Tag: Arena Football League

Bengals Stadium by Kelly

1991 Major Football Leagues Standings and Playoffs

1991 Major Football League Standings

National Football League (NFL) 1991

AFC Eastern Division 1991

PosTeamWLTPctPFPA
1*Buffalo Bills1330.813458318
2+New York Jets880.500314293
3Miami Dolphins880.500343349
4New England Patriots6100.375211305
5Indianapolis Colts1150.063143389

AFC Central Division 1991

PosTeamWLTPctPFPA
1*Houston Oilers1150.688386251
2Pittsburgh Steelers790.438292344
3Cleveland Browns6100.375293298
4Cincinnati Bengals3130.188263435

AFC Western Division 1991

PosTeamWLTPctPFPA
1*Denver Broncos1240.750304235
2+Kansas City Chiefs1060.625322255
3+Los Angeles Raiders970.563298297
4Seattle Seahawks790.438276261
5San Diego Chargers4120.333274342

NFC Eastern Division 1991

PosTeamWLTPctPFPA
1*Washington Redskins1420.875485244
2+Dallas Cowboys1150.688342310
3Philadelphia Eagles1060.625285244
4New York Giants880.500281297
5Phoenix Cardinals4120.250196344

NFC Central Division 1991

PosTeamWLTPctPFPA
1*Detroit Lions1240.750339295
2+Chicago Bears1150.688299269
3Minnesota Vikings880.500301306
4Green Bay Packers4120.250273313
5Tampa Bay Buccaneers3130.188199365

NFC Western Division 1991

PosTeamWLTPctPFPA
1*New Orleans Saints1150.688341211
2+Atlanta Falcons1060.625361338
3San Francisco 49ers1060.625393239
4Los Angeles Rams3130.188234390

AFC American Football Conference Playoffs 1991

DateEventResultsMatch Day
Kansas City Chiefs vs Los Angeles RaidersAFC Wild Card Playoffs
Houston Oilers vs New York JetsAFC Wild Card Playoffs
Denver Broncos vs Houston OilersAFC Divisional Playoffs
Buffalo Bills vs Kansas City ChiefsAFC Divisional Playoffs
Buffalo Bills vs Denver BroncosAFC Championship Game

NFC National Football Conference Playoffs 1991

DateEventResultsMatch Day
New Orleans Saints vs Atlanta FalconsNFC Wild Card Playoffs
Chicago Bears vs Dallas CowboysNFC Wild Card Playoffs
Washington Redskins vs Atlanta FalconsNFC Divisional Playoffs
Detroit Lions vs Dallas CowboysNFC Divisional Playoffs
Washington Redskins vs Detroit LionsNFC Championship Game

NFL Super Bowl (AFC Champions v NFC Champions) 1991

DateEventResultsMatch Day
Buffalo Bills vs Washington RedskinsSuper Bowl XXVII

NFL Report

Buffalo Bills, holding the best record in the AFC (13-3) lost their second Super Bowl in succession, defeated 37-24 by Washington Redskins, holders of the best record in the NFC and entire NFL (14-2). For the AFC it was an eighth successive loss in the biggest event in USA sports. The last time an AFC team won the Super Bowl was Los Angeles Raiders’ 38-9 victory over Washington Redskins on 22 January 1984 at Tampa, Florida in Super Bowl XVIII. Following a scoreless first quarter the Redskins scored 17 points in the second quarter and added a second John Riggs run touchdown 16 seconds into the third quarter to take a commanding 24-0 lead. Buffalo hit back later in the third quarter with a field goal and touchdown to reduce the deficit to 14 points, but another Redskins touchdown before the end of the quarter made the score 31-10. Two more field goals by Lohmiller made the score 37-10 in the fourth quarter. The Bills scored two passing touchdowns late in the game to make the score 37-24 at the final whistle. [NFL References: 1-2]

