James Brooks Rank: # 17 League: The PFL - Ft. Lauderdale, FL Nationals Record: 5-6
Brooks:43-5 in three PFL seasons.
PAST NATIONALS RECORDS TEAM SEASON RECORD Ravens 1999 1-2 Vikings 2000 0-3 Titans 2001 4-1 Total Wins .800 5-6 James Brooks Facts - Nationals Win%. - .454 - 55th Nationals Wins - 5 - 19th Championship Appearances - 0 Championship Wins - 0 2000 PFL Defending Champion 2001 PFL Runner Up

After an impressive defensive showing vs. Ed Hayward, the Vikings secondary was dominated in the second game by the big bully receivers of the Bears. Big guys David Terrell and Marcus Robinson torched the undermanned Viking secondary for big play after big play Sunday. The frustration showed on Brooks face when after having the defenders all around the ball to make plays, Robinson and Terrell still came down with reception after reception when it counted most.

Brooks seemed to have trouble early getting his running game established. However, he did manage to connect with Randy Moss to stay in the game. It is usually the Viking running game that sets up Brooks passing. This week, Brooks had to rely more on his passing game to keep up with the explosive Stewart.

And surprisingly enough, Stewart ran the ball effectively against Brooks, who had just shut down the power running of Jamall Lewis in the early game. But the straw that kept breaking the camels back was Stewart going deep to Terrell and Robinson. Brooks was inability to contain the deep chuck when it counted most did in the VIkings chance for a rematch with Ryan Collins, who dispensed of the Dell Barton in the NFC title game 16-14.

For Brooks it was his first loss in the title game, in three appearances. The Vikings defeated Kevin Fox in 2000, and Dell Barton in 2001 to earn his first two trips to the Superbowl.

After a remarkable 43-5 run over the past three years with the Vikings, Brooks will now look to the offseason to address some issues regarding the future. One, how will the #17 ranked player in the world approach nationals? Will he take the Vikes, or look at other options. Two, who will Brooks roll with next season? This year he contemplated leaving Minnesota, but opted to stay. Next year, there is a possibility the Giants will be available. Is it possible that Brooks will emerge with a NY team? We shall see.

Brooks: Playing With Total Package
J.B. has his mojo working. Brooks, by far the most complete baller in the PFL, has the low rated Viking defense playing solid, the passing attack is in high gear, and of course, his specialty, the running game is at its best. The Vikes got off to a slow start running the football, but since Brooks got used to working Michael Bennett into the offense, it doesn't¹t seem as though he has missed a beat. Brooks fell five yards short this season of tying his single season best of 1500 yards rushing in the 2001 season. Can you say...Robert Smith Who?

The Vikes are running the ball superbly with Bennet who finished second in the PFL in rushing behind Jerome Bettis¹ 1758 yards. This week Brooks faces another solid running attack in Ed Hayward¹s Baltimore Ravens, who is no slouch himself. Hayward rushed Lewis for 1178 yards this season. Last week the Ravens took advantage of a weak Cowboys defense that could not stop the run. Baltimore piled up 177 yards rushing on Dallas. That won¹t happen this week, as Brooks proved he can stop the run with likes of the best of them when he held league leading rusher Tyrell Conyers to a meager 46 yards.

The problem the Ravens have had is red zone scoring. Hayward will have to score vs. Brooks, because the Vikings will put points on the board. Another dilemma Haywood has is that Brooks is probably the most balanced player in THE LEAGUE. While most ballers cater to the run or the pass, Brooks is uncanny at mixing up the offense and keeping the defense guessing. This excellent balance in the game plan has lead the Vikes to a 14-2 record, his third straight year with 14 or more wins. No other team in PFL history has a better record over a three year span than Brooks who is 43-5 since 2000.

The Vikes will have to adjust to the Baltimore defense which manhandled Dallas last week. If Hayward can get pressure on Brooks, and disrupt his timing, the Ravens may have a chance to keep the game close. When the two teams met in the regular season, in the first meeting, Brooks was able to get off, rushing for 111 yards, but not throwing the ball often. The Vikes escaped with a 28-21 win. In game two, Bennet rushed for 74 yards on 18 attempts, but the Vikes rolled up 260 yards passing combined with some key Raven turnovers. The Vikes exploded in the 3rd quarter for 21 points to put the game out of reach in route to a 42-14 win.

For Hayward, a Baltimore win means limited mistakes, and red zone scoring. Otherwise, the Vikes will take it for the third time this season.

Brooks knew that mission #1 vs. Conyers would be to take away his potent running game. Once the Vikings forced the Steelers into a passing game Brooks had Conyers where he wanted him.

Conyers still played a well executed ballgame. Kordell Stewart was 15-29 for 345 yards and two td's. But that is not where Conyers is lethal. Brooks kept the mobile qb in the pocket and forced him to make plays with his arm and not his feet. This didn't bode well for the Steelers, but it was just what the doctor ordered for Minnesota.

Keeping the Steelers off balance offensively allowed the methodical Brooks to implement his balanced attack offensively. Bennet rushed 16 times for 85 yards and 1 td, while Culpepperd it up more going 9-17 for 315 and 3 td's. Those kind of numbers on just 9 attempts tell you one thing; Big Plays!

