Wrap-Up
The Pirates are one of four rookie managers who will be heading into the playoffs. This is no small acomplishment for this team, which finished dead last in their division last year. McNabb carried them this far, and Jay Cutler will lead them thorugh the playoffs. The Pirates have come from worst to first and their current roster could keep them on top of the AFC East for years to come.
2005 Results: 3-10, 763.04, Last in AFC East, Last in WC
2006 Results: 9-3, 1413.72, 1st in AFC East
Difference: +6 Wins
Last year's AFC Champ gets it done again despite an injury to Shaun Alexander. This team relied on Larry Johnson and Tom Brady this year and now they have Alexander to add to the mix. This team is going to strike fear into any opponent as they look to reach the Goal Line Super Bowl for the second year in a row. The way this team is handeled, there is no doubt they will be a force for years to come.
2005 Results: 10-3, 1193.99, 1st in AFC West
2006 Results: 9-4, 1329.00, 1st in AFC West
Difference: -1 Win
It Came Out of Nowhere: ROC
-R.O.C.'s 1-3 to 9-3 turnaround came from a team with a not-so-good outlook in pre-season
Couldn't Catch a Break: Finsmagic
-10 straight losses... Case and point...
Comeback Team: Pirates
-From 3-10 to 9-3 and a Division Crown
Lame Duck: Kringles
-A playoff team last year, now they'll have the #1 pick
The Gambler: R.O.C.
-A flurry of trades from this owner, including the one just before season to bring in LT
IR King: Motown Catmilkers
-Hasselbeck, Foster, Berrian, Stallworth... Injuries cost this team a shot at the playoffs
Division Dominators: AABC
-6-0 in division, no one came close
Displaced Team: Motown Catmlikers
-Went 3-0 against the NFC, but 2-8 against his own conference
Bye-Week Barbarian: Flaming Stewies
-Sported a 6-1 record over the bye weeks.
This team came out of nowhere. After Week 4 this team was 1-3, and this were sent to the cellar. But since Week 4, this team has won 8 in a row to put themselves in the playoffs. This team was a proven product last season, taking the AFC East title, but dropped in the first round of the playoffs. R.O.C. has a great chance to build on that start with LT and co.
2005 Results: 8-5, 1133.66, 1st in AFC East
2006 Results: 9-4, 116326 2nd in AFC East, 1st in WC
Difference: +1 Win
The Wolverines was outside looking in last year, but the adjustments have been make to make this team a playoff team. The second-year manager benefited from waiting for Frank Gore and Chester Taylor to come around as well as adding Peyton Manning. They led the division for most of the season before falling out due to points, but are still just as likely as any other team to take home the title.
2005 Results: 6-7, 938.33, 3rd in AFC West, 5th in WC
2006 Results: 8-5, 1275.58, 2nd in AFC West, 2nd in WC
Difference: +2 Wins
The Quags have had another rough year, especially down the stretch. This team was in the right spot to make the playoffs a few weeks ago, but could not come up with the big wins. This team has some great potential, and they are set with young players who are already good. Look out next year when the Quags will sport Stephen Jackson and Brandon Jacobs out of the backfield. They have shown the punch to take down any team any week, but this year it just was not in the cards.
2005 Results: 6-7, 1054.80, 3rd in AFC East, 3rd in WC
2006 Results: 7-6, 1163.10, 3rd in AFC East, 3rd in WC
Difference: +1 Win
The Bandits had a good year last year, easily making the playoffs and winning their first round match-up. One name change and a few trades later, los Banditos are in last in their division. The disapointments on this team ranged from Carnell Williams to Eli Manning and Derrick Mason. This team looked like they would contentend for it all before week 1, but just could not get going early and fell into a hole to start the season. Look out for this team to be very active in the off-season looking to get back to the top.
2005 Results: 8-5, 1093.22, 2nd in AFC West, 1st in WC
2006 Results: 6-7, 1035.51, 3rd in AFC West, 4th in WC
Difference: -2 Wins
This team was a playoff team last year despite finishing with a below .500 record. The Kringles had the same record as 3 other teams in the AFC last year, but went to the playoffs by outscoring those teams over the course of the year. This year was completely different. The Kringles did not catch the breaks this year and finished way out of the playoff picture. This team has some work to do, but can build on players like Rudi Johnson and Tony Gonzalez. Like any team in the league, they are a good trade or two from contending.
