Keller Wins TMFL Super Bowl #2

Congratulations to TMFL Commissioner Keller and his Buffalo Bills for taking home the TMFL Super Bowl Trophy! Keller faced his buddy and fellow podcaster rushers24 and his Dallas Cowboys. This one was a blowout, with Keller taking the win 38-7. Here is Keller’s entertaining Super Bowl writeup:

Everyone by now knows how much this game means. Whether it be through the podcast or through the festivities leading up to the game… the Days of Thunder and Rocky references, the references to the Joe Frazier/George Foreman heavyweight title fight. You knew it would be a clash of the titans. If you didn’t, you weren’t paying attention.

Two friends, pitted against one another for the right to be called champion. Tensions could not have been higher but there can only be one. Years and years the two have battled - each earning their own accolades along the way but this was always the game. A Superbowl matchup each time they faced - the game always carried a lot of weight - this time it was for real. This time, it would be remembered forever.

It turns out Ivan Drago is a man after all. “You see, hes not a machine. He’s man.”

I would have liked to post up the stats etc like I usually do but seeing as how I advanced the league, I can no longer get my hands on the stats. My sincere apologies, I will do my best to recap the game.

The game started out like any other. Buffalo got the ball to start and they came out with the mentality so swing for the fences. On first down, Lee Evans was wide open on the right sideline but the rookie QB was hit while throwing and it fell way, way short. Undeterred, Buffalo came out in 4WR. The rookie saw Lee Evans matched up on a LB and immediate went for the jugular. Dallas was bringing the blitz but it came too late, Robinson lofts up a pass down the left hash and with no safety help, Evans was wide open to catch the pass and outrun the defense 40 more yards and the quick score. 7-0 Buffalo.

Dallas gets the run game going to pickup a first but then stumble a bit on the next 2 plays to bring up 3rd and 8. Romo makes a nice read and see’s Austin running the post and open. The pass is on the mark and Austin makes the catch but immediately is hit from the right by CB Terrance McGee who was going for the strip. Austin drops it, McKelvin picks it up, Bills ball. VERY VERY surprising it was not ruled an incomplete catch. How it was considered a catch and fumble is up to the Madden Gods who appear to by shining on the seemingly cursed 4 Superbowl loss Buffalo Bills.

Buffalo has the ball in good field position and get moving again. CJ Spiller rips off a first down run then Buffalo completes two very short passes to bring up 3rd and 8. Marcus Easley makes a huge catch and fights for extra yards but comes up short, leaving it 4th and inches on the 51 yard line. With Buffalo heading into the wind, it was decision time already for Coach K. Coach K said on the sideline, if we can’t convert 4th and inches we don’t deserve to be here. Buffalo ran the QB sneak and picked up the easy first and a sigh of relief could be heard round Billsnation.

CJ Spiller gets hit on a run play and loses 4 yards. On 2nd and 14, a screenplay was called with 2 WR’s split left, both running streaks to run off the coverage. At the snap, QB Chris Robinson notices no one is covering Marcus Easley and throws a quick strike down the seam. He catches the pass and splits the safeties to go in for the 38 yard touchdown. 14-0 Buffalo.

Dallas gets the ball back and seems determined to finally make something happen. A nice first down run brings up 2nd and 3 but Buffalo sniffed out the sweep and get Dallas to 3rd and 3. Dallas comes out with a Shotgun split backs look but Witten was the back to the right. Buffalo brings heat, Romo gets the pass off to an open Jason Witten for a first down and upon catching it, Merriman goes to punch the ball out and SUCCESS. Bills hold the once high powered Dallas offense to 3 and out.

A booming punt leaves Buffalo all the way back on their 22, but they weren’t deterred. End of the first quarter.

Buffalo comes out and decides to start hitting the highly touted Dallas run defense in the mouth. They pickup two key 3rd downs on running plays as well as 2 other rushing first downs on the drive. A beautifully thrown ball, lofted over the LBers and under the 2 deep safeties, caught by Lee Evans in traffic, leaves Buffalo with 1st and goal from the 2 yard line. A run play gets hit in the backfield and takes the back to the 4. A completed pass goes for 1 yard on the right bringing up 3rd and goal from the 3. Buffalo throws to the back of the endzone to TE Shawn Nelson, he gets hit and drops the would be touchdown so Buffalo has to settle for 3 points. Huge stand by the Dallas defense. 17-0 Buffalo.