Next week Brooks will face the pass happy Colts and another tough running game in the Jets. The Vikes have passed though the meat of the schedule with a smooth 4-1 after facing Collins, Barton, Swammi, and Conyers. Teddy B's Charglers and Rod Lucas Jets may be the only opponents that threaten Brooks from taking sole control of the AFC.

Final		1st	2nd	3rd	4th	T
	Vikings (Brooks)	6	12	7	7	32
	Detroit (Barton)	7	21	0	0	28

Final		1st	2nd	3rd	4th	T
	Vikings (Brooks)	0	21	7	7	35
	Steelers (Tyrell)	0	7	7	14	28

James Brooks Final Regular Season Stats

Quarterback Att Cm Yds Int TD Pct Avg Rtg Pts Dante Culpepper 259 148 3695 12 36 58.7 24.6 123.4 216			Vikings Gamebook
Rushing Rsh Yds Avg TD Pts Michael Bennet 289 1495 5.2 22 132 Doug Chapman 32 147 4.6 5 30 Dante Culpepper 12 77 6.3 1 6
Receiving Rec Yds TD Avg Pts Randy Moss 78 2090 19 26.8 114 Cris Carter 36 865 6 24.0 36 Byron Chamberlain 11 169 3 15.4 18 Jake Reed 7 180 1 25.7 6	Sacks Sk Hovan 14 Sawyer 13 Johnstone 10 McDaniel 7 Wright 5 Kailee Wong 1 Smith 1	Interceptions Int Orlando Thomas 4 Robert Tate 3 Robert Griffin 3 Ed McDaniel 2 Talance Sawyer 1 Kailee Wong 1 Nelson 1

James Brooks was on top of his game Sunday. The Swammi was not. Brooks took advantage of a revamped Swammi offense, and shellacked his Cowboys 42-0. The Cowboys came into the game confident that a new game plan and new approach would be the key to pulling off an upset of the Superbowl V runner up. However, Brooks loaded up and went deep on Dallas taking advantage of the weak Cowboy secondary.

"We planned to stop the run," The Swammi stated after the game. "I had given up over 300 yards rushing the last two weeks and I was playing arguably the best runner in the PFL. So I felt the need to commit to stopping the run." Instead, Brooks went deep to Randy Moss when the Swammi rolled up 8 or 9 in a box.

The Vikings lead 14-0 early in the 4th quarter when back to back Cowboy interceptions lead to easy Viking scores. Now up 28-0, Dallas abandoned its game plan, thus allowing the Vikes to tee off.

The win placed the Vikings at 5-1 and atop the Lombardi Division. Next week however, it doesn't get any easier for the Vikes, as the face Dell Bartons 4-2 Lions, and Tyrell Conyers undefeated 6-0 Steelers.

Final		1st	2nd	3rd	4th	T
	Vikings (Brooks)	0	14	0	28	42
	Cowboys (Swammi)	0	0	0	0	0

Final		1st	2nd	3rd	4th	T
	Vikings (Brooks)	0	14	0	14	28
	Rams (Cook)	0	7	14	0	21

After his 21-13 win over Wayne Allen's 49ers, Brooks ran into a red hot Ryan Collins in the PFL Game Of The Week. Brooks was bombarded with big play after big play by the red hot Saints offense, who lead by as much as 26-7 at the half.

Brooks cut the lead to 26-14 in the 3rd quarter, but that was as close as it would get, as the Saints reeled off 20 straight points to seal the 46-21 win.

Collins hurt the Vikings defense with 400 yards of passing on only 15 completetions. Most of the damage was done by Albert Connell, who caught 7 for 213 yards. The Vikings defense was in postion to make big plays in the secondary, only to have Collins out muscle Brooks for the ball.

Brooks sports the highest winning percentage for a PFL coach over the past three seasons. Since he entered THE LEAGUE, Brooks has compiled a 39-9 record. However, he is 0-3 vs. Collins the past two seasons, including a lost in last seasons Super Bowl.

Next week Brooks takes on division rival Ed Hayward's Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens are coming off a 1-1 split in week 1, pounding Tampa Bay, but then falling to Dell Barton's Lions.

The Vikes face old rival Kevin Fox and his new team the Eagles in the second game. Fox spilt also 1-1, coming from behind to defeat Tennessee, but getting shallacked by newcomer Rod Lucas and the Jets in the second game 42-0.

After going 1-5 in his first two trips to Nationals, Brooks finally had a tournament that was more representative of his caliber of play in 2001. Brooks made it to the sweet 16 before bowing out to BFL defending champ "X."

Final		1st	2nd	3rd	4th	T
	Vikings (Brooks)	0	14	0	7	21
	49ers (Wayne Allen)	6	0	0	7	13

Final		1st	2nd	3rd	4th	T
	Collins (Saints)	0	15	15	16	46
	Brooks (Vikings)	7	0	7	7	21

How James Brooks faired at Nationals III

Game 1 - defeated Top Gun (DCFL) 46-6
Game 2 - defeated B. S. Baller (HMFL)45-8
Game 3 - defeated Aftershock (UMF) 54-28
Game 4 - defeated James Jackson (PAPOFL) 34-12 - Round 1 Of Survivor Sunday
Game 5 - loss to X (BFL) 34-17 - Round 2 Of Survivor Sunday