NNN NNN FFFFFFFFF LLL NNNN NNN FFF FF LLL NNNNN NNN FFF LLL NNN NNNNN FFFFFF LLL NNN NNNN FFF LLL NNN NNN FFF LLL LL NNN NNN FFF LLLLLLLLL SSSSSSSS TTTTTTTTT RRRRRRRR EEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEE TTTTTTTTT SS S TT TTT TT RRR RRR EEE EE EEE EE TT TTT TT SS TTT RRR RRR EEE EEE TTT SSSS TTT RRRRRR EEEEE EEEEE TTT SS TTT RRR RRR EEE EEE TTT S SS TTT RRR RRR EEE EE EEE EE TTT SSSSSSSS TTT RRR RRR EEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEE TTT NFL Street FAQ/Strategy Guide Version 1.12 Created On 2/4/2004 Copyright © 2004 Archangel Sephiroth E-mail: khan_hennessey7@yahoo.com (--) Version History Version 1.12 - Updated On 6/27/2004 - Updated (08) Pick-Up Games - Updated (11) My Team - Added (07) Team Builds Version 1.11 - Updated On 4/28/2004 - Updated (04) FAQ - Updated (06) Helpful Hints - Updated E-mail Address - Added (07) Pick-Up Games - Added (11) Contributors Version 1.10 - Updated On 3/02/2004 - Updated (04) FAQ - Added (05) Fields - Added (07) Legendary Challenges - Completed (08) Impact Gear Version 1.00 - Updated On 2/10/2004 - Completed FAQ/Strategy Guide (00) Table Of Contents: (--) Version History (00) Table Of Contents (01) Background (02) Getting Started (I) - Quarterback (QB) (II) - Running Back (RB) (III) - Wide Receiver (WR) (IV) - Offensive Lineman (OL) (V) - Defensive Back (DB) (VI) - Safety (S)* (VII) - Linebacker (LB) (VIII) - Defensive Lineman (DL) (03) Attributes (04) FAQ (05) Fields (06) Helpful Hints --WHO COMES FIRST? --THE BIG D --SPEED, TACKLE, CARRYING --IT IS YOUR TEAM --TO PICK-UP, OR NOT TO PICK-UP --TAKE ONE FOR THE TEAM --TWO DIFFERENT BUILDS, ONE REAL PURPOSE --DON'T SPEND IT ALL IN ONE PLACE --MAKING AN IMPACT --JUST DO IT --A QUICK LEAD (07) Team Builds (08) Pick-Up Games -Pick-Up Mode- -All NFL Pick-Up Mode- (09) Legendary Challenges (10) Impact Gear (11) My Team (12) Contributors (13) Acknowledgements (01) Background Since I first got it, I have played this game to the point of exhaustion. I decided to write a FAQ for all the beginners who want guidance in the right direction. Obviously, there might be spoilers contained within this document, so consider yourself warned. If you have something to add or see something that needs to be changed, you can E-mail me. Anybody who contributes something useful will be properly credited for their information. If you want to use any information from this FAQ, ask me first through E-mail. (02) Getting Started So, you want to build a team from scratch? Creating seven unique players to challenge the NFL's cream of the crop in different street challenges can be quite a daunting task. I am not going to get into the specific details of how to upgrade every single character for every single stat, because then all the uniqueness is taken out and you do not have your own team; you have my team with a different look. Just in case you are unsure of which attributes affect which skills, I will list all ten attributes along with short descriptions taken directly from the manual. Here are some basic guidelines for each position in NFL Street: --OFFENSE-- (I) - Quarterback (QB) -Optimal Height: 6'2 - 7'0 -Optimal Weight: 170 - 220 lbs Players To Fill Position = 1 Primary Attributes: Passing Secondary Attributes: Speed, Agility Optional Attributes: Blocking, Carrying Notes: The QB is essential to any football team. Since the passing game revolves around the QB, it pretty obvious why he NEEDS a high passing attribute, first and foremost. Speed and agility are also helpful for Option plays if you want to lead towards a scrambling quarterback, such as Michael Vick or Donovan McNabb. Carrying also comes in handy when the blitz comes hard, as a player with a high carrying attribute is less likely to cough up the football for a turnover. Blocking is useful if you like following the QB up the gut with your RB, because he can take out that extra LB, giving your RB the hole he needs for a bigger gain. (II) - Running Back (RB) -Optimal Height: 5'8 - 6'2 -Optimal Weight: 230 - 290 lbs Players To Fill Position = 1 Primary Attributes: Speed, Carrying Secondary Attributes: Run Power, Agility Optional Attributes: Catching, Blocking Notes: The RB is the backbone of the team in NFL Street. You will not get far in any ladder or challenge without a strong running game to rely on. Speed is obviously mandatory in RUNNING the ball, as is the carrying attribute, so you do not fumble the ball. It is up to you to decide whether to build up your agility, for a RB like Barry Sanders, or the run power attribute, for a Walter Payton wannabe. In either case, the other attribute should still be pretty high, in order to have a well rounded RB, giving you options on how you want to break down the defense. With both attributes, you can break the ankles of bigger players and plow through the smaller defenders all in the same play. Catching is very useful for pitching plays, or if you plan on using your RB for short dump-off passes or on deep plays as a slot receiver, which I highly recommend, due to his ability to gain yards after the catch (YAC) better than either of your main receivers. Blocking is useful only if you plan on staying in the pocket for a long time and using your RB to protect your QB until the WR gets open. (III) - Wide Receiver (WR) -Optimal Height: 6'4 - 7'0 -Optimal Weight: 160 - 210 lbs Players To Fill Position = 2 Primary Attributes: Speed, Catching Secondary Attributes: Agility, Blocking Optional Attributes: Carrying Notes: The WR is the other half of the passing threat. You cannot throw a ball downfield without someone at the other end to catch it. Each team has two WR's, for twice the fun. Receivers need to run their routes and get downfield as fast as possible, so speed is essential, as is catching, because it does not matter how badly the WR beats the DB if he cannot come down with the ball afterwards. Agility helps with jumping to get height over the DB to make those impossible catches and blocking is very useful for holding up the DB's on the outside runs up the sideline. If your WR is extremely efficient at blocking, he can quickly dispatch the DB and move downfield for another block, which is VERY helpful for gaining BIG yardage down the sideline. If your WR's are constantly fumbling the ball right after completing the catch, consider increasing their carrying attribute. (IV) - Offensive Lineman (OL) -Optimal Height: 6'0 - 6'10 -Optimal Weight: 280 - 380 lbs Players To Fill Position = 3 Primary Attributes: Blocking Secondary Attributes: Speed, Agility Optional Attributes: Catching Notes: There is not enough to be said about these three fun, beefy guys. Well, there is, but I am not going to get into details right now. The offensive line is responsible for giving the QB time to get the ball off to one of his receivers, and the line is also in charge of creating lanes for the RB by tying up the defensive linemen while the RB charges through. Obviously, their area of expertise is blocking. Speed and agility are helpful for OL when it comes to quickly getting to their respective blocks and moving downfield for support. Catching is only useful if you are pitch-happy and every player on your team usually gets their hands on the ball at one time or another. --DEFENSE-- (V) - Defensive Back (DB) -Optimal Height: 6'6 - 7'0 -Optimal Weight: 180 - 220 lbs Players To Fill Position = 2 Primary Attributes: Speed, Coverage, Tackle Secondary Attributes: Agility, Catching Optional Attributes: D-Moves Notes: DB's are responsible for shutting down the passing game, as well as moving to stop the run when it gets past the defensive line. There are two DB's per team, and Speed and coverage are required for both DB's to keep up with the opposing WR's and converge to the ball. Tackling is also necessary, in bringing down the player with the ball once they have been caught. Much like agility helps receivers to jump for the ball, agility also helps DB's make aerial miracles occur, snatching the ball in front of the WR before he even has a chance to make a play, as long as he also has catching. D-moves are great if your opponent favors the run, and more often than not, takes the run to the outside where the big, mean LB is not lurking. D-moves allow your DB to quickly get around the opposing WR to make the big play in the backfield for a loss of yards. (VI) - Safety (S)* -Optimal Height: 6'0 - 6'6 -Optimal Weight: 180 - 220 lbs Players To Fill Position = 1 Primary Attributes: See DB Secondary Attributes: See DB Optional Attributes: See DB Notes: The safety acts as the third DB in the backfield. He roams in the backfield and covers any holes the defense might have left. *There is no actual safety position in this game, so you cannot label any one player a "safety," but he is mentioned in the playbook and he does still play the part of the safety, being the last stand of any defense. You will want to build him like your DB's, except the safety can sacrifice agility for tackling. After all, they don't call the position "STRONG SAFETY" for nothing. (VII) - Linebacker (LB) -Optimal Height: 5'10 - 6'2 -Optimal Weight: 240 - 290 lbs Players To Fill Position = 1 Primary Attributes: Tackle, Tackle, Tackle Secondary Attributes: Speed, D-Moves Optional Attributes: Coverage, Agility Notes: The LB is your primary run stopper, and since running is at the heart of this game, he will be well appreciated. If only one broken tackle can lead to a wide open field and a subsequent touchdown for the other team, it is your responsibility to make sure your LB has a high enough tackle attribute so that he rarely, if ever, misses a tackle. Obviously, speed is needed to track down those monstrous running-backs and D-Moves helps to go through the blockers like water to stop the RB in his tracks. Coverage helps if you run pass defenses most of the time, and agility goes hand-in-hand with both coverage and D-Moves for obvious reasons. (VIII) - Defensive Lineman (DL) -Optimal Height: 6'0 - 6'10 -Optimal Weight: 280 - 380 lbs Players To Fill Position = 3 Primary Attributes: Tackle, D-Moves Secondary Attributes: Speed Optional Attributes: Agility Notes: The D-line is responsible for collapsing the core of the offense: the O-line. Whether these three hulks are rushing the passer before he gets the ball off or taking out the O-line so the RB has no place to go, the D-line has a substantial task ahead of them. D-Moves are essential in getting through the