Canadian Football League (CFL) 1991

CFL Eastern Division 1991

PosTeamWLTPFPAPts
1135064752626
299051649918
3711052257714
431504005996

CFL Western Division 1991

PosTeamWLTPFPAPts
1126067156924
2117059655222
3117066158722
4612060671012

CFL Canadian Football League Playoffs 1991

DateEventResultsMatch Day
Winnipeg Blue Bombers vs Ottawa Rough RidersEastern Semi-Final
Calgary Stampeders vs British Columbia LionsWestern Semi-Final
Toronto Argonauts vs Winnipeg Blue BombersEastern Final
Edmonton Eskimos vs Calgary StampedersWestern Final
Toronto Argonauts vs Calgary StampedersGrey Cup 1991

CFL Report

In the Canadian Football League, the Eastern Division’s Toronto Argonauts emerged victorious with a 36-21 victory over Calgary Stampeders. Calgary had the second-best record in the Western Division (11-7) after Edmonton Eskimoes, with Toronto putting up a 13-5 record to take first in the Eastern Division. Calgary eliminated Edmonton 38-36 in the Western Final and Toronto won 42-3 versus Winnipeg in the Eastern Final. [CFL References: 1]

Major Alternative and World Football Leagues 1991

Mid-Continental Football League (MCFL) 1991

MCFL Mid-Continental Football League 1991

PosTeamWLTPctPFPA
1*Dayton Steelers830.72710262
2*Cleveland Falcons940.69210792
3Wyandot Chiefs530.6259991
4Shenango Valley Blasters370.30089130

MCFL Mid-Continental Football League Playoffs 1991

DateEventResultsMatch Day
Cleveland Falcons vs Dayton SteelersMCFL Championship Game 1991

MCFL Report

In other leagues, Cleveland Falcons triumphed 7-0 versus Dayton Steelers in the Mid-Continental Football League (MCFL) Championship Game. The MCFL was a new start-up league based in Ohio and Pennsylvania that took the place of any major 11v11 rival outdoor league to the NFL since the demise of the United States Football League following the 1985 season. Following the season Louisville Bulls of Kentucky replaced Wyandot Chiefs in the four-team league. [MCFL References: 1-2]

Arena Football League (AFL) 1991

AFL Arena Football League 1991

PosTeamWLTPctPFPA
1*Detroit Drive910.900437262
2*Tampa Bay Storm820.800421309
3*Denver Dynamite640.600389365
4*Albany Firebirds640.600427342
5Dallas Texans460.400286334
6New Orleans Night460.400314401
7370.300321363
8Columbus Thunderbolts0100.000241460

AFL Arena Football League Playoffs 1991

DateEventResultsMatch Day
Detroit Drive vs Albany FirebirdsSemi-Finals
Tampa Bay Storm vs Denver DynamiteSemi-Finals
Tampa Bay Storm vs Detroit DriveArena Bowl V

AFL Report

The Arena Football League in 1991 expanded by two teams to eight, with Washington Commandos and Pittsburgh Gladiators leaving the league and replaced by four new teams in Tampa Bay Storm (FL), Orlando Predators (FL), New Orleans Night (LA) and Columbus Thunderbolts (OH). Tampa Bay Storm were immediately successful, winning Arena Bowl V 48-42 versus Detroit Drive. As in all other Major Football Leagues in 1991 the two teams with best records reached the Championship Game. Following the season Thunderbolts relocated to Cleveland (OH) and Cincinnati Rockers (OH), Charlotte Rage (NC), Sacramento Attack (CA) and San Antonio Force (TX) were added for 1992. [AFL References: 1]

World League of American Football (WLAF) 1991

WLAF North American East Division 1991

PosTeamWLTPctPFPA
1550.500257155
2550.500242286
3460.400145144
4Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks0100.000123300

WLAF North American West Division 1991

PosTeamWLTPctPFPA
1550.500140140
2460.400176196
3370.300179254

WLAF European Division 1991

PosTeamWLTPctPFPA
1910.900310121
2820.800206126
3730.700155139

WLAF World League of American Football Playoffs 1991

DateEventResultsMatch Day
Birmingham Fire vs Barcelona DragonsSemi-Finals
New York Knights vs London MonarchsSemi-Finals
London Monarchs vs Barcelona DragonsWorld Bowl '91

