Without delving too much into the context around these 2 games (because really, these 2 games are part of a stretch of games that are hall of fame worthy also), some context needs to be defined to understand the importance and impressiveness of these two weeks.
It was the 2014 season. A few years removed from Coach Barnes’s 2011 title season. In 2012 Tom’s Tyrant became only the second team to have a 13-1 regular season, only to go out in the first round of the playoffs. 2013 saw a bit of a dip, with an ok 6-8 season that ended without playoffs. Despite that, Coach Barnes had really come into his own as a head coach.
But at the start of 2014, you would have been forgiven for thinking the coach has lost his touch. Despite starting 2-1, come week 8 the coach would be staring 2-5 in the face, and the likely prospect of missing playoffs. But the coach got the teams act together, and they would win all but one game from weeks 8 to 12, putting them firmly back in the playoff race.
However, sitting at 6-6, their bid for playoffs was far from over. They were the 6th seed, behind 8-4 Gridiron Gang and 7-5 Burdettinators. They would need a miracle to make the playoffs. What happened next, is just that.
In Week 13 they faced the 9-3 Tuckfards, who had already won the NFC division. This would be a tough test, and Tom’s Tyrants could not afford to lose. But Tom’s Tyrants more than rose to the occasion. In what is still a record today, Coach Barnes lead the side to 205.88 points, not only the highest weekly score in LOC history, but the ONLY score to ever top 200 points. What got them there was Drew Brees (40.28), Le’Veon Bell (31.4), C.J. Anderson (24.5), T.Y. Hilton (12.2), Tre Mason (34.4), and the Rams defence (36). It’s safe to say Tom’s Tyrants won the game, despite their opponent scoring over 120, and their hopes were still alive.
In Week 14, Tom’s Tyrants were still the 6th seed with a 7-5 record. Burdettinators had won and moved to 8-5, but Gridiron Gang lost and fell to 8-5. The 4th seed was still up for grabs, but IKNAN was also in the hunt at 7-5. The advantage Coach Barnes had was a superior point total, due to that timely 200 point game. All he needed was a win, a Gridiron Gang loss and a Burdettinators loss, and the 4th seed was theirs.
For the second week in a row, it would not be easy. Tom’s Tyrants faced The Dream Team, who had already locked up the third seed with a 9-4 record - but they lost their last 2, so there was a good chance. As it would happen, The Dream Team did have a very good week with 116 points. But Coach Barnes produced another stroke of magic for the second week in a row. Not quite 200, but 198.8 points secured a W, and due to Gridiron Gang and Burdettinators losses, the final playoff spot. What got them there this time? Drew Brees (14), Le’Veon Bell (41.5), C.J. Anderson (23.8), T.Y. Hilton (25), Rob Gronkowski (14.7), Julio Jones (31.9), Matt Prater (10) and the Rams D (31).
Tom’s Tyrants would go on to win their second title, the only team to win two titles. But it is these 2 weeks, these 2 crucial weeks, which were the epitome of that last gasp playoff run. These two weeks generated the two highest weekly scores in LOC history, the only game over 200 points, and the only 2 week stretch ever to generate over 400 points. If that’s not hall of fame worthy, I don’t know what is.
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