2005 Results: 6-7, 1080.69, 2nd in AFC East, 2nd in WC
2006 Results: 2-11, 937.99, Last in AFC East, Last in WC
Difference: -4 Wins
The Catmilkers were part of the bunch at the end of 2005 that saw the Kringles take the last WC spot. Had they won their last game then they would have gone instead. This year was supposed to be different, but with the much-improved teams around them, the Catmilkers could not keep up. They saw off years from Edge and Jamal Lewis, while Hasselbeck's injury killed their chance at staying in the playoff race. This team could use some depth, but still has some good talent.
2005 Results: 6-7, 1024.93, 3rd in AFC West, 5th in WC
2006 Results: 5-8, 1048.68, 4th in AFC West, 5th in WC
Difference: -1 Win
The Stewies waited last year to get things moving, but this year was different They had a hot start at 7-0 and coasted to a second divison title. The Stewies set the single-season points record with 1447.64 as well as the single-game points record with 147.78 while scoring at least 100 points in 9 of 13 games. The defending champs are out again to show everyone why they finished as top dog last season.
2005 Results: 9-4, 1219.42, 1st in NFC East
2006 Results: 11-2, 1447.64, 1st in NFC East
Difference: +2 Wins
Another great year from this team who went into the playoffs last year as the #1 team in the league. The Bandcampers figured to be a lock for the division in the pre-season and showed why all year. Despite being a little off from last year (when it appeared they wouldn't be stopped) they will still have a shot to get back to the NFC title game and go to the Super Bowl.
2005 Results: 11-2, 1315.44, 1st in NFC West
2006 Results: 10-3, 1209.28, 1st in NFC West
Difference: -1 Win
Last year this team just missed out on the playoffs at 7-6. This year 7-6 would have put them in without a tiebreaker. Instead this team went in the opposite direction and finished well below the 2nd WC spot. They got good production out of McGahee and Kevin Jones this year, but will need to improve their QB's to be a threat to AABC next season.
2005 Results: 7-6, 924.10, 2nd in NFC West, 3rd in WC
2006 Results: 5-8, 1013.36, 2nd in NFC West, 3rd in WC
Difference: -2 Wins
This rookie manager took over a team that had been to the playoffs before, but with no success. Now they return and are not to be taken lightly. This season this team has been solid, with only a few bumps in the road, but did finish strong. This team has been led by Tony Romo and Deuce McCallister thus far, and look for them to come up big in the playoffs to keep the Cap'in's Super Bowl dreams alive.
2005 Results: 8-5, 1155.17, 2nd in NFC East, 1st in WC
2006 Results: 8-5, 1209.28, 2nd in NFC East, 1st in WC
Difference: 0 Wins
The Chowheads were not expected to factor too much into the playoff races, but has spent the '06 season building for '07. This team was worthless last season on their way to getting the top pick of the '06 draft, but they have improved since. Look for this team to add another RB to complement Reggie Bush and for more steady improvment.
2005 Results: 2-11, 726.71, Last in NFC West, Last in WC
2006 Results: 4-9, 898.54, 3rd in NFC West, 4th in WC
Difference: +2 Wins
In all fairness, this team probably should not be in the playoffs. Despite a losing record on the year, Hotsauce will enter the playoffs and be matched up against the best the NFC has to offer. Laurence Maroney has stepped up to fill the void left by Clinton Portis as he joins Torry Holt and Tiki Barber as they enter the role of dark horse. Overall, this season was a step back for this franchise as this team looks to improve becuase 6-7 might not get it done next year.
2005 Results: 8-5, 1133.68, 3rd in NFC East, 2nd in WC
2006 Results: 6-7, 1075.22, 3rd in NFC East, 2nd in WC
Difference: -2 Wins
The Fins had just about the worst year imaginable. They started with a win in Week 1, but then lost 10 straight. After a Week 12 victory, they lost again to finish the year. The Fins lost a lot of close games this year that were painful to watch and their Week 12 win put them in danger of missing out on the #1 pick of the '07 draft, which he missed and will pick 2nd. You can ask this manager if that win was worth it, and he will probably say it was.
2005 Results: 4-9, 842.83, 3rd in NFC West, 4th in WC
2006 Results: 2-11, 983.64, Last in NFC West, Last in WC
Difference: -2 Wins
The team that had to find a new owner mid-season had another disapointing year. After finishing dead last in 2005, they looked to capitalize on a slightly weaker division, but ended with a 1-5 record in the NFC East. The Bushes will have some cap space to work with as well as three first round draft picks, so they should be very active this off-season and should field a much improved team in '07
2005 Results: 2-11, 893.91, Last in NFC East, 5th in WC
2006 Results: 3-10, 772.65, Last in NFC East, 5th in WC
Difference: +1 Win