off the No 1 ranked 2 Minute Drillers 39-26.  Coming in to this contest Andy's side, hitting consistently in the mid to late 20's in terms of points scored,  had that "one player" short look about them in the teeth of a fairly brutal schedule, but this time round they made no mistake against the early BA Division leaders. The under pressure 2nd year HC had taken steps to improve his production and it was the introduction of second year RB Chase Brown and the restoration of kicker Daniel Carlson that found him an additional 16 or so points that got the Posse over the hump for the first time this term. So let us recap how the Granite Division Div outfit combo got to the heights of 39pts. RB Chase Brown led the way in the first Sunday period with TD runs of 3 and 1 yard(s) in Charlotte with an almost metronomic 2pts throw in by their tight Denver DST in the rain at Met Life. Rookie of the Year candidate Marvin Harrison extended his run of consecutive games scoring to 3 on the bounce with a short counter in Glendale but it was kicker Daniel Carlson who turned things very much the Posse's way in the late Sunday action with his 2 FG effort (with two XP's) , including a 52 yarder. The outcome might still have been in doubt if Lamar Jackson had been unable to shake off his early season torpor as last man out for the Boot Hill mob in the SNF game in Baltimore.... but a trademark 9 yard scoring scamper (in the 3rd quarter) on top of a brace of short TD tosses effectively ended the contest. The Drillers did not disgrace themselves with RB Brian Robinson (subbing for De'Von Achane for Miami tactical reasons)  adding a matching rushing TD to one delivered earlier by mainstay Kyren Williams. The Commish had hoped for a break-out game from QB C J Stroud but had to settle for  two short scoring chucks while Mike Evans got back on the scoring horse with his first counter ( a 2 yarder) since Wk 1. The only real disappointment for the Rickmeister was a  Drake London goose egg until Kansas City's offensive woes in LA came home to roost in the shape of a lowly 5pts from Harrison Butker. If the Commish is thinking about cleaning house at the position, I'm sure Harrison will get his wife to do it !! With Lamarkable going off in Baltimore there was no way back for the Drillers and in the end Tyreek Hill (with no starter calobre QB) was impotent at best in Monday night cameo. Some interesting Miami flavored decisions ahead for the Minutemen. The Express thus joined the Jesmond Chiefs as the first Granite Div sides to win outside the group environment in 2024 and as such climb to 1-3. The Kincorth Killers shock knock back effectively undid a lot of the 0-3 damage for coach McConnachie Jnr. Time will tell if the Chase Brown effect is a permanent condition or just the symptoms of facing Carolina but with Lamar looking more like himself Mini Mac should be back in the GDiv running. The Commish was irked to drop his first game of the campaign, but saw enough elsewhere on his roster to believe things are not on a downward curve. Andy's 2nd straight win over the Drillers reduces the latters lead in the regular series between the two franchises to 21-10.

 

 

Rampant Rising Smelt Steelers

Rising RB Derrick Henry romps 87 yards to the house on his first carry.

Vegas seems to have the Wellington Rising penciled in as the new Bowl favourites, and who am I to disagree, because as we all know, the Diesel ALWAYS gets it wrong... it's a gift! Stern opponents for Coach Butter's this week in the shape of Adamski's Scunnie Steelers, and Vegas had the Rising as a strong  three point favourites, and darnit and goddamit, they got it right again. Going in coach Meek leads the RSS 5-4 against Darren, and it's with Adamski (who recalled the Dallas D for this game) that we'll start the post game nonsense. It all got off to a bad start for him on Thursday night when Malik Nabers went scoreless (and got injured) and the Dallas D returned just one point.... then it got decidedly worse.... all Sunday brought was 3 points from a Caleb Williams  nine yard toss and the square root of sod all from Breece Hall and Deebo. So over to New Zealand we go, and we'll see how the Dazzer got on in this first encounter ANYWHERE IN THE ENTIRE KNOWN UNIVERSE between Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels, and it's with the Redskin QB we start....(I'll give you your "Washington Commanders" shite, and I'll be quick about it.) He is rather good, isn't he the Daniels fella, nearly as good as his Uncle Paul, you'll like him, not a lot, but you'll like him,  and I had to have a quiet chuckle to myself when someone online referred to him as the next RG3... I thought, "mm, give him a crap "O" line and play him when his right leg is hanging off?" I hope not. Anyroads, in the most commanding (geddit? geddit?) Redskin performance for Heaven knows how long.... years and years and years, The Chosen One (sadly not chosen by me tho') went 26/30, 233 yards, one TD, 47 yards rushing 1 TD.  King Henry rubbed sulphuric acid into the wound with a 87 yard run to paydirt AND an unlikely reception, Jimmy Connors made it match point with an 8 yard scamper, (Jimmy Connors? Shoorly shum mishtake -Ed) , Nico Collins and Terry McLaurin had a TD reception each. And as Frank Carson used to say, "Cumere, there's more" the Kansas City D added two points. Score at the end of Sunday was Wellington Rising 35-7 Scunthorpe Steelers. Onto Mondays games, and perhaps, just perhaps Coach Meek had thoughts of a revival of sorts with Jason Myers, Jamyr Gibbs and Jameson Williams still to come, but that faint hope was quickly extinguished with Evan McPherson's  4/4 EP & 2/2 field goals, which included one from 56 out for Coach Butter. Still, Gibbs had a good day for Adamski with a pair of short yard scoring runs and a nice 70 yard reception from Williams. Final score: Rising 47-25. My Apaches struggle to score 47 points in a season... What does it all mean? Wellington move to 3-1 and sit atop the B-A Division, and have the 1-3 Gryphons up next....with the Drillers Miami contingent struggling right now with Tua out, Darren will fancy his chances on securing the Division Pennent. Adamski is also now at 1-3, and with Caleb Williams having his struggles - the Steelers have the worst ranked QB rating in the entire league  and Breece Hall surprisingly anonymous, a visit to the 4-0 Blades is not the ideal fixture to have. That's it !