O-line and getting to the ball, with tackle necessary to finish the job. It is relatively easy to understand why speed would be helpful in getting to the backfield faster. Agility comes in handy in the application of D-Moves, but is not strictly required. Summary: So, there are fourteen positions to fill. If you do the math, then you'll realize that each player needs to fill two positions, one on each side of the ball. The ability to build all of your players for both offense AND defense is what will eventually set your team apart from every other team in the game, from the top tier All-Star teams to the all mighty Legends team. It is up to you how you set up your players to play both sides of the ball, but some of the transitions are obvious, mostly due to the height/weight recommendations. The D-line and O-line make good substitutes for each other, as do DB's with WR's. The QB and RB are not as easy to find a place for on the defense, but with some speed, agility, tackle, and coverage, either player makes an excellent safety, with the other one picking up tackle, speed, and D-Moves for the LB position. (03) Attributes NOTE: This information was taken straight out of the instruction manual. Pick your players' attributes wisely if you want them to grow into playground legends. These are the ten players attributes and a description of what they affect: Passing - The speed and accuracy of passes Speed - How fast a player runs Blocking - Run- and pass-blocking ability Agility - Jumping ability and the speed of jukes and spins Catching - Pass- and pitch-catching ability Run Power - Ability to break tackles Carrying - How often a player fumbles Tackling - Tackling ability and the accuracy of pursuit angles Coverage - Defensive coverage skills and reaction to the ball on passes, which leads to interceptions D-Moves - Ability to get through, around, and by blockers (04) FAQ If you have a question that has not been posted, E-mail me or post it on the NFL Street message boards under the PS2 console. Q: Is there an infinite turbo cheat? A: No. Q: Why isn't there an infinite turbo cheat? I want to run forever? A: Because I hate you. Q: Do you think they could add an infinite turbo cheat on an update disk? A: Seriously, all the questions relating to infinite turbo should result in permanent nerve damage in the extremities of all who ask of it. No infinite turbo, period. Get over it. Q: Why is this game so hard? A: Because you did not build your team correctly. See (2) Getting Started and (5) Helpful Hints. Q: How do I get development points? A: Development points are earned through completing different challenges in challenge mode. Each challenge costs a certain number of tokens to attempt, and the reward you receive, such as development points, additional outfits, new plays, impact gear, or even an NFL player, is listed for each challenge. Q: Woah, woah woah, what is impact gear? A: Impact gear is gear, such as shoes, pads, shoes, etc. that increases your attributes by either one, two, or three points. See (5) Helpful Hints and (6) Impact Gear for more information regarding impact gear. Q: Does impact gear affect your attributes past 20/20? A: No. Contributed By Shoeboot Q: How do I get NFL players to join my team? A: You can't. Well, I guess if you really want them, you can try the challenges at the end of any division for a whopping 760 tokens. When you beat the team of your choice, you can select the player of your choice from that team. Before adding anybody to your roster, check the (5) Helpful Hints section for more information regarding NFL pick-ups. Q: Can I get more than one player from the same team? A: Play the challenge twice and ask me later. Q: Wait, I don't have 760 tokens. How do I get more tokens? A: Every division has two parts: a challenge mode that costs tokens and a ladder mode that earns tokens. You guessed it, beat the entire ladder and you will be rewarded 800 tokens. Q: I beat all of the ladders. How do I get more tokens, now? A: You don't. Q: But I didn't get to beat all of the challenges and I wasted a lot of points picking up NFL players. Seriously, how do I get more tokens? A: You still can't. Once you beat all of the ladders and spend all of the tokens, your team is finished, so use your tokens wisely, as you have a limited supply. Q: Can I beef up NFL players once I get them? A: While you are allowed to put Impact Gear on NFL players to improve their attributes, you cannot alter any players you did not originally create in any other way, hence the debate on whether to pick up players or not. Q: So, should I pick up NFL players for my team? Honestly, my team really sucks and I could really use the help. A: See (5) Helpful Hints. Q: Alright, I've got my team started. What stats should I raise first? A: Speed and tackle. For a more comprehensive guide for each player, see (2) Getting Started. Q: Why do I keep fumbling the ball? A: Your carrying attribute is too low for the person who dropped it. Consider raising the attribute. Q: How the HELL does the computer break for a touchdown EVERY TIME? They are always leaving me in the dust, and it is getting really annoying. Is there any way to stop them? A: Yes. Q: Very funny. How? A: Speed. They have it and you don't. Upgrade the speed of the players constantly getting burned until they are able to keep up with the player they are defending against. Q: How do I beat ? It is impossible! A: Until somebody comes out with a Complete Challenges Guide, the best method for finding out how to beat a certain challenge is to post your question on the message boards. Below, I have posted methods for beating some of the more difficult challenges, but if all else fails, you can always quit out and try a different challenge. Also, some challenges just take a few tries to beat with some luck, so don't always give up so easily. Q: How do I do signature style moves? A: Check the Controller Configuration. Q: Okay, I got the buttons down, but I still can't get them to count for this damn challenge! What am I doing wrong? A: You need to be close enough to an opposing player to get credit for a style/signature style move, meaning if you are in the middle of nowhere, spinning just to get dizzy, the game will not register a "stylin' spin." Additionally, for some moves to count, you need to cross the line of scrimmage, first. Q: Who are these alleged NFL Legends I keep hearing about and how do I unlock this amazing team? A: You unlock them after beating any ladder. You should check them out after you unlock them, so you can anticipate what you will be up against later on. Yes, I know they are scary. Q: I unlocked the Legends. Why can't I use them in NFL Challenge? A: You cannot use any team that is not created in NFL Challenge, genius. Otherwise, there would be no challenge. Q: Barry Sanders or Walter Payton? A: In real life, Barry without a doubt, but in-game, Walter steals the show. Q: What about Lester Hayes Vs Ronnie Lott? A: I originally went with Lester Hayes on this one, because he is slightly better in the speed and agility categories, but after playing with both, Ronnie Lott turned out to be the better pick of the two. He is a maniac in the backfield. Q: Can I use Impact Gear on my Legend, once I get him? A: No. Q: What is All NFL Pick-Up Mode and how do I unlock it? A: Unlike the standard Pick-Up Mode, which is available from the start of the game, All NFL Pick-Up Mode is unlocked after you beat your final ladder and the Legends at the end. In All NFL Pick-Up Mode, you can choose from any of the players on all 32 NFL teams already in the game, plus the Legends are also available if you want to grab a few. Q: Okay, I beat the game. How do I create a new team? A: Create a new profile. Q: I want a second team on my first profile. That is where I unlocked everything. How do I do that? A: The only way to create a second team on your first profile is to permanently delete your first team. Q: I like my first team, though. Is there any other way to keep them AND create a new team? A: Yes. Create a new profile. Q: Okay, I do not want to have to unlock everything all over again. I will miss them greatly, but my first team is gone. What rewards can I use on my fresh, new team? A: In NFL Challenge Mode, only the plays and team logos will be unlocked for your new team. Everything outside of NFL Challenge Mode (fields, teams, etc.) will still be unlocked for use however you see fit. Q: What about gear? A: All gear (Impact Gear, included) will be removed and will have to be earned all over again for your new team. Q: I have heard that there is some controversy over the highest team level for online play. What is the highest team level possible without using a GameShark? A: Level Eleven is the highest attainable level without cheating. Q: Wait, somebody told me that Level Ten was the highest level and people with Level Eleven teams are cheaters. Is this true? A: I, personally, have built a Level Eleven team on a PS2 memory card so I could play online occasionally. Level Eleven is very attainable if you know how to build a team. Q: What's a goalline stand? A: Stick to "futbol." All seriousness aside, questions like these relate to the fundamentals of the game, so you should learn the basics before you ask similar questions or try to figure out what the challenge is asking by actually playing it. (05) Fields There are eight unique fields in NFL Street. Some of the information presented below was taken straight out of the game from the field selection screen. Some fields are more favorable than others, but will get to that in due time...It is now due time. EA FIELD Location: San Fransisco, CA In the words of EA, "This is just a big open field." There are no negative effects that will hinder play if you select this field, just you and them, gaming it up. And the wall...that, too... WEST COAST Location: San Diego, CA This is a nice beach, but the sand is not too cleat-friendly. The field is quiet narrow and the sand will always slow you down, so playing on this field usually proves to be a less-than-fun experience. The water is nice, though... CITY LIMITS Location: Detriot, MI This junkyard of a "field" has a little less traction than most of the other fields, but it is not too detrimental to gameplay. This "field" has ups and downs, but nothing beats a street game at night in Detroit. Except for watermelon. I like watermelon. LEGENDS PARK Location: Cleveland, OH