Dallas gets the ball and picks up a first down on a draw play. After another run play, Dallas throws to the left sideline to an open Dez Bryant for a chance at a big play and it is OVERTHROWN by Tony Romo. Bad, bad throw. Romo, obviously frazzled but undeterred. Dallas comes out in 4 wide but Buffalo is all over the receiver and the pass is broken up, Dallas must punt and give the Bills good field position again.

Unfortunately for Dallas, it was time for some Roscoe Magic. Parrish fields the punt on the 25, cuts right, then left to dart back across the field. He gets to midfield and decides to cut all the way back right, and theres nothing but DAYLIGHT. He outruns the punter try to cut him off and hes off, 75 yards TO THE HOUSE. BILLSNATION IS GOING BALLISTIC. 24-0 BUFFALO with 1:51 to play in the half.

Dallas comes out and immediately tries to go deep. Romo holds on the ball for too long and is SACKED by Jamaal Anderson bringing up 2nd and 21. Things are beginning to unravel. Dallas drops back deep again trying to push the ball downfield and this time Shawne Merriman gets the pressure and Romo’s pass flops only a few yards pass the line of scrimmage bringing up 3rd and 21. Romo drops back deep again and fires deep to Austin over the middle with a chance to pickup the first down. Paul Posluszny and Safety Jairus Byrd and corner Terrance McGee are ALL there but Austin HAS A CHANCE to catch it. The ball glances off his fingers, he’s immediately hit by Poz, and Dallas has gone 3 and out AGAIN. BILLSNATION IS ESTATIC.

Buffalo gets the ball moving and they get all the way down to the Dallas 20 yard line with no timeouts and 15 seconds left on the clock on 2nd and 4. Some miscommunication between Coach K and Chris Robinson leave the offense on the field instead of trying to kick the easy field goal. (I hit gameflow on accident) Robinson connects with Easely on the 3 yard line where he’s brought down but the time just ticks off - missed opportunity for the DOMINANT Buffalo Bills. 24-0 at half.

Dallas finally hits a big play down the right sideline to Dez Bryant, bringing the ball to the Bills 40 yard line. The very next play, Romo holds the ball again for too long and his throw is deflected forward but up in the air. Buffalo was in zone defense so McKelvin quickly see’s the wounded duck and flies forward to try to make the pick. McKelvin gets there in time and picks the pass off in stride, returning it all the way for a touchdown. 31-0 BUFFALO. BILLSNATION GOES CRAZY. COULD THIS FINALLY BE THE YEAR. Coach K, calm and collected, readied himself for another quarter and a half of football.

Dallas finally puts together a complete drive. Running and throwing, capped off by a TD run by Felix Jones. 31-7 Buffalo with 2:15 left in the 3rd.

Buffalo begins moving the ball down the field again. They get to midfield and finally stumble, bringing up 3rd and 11. Coach K said to Chris Robinson on the sideline - step on their throats before they get any momentum. Robinson calls a screen play but audibles to a deep throw to try to pickup the first. Dallas leaves him with penty of time and he finds Lee Evans down the middle of the field for the first down. Only 4:30 left until the Superbowl champ is crowned and Dallas looks completely lifeless.

Fred Jackson comes into the game and throws the final blows coming on rushing first downs. CJ Spiller scores a TD in garbage time and thats it. THE BILLS HAVE FINALLY DONE IT. INTO THE RECORD BOOKS. THE 16-0 DALLAS COWBOYS FALL LIKE THE 16-0 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS.

DOWN GOES IVAN DRAGO!

The Buffalo Bills are your Superbowl Champions. They will be remembered forever.

Dallas
85 yards rushing
85 yards passing
Romo 4/14 1INT

Buffalo
CJ Spiller 20 carries for 100 yards 1TD

Superbowl MVP Lee Evans 4 catches over 130 yards 1 TD

The TMFL now enters the offseason going into season 3. Will Keller be able to repeat? Can rushers24 break the Super Bowl loser curse and make a good playoff showing next season? Who will step up this year and become contenders? Many questions are to be answered. The owners are now all re-signing veterans and positioning their draft boards for the upcoming monday night live draft.

Keller and rushers have also recently posted the 3rd TMFL podcast and can be found here

They go over the end of the season awards as well as playoff game recaps.
A few award highlights:
Coach of the Year: rushers24 - Cowboys
MVP: Matt Ryan - Falcons (Capparelli)

Stay tuned for more podcasts and good luck in season 3!