WLAF Report

The National Football League established the World League of American Football (WLAF) to further promote the sport around the World. Beginning in 1991 with ten teams the WLAF was divided into three divisions: European (with teams in London, England, UK; Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; and Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany); North American East Division (three teams in USA: New York/New Jersey Knights, NJ; Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks, NC; and Orlando Thunder, FL; plus one team in Quebec, Canada: Montreal Machine) and North American West Division (Three teams in USA: Birmingham Fire, AL; San Antonio Riders, TX; and Sacramento Surge, CA). An imbalance in players allocated by the NFL for development in the WLAF meant no team in the European Division finished with a losing record, and no team in either North American Division finished with a winning record. World Bowl ’91 was won by London Monarchs by 21-0 versus Barcelona Dragons at the hallowed grounds of Wembley Stadium, the home of England’s National Soccer Team. Following the 1991 season the winless Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks were replaced by Ohio Glory in Columbus for 1992. [WLAF References: 1-4]

Association of American Football of USSR (AAF) 1991

AAF Association of American Football of USSR 1991

PosTeamWLTPFPA
1*Moscow Bruins00000
2*Moscow Swans00000
3Caspian Sphinxes00000
4Kharkov Atlantis00000
5Donetsk Scythians (Ukr)00000
6Minsk Zubrs (Bison)00000

Association of American Football USSR Playoffs 1991

DateEventResultsMatch Day
Moscow Bruins (Bears) vs Moscow SwansAssociation of American Football USSR Championship 1991

AAF Report

A new Football power emerged on the scene in 1991: The USSR. Following glasnost the USSR opened up to American Football and a six-team league was established with teams in Moscow (Bruins and Swans), Caspian Sea Region (Sphinxes), Ukraine (Donetsk Scythians and Kharkov Atlantis) and Belarus (Minsk Zubrs – ‘Bison’). The first and only official Championship of USSR ended with a Moscow Bruins victory over Moscow Swans. After the season the USSR broke up, with Moscow Bears (Bruins) and Krasnoyarsk Siberian Devils competing for Championship of Russia. Kharkov Atlantis and Donetsk Scythians joined newly independent Ukraine’s Football Association and Minsk Zubrs joined Belarus’ Football Association. [AAF USSR References 1-2]

Stock Image

Bengals Stadium by Kelly
Bengals Stadium by Kelly

1991 Major Football League References

NFL References [1]
National Football League – 1996 Record and Factbook “Past Standings: 1996” p. 278.
Published by National Football League, Workman Publishing Co., New York

NFL References [2]
National Football League – 1996 Record and Factbook “Super Bowl Summaries” p. 327-329.
Published by National Football League, Workman Publishing Co., New York
MCFL References (1)
Semi-Pro Football -Defunct Leagues: EMCFL (Champs)
https://www.semiprofootball.org/minor/champs/mcfl.htm
[Accessed 1 January 2024]

MCFL References (2)
Semi-Pro Football – Defunct Leagues: EMCFL (1991)
https://www.semiprofootball.org/index.htm
[Accessed 1 January 2024]
CFL References (1)
Canadian Football League – CFL Standings: The 1990s
http://web.archive.org/web/19991108193646/http://www.cfl.ca/CFLArchives/1990s.html
[Accessed 20 January 2023][Archived at the Wayback Machine]
WLAF References (1-3)
Anon. (1991) “Standings” First Down, June 1, 1991, pg. 5
Anon. (1991) “Jon’s too Hort to handle” First Down, June 8, 1991, pg. 4-5
Anglesey, Steve (1991) “Enter the Dragons!” First Down, June 15, 1992, pg. 6-7
WLAF References (4)
World League of American Football (2018) WLAF History: 1991
http://www.worldleagueofamericanfootball.com/id165.html
[Accessed 23 April 2018]
Arena Football League References (1)
Arena Football League (2016) 2016 Record and Factbook pp. 67-83 / 52.
AAF USSR References (1)
American Football in Russia (2017) History of American Football in USSR and Russia
http://www.americanfootball.ru/Hist_RUS.php
Accessed 24 December 2017
AAF USSR References (2)
Anon. (1991) “Curtain Call” First Down. September 29, 1991. pg. 10.
Published by Mediawatch, Charlbury, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom.