 

St Brown Gives Fins The Blues

Laurel ball carrier Zach Moss reaches out to score on a 3 yard reception.

Well here we are. We have reached week four and are now about a third of the way through the regular season. This is the point where you are hoping that things come together and that the squad stays fit. The Arnhall Dolphins have started this season 1-2 and opted to go with week threes line up, whilst the Laurel Lions tweaked their squad. Travis Etienne was recalled at running back to replace Charbonnet (who dropped to the bench with Kenneth Walker being back in Seattle),  Jaylen Reed was back in the Wide slot number 2 as Devonta Smith was injured. This game pitted the Lions #1 receiving corps against the Dolphins #12 unit. There were no takers for the late Thursday night game and so most of the action moved to Sunday. By the time the dust had settled the Lions held a 29-21 lead over the Dolphins, although it was pretty much nip and tuck. The Quarterbacks matched each other. Jalen Hurts scored on a 1 yard run and a 1 yard pass on his way to 18 of 30 for 168 yards, whilst Jake Burrow connected on a 63 yard bomb and a 1 yard pass on his way to 23 of 31 for 256 yards and an interception. Zack Moss added 3 for the Lions on a 1 yard catch (from Burrow) , whilst Jake Reed caught a 15 yard pass to make it 15. Arnhall replied with an 8 yard Christian Kirk score and a Ladd McConkey 7 yard reception. The breaker came with the kickers. Blake Grupe was held to a 43 yard FG and 3 PATs, whilst individual title candidate Jake Moody scored from the 22, the 36 and 41 yards as well as 3 PATs of his own. The Eagles D added a brace of points on that most unusual of plays , an opposing 2 point attempt returned all the way to the other endzone and this one headed for Monday with 8 points in it. RB David Montgomery gave the ALFF Dolphins hope of pulling this one off with a 1 yard score, but it was not to be. Amon St Brown scored on a 7  yard pass TO his QB (yes!), and then caught a 8 yarder to finish the game off. The Dolphins drop to 1-3 in a split division and are in danger of coming adrift from the joint Div leaders. They tackle the Chiefs in week 5 action and will need to get back to winning ways. The Lions move to 3-1, lead the RSS 5-2 and are hot on the heels of the Blades who they meet in week 6. Before that they have a date with the Killers. The next few weeks will go a lot of the way towards deciding who gets tickets to the Post Season party. As long as your squad stays fit you are in with a chance. Lets see where this one goes.

 

 