This is the field where Legends are made and my personal favorite. Pillars aside, this field is almost as balanced as EA FIELD, except it is slightly more narrow. Those damn pillars can purposely jump in your way at times, but this field still offers fun for the whole family! DA ROOF Location: Atlanta, GA It feels good to be out in the open air. Wait, this is football, you almost always play in the open air. This rooftop has a nice atmosphere, but aside being at the top of a building with no place to go but down, this field one of the more narrow fields in the game and is quite unspectacular. WAREHOUSE Location: Miami, FL The only indoor field in the entire game, the warehouse is actually pretty nice. The large steel support beams will leave nasty shoulder bruises, but it is always nicer in Miami, so I really cannot complain. The main problem with the warehouse is the roof, being it is the only field that has one. Deep passes can often wind up bouncing back to you if you hit a low-hanging hook or some other obstructive beam. Other than the fact that this seriously hinders the passing game when the majority of teams are already run-oriented as it is, this field is not too bad. THE PIT Location: New York, NY If you did not hate The Big Apple before, you will most definitely hate it now. Take a muddy ****-hole. Add a few inches of snow. Now, let it all melt into a craptacular pit from hell. Football - Traction = No Fun. Watch as your WR's fall on their asses trying to run their routes. Laugh as the RB falls down, trying to juke. Cry as the QB slips out of bounds trying to get a throw off. Everything about this field reeks of a tragic game, waiting to happen. THE COURTYARD Location: Houston, TX This colorful backdrop has a few surprises waiting by the sidelines for you. Although, the scenery is a refreshing change from the rest of the fields, this field is quite narrow and strongly promotes broken tackles, as there is less running room, here. Death to anyone who smashes through my precious watermelons... (06) Helpful Hints --WHO COMES FIRST? ** RB, first. Develop your RB for offense, and build your team around him. You will have a MUCH easier time beating challenges and moving the ball with a beefed up RB. Read the notes in the (II) - Running Back (RB) section of (2) Getting Started for information on how do build a RB. --THE BIG D ** Defense before offense. After you get a decent RB up and running, concentrate on defense before you start worrying about the rest of your offense. Build up speed, tackle, D-Moves, and coverage for the appropriate defenders so you can stay in the game and always have a chance to come out on top with a big defensive stop. --SPEED, TACKLE, CARRYING ** Speed, Tackle, and Carrying. Repeat those three attributes again and again, because all three are going to be either your best friends or your worst enemies. Everybody on your team needs these three attributes to some extent. Everybody needs to be able to move, everybody needs to be able to tackle, and everybody needs to be able to hold on to the ball if and when they recover a fumble at some point in the game. These three things are vital in the formula for a successful team. Remember them well. --IT IS YOUR TEAM ** The main advantage to creating your own team is the fact that you can make every player good on both sides of the ball. Towards the end of the game, this will separate your team from the rest of the teams in the game. Use this to your advantage and fill every player out to play two positions, and you will end up liking your team much more than even your favorite NFL team or the Legends. --TO PICK-UP, OR NOT TO PICK-UP ** NFL Players, for the most part, are a waste of tokens, mostly because you get an NFL Legend for free at the end of the game when you beat them and you can build your players better than most of the NFL players you want, anyway. 760 tokens translates into 5,000+ development points, which is almost the amount they give you to start an entire team. Those same 5,000+ development points you threw away on Randy Moss could easily translate one of your WR's into a taller, faster beast of a receiver who also has high coverage to play DB on defense. All of a sudden, your average "Joe WR" looks like a combination of Randy Moss and Champ Bailey, and he is still fully customizable, so you can still make him BETTER. The main problem with NFL players is that the cost to attain them does not match their value, mostly because you cannot alter them in any way. If you could build on NFL Players, everybody would get them, but since you cannot, your best bet would be to stick it out with your created players. --TAKE ONE FOR THE TEAM ** If you feel comfortable enough to manage without one player for most of the game, you will be rewarded with a better team at the end. Basically what I am saying is you should beat your first ladder as quickly as possible to unlock the Legends Team. Since you already know in advance you get your pick from all of the players on that team, go into a Quick Game to scout them out and see which player you want the most. It pays to pick a player that would be good on both offense and defense, so choose wisely. After you finish window shopping, and you are sure about which Legend you want to take home, find one player on your team that plays in the same position and try to build him as little as possible until you get your Legend. The fewer points you pour into your water-boy will translate into the smallest amount of wasted points condemned to sit the bench. --TWO DIFFERENT BUILDS, ONE REAL PURPOSE ** The deeper you get into this game, the more you will realize that it is sometimes beneficial to make a sacrifice at the beginning to improve your team overall by the end of the game. I am talking about the 6 + 1 build and the 5 + 2 build. The 6 + 1 build involves following the strategy listed above where you leave one player at 0/20 for all attributes until the end when you pick up a Legend to replace him on the field. The 5 + 2 method builds on that by putting a second man on the bench in favor of picking up a player from the NFL. For the 5 + 2 build, you have to decide from the start what player you intend to pick up, so you can open up the division their team resides in and take the player by force. If you have problems beating the team for the player, A QUICK LEAD might be of some help. --DON'T SPEND IT ALL IN ONE PLACE ** Spending your tokens wisely is almost as important as distributing your development points properly. Since you do not get an unlimited supply of tokens, it pays to get the most out of them. The best strategy to get the most for your money is to beat all the legendary challenges and challenges with the +3 impact gear you want, first. Then, go down one difficulty and do all of those challenges. The challenges with higher payoffs always give you more for less, which is why these challenges are usually higher on the difficulty rating. --MAKING AN IMPACT ** Impact gear is actually very useful. The "Impact Gear +3's" can make the difference between a good team and a great team, the "+2's" are useful if used sparingly in the right places, and the "+1's" are generally a waste of tokens, unless they are being used to max out an attribute and you already have the better version of the same gear on a different player. Basically, before you acquire a piece of impact gear, pick out the player you want it for and make sure you intend to get that attribute up to at least 17/20 development points for that player, or the impact gear is wasted on what could have been more development points. The price of attributes does go up exponentially towards the high end purchases, so lesser impact gear is still useful if you plan on completely building up any attribute for more than one player. --JUST DO IT ** Save the NFC West conference for the last ladder. You can thank me later. --A QUICK LEAD ** When you beat your first ladder, which will be the AFC West conference, you get a choice of which conference you want to open up next. They give you that choice for a reason. Go ahead and open up the AFC North conference, first. The reason for this is the option to pick up some GOOD impact gear for your RB early in the game, which will dramatically increase your team's offensive performance early on and keep you going strong in the later ladders when the pressure is on. Make sure you pick up the +3 Speed shoes and the +3 Run Power Pads. Then, if you have not already gotten the +3 Carrying Gloves from the AFC West conference, go ahead and do that, now. Those three items, combined with the high attributes you should have started your RB off with, and you should have a monster of a RB after completing only one ladder. Later, if you want, you can swap out the +3 Speed Shoes for +3 Agility Shoes, which can be attained in the AFC East conference, for a RB that can juke out of control AND run people over if he has to. Just make sure your speed attribute is high enough on its own, so that you are still able to turn corners fast enough to get downfield. (07) Team Builds There are many different ways to build your team when it comes down to creating players and adding NFL players to the roster. At the beginning of NFL Challenge Mode, it is a good idea to decide which team build you are going to use BEFORE starting your team so you know how many cheerleaders you want to leave without attributes so that they can properly encourage the real players from the sidelines. Here is an example of a build name along with the proper way to read it: ==5 + 2==. For the 5 + 2 team build, the 5 represents the number of created players and the 2 represents the total number of players you intend to pick up, including a Legend, so if the second number is 2, then the build expects you to pick up one NFL player and a Legend. The second number also represents the number of players you are supposed to leave untouched. Without further ado, here are the different builds. ==Straight 7== Explanation: This build has one major flaw: Towards the end of NFL Challenge Mode, when you beat the final ladder, Legends and all, instead of giving another 800 tokens to round out your created players, they let you choose one player from the Legends team instead. If you choose to use all seven created players, you are wasting an excellent talent in a Legend* that you are forced to pay for, whether you like it or not. ==6 + 1== Explanation: This is the standard build. Keep one slot open for the Legend* and build everybody else up. The only problem with this build is that it is difficult to produce three high end linemen with the limited amount of points you are given, so you have a choice to make. You can create: A) Three above average linemen. B) Two slightly better linemen at the cost of a below average third. C) One high end linemen and two average linemen. None of these leave you with an optimal line, however, so this build is not the best, although it is usually sufficient. ==5 + 2== Explanation: This is the best build, because it leaves you with enough development points to top off all of your created players in the necessary attributes while picking up one NFL player (Simeon Rice) and one Legend*, both of which do not require any assistance from Impact Gear, so you can be sure to devote all your point to the players who really need them. ==4 + 3== Explanation: While not as efficient as the 5 + 2 when it comes to defining the best players for their specific positions, the 4 + 3 holds a solid second place, and the main reason for that is because any other NFL player you pick up after the first (Simeon Rice) is going to need at least minimal Impact Gear to keep up with the pack. A big favorite for this build is a DB pick-up, such as Sam Madison or Champ Bailey, but both of them sorely need tackling, and the DB's who have sufficient tackling usually need speed and/or agility. My second player is between Derrick Brooks and Jason Taylor, because with a little Impact Gear, these two both pack a punch for their respective positions. The only reason I do not pick Michael Strahan is because of his lack of speed, which I need for either Derrick Brooks or my created LB if I go with Taylor. ==3 + 4== Explanation: Now, you are getting into more of an NFL team and less of a created team. While the team will probably perform as well as any 6 + 1, at this point, the team is starting to lose the ability to play both sides of the ball well. I would always go with a Rice/Brooks/Taylor combo for this team and the Legend* of your choice. ==2 + 5== Explanation: If you are only going to create one player, make it your RB, but if you are going to create two, then your second one should be a QB. This is more of a challenge than anything else, but it is not too difficult once you pick up a DB. This is like an NFL team with the heart of a created team. ==1 + 6== Explanation: The Ultimate Challenge, this build tests a single player against an entire ladder just for rights to build it. This is the closest I am willing to go to an All-NFL Team because I need at least one created player to work off of. This team can still end up being one of the better all-around teams even though they will usually be one-sided on the ball. ==Flat-Liner== Explanation: I dare anybody to try a build without modifying at least one player. Conclusion: All of these builds (Flat-Liner excluded) are good as long as you know what you are doing. Some of the more fun builds are harder to accomplish, but they are more rewarding in the end in terms of personal satisfaction. The NFL players listed below are the NFL players I pick up when making teams using multiple players. The players are listed in order, meaning if I am only picking up one player, I pick up the first one, while if I am getting two NFL players, I grab the second one and so on and so forth. 1) Simeon Rice - Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2) Jason Taylor - Miami Dolphins (Tie) 2) Derrick Brooks - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Tie) 4) Bobby Taylor - Philadelphia Eagles 5) Michael Vick - Atlanta Falcons *****NOTE: Whenever I refer to picking up a Legend, I am always speaking of Ronnie Lott. (08) Pick-Up Games So, you want to get a good Pick-Up Game going, but you do not know where to start. Below, you will find strategies for both standard and All NFL Pick-Up Modes. If you have any tips or suggestions, feel free to E-mail me. -Pick-Up Mode- Contributed by bigbadfisher In regular Pick-Up, you have to go through and look at what quality has been provided at each position. For instance, if you look at QBs and of your three choices, you have Couch, Gannon, and Vick, you better be picking Vick up before your opponent leaves you with crap. So before you make any picks, take a little time to scan through all the positions and see which gems are hidden amongst the garbage. You'll also want to see which direction your opponent is taking with his team and adjust accordingly. Is he making a massively run-based team for both sides of the ball? Get two quality DBs and a good QB. That allows you to go pass crazy on offense and have a chance at stopping his outside runs. There's no magical best order to drafting, but you do need to keep in mind that a good pair of linemen make a huge difference on both sides of the line. You have to think where each player you pickup is going to set up on both sides of the line. To answer your questions: 1) Draft Order - pick based on scarcity. Where the talent is thinnest or there is a huge drop off in skill. 2) DL/OL - I like to have one of each, but look for a DL that has decent blocking and an OL that has decent tackling. 3) DB - speed/agility vs coverage/hitting - really depends on your style. I run a ton on offense and blitz often on defense. That means my corners have to be all over receivers. I'd opt for speed and coverage. Hitting is something your safety needs. 4) WR/DB - again, I like taking one of each. Gives you a nice balance. Of course if your opponent is a run freak, then having a good pair of DBs will make a difference when he makes the wide runs. The most important things you can do when drafting are: 1) Know the scarcity/skill drop off at each position. 2) Recognize what your opponent is trying to do and draft to beat it. -All NFL Pick-Up Mode- In All NFL Pick-Up Mode, the strategy is a little different because, with every player on the thirty-two NFL teams plus the Legends, the superstars are not exactly going to run low, but some of the same basic strategies still apply. 1) Legends If you both agree to play with them, then remember where the Legends are at every position, because they usually have a noticeable edge over the other players in the NFL. 2) Choose A Direction There are nine basic strategies for building a team, single-position teams aside. They are, in no particular order: Balanced-Offense Balanced-Offense Balanced-Offense Balanced-Defense Passing-Defense Rushing-Defense Passing-Offense Passing-Offense Passing-Offense Balanced-Defense Passing-Defense Rushing-Defense Rushing-Offense Rushing-Offense Rushing-Offense Balanced-Defense Passing-Defense Rushing-Defense There are an almost infinite number of different combinations you can get, based on the players you pick up. Also, based on how many offensive/defensive players you pick, you might either wind up with an offensive team, a defensive team, or a balance between the two. Offense---------------Balanced---------------Defense Once you have figured out which direction you want to take, you can start picking players. Here are some basic guidelines to follow: 1) Do NOT pick a QB first. There are three QB's in this game that can all throw and scramble very effectively, and if your opponent picks up all three, he will have some serious holes on defense to deal with. A mobile QB helps on defense, but they do not compare to actual defenders. 2) Pick a RB based on your own personal running style. For example, if you are a straight power runner, go for Larry Csonka or Mike Alstott. Some people pick two, but that can usually leave you weaker on defense. 3) The skill of the DB's drop off significantly after the first few, so you will want to pick these up early, as they can also double as WR's. 4) Always, always, ALWAYS pick up at least one LB. No matter who you are playing against, you are going to need to stop the run to some extent. 5) Picking the DL/OL depends on how you play. You can mix and match all kinds of DL/OL based on whether you pick guys that are decent on both sides of the ball or guys that are better suited to one side. It is important to note, however, that DL can play offense much better than OL can play defense. Here are the best players at each position: =QB= Ken Stabler Michael Vick Donovan McNabb =RB= Larry Csonka Walter Payton Barry Sanders Ricky Williams =WR= Randy Moss Marvin Harrison =DB= Ronnie Lott Lester Hayes Sam Madison Champ Bailey Bobby Taylor =LB= Lawrence Taylor Brian Urlacher Derrick Brooks Ray Lewis =OL= Orlando Pace Tra Thomas =DL= Howie Long William Perry Simeon Rice Jason Taylor Michael Strahan Luther Elliss Mix and match these superstars however you want, and you should have a solid team, all things considered. I am usually never satisfied with my Pick-Up team because I always start thinking about my created team that dominates on both sides of the ball, but in Pick-Up Mode, but both of the teams are usually close enough so that the competition becomes a game of skill with the talent you have pulled together. One of the best parts about Pick-Up Mode is that, although the same players usually get picked up, it is rare that the same two teams will play more than one game against each other. (09) Legendary Challenges Some of the challenges in this game can get extremely frustrating and require a certain amount of luck to overcome. Below, I have listed all of the challenges that cost either 160 or 200 tokens by division with the reward given for beating them and strategies on how to beat them. The only plays used were man-to-man/lock-down coverage-type plays, and the defender always being controlled was the LB, unless otherwise specified. I gave each challenge a difficulty rating out of five possible stars, one star being ridiculously easy and five stars being unreasonably difficult. The more stars a given challenge has, the more tries it is likely to take to complete. If anyone would like to contribute a strategy for a specific challenge, Email me and I will add it with proper credit if the strategy works consistently. ---------- -NFC West- ---------- Opposing Team: 49ers Difficulty: Legendary Skills Challenge Cost: 160 Tokens Rewards: 1,120 Development Points Challenge Description: Stop the 49ers from getting a first down (or scoring) on their first drive. Actual Difficulty: * Strategy: This challenge is similar to a goal line stand, only