About this Document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 14 March 2025. First Published: 1 January 2024

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2024

You may quote this document in whole or part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. The Logos and Photos used in this article remain the property of the organisations and individuals which own the copyright and are used here for educational and information purposes only. All Rights Reserved.

Arena Football League af2 2001

Final Standings

Arena Football League af2 American Northeast 2001

PosTeamWLTPFPA
1Richmond Speed1330814605
2Carolina Rhinos1240687519
3Charleston Swamp Foxes790702765
4Norfolk Nighthawks790631611
5Roanoke Steam790597704
6Greensboro Prowlers5110538673
7Rochester Brigade4120542749

Arena Football League af2 American Southeast 2001

PosTeamWLTPFPA
1Tallahassee Thunder1150789610
2Macon Knights1060814696
3Augusta Stallions970776682
4Jacksonville Tomcats970767737
5Florida Firecats790656675
6Pensacola Barracudas5110621698
7Columbus Wardogs0160418948

Arena Football League af2 National Midwest 2001

PosTeamWLTPFPA
1Quad City Steamwheelers15101016453
2Tulsa Talons1330774676
3Iowa Barnstormers970797721
4Wichita Stealth790715726
5Peoria Pirates790569689
6Louisville Fire6100711736
7Lincoln Lightning6100532705

Arena Football League af2 National South Central 2001

PosTeamWLTPFPA
1Tennessee Valley Vipers1420872611
2Birmingham Steeldogs1240873703
3Baton Rouge Blaze1060746783
4Bossier City Battle Wings790843845
5Arkansas Twisters6100782762
6Lafayette Roughnecks3130654868
7Memphis Xplorers3130607893

Playoff Results

Arena Football League af2 Playoffs 2001

DateEventResultsMatch Day
Quad City Steamwheelers vs Macon KnightsQuarter-Final Round
Tennessee Valley Vipers vs Tallahassee ThunderQuarter-Final Round
Richmond Speed vs Birmingham SteeldogsQuarter-Final Round
Carolina Rhinos vs Tulsa TalonsQuarter-Final Round
Tennessee Valley Vipers vs Richmond SpeedSemi-Final Round
Quad City Steamwheelers vs Carolina RhinosSemi-Final Round
Quad City Steamwheelers vs Richmond SpeedArenaCup 2001

Recap

Quad City Steamwheelers from Moline, Illinois, repeated as af2 ArenaCup Champions thanks to a 55-51 victory over Richmond Speed from Virginia in ArenaCup 2001. Ironman Scott Hvistendahl hauled in a 3 yard Touchdown Reception from Quarterback Jay McDonagh with 10 seconds remaining to give the Steamwheelers the victory. A little over a minute earlier Kevin Harvey had caught a 13-yard reception from QB Bob Bees in the endzone to give Richmond a 48-44 lead in a rollercoaster game where the lead changed hands 16 times with neither team recording back-to-back scores. The game was played in front of 8,261 fans in Moline, Illinois.

Quad City Steamwheelers had finished the regular season National Conference Midwest Division Champions on 15-1 before defeating Macon Knights (10-6, American Southwest) 80-55 in the Quarter-Final Round and Carolina Rhinos (12-4, American Northeast) 35-16 in the Semi-Final Round. Richmond Speed’s path to the ArenaCup included posting a 13-3 record to win the American Conference Northeast Division title before knocking out Birmingham Steeldogs (12-4, National South Central) 67-60 in the Quarter-Final Round and in an exciting overtime game overcoming Tennessee Valley Vipers from Hunstsville, Alabama (14-2, National South Central) in the Semi-Final Round. Other teams to make the Playoffs were American Southeast Champions Tallahassee Thunder (11-5) and National Midwest runners-up Tulsa Talons (13-3).

