Week 11 of the 2024 NPIFL season is in the books, and the playoff picture is taking shape. While inconsistency is plaguing several franchises, a few have maintained course and now look like postseason locks.
Originals HC Nathan Adams went 3-3 for the third week in a row, bringing his season totals to 29-37. Adams and the O’s are all over the early stages of the roundup, as they also won the Best Bench Of The Week Award with 61.1 points. The O’s bench has really begun picking up form recently, with Week 11 being the second time in three games they have taken home the prestigious honor.
NPIFL Week 11 Roundup
WWC (5-6) 123.32 – 111.58 YAI Chubble (8-3)
The WWC continued their intriguing season and their fascinating streak of only beating teams with positive records. The WWC are 5-0 against winning teams and 0-6 against teams at or below .500.
Week 11 saw Wardiefence go toe-to-toe with Super Bowl favorite, You are in Chubble, and come out on top after a string of good performances. QB Tua Tagovailoa put in a 3 TD performance, finishing on 23.52 points, while Jerry Jeudy (23.20) recorded 142 yards and a TD of his own.
Meanwhile, Christian McCaffrey (12.60), James Cook (17.20) and Rhamondre Stevenson (12.90) all broke 10 points, which was enough to get past a Chubble that looked a bit off the boil.
YAIC’s superstar stack of Derrick Henry (10.50) and Lamar Jackson (14.88) failed to break a combined 30 points for the first time in 2024, and 32.80 points from Saquon Barkley wasn’t enough to push them to victory. Terry McLaurin (1.50) and Nick Chubb (5.00) were the main culprits, as Will Dissly (16.00), George Pickens (12.90) and the Broncos D (13) all broke 10 points.
WWC HC Chris Ward told NFLFQS:
“Delighted to get back-to-back wins for the first time this season! Hopefully, it can give us a boost for the run-in.“
Chubble HC Oliver Bailey told NFLFQS over a cup of hibiscus:
“Well I have to take this one on the chin as head coach, I really put us in chubble with one of our players being out of action the weekend. Onwards and upwards! Here is hoping for another good run.”
Week 12 sees the WWC travel to face bitter Metro rivals, Santos XI, while Chubble looks to quash any playoff hopes the 5-6 Brymbo Originals still cling to. The WWC matchup looms large indeed, as at 5-6 with the No. 10 offense, they need to win out in style if they are to have a chance at Super Bowl contention.
Brymbo Storm (6-5) 127.10 – 138.90 Santos XI (6-5)
It was a strange game between the Brymbo Storm and Santos XI, as while the XI were scoring TDs left, right and center, the Storm was mostly idling.
The main factor for Brymbo that consigned them to defeat was cutting unpredictable QB Anthony Richardson, whose 30 points would have won them the matchup. Russell Wilson had a poor game under center, escaping with 6.30 points from the game. His lack of clinical red zone efficiency meant a big day for kicker Chris Boswell, who finished the match with 24 points.
Key performers for Brymbo, who put up a good score in Week 12 only because of their DSTs, were Cooper Kupp (25.60), Chris Boswell (24.00), J.K. Dobbins (18.40) Texans DB Jalen Pitre (8.50) and the Texans D (19.00).
A flurry of late-night trades between the Storm and Leviathans were certainly oddities discussed around the league, but had no effect on Week 11’s results.
Meanwhile, Santos XI had some great performances but stuttered a bit in the late window, which is where Brymbo started to rally. However, the performances of Matthew Stafford (27.80), David Montgomery (23.00), De’Von Achane (18.50), Chase Brown (16.80), CeeDee Lamb (14.60) and Marquez Valdes-Scantling (14.60) were enough for a comfortable win, and the XI put up the NPIFL’s third-best score.
Storm HC John Maxwell was dispirited after the defeat:
“It seems our ‘skill’ players can’t get in the endzone and you can’t win games on DSTs alone, especially not against a team as good as Santos XI – although we certainly tried. We have been appalling under center this year, and are yet to have a QB break 15 points in a game. That must be a record right?,” Maxwell asked NFLFQS’ John Maxwell, who nodded that it was.
“We will look to prove we are worthy of playoff consideration this week. If we can’t beat an ERA missing their two best players, we are truly lost as we can at most afford one more loss in 2024.“
Christopher Faulkner told NFLFQS:
“The playoffs look possible again. Sad to have to beat the important team in Brymbo, but the needs of our organization come first. I expect big things from De’Von and Rico this weekend against WWC. We put a streak together and we’re in the mix as other teams fall away.“
Santos XI will host the WWC in what is a crucial Week 11 matchup, while the Storm are tagged as favorites against an ERS lacking Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase.