easier because the 49ers need to get more yardage. Try to get to the QB as fast as possible to get a sack and put the 49ers in a long-yardage situation, or look for a lucky turnover and those development points are as good as yours. Opposing Team: Rams Difficulty: Legendary Skills Challenge Cost: 160 Tokens Rewards: 1,120 Development Points, Created Team Logo: Ninjas Challenge Description: Make a goal line stand against the Rams. Actual Difficulty: ** Strategy: The key to making a goal line stand is stopping the opposing team for a loss on the first two plays, whether it be from stuffing the run or dropping the QB in the backfield. If you give your LB high tackling and power tackle the QB, he will usually drop the ball. If you manage to scoop it up, you can beat this challenge in one play. Opposing Team: Random Team Difficulty: Got Skills Challenge Cost: 200 Tokens Rewards: +3 Catching Gloves Challenge Description: Calling a running play, successfully pitch the ball twice on your very first play. Actual Difficulty: Strategy: This challenge does not get any stars because this challenge is not difficult, regardless of what a piss-poor team you have managed to scrape together. If you cannot get two pitches in one play, maybe you should stick to Pong. ---------- -AFC West- ---------- Opposing Team: Raiders Difficulty: Legendary Skills Challenge Cost: 160 Tokens Rewards: 1,120 Development Points, T-Shirt 6 Challenge Description: Successfully complete one style spin/juke, one style hurdle, one style dive, and win against the Raiders in a game to 24. Actual Difficulty: * Strategy: There is an easy way to complete the objectives for this challenge as long as your primary WR has at least 10/20 blocking. He will usually pick up the DB on his side, so run next to them while they are tangled up, and you should be able to pull off a style hurdle and a style spin right by them without even having to fake out a defender. The style dive can only be accomplished on your way into the endzone, so remember to dive in at least once. Finish the game and you have a new shirt for your closet, because it is way too ugly for any football player. Opposing Team: Chiefs Difficulty: Legendary Skills Challenge Cost: 160 Tokens Rewards: 1,120 Development Points Challenge Description: Calling only passing plays, beat the chiefs in a game to 12 without getting sacked. Actual Difficulty: * Strategy: If you are not used to passing, this can be a bit tricky, but otherwise, it is remarkably easy. You have to pick pass plays, but you are allowed to run with your QB. Just make sure you do not get hit behind the line or you have to start all over. Be extra careful on the PAT, or you could find yourself cursing and starting the drive over. Opposing Team: Chargers Difficulty: Got Skills Challenge Cost: 200 Tokens Rewards: +3 Carrying Gloves Challenge Description: Intercept one pass and beat the Chargers in a game to 24. Actual Difficulty: * Strategy: If your team does not have a very good secondary at this point in the game, save up for a defensive Gamebreaker. When you have it, be careful. Do not try to tackle anybody yourself, because you will always cause a fumble. Instead, take a DL and pressure the QB, but do not hit him. The pressure should force a quicker throw that is not as accurate, and one of your DB's should come up with an interception somewhere during the drive. Remember, if the WR makes the catch, let the computer make the tackle, so he does not fumble. Opposing Team: Broncos Difficulty: Got Skills Challenge Cost: 200 Tokens Rewards: +3 D-Moves Armband Challenge Description: Sack the Broncos two times and beat them in a game to 24. Actual Difficulty: * Strategy: Since they do not require user sacks for this challenge, just pick any blitz plays that work best for you and you should get at least two sacks before the end of the game. If you do not use blitzes, pick a man-coverage play with three linemen, and blitz with the LB on the outside. ----------- -NFC North- ----------- Opposing Team: Bears Difficulty: Legendary Skills Challenge Cost: 160 Tokens Rewards: 1,120 Development Points, Created Team Logo: Soulmen Challenge Description: Beat the Bears in a game to 30 without throwing an interception or losing a fumble. Actual Difficulty: * Strategy: Make sure your RB has over 15/20 carrying and you can run the ball for this entire challenge. Only use style near the sideline and away from the endzone, so that if you do fumble, it goes out of bounds and the ball remains in your possession. Opposing Team: Lions Difficulty: Legendary Skills Challenge Cost: 160 Tokens Rewards: 1,120 Development Points Challenge Description: Score a defensive TD against the Lions on their first possession. Actual Difficulty: *** Strategy: For this challenge, you obviously need a turnover. Fumbles occur much more frequently than interceptions, so if you return a lucky pick for this challenge, you are in the minority. Also, since you need a TD in addition to the turnover, it will be much easier on you if you get it behind the original line of scrimmage. In other words, if the Lions get a first down, you might want to consider restarting the challenge, to keep the distance you need to return the football as short as possible. In order to force a fumble, use a player with at least 15/20 tackling (usually your LB) and power-tackle the QB. He should fumble the ball the majority of the time, so switch players as quickly as possible and try to scoop up the ball on the way to the endzone. If you are having trouble with the power-tackle, try running dead into the QB instead of diving into him, and if he fumbles, there is a chance that your LB will still be on his feet after the hit, so you can collect the football even faster without switching players for a quick six. This challenge might take a few tries, so keep trying until you get a solid turnover. Opposing Team: Bears Difficulty: Mad Skills Challenge Cost: 200 Tokens Rewards: +3 Tackling Pads Challenge Description: Beat the Bears by 20 or more in a game to 30. Actual Difficulty: * Strategy: Consider this challenge a shut out with a handicap. If you do not know how to play the game by now, I do not think that God himself could help you beat this challenge (unless He really wanted to). Opposing Team: Lions Difficulty: Mad Skills Challenge Cost: 200 Tokens Rewards: +3 Passing Wristband Challenge Description: Shut out the Lions in a game to 24. Actual Difficulty: ** Strategy: The easiest way to finish this challenge is to get the two-point conversions, so you only need three TD's instead of four. Additionally, save your Gamebreakers for defense if that is not already your strategy, so can be certain that they will not score. ----------- -AFC North- ----------- Opposing Team: Random Team Difficulty: Legendary Skills Challenge Cost: 160 Tokens Rewards: 1,120 Development Points, Baggy Pants 5 Challenge Description: Your opponent has an active Gamebreaker. Stop them from scoring. Actual Difficulty: *** Strategy: Are those baggy pants really worth all the trouble? Yes...so, what you are going to have to do is get a lucky turnover by either diving for a bobbled ball or recovering a lucky fumble, because the probability that you will stop the opposing team for four straight downs is .00001, rounded up. The best method for getting one of those lucky fumbles is to pick a man-coverage play and line your LB up on the weak side. As soon as the play starts, run straight down and if the QB pitches it to your side, there is a very good chance that you will break up the pitch and force a fumble. Dive on that ball as quick as possible and you can kiss this challenge good-bye. Opposing Team: Bengals Difficulty: Legendary Skills Challenge Cost: 160 Tokens Rewards: 1,120 Development Points Challenge Description: Successfully pitch the ball six times on your first play against the Bengals. Actual Difficulty: *****+ Strategy: What the HELL were they thinking? Six pitches in ONE play? I am honestly surprised they did not require you to score also, but I think that would have made this challenge even harder if that is possible. This challenge is among the hardest in the game, but it can be accomplished with enough speed. Get everyone on your team 15/20 speed and run the Smash up the left side, so your QB follows your RB. Once you get close to the first down line, you should pitch it to your QB (Drop-Off). Pass your WR and pitch it back to him (Double Drop), and get into open field. Either your RB or your QB should catch up to you downfield, so get it off to one of them as long as they do not have someone from the other team breathing down their neck (Hat Trick). At this point, you should see one of two things behind you, either: a) half of your team tagging along, or b) the entire other team closing fast. If you chose option a), you can probably pull off three picks on the way to the endzone, just make sure that you do not pitch it to a guy who has an opponent on his back, or all your hard work will be for naught. If you selected option b), then you will have a bit more difficulty getting off the last three pitches. Here's what to do: run hard down the right sideline, using turbo to get some separation from the defense. When you have a comfortable cushion, pitch it to the next guy you see (Four To Score). Quickly run back in front of the other player and pitch it back to him (Something-About-A-Thumb), then start heading to the nearest player below you and get it off to him (Quick Six). Run in front of the other player one last time for that last pitch (Lucky Seven) and throw yourself a party, you finally finished this challenge! Opposing Team: Steelers Difficulty: Legendary Skills Challenge Cost: 200 Tokens Rewards: +3 Run Power Pads Challenge Description: Force and recover two fumbles and beat the Steelers in a game to 28. Actual Difficulty: *** Strategy: If you have trouble forcing turnovers, use defensive Gamebreakers and those fumble recoveries should be as good as yours. Set up a consistent blitzing scheme for this game, and the fooball will come loose more often. Opposing Team: Random Team Difficulty: Mad Skills Challenge Cost: 200 Tokens Rewards: +3 Speed Shoes Challenge Description: On your first drive, run for a TD against a team that has an active Gamebreaker. Actual Difficulty: **** Strategy: This can be either very easy or very hard, depending on what kind of luck you have. There are two ways to do this, but