About Arena Football League af2

The Arena Football League was the original Indoor or Arena American Football League, established in 1986. After the court ruling in 1998 that its patent (awarded in 1989) only referred to the rebound nets either side of the goalposts, everything else was football, and not under copyright, as it was already in the common sphere.

This opened the door to rival Indoor Leagues, and in an attempt to see them off Arena Football League created Arena Football 2 (af2) in 2000, an official Minor League. This was an over-expansion and coupled with the debts from the court case related to the patent, it incurred a legacy debt that left the League in no position to continue after 2019.

For the second af2 season in 2001, the league consisted of 28 franchises, in two conferences (American and National). The American Conference (East Coast) had two divisions of seven teams each: Northeast and Southeast and the National Conference (Central USA) also had two divisions of seven teams (Midwest and South Central). The top two teams in each division qualified for the playoffs, seeded 1-8.

ABOUT ARENA / INDOOR FOOTBALL

Indoor Football, also known as Arena Football was developed in 1986 as an 8v8 form of Indoor American Football. After an initial few seasons where the game was developed with a 4 team league, a full seasons League with eventually over a dozen teams was developed in the 1990 which was considered by the Wall Street Journal to be a fifth major.

The Arena Football League over-expanded in the 2000s with a Minor League, and its importance (and number of teams) waned since it first experienced financial diffulty in 2009, and it ceased operations after the 2019 season due to the legacy debt incurred.

There is now, however, Indoor Football Leagues all over America, all of which would now be considered Minor League or Semi-Pro (AAA, AA, or even A)

Indoor Football is played on a 50-yard field with two 8-yard endzones, and teams have 5 downs (attempts) to reach the endzone or the ball is turned over. 3 of those downs must be passing plays, making Indoor Football highly explosive and high scoring.

The main difference between Arena Football & Indoor Football is the rebound nets either side of the goalposts in Arena Football, which is the only part of the original patent given to the Arena Football League in 1989, that a subsequent ruling in 1998 ruled was copyright, the rest being Football already in other leagues.

Photo of Classic Moline Steam Tractor

PEKIN, NORTH DAKOTA, September 2, 2018: An old restored classic Minneapolis Moline and other tractors are displayed at the Labor Day Stump Lake Village Threshing Bee. Copyright: rjfiskness

References

[1] Arena Football (2001) af2.com Game Center -> 2001 Standings [Internet] Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/20011114102309/http://www.arenafootball.com/af2/games/index.cfm?include=/includes/standings.cfm&subnav_key=af2_games&page_type=dept&bar_img=af2_games_stands [Accessed 18 November 2022]

[3] Arena Football (2001) af2.com Game Center -> Scores [Internet] Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/20011115084356/http://www.arenafootball.com/af2/team/league_pressreleases.cfm?source=st&cont_id=69751 [Accessed 18 November 2022]

[4] Arena Football (2001) af2.com Game Center -> Scores [Internet] Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/20011215160558/http://www.arenafootball.com/af2/games/index.cfm?include=/includes/scores.cfm&subnav_key=af2_games&page_type=dept&bar_img=af2_games_scores [Accessed 18 November 2022]

[5] Arena Football (2001) af2.com Arena Cup – > Quad City repeats in a rubberband battle [Internet] Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/20011205122309/http://www.arenafootball.com/af2/team/league_pressreleases.cfm?source=st&cont_id=70462 [Accessed 18 November 2022]

[6] Arena Football (2001) af2.com -> Teams [Internet] Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/20011112215429/http://arenafootball.com/af2/team/index.cfm?page_type=dept&cont_id=53070&subnav_key=af2_teams&no_bar=true&subnav=false [Accessed 18 November 2022]

Image References

[8] PEKIN, NORTH DAKOTA, September 2, 2018: An old restored classic Minneapolis Moline and other tractors are displayed at the Labor Day Stump Lake Village Threshing Bee. Copyright: rjfiskness [Internet] Available from: https://www.123rf.com/photo_114870264_Pekin,%20north%20dakota,%20september%202,%202018:%20an%20old%20restored%20classic%20minneapolis%20moline%20and%20other%20tractors%20are%20displayed%20at%20the%20labor%20day%20stump%20lake%20village%20threshing%20bee..html?vti=n5qwnxcjeuf7d73tnf-1-30 [Accessed 19 November 2022]

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to Todd Zboyan, Tim Leadingham. Bart Barden & Sam Thompson.

ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 10 June 2025. First Published: 19 November 2022

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2022

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Reserved. The Logos and Photos used in this article remain the property of the organisations and individuals which own the copyright and are used here for educational and information purposes only. Eirball is not officially connected or endorsed by Arena Football League.

football team running thru football field

AFL Arena Football League Test Season 1986-87

Test Schedule

AFL Arena Football League Test Season 1986-87
Match Day Test Game
(Test Game)
30 - 18

Rockford Metros vs Chicago Politicians

Match Day Showcase Game
(Showcase Game)
30 - 33

Chicago Bruisers vs Miami Vice

REPORT

On February 11, 1981, James Foster witnessed an Indoor Soccer game at Madison Square Garden, and drew out the outline of an Indoor American Football field on a manilla envelope, using the same basic premise of a football field on a converted Ice Hockey rink. [2]

The first AFL test game was held on 27 April 1986 in Rockford, Illinois between the Rockford Metros and Chicago Politicians, and following positive public response the first “showcase game” in Chicago in front of 8,200 fans on February 27, 1987, where Miami Vice triumphed 33-30 over Chicago Bruisers. [2; 4-5]

About Arena Football

This version of American (or Gridiron) Football has become extremely popular in Mexico. Indoor Football, also known as Arena Football was developed in 1986 as an 8v8 form of Indoor American Football. After an initial few seasons where the game was developed with a 4 team league, a full seasons League with eventually over a dozen teams was developed in the 1990 which was considered by the Wall Street Journal to be a fifth major.

The Arena Football League over-expanded in the 2000s with a Minor League, and its importance (and number of teams) waned since it first experienced financial diffulties  in 2009, and it ceased operations after the 2019 season due to the legacy debt incurred. There is now, however, Indoor Football Leagues all over America, all of which would now be considered Minor League or Semi-Pro (AAA, AA, or even A)

Arena Indoor Football is played on a 50-yard field with two 8-yard endzones, and teams have 5 downs (attempts) to reach the endzone or the ball is turned over. 3 of those downs must be passing plays, making Indoor Football highly explosive and high scoring.

The main difference between Arena Football & Indoor Football is the rebound nets either side of the goalposts in Arena Football, which is the only part of the original patent given to the Arena Football League in 1989, that a subsequent ruling in 1998 ruled was copyright, the rest being Football already in other leagues.

Indoor American Football Photograph

football team running thru football field
Photo by Joe Calomeni on Pexels.com

REFERENCES

BIBLIOGRAPHY

[1] Arena Football League (2016) “2016 Record and Fact Book” pp. 57-65.

[2] Arena Football League (2016) “2016 Record and Fact Book” pp. 52-56.

SOCIAL MEDIA

[3] Arena Fan Facebook Page (2021) Post, April 27, 1987 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/arenafan/posts/10160818695018222 [Accessed 4 June 2021]

WEBSITES

[4] Arena Fan (2021) History 1986 Schedule [Internet] Available from: http://www.arenafan.com/history/?page=yearly&histleague=1&fpage=schedule&year=1986 [Accessed 4 June 2021]

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to Richard Conville, Conor Lynch, Maurice Lynch, Dylan Brennan, Jonathan Brennan, Simon Brennan & Robert Byron.

ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball – Irish North American & World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 14 August 2022

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2022

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Reserved. The Logos and Photos used in this article remain the property of the organisations and individuals which own the copyright and are used here for educational and information purposes only.