Lloyds Leviathans (5-6) 105.74 – 147.58 SW 49ers (8-3)
Lloyds Leviathans took a bit of a pounding against San Wrexham, with the 49ers putting up the NPIFL’s second-highest score of the week. San Wrexham put the Leviathans to the sword via huge performances from Joe Mixon (3 TDs, 153 total yards, 34.30 points) and Amon-Ra St. Brown (161 yards, 2 TDs, 33.20 points) and a big day from Josh Allen (23.98).
The Leviathans didn’t have a lot to write home about in Week 11, as good days from Javonte Williams (16.70) and Jalen Hurts (18.74) were supported by only Courtland Sutton and Najee Harris, who both recorded 11.30 points. Other than that, no one really saw the volume or endzone activity to challenge the red-hot 49ers.
Lloyds HC Tom Lloyd spoke to reporters after the game, suggesting the trade was made by a disgruntled intern and that corporal punishment was a franchise policy. This comes after a trade sent TE T.J. Hockenson to the Storm, leaving the Levs with only an injured George Kittle:
“The intern logged into my laptop on a drunken binge, he has since been flogged.”
NFLFQS can confirm that the intern has been let go by the Leviathans as we spoke to them off the record on Tuesday.
The Leviathans prepare for a Week 12 trap game with Tyreek or Treat, with the knowledge that a loss here would be devastating to their postseason aspirations. Meanwhile, the 49ers take on fellow crisis aspirant, the Love Train, in what is realistically a win-and-in situation for San Wrexham.
Old England Pats (5-6) 107.46 – 157.34 Love Train (7-4)
The Love Train continued its winning journey in November and are unbeaten for the month on a 3-game winning streak. TLT timed their strike for an RB perfectly, and the O’s are having sellers regret with Josh Jacobs, especially with Kareem Hunt’s outlook now compromised by Isiah Pacheco’s return.
The Love Train put up the league’s best score in Week 11, with five players breaking 20 points (Jordan Love [20.24], Josh Jacobs [21.40], Breece Hall [27.60], Puka Nacua [21.80] and Brock Bowers [24.80]). Not only are the Love Train winning, but they are doing it in style and they now rank third in the NPIFL for points scored (1,308.22), which could be a decisive tie-breaker.
Meanwhile, Old England simply couldn’t keep up with the runaway Train, and even Jared Goff’s 34.58 bench points wouldn’t have saved the day. 20.10 from Jauan Jennings and 18.36 from Brock Purdy were complimented by 16.30 from Ladd McConkey, but it wasn’t close to being enough this week.
The Pats are now 5-6 and while still in range of the playoffs, one loss could signal disaster given nine teams are above them due to better records and Old England’s total points scored (1,192.28).
NFLFQS caught up with Pats HC Aminul Hassan after the game:
“When you’re oppo racks up 150+ there’s not much you can do. Also, running out of patience with LaPorta. If he continues like this he’ll be shown la porta (the door).”
Meanwhile, the Love Train’s Damen Griffiths told the assembled media:
“Big win for the team after a few changes, with players old and new proving their worth. Chatter around the league about the dealings of our front office has caused some anger and confusion around the franchise, but I think we should be proud of an operation that has put our team in such a strong position for the run-in. Choo f*ckin’ Choo yeah.”
Week 12 will see the Love Train attempt to put themselves in a fantastic spot for the playoffs if they can topple San Wrexham, while the Patriots take on a Rams team looking to go 8-4.
St Lewis Rams (7-4) 112.68 – 99.08 Brymbo Originals (5-6)
The St. Lewis Rams edged a little closer to Super Bowl contention with their win over the Brymbo Originals. The Rams know that they should make the postseason if they can win two of their four remaining games, and halting the Originals’ five-game winning streak was hugely important.
While the Rams were lucky to win this week, given their 112.68 points ranked seventh in the NPIFL this week, they had the fortune of playing an O’s team who were bitten after trading Josh Jacobs. Both Deebo Samuel and DK Metcalf underperformed on their Brymbo debuts, combining for 19.1 points.
The Originals’ issues were compounded by a bad day at RB, with only Kyren Williams breaking 10 points in the flex. Justin Herbert (24.38) and David Njoku (14.60) were the only other Brymbo players to break 10 points as the O’s fell to their first defeat since the first week of October.