both require that you use strictly passing plays, because the defense absolutely swarms on run plays with a Gamebreaker, making any type of positive yardage nearly impossible, let alone the fact that you fumble the ball almost every time you get hit. One strategy is to run with the QB for short gains, running straight out of bounds when an opposing player starts making a B line for you. Sometimes, the WR will set up a nice block for a few extra yards, but make sure not to get too greedy or you might as well press start and go straight to the "Restart Challenge" option, because that is what you are going to be doing as soon as they pick up the fumble, anyway. This method takes a long time, but it does work consistently as long as your QB has at least 15/20 speed. The other method is passing. Either throw up a prayer way downfield and try to dive for the bobble if you miss the initial catch, or hit your WR's for short passes by the sidelines so they can quickly get out of bounds and away from defenders. In either of these situations, though, MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT run the ball in off the catch, or you will have to start over. When you successfully get close enough to the endzone, pick any pass and run it in with the QB. Done and done. ----------- -NFC South- ----------- Opposing Team: Buccaneers Difficulty: Legendary Skills Challenge Cost: 160 Tokens Rewards: 1,120 Development Points Challenge Description: Make a goal line stand against the Buccaneers. Actual Difficulty: ** Strategy: Another goal line stand? Alright, Ctrl + C, Ctrl + V = The key to making a goal line stand is stopping the opposing team for a loss on the first two plays, whether it be from stuffing the run or dropping the QB in the backfield. If you give your LB high tackling and power tackle the QB, he will usually drop the ball. If you manage to scoop it up, you can beat this challenge in one play. Opposing Team: Panthers Difficulty: Legendary Skills Challenge Cost: 160 Tokens Rewards: 1,120 Development Points Challenge Description: Get five user sacks and beat the Panthers in a game to 30. Actual Difficulty: *** Strategy: So, you have to get five user sacks. I bet you half of a ham sandwich you are asking yourself one question: "Why five? Why not six? Why not four?" Well, the designers decided on five, so five it is. Anyway, for most challenges requiring sacks, the computer is set to run passing plays for the majority of the time, so short coverage-blitzes should easily rack up a few sacks. Make sure that you are in control of the player making the hit, or you will be on this challenge longer than expected. In most cases, it is better to use plays with three-man lines to tie up the OL so your players blitzing get room to get to the QB. ----------- -AFC South- ----------- Opposing Team: Texans Difficulty: Legendary Skills Challenge Cost: 160 Tokens Rewards: 1,120 Development Points Challenge Description: On the current drive, intercept the ball and return it for a defensive TD against the Texans. Actual Difficulty: *** Strategy: It is mandatory to have a decent secondary for this challenge. The best method for tackling this challenge is to use a DL and let the computer make the interception for you. Do not use your turbo, but use D-Moves and try to pressure the QB, so he makes a quick, inaccurate throw. As soon as your DB makes the pick, turn on the afterburners and head straight for the endzone. If the Texans get a first down, you should consider restarting the challenge, so you do not have as much distance to close to get the TD. Opposing Team: Jaguars Difficulty: Legendary Skills Challenge Cost: 160 Tokens Rewards: 1,120 Development Points, Baseball Jersey 4 Challenge Description: Get five picks against the Jaguars and beat them in a game to 36. Actual Difficulty: *** Strategy: This is not hard, as long as you have a good secondary. The Jaguars are going to pass for at least 90% of the game, so set up a good pass defense and pressure the QB into making some bad passes. The computer should get you three picks and the defensive Gamebreakers should be good for another two, but you might have to intentionally turn the ball over a few times if you are coming up short. Eventually, the interceptions will come, and you will get a nice new, shiny baseball jersey and a few development points, too. Okay, so it is not shiny, sue me... Opposing Team: Jaguars Difficulty: Got Skills Challenge Cost: 200 Tokens Rewards: +3 Blocking Armband Challenge Description: Come back from being down by 20 and beat the Jaguars in a game to 30. Actual Difficulty: * Strategy: Another challenge like a shut out with a handicap. Play the game as it was meant to be played, and you will get your stupid armband. Opposing Team: Colts Difficulty: Got Skills Challenge Cost: 200 Tokens Rewards: +3 Coverage Headband Challenge Description: Outlast the Colts in a marathon game to 100. Actual Difficulty: * Strategy: The only reason this challenge gets a star is because of how damn long it is! Seriously, 100 ****ing points? I think the designers were thinking...oh wait, they were NOT thinking. I see the problem, now. Imagine watching all three LOTR movies in ONE sitting. Now, imagine having to be conscious the whole time, because you had to control the heroes and make sure they did not **** up, anywhere. Yeah, it was that long. ---------- -NFC East- ---------- Opposing Team: Giants Difficulty: Legendary Skills Challenge Cost: 160 Tokens Rewards: 1,120 Development Points, Basketball Shorts 8 Challenge Description: The Giants have a Gamebreaker. Stop them from scoring on their first drive. Actual Difficulty: *** Strategy: Looks like another Copy/Paste challenge, except for this time, those baggy pants you worked so hard for are now basketball shorts that you do not really care for, but you need the development points, anyway, so let get started. Alright, Ctrl + C, Ctrl + V = So, what you are going to have to do is get a lucky turnover by either diving for a bobbled ball or recovering a lucky fumble, because the probability that you will stop the opposing team for four straight downs is .001, rounded WAY up. The best method for getting one of those lucky fumbles is to pick a man-coverage play and line your LB up on the weak side. As soon as the play starts, run straight down and if the QB pitches it to your side, there is a very good chance that you will break up the pitch and force a fumble. Dive on that ball as quick as possible and you can give this challenge a BIG hug. Or...whatever... Opposing Team: Eagles Difficulty: Legendary Skills Challenge Cost: 160 Tokens Rewards: 1,120 Development Points Challenge Description: Get three user picks against the Eagles and win the game to 36 points. Actual Difficulty: **** Strategy: This challenge is as easy or as hard as you make it, though it is always invariably hard, due to the general nature of the given challenge at hand. It is absolutely imperative to have a great DB for this challenge. He has to be at Ronnie Lott's caliber or better. I used my created player, Deion Moss, who has 19/20 points in speed, agility, tackling, and coverage and 17/20 catching. Make sure your best DB is lined up all the way to the left and take control of him. Keep close to the WR at all times and try to stay in between him and McNabb the entire time. In this challenge, McNabb favors the deep ball, so use that to your advantage. If your DB has a clear speed advantage over the WR, give him a small cushion so he will be the favored WR to hit. When the ball is thrown, make sure turbo is being held down and jump about three seconds before you think you need to. You should come down with the ball, and you should feel ecstatic that you have finally figured out how to complete this damn challenge. I thought this challenge was impossible, too, until I figured out this strategy, and you have no idea how badly it pissed me off every time one of my own players would jump right in front of me and pick off MY pick. Follow these tips, and you should finish this challenge just in time for tea. Make sure not to drink it, though. I am highly suspicious of any drink that can be spelled with one letter. Poisons have short names, too, like KCl... ---------- -AFC East- ---------- Opposing Team: Bills Difficulty: Legendary Skills Challenge Cost: 160 Tokens Rewards: 1,120 Development Points, Created Team Logo: DJ's Challenge Description: Stop the Bills from scoring in a goal line stand. Actual Difficulty: ** Strategy: ...One more time...Ctrl + C, Ctrl + V = The key to making a goal line stand is stopping the opposing team for a loss on the first two plays, whether it be from stuffing the run or dropping the QB in the backfield. If you give your LB high tackling and power tackle the QB, he will usually drop the ball. If you manage to scoop it up, you can beat this challenge in one play. This goal line stand is slightly more difficult because the Bills start even closer to the endzone, but the disparity is not large enough to merit another star. Opposing Team: Dolphins Difficulty: Legendary Skills Challenge Cost: 160 Tokens Rewards: 1,120 Development Points Challenge Description: Shut out the Dolphins in a game to 36. Actual Difficulty: ** Strategy: This is hard, but not impossible. Play safe defense instead of throwing too many blitzes so you do not give up the big play, and save your Gamebreakers for defense, and you should finish this challenge in 2 - 3 tries, max. This challenge would be easier if you were not pitted against the Dolphins. Opposing Team: Dolphins Difficulty: Got Skills Challenge Cost: 200 Tokens Rewards: +3 Agility Shoes Challenge Description: Beat the Dolphins to 500,000 Style Points. Actual Difficulty: * Strategy: This one is self-explanatory. Beat the Dolphins. To 500,000 Style Points. If you have problems understanding what to do, you might want to put the controller down and ask your parents to teach you how to read better. (10) Impact Gear This is a short list of only the "+3 impact gear" and which conference each piece can be located in. Picking up the pieces early will keep your building process flowing smoothly and your players will max out better in the end because of it. This should help you decide which conferences to unlock, first. Special thanks to SlikRick (MahalR2x1090) for helping me fill in the holes. -NFC West- +3 Catching Gloves N/A -AFC West- +3 Carrying Gloves +3 D-Moves Armband -NFC North- +3 