The GOFFence Has Arrived

Jared Goff scores on this 7 yard pass from Amon Ra St Brown

If The Diesel is to be believed (bad idea) then Coach not-so-Youngblood's never ending milk round on the Acacia Estate is some sort of perpetually repeating, inescapable hellscape in which he is doomed to repeat til the end of existence. However, he is occasionally allowed to remove himself from the float to put forward a team that, more often than not, has had the number of the Argyll Apaches. Unlike the ever-present cantankerousness of their heid honcho, it was all change in the for Geronimo's locker room. At quarterback, Jordan Love was a late swap for Derek Carr upon his return from injury. In the injury ravaged runningback room it was Tampa Bay's Bucky Irving who was handed his ALFF debut in a corps that was yet to register a point coming into this one, while Quentin Johnston came in to maintain a four receiver set. Cairo Santos was preferred to Jason Sanders in the 12th ranked kicker room, while the #1 DST Chicago Bears were somewhat surprisingly dropped to the bench to allow the Titans to step up to the plate. Youngblood himself continued with the theme of minor week on week tweaks, with Brock Bowers taking a seat to allow DJ Moore a run-out. Jonathan Taylor got the Blades off to an excellent and kind of unexpected start against the formidable Steelers run D with a short run for a score in the early action, before a high ankle sprain forced him out. This will be one for the Westburners to keep an eye on, although they feel pretty good about their RB depth at the moment with the likes of Walker and Cook currently riding the bench. Things were looking up for the Campbeltown side early on as they managed to break their RB scoring duck from the unlikely source of Bucky Irving on 1 yard dash. Santos contributed a bang-average, yet possibly important 6 points from 3PATs and a field goal for a Chicago offence that is just about finding it's way. One of the ways in which this was evidenced was in Westburn Blades receiver DJ Moore picking up a 9-yard touchdown - his first of the season. Justin Jefferson continued his streak of a score in every game so far this season with a 14-yard grab over the Packers. Green Bay were initially well under the kosh, with Jordan Love's performance a contributing factor, before a late 2nd half points surge just about brought them back into it. Love's 4 TDs and his share of a 2 point conversion instantly wiped out any misplaced cautious-confidence from Coach Bothwell Jnr. Fairbairn has yet to replicate his early season heroics and continued with another pedestrian effort of 6 points. The Jets D held the Broncos to only 10 points in their loss (yeah, you read that right), but somehow only added two points on the day. For the Apaches, things might have looked a little different had Justin Herbert opened his eyes and seen Quentin Johnson on at least two possible TD pass missed opportunities. So, after the points adjustment for Love's 2-pointer, the tie was poised teetering towards the favour of the Westburn 26 -25 with their Lions combo of Goff and LaPorta still to come as they will face off against the Geacher's remaining Titans D. From this point on, things became far less of a contest. Any aspersions previously cast upon the contributions of Jared Goff in the Blades QB1 spot were cast aside as he went a perfect 18 for 18 with a 70 yarder to Jamieson Williams and a short Receiving TD (sic) (so perfect as a receiver too !)  to nullify the Titans 4 defensive points to leave this one at 38-29, allowing Westburn to become the ALFF's last remaining undefeated team - the first time in franchise history that Bothwell has gone 4-0 to start a season. They have done so not through one massive contributor in any particular area, but by a spread of points across the board. The health of Jonathan Taylor will be one to keep an eye on, but at this point, concern is relatively low and depth is HIGH with the return of Kenneth Walker (3TDs this week). For the Geacher, that's now 1-3 and a 3 game losing streak, Rashee Rice out for the season and a runningback room looking more bare than the shelves of his shoppie. Next week it's the maligned but deadly Cal-X coming to town fresh off dethroning the Drillers. Stuie adds another strikethrough to the tally on the RSS: 15-4

 

 

 

 

Niners Nugget Boosts Birds

LB Fred Warner scores on a critical 35 yard pick six for the Gryphons.

Monday night finales have become something of a theme in 2024 for the Bayler and he was at it again here as the Mythical Creatures somehow held on to outlast the Kincorth Killers  in a tense Week 4 showdown. Week 2 saw coach Garioch hold on for an upset win over the much fancied Lions while seven days  later the founder owner combo came up short in a Week 3 MNF finale. This time round the Crimson One reverted to his tried and tested Week 2 script to exit the last game of the early season stage with a 23-20 success to improve to a  combative 2-2. This match-up looked edgy from the outset with the defending champions emerging 09-06 leaders from an intriguing TNF clash at Met Life that Vegas thought  maybe just favored the underdog Gryphons. Killers QB Dak Prescott managed a healthy 9(3)pts but his second scoring throw of the night ( after an opening 15 yarder) went 55 yards to opponent CeeDee Lamb , for what was in effect a no score. Donny had pulled in RB Ezekiel Elliott at the same venue in a vain  attempt to kick start his soporific ground game (in what would prove to be his only line-up alteration) but even with the Zeke goose egg , 06-09 did not look too damaging for the PDiv outfit. Andrew did not seemed phased by his slowish start however and resisted the temptation to make any post Thursday changes to the side that put a 50 burger on the Chiefs in Week 3. The Double K's No 1 ranked ground game (and productive wideouts) are principally what got them to their pre-game 2-1 position, but it was a different story this time round with Bijan Robinson and Saquon Barkley teaming up for their first double blank of the term. WR Ja'Marr Chase boosted the GDiv outfits hopes with a trademark 63 yard score but doughnuts from team-mate Tee Higgins and a previously hot Vikings DST suggested this was going to be something of a old fashioned 50 Burger hangover. The Birds had just one option to move the needle early Sunday but Josh Jacobs extended his sides scoreless ground attack famine to 4 games straight but there was more in the way of help for Donny in the second Sunday period. QB Brock Purdy continued his general "sharp but not deadly" start with a single 12 yard strike ( to an on the bench George Kittle) but it was his DST colleagues who scooped up the standard for the PDiv team. Aside from giving the New England Patriots a hard time as they held them to under 14pts,  a 45 yard pick six from LB Fred Warner boosted the Niners unit score to a meaty 8pts to just edge Garthdee ahead 17-15. The SNF action in Baltimore had been pegged as "two big hitter kickers going mano a mano that will likely decide the contest" but in reality while the second statement was largely correct, the 06-05 "win" for Tyler Bass over a Justin Tucker who was limited to kicking XP's hardly fulfilled the billing. With Khalil Shakir's goose egg at the same venue signing off the Gryphons contribution to this showdown, the stage was set for Kincorth weapon D K Metcalf to at least turn a 20-23 deficit into an OT period.....but although the big wide-out was a big part of the Seattle offence to coach Geacher the Younger'  s chagrin, the pass catchers two game scoring sequence came to a crashing halt to leave the champs stranded 3 points in arrears. The Gryphons may rank flat out 12th in scoring (one of only two sides yet to break the 100 mark) but an improved 2-2 record keeps them firmly on the outskirts of the Pittodrie Div race, with the Bayler more than due a break or two after a run of injury plagued seasons. If that ground game can get some CPR, the Birds could yet be a surprise package. For Andrew this will definitely be filed in the lost opportunity folder. Instead of marching off into the Granite Div sunset the Kinkers Krewe have now been joined at the top of the grouping by the Jesmond Chiefs , with the Steelers and Posse just one game back. Who would have thought one side or other had scored big in this match-up?  Oh the joys !!! The Bayler extends his lead in the RSS to 8-5.