O’s HC Nathan Adams told NFLFQS:
“Naturally not happy when I look at my bench once again we didn’t start the right players and that is on me, we now have a tough run of games as the playoffs seem too far away for us now. All we can do is try and disrupt a few of the top teams and see if we can have a decent finish to a disappointing season for the O’s.”
St. Lewis will be delighted to get back to winning ways, as this win kept them above their Metro competitors, Santos XI. The keys to that win were Bo Nix (28.78) and Jonnu Smith (25.10), who both had career-best performances. Other than that, there wasn’t a lot going on for the Rams, as only Ka’imi Fairbairn (10) and Justin Jefferson (11.10) broke 10 points.
The Rams would put themselves in a commanding spot for the playoffs if they can come out as winners against Old England in Week 12, while the O’s look to down YAIC in order to stay alive in the race.
Tyreek or Treat (1-10) 91.68 – 131.14 ERS (3-8)
Tyreek or Treat continued their hugely disappointing season with a loss to the ERS, and 2023’s Super Bowl winners look set for the worst record in the NPIFL. The Treat just aren’t putting up points, and they failed to break 100 for the third time this season.
While five players broke 10 points (C.J. Stroud [10.88], D’Andre Swift [15.40], Tyreek Hill [15.60] Brian Thomas [11.10] & Cameron Dicker [13]), no one went big enough to really challenge the ERS.
Meanwhile, the Eagle-Steelers saw their game-changing combo of Joe Burrow (29.04) and Ja’Marr Chase (23.00) explode for 52 points. With Detroit duo Jahmyr Gibbs (18.80) and Jameson Williams (20.60) also in great form, only three teams would have bested the ERS in Week 11.
ERS HC Dan Gittings spoke to NFLFQS’ John Maxwell on Thursday:
“Well, we finally have a win, 😁 beat the worst team in the league mind you, but we’ll take it… Tough week this week though, I don’t see a significant improvement in us to make playoffs 😉 but I mean, we might end the season on a win streak 🙏🙌🤷 #prayforERS.”
Week 12 will see Tyreek or Treat take on the Leviathans, where they will be hoping to stem the bleeding. Meanwhile, the ERS will aim at Famous Idaho Potato Bowl contention but need to take down the stumbling Brymbo Storm.
NPIFL Rumors: Famous Idaho Potato Bowl & 2025 Draft Order
NFLFQS has heard rumors that a major incentive is being added to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl bracket, with the winner of the bowl getting the No. 1 pick in the NPIFL Draft. The rumor came from an anonymous source from the office of NPIFL Commissioner Tom Lloyd, and while you may think it was the fleshly flogged and fired intern, NFLFQS couldn’t possibly comment.
This obviously contradicts the previous “random” element of the draft, and that brings this fascinating tea to a league-altering boil. As per the anonymous source, the NPIFL is considering making the rest of the draft a reverse order of the standings. The consensus, as per our source, is that:
“If picking early consistently helps teams, then it has given some an unfair advantage over others, however, if it doesn’t make a difference, it shouldn’t be a problem.”
If this rumor turns out to be true, this means the 2025 NFL draft order will be as follows:
- Potato Bowl winner
- 12th
- 11th
- 10th
- 9th
- Potato Bowl bracket – double loss
- Potato Bowl bracket – loss and win
- Potato Bowl loser
- Super Bowl bracket – double loss
- Super Bowl bracket – loss and win
- Super Bowl loser
- Super Bowl winner
As a point of interest, here are the previous draft positions by this year’s draft order:
Previous NPIFL Draft Positions
- WWC (Chris Ward): 1, 5, 8, 5*, 6*, 4*
- Tyreek or Treat (Jordan Clough): 2, 6
- Santos XI (Chris Faulkner): 3, 2, 11, 1*, 5*, 1*
- ERS (Dan Gittins): 4, 11, 7, 3*, 4*, 1*
- SW 49ers (Chris Blockley): 5, 3, 9, 6*,
- Leviathans (Tom Lloyd): 6, 8, 1, 2*, 2*, 7*
- St. Lewis Rams (Lewis Done): 7, 1, 3, 7*, 7*, 5*
- Brymbo Storm (John Maxwell): 8, 10, 5, 8*, 3*, 8*
- Old England Pats (Aminul Hassan): 9, 12, 12,
- Love Train (Damen Griffiths): 10, 4, 6, 4*, 1*, 6*
- Chubble (Oliver Bailey): 11, 7, 10,
- Brymbo O’s (Nathan Adams): 12, 9, 2,
- NFail (defunct): 4,
- The Jocks (defunct): 8*, 3*
(* Pertains to an 8-team draft)