Tackling Pads +3 Passing Wristbands -AFC North- +3 Run Power Pads +3 Speed Shoes -NFC South- N/A N/A -AFC South- +3 Coverage Headband +3 Blocking Armband -NFC East- N/A N/A -AFC East- +3 Agility Shoes N/A (11) My Team This is it. This is my team. THE team. The maximum number of points for any given attribute is 20. If you see two names on one position, that is because I created two different teams, and I decided to list both player names. The attributes listed will be those of the second name for any given position, being my second team is better. If a second position is listed, that means that the first position listed is the players primary position, and the second position listed is alternate position I built the player to play. Keep in mind, I left one player worse than my sister with no attributes at all on both teams, because I hate being wasteful. Especially, with development points. I will name both of the Legends I picked, but I am not going to bother listing all of their attributes. Just know that they are freakishly good. Here they are, in no particular order: ---------------------------- | The Brothas/The **** | ---------------------------- These are my first two teams. I was still experimenting with placing players on both sides of the ball, and I was using the 6 + 1 build, but these two teams still turned out pretty solid. The only thing I should have done differently is put my QB at LB and increase his tackling while sticking my RB back at S because of his high speed. The reason I originally did it the other way around was because I placed my players on defense based on their size instead of their attributes. Either way it worked out, but I could have had a LB with perfect tackling if I would have done it the other way around. Khan Hennessey/Don King Position: QB/S Height: 6'6 Weight: 202 lbs Passing - 20/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]| Speed - 19/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]--| Blocking - 11/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][]------------------| Agility - 15/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]----------| Catching - 15/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]----------| Run Power - 11/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][]------------------| Carrying - 11/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][]------------------| Tackling - 15/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]----------| Coverage - 17/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]------| D-Moves - 11/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][]------------------| Dan Nightmare/Tryan Stop Me Position: RB/LB Height: 5'11 Weight: 242 lbs Passing - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| Speed - 20/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]| Blocking - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| Agility - 15/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]----------| Catching - 15/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]----------| Run Power - 20/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]| Carrying - 20/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]| Tackling - 18/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]----| Coverage - 11/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][]------------------| D-Moves - 15/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]----------| Joe Default/**** Head Position: Water-Boy/Benchwarmer Height: 5'5 Weight: 160 lbs Passing - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| Speed - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| Blocking - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| Agility - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| Catching - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| Run Power - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| Carrying - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| Tackling - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| Coverage - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| D-Moves - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| Randy Sanders/Deion Moss Position: DB/WR Height: 6'8 Weight: 174 lbs Passing - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| Speed - 19/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]--| Blocking - 15/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]----------| Agility - 19/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]--| Catching - 17/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]------| Run Power - 11/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][]------------------| Carrying - 11/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][]------------------| Tackling - 19/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]--| Coverage - 19/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]--| D-Moves - 11/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][]------------------| Method Man/Jack Knife Position: DL/OL Height: 6'2 Weight: 289 lbs Passing - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| Speed - 18/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]----| Blocking - 15/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]----------| Agility - 11/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][]------------------| Catching - 05/20 |[][][][][]------------------------------| Run Power - 05/20 |[][][][][]------------------------------| Carrying - 05/20 |[][][][][]------------------------------| Tackling - 18/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]----| Coverage - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| D-Moves - 18/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]----| Redman/Inmate X644291 Position: DL/OL Height: 6'4 Weight: 294 lbs Passing - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| Speed - 18/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]----| Blocking - 11/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][]------------------| Agility - 11/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][]------------------| Catching - 05/20 |[][][][][]------------------------------| Run Power - 05/20 |[][][][][]------------------------------| Carrying - 05/20 |[][][][][]------------------------------| Tackling - 15/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]----------| Coverage - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| D-Moves - 15/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]----------| Planet Hollywood/Karl Worthington Position: OL/DL Height: 5'5 Weight: 380 lbs Passing - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| Speed - 18/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]----| Blocking - 15/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]----------| Agility - 11/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][]------------------| Catching - 05/20 |[][][][][]------------------------------| Run Power - 05/20 |[][][][][]------------------------------| Carrying - 05/20 |[][][][][]------------------------------| Tackling - 15/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]----------| Coverage - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| D-Moves - 11/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][]------------------| Acquired Legends: Lester Hayes Ronnie Lott ******************************************* ***************DISCLAIMER****************** ******************************************* ******THE FOLLOWING TEAM IS BUILT FOR****** ******DEFENSE! THE ONLY PLAYER WITH******** ******15/20 TACKLING IS THE QB, WHILE****** ******THE REST OF THE TEAM BOASTS AN******* *******IMPRESSIVE 18+/20 IN TACKLING!****** *********CONSIDER YOURSELF WARNED!********* ******************************************* ---------------------------- | Tiburon | ---------------------------- Here is my third team. It is a 5 + 2 build and there is a pretty specific theme if you know about football history. This is probably my best team in terms of defense, and they are still a force to be reckoned with on offense. Dan Marino Position: QB/S Height: 6'4 Weight: 232 lbs Passing - 20/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]| Speed - 15/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]----------| Blocking - 06/20 |[][][][][][]----------------------------| Agility - 11/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][]------------------| Catching - 06/20 |[][][][][][]----------------------------| Run Power - 11/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][]------------------| Carrying - 11/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][]------------------| Tackling - 15/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]----------| Coverage - 11/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][]------------------| D-Moves - 15/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]----------| Larry Csonka Position: RB/S Height: 6'3 Weight: 237 lbs Passing - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| Speed - 20/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]| Blocking - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| Agility - 17/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]------| Catching - 15/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]----------| Run Power - 20/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]| Carrying - 20/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]| Tackling - 18/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]----| Coverage - 18/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]----| D-Moves - 11/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][]------------------| Paul Warfield Position: DB/WR Height: 6'6 Weight: 189 lbs Passing - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| Speed - 18/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]--| Blocking - 13/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][]--------------| Agility - 19/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]--| Catching - 15/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]----------| Run Power - 05/20 |[][][][][]------------------------------| Carrying - 05/20 |[][][][][]------------------------------| Tackling - 19/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]--| Coverage - 20/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]| D-Moves - 