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1997 Week 16 Results |
Ironically, it is Elam that is the hero for Ricker. Ten weeks ago, Ricker was counting on Elam to win a Monday night game, and guess what. Scott Bentley kicked for Denver. A fact the the entire world was aware of except for Ricker and maybe the cosmonauts in the Mir. So, as fate would have it, Elam puts Ricker in the championship against Wallace, the beneficary of Ricker's mistake in
Wanna bet Wallace tries to claim Vaughn Hebron? The back-up Denver running back stepped in for the injured Terrell Davis Monday night and scored a TD. What Wallace may not know is that Hebron is already on someone's roster. Been there since the draft. Gathering dust until now. Who owns him? Why it is Ricker!!!! Guess what? It may be possible to draft a championship team and stay put all year...
This is the second consecutive year that that two former champions will meet in the Super Bowl. Last year Wallace met Best.
In week 15, only two of the eight remaining teams left were former champions. Five former champions lost in week 14.
This is the fourth time that Wallace has made the Super Bowl. That breaks the record of three that he shared with Best and Jackson.
Wallace becomes the fourth team to appear in back to back Super Bowls. Jackson (86L,87W), Bratcher (89L,90L) and Czupryna (91W-92L).
Wallace becomes only the second team to ever attempt to win two consecutive Super Bowls. CZ was the other, but was blown out by RICKER in 1992, 41-3.
At least the football gods have bestowed upon us a championship game that from the perspective of our history looks interesting. Our reigning champion, Wallace, faces a former champion, Ricker. Never mind that both teams, a ninth and twelve seeds respectively, finished the regular season with a losing record.
In 1992, Wallace served Ricker his first loss of the season 44-43 when Gary Clark scored on a Monday night. The win was one of Wallace's defining moments. It was probably where he earned his reputation as being the master of the waiver wire. That week, he special reserved the Cincinnati QBs and they accounted for 18 points.
The game this year in week 6, was certainly one of the most interesting of the year. That game Wallace had one of those 31 point days from Kordell Stewart. (Stewart repeated that feat in week 15). That game represented a turning point for Wallace. Kordell was most of his offense that week, and he would have to be counted on to put up spectacular numbers every week as the rest of his team went into the tank with injuries and non-production. Wallace would lose his next five.
The week 6 game was an embarrassing moment for Ricker. The game was easily his had he been aware that Denver kicker Jason Elam would not play. He was lampooned as being disconnected and uninformed. It took a life threatening injury to get Ricker to make a move. His last move was to replace Ike Hilliard in week 4 when he broke his neck. However, if you DRAFT well, then why make a lot of moves? Ricker was not present to hear the snorts that some of his phoned in picks received. Antonio Freeman early in the second? The leading WR in the BRFL this year. Gary Brown? Nearing a 1000 yard season. Yancy Thigpen? His spectular week 15 performance brought Ricker here. Vaughn Hebron? A canidate for Deadwood of the Year, until Terrell Davis goes down in week 16. Now that's planning!
Robert Smith vs IND. Smith can have a big game if the tight Vikes play it close to the vest.
Natrone Means at OAK: Jacksonville needs to break out of its offensive doldrums and establish the run. Needs a win to hope for a home wild card. The Raiders are known to make superstars out of ordinary backs.
David Dunn/James Hunden v BAL: Cincinnati has been a scoring machine during our playoffs. Dilemma for Wallace, which Pickens replacement to start?
Tommy Vardell at NY Jets. Last week the Lions scored twice from the one on passes, and were stuffed another time. A crap shoot.
Shannon Sharpe vs SD. A must play due to Ricker and to stem the tide.
Mike Hollis vs BAL. Hollis came up HUGE in last years Super Bowl.
ST Louis D at CAR. St Louis D always scores on the Panthers. Perhaps Wallace was looking ahead to this game when he dropped the Jets and their 29 points.
Gary Brown @ DEN: Brown needs 82 yards for a 1000. Guys seeking personal milestones are always good week 17 bets.
Jamal Anderson At ARZ Every year there is a team that appears to run the table late in the season and big things are expected for next. This year it is the Falcons. Anderson could benefit big.
Yancey Thigpen at TEN: Yancy has come up big in the late season and should see some action from Wallace's QB.
Antonio Freeman vs BUF. Expect Freeman to have a quiet game, while the Packers pack it in for a little pre-playoff R&R.
Vaughn Hebron v SD: If Ricker wants to stay off the beaten path, for one week, he owns Terrell Davis...
Jason Elam v SD: Only weather might shake him up, otherwise a good day.
Green Bay D v BUF: The leaky Bills offense with nothing at stake might cause defensive backs to leap into the stands.
Tot WK15 Wk16 Wk17
BEST 101 60 41 0
CZUPRYNA 92 52 40 0
TALBOT 84 40 44 0
DEITRICH 83 48 35 0
PEIL 78 28 50 0
OUTLAW 70 45 25 0
JACKSON 69 44 25 0
MOSAKOWSKI 66 36 30 0
JONES/KLINGMAN 65 32 33 0
STROUPE 51 37 14 0
GATES 25 *52 25 0
BARRY 24 *46 24 0
RICKER 0 *44 *29 0
WALLACE 0 *33 *48 0
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