 

Chiefs Ambush Coyotes

This late goal-line score for RB Alvin Kamara was huge for coach Potts side.

The Jesmond Chiefs and the Craigo Coyotes went in to this one with 1-2 records knowing that something had to give. A win would put both of the sides back in contention.....the loser not so much. The Chiefs opted for one change and brought in Jauan Jennings for Zac Ertz . The Coyotes originally aimed  to gamble on the fitness of Joe Mixon and drop Jerome Ford but the dreaded IA tag on the former saw that plan binned. Craigo were rated #1 at Quarterback and Kicker heading in to the clash.  Thursday night saw Brandon Aubrey come to the fore. He connected on FGs from 60 and 40 yards as well as 2 PATs, but crucially missed a 3rd FG (his first EVER miss from 50 yards plus). Sunday night action saw the result hang in the balance with the outcome too close to call. Pat Mahomes scored on a 54 yard fling on his way to 19 of 29 for 240 yards and 2 interceptions. A wee bit of a quiet night for him (again) . Alvin Kamara scored on a 1 yard run but this was offset by Chubba Hubbard on a 3 yard score and WR Stefon Diggs with a 6 yard scamper of his own. Cameron Dicker scored on a 50 yard FG as well as a PAT to make it a 2 point game. The Chiefs pulled ahead courtesy of the Browns D with 7 points, whilst the Coyotes got a bonus score from their Bucs. That left Craigo 2 points back and with Josh Allen to go on Monday. In most circumstances this would have been a good omen not to say game over..... but this time is all went a bit "Pete Tong". He came up with 16 of 29 for 180 yards but could not come up with a scoring pass and this one slipped away. The Coyotes drop to 1-3 and coach Rooney will be wondering what happened to his big pick with the game on the line. After a 50 burger in week one it has all gone a bit strange. The Drillers are next up in week 5 and he needs his men to find their mojo again. Alex and the Chiefs move to 2-1and are right back in the mix following the Killers shock loss to the Gryphons. They lead the RSS 3-2 and will be happy to have snatched this one. They meet the Dolphins in week 5 and will hope that Kamara and Mahomes can get back to peak form (with the pair facing off NFL wise on MNF). A little more production from the wide man would not go amiss. So four games down and nine more to go. This is where things get interesting. When the going gets tough, yada, yada.

 

 

 

Sleeper of the Week

There were quite a few points left on the table this week, although many of those would not have impacted outcomes. Some that did however involved  Craigo Coyotes back up kicker Nick Folk's unclaimed 23(6)pt effort on Monday night. There is simply no way any of us in our right minds would have done this.... but had coach Rooney benched League leader Brandon Aubrey and selected his back-up... his net +13pts effect would have turned a narrow 23-25 loss into a comfortable 36-25 victory. Folk and coach Rooney scoop the Week 4 SOW.

 

 

Play of the Week

You know how I love myself a bit of Derrick Henry in full cry !! His 87 yard scamper on the Ravens first offensive play from scrimmage is the Week 4 Play of the Week.

 

Player of the Week

Not many truly stand-out individual performances this week, but I have to recognize coach McConnachie's RB switch that saw 2nd year RB Chase Brown post up a double TD ALFF debut that was key to the Posse getting that winless monkey off their collective backs. Brown's 3 and 1 yard TD scampers earn him Week 4 Player of the Week honors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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