13/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][]--------------| Nick Buoniconti Position: LB/OL Height: 5'11 Weight: 240 lbs Passing - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| Speed - 19/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]--| Blocking - 11/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][]------------------| Agility - 15/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]----------| Catching - 11/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][]------------------| Run Power - 05/20 |[][][][][]------------------------------| Carrying - 05/20 |[][][][][]------------------------------| Tackling - 20/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]| Coverage - 13/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][]--------------| D-Moves - 15/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]----------| Larry Little Position: DL/OL Height: 6'1 Weight: 265 lbs Passing - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| Speed - 15/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]----------| Blocking - 15/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]----------| Agility - 11/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][]------------------| Catching - 05/20 |[][][][][]------------------------------| Run Power - 05/20 |[][][][][]------------------------------| Carrying - 05/20 |[][][][][]------------------------------| Tackling - 18/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]----| Coverage - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| D-Moves - 20/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]| Default Zz Position: Benchwarmer Height: 5'5 Weight: 160 lbs Passing - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| Speed - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| Blocking - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| Agility - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| Catching - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| Run Power - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| Carrying - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| Tackling - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| Coverage - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| D-Moves - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| Default Zzz Position: Water-Boy Height: 5'5 Weight: 160 lbs Passing - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| Speed - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| Blocking - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| Agility - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| Catching - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| Run Power - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| Carrying - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| Tackling - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| Coverage - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| D-Moves - 00/20 |----------------------------------------| Acquired NFL Player: Simeon Rice Acquired Legend: Ronnie Lott ---------------------------- | The One | ---------------------------- This is my fourth team, an impressive 1 + 6 build. While they are not the powerhouse on defense that Tiburon represent, they are quite an imposing team. This team is the equivalent of my NFL All-Star team, so instead of listing every attribute for the NFL players, I will list all five NFL players I picked up along with their original teams and the reasons they were chosen, including the Impact Gear I assigned for each player and the attribute it affected. The One Position: RB/S Height: 7'0 Weight: 290 lbs Passing - 12/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][]----------------| Speed - 20/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]| Blocking - 04/20 |[][][][]--------------------------------| Agility - 18/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]----| Catching - 16/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]--------| Run Power - 20/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]| Carrying - 20/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]| Tackling - 18/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]----| Coverage - 17/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]------| D-Moves - 15/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]----------| Cheerleaders: Homer X-01 Bart X-02 Lenny X-03 Carl X-04 Ned X-05 Acquired NFL Players: ::PLAYER ONE:: QB/DL: Michael Vick Original Team: Atlanta Falcons Reason: It comes down to Michael Vick and Donovan McNabb. McNabb is a better passer, but Vick has insane speed and agility. Since my team is built around defense and a solid running game, Vick is the way to go. Impact Gear: +3 Passing Wristbands Affected Attribute: Passing - 19/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]--| ::PLAYER TWO:: DL/OL: Simeon Rice Original Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Reason: Simeon Rice is, hands down, the best non-Legend DL for all intents and purposes. He does not even need any Impact Gear to do what he does best, and most of the other DL cannot match up to him without at least one addition of Impact Gear. Impact Gear: N/A Affected Attribute: N/A ::PLAYER THREE:: DL/OL: Jason Taylor Original Team: Miami Dolphins Reason: For a second DL, it comes down to either Jason Taylor and Michael Strahan. Strahan has a small edge in D-Moves, but Taylor has a clear advantage in speed. When trying to stop RB's with 17+/20 speed, the necessity for speed wins out. With the right Impact Gear, Taylor fills the DL slot nicely. Strahan could have done it also, but the shoes he wanted were already taken. Impact Gear: +2 Tackling Pads +1 D-Moves Armband Affected Attributes: Tackling - 19/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]--| D-Moves - 20/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]| ::PLAYER FOUR:: LB/OL: Derrick Brooks Original Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Reason: Top three LB's: Brian Urlacher, Ray Lewis, and Derrick Brooks. So, why pick Derrick Brooks over the other two? Two reasons: Speed and coverage. Brooks is the fastest LB in the game, and even one extra point in speed counts in the end. Also, 15/20 coverage is nice against those passes that go to the RB when the LB picks him up. Impact Gear: +2 Speed Shoes +1 Tackling Pads Affected Attributes: Speed - 18/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]----| Tackling - 20/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]| ::PLAYER FIVE:: DB/WR: Bobby Taylor Original Team: Philadelphia Eagles Reason: At first glance, Bobby Taylor seems like a slightly above average DB, but nothing special compared to the cream of the crop. Both Madison and Bailey excel in the speed, agility, and coverage departments, but they are both missing one thing: Tackling. Find the DB's with at least 15/20 tackling, and the list will be significantly reduced. Also, speed shoes are already accounted for, so my DB has to have at least 18/20 speed already, even if he needs to improve in agility. Lastly, the coverage needs to be at least 17/20 to match a certain headband I have in mind. After careful consideration, Taylor came out on top with the most potential. Impact Gear: +3 Agility Shoes +3 Tackling Pads +3 Coverage Headband Affected Attributes: Agility - 20/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]| Tackling - 18/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]----| Coverage - 20/20 |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]| Acquired Legend: Ronnie Lott There you have it, my All-Star NFL team. Also, since the order they were picked up matters almost as much as the reason they were chosen, here is that order: 1) First, I picked up Michael Vick. To be honest, I needed some sort of passing game no matter how weak and his speed and agility also made him eligible to temporarily cover a receiver. 2) Second, I grabbed Derrick Brooks. Between him and Simeon Rice, the only two people left to pick up in this division, Brooks makes a better corner and he has the speed advantage, which also helped him edge out in this decision. It is also important to note that I was able to make these picks back-to-back because I did not spend any of the original 800 tokens I was given at the beginning of the NFL Challenge Mode. 3) Third, I stole Bobby Taylor. The computer is really nasty about bombing over less-than-perfect DB's, then taunting you all the way to the end-zone, so I needed Taylor and Brooks to cover each end, with Vick covering the third receiver. After picking up Bobby Taylor, NFL Challenge Mode became significantly easier. 4) Fourth, I snagged Simeon Rice. I usually get him first, but I had some serious holes to fill, so I had to hold off. He is not as fast as Jason Taylor, but he is the best DL in the game and he made a decent LB substitute as well, until I was able to pick up Ronnie Lott and put Derrick Brooks where he belongs. 5) Finally, I scooped up Jason Taylor. He was the last person I needed, but he got the job done and he made his presence known as soon as he was added the roster and stepped on the field for his first game with The One. With this team written out the way it is, anybody with sufficient skill can make their own 1 + 6 if they have the skill to make it through that first ladder with a one-man-team. Good Luck to anybody who tries! -User Stats- Record: 79-0 Win Percentage: 100.0% Streak: 79 Wins Points Scored: 3519 Style Points: 23,077,612 Touchdowns: 502 Passing TD's: 114 Rushing TD's: 316 Defensive TD's: 72 Sacks: 397 Safeties: 58 Interceptions: 84 Forced Fumbles: 198 Gamebreakers: 110 (12) Contributors If you contributed to this FAQ, and you do not see your name here, E-mail me and if you tell me an incredible story related to Moosepants or the like, I will consider adding you to "The List." If you are already listed and you would like me to add your AIM screen name or E-mail address, let me know. Special thanks to the following people: SlikRick (MahalR2x1090) bigbadfisher (13) Acknowledgements I would like to thank EA Sports and Players, INC for making this game, the first of many. I would also like to acknowledge all of the GameFAQ's board members who made me decide to write this FAQ. I will not list them all, but you are a good group of guys, nonetheless. I would not like to thank stupid people. I hate stupid people.