Following that game, the Brewmeisters went on to lose their final two games of 2001, including Draft Bowl V to Piana. Yet a high draft pick enabled Anderson to get the highly-touted Pittsburgh defense, and management hopes the Steeler D can give their once-mighty offense a chance to win more games. For despite winning their second Super Bowl in 1999 (a win that forced sweeping rule changes in the FLF), the Brew Krew has averaged less than five regular season wins a year over the past three seasons.

Another team not unfamiliar with underachieving is the Sims Stereco. To their credit, the Stereco won out the rest of their season to claim the franchise's third playoff berth in its five year history. Unfortunately, Sims is now 0-3 in the Wild Card round. Looking for a change in attitude, management dealt away both Kurt Warner and Aaron Brooks, getting Stephen Davis and Michael Vick in return. They went on to add Drew Bledsoe, Amani Toomer, and Jeremy Shockey in the draft, and the new-look Stereco are ready to mix it up in the East yet again.

victims of the bye week: none

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The Naughty Figs travel to the Vortex to tackle Jody's Colossal Waste of Time in a battle of the two postseason-less teams from 2001. At 5-8, Jody missed the playoffs for the first time ever while a late-season collapse cost the 6-7 Figs their first playoff berth.

In the wake of that 2-7 breakdown to close the season, the Naughty Figs got young again, drafting four offensive rookies and the Bears defense. Moreover, they sent their Browns defense to Jody in return for Joe Horn, who instantly becomes their biggest playmaker behind Rich Gannon. On paper, these Figs seem less experienced than the expansion club of 2000, making a repeat of least year's 4-0 start seem highly improbable.

As for the once mighty C.W.O.T., they took measures this offseason to make sure their first absence from the FLF playoffs would be a short one. Aside from drafting Deuce McAllister and Terry Glenn to strengthen the offense, Jody traded for quarterback Aaron Brooks from the Stereco and the aforementioned Browns defense from the Figs. Should all these new faces perform to their potential, the Pewter and Black could easily be in the hunt for their third divisional title.

victims of the bye week: none

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Pirk's Wicked Oil Profiteer$ visit the division rival Abstract Machines in a battle of last year's Championship Week cast-offs. The Profiteer$ saw their remarkable season end with a loss at Irwin, while the Machines' bid for a second Super Bowl appearance was stopped short by The Pimps.

Despite having a record that made it over .500 only once last season – when they clipped The Pimps in the final regular season contest – P.W.O.P. earned the No. 3 seed for the playoffs. Their eight wins in 2001 is more than the previous two years combined (6), and expectations have been raised in Oil Town, USA. Jeff Garcia, Ahman Green, and Randy Moss still anchor the formidable offense, but lesser role-players will have to step up if the Profiteer$ are to make a run at their first division title.

Also expected to be in the Western divisional race this year are the Abstract Machines, who continue their search for a productive quarterback to compliment Marshall Faulk, Corey Dillon, and Marvin Harrison. Brad Johnson has been shown the door, and Kordell Stewart and Drew Brees have been brought in to take command of this explosive offense. With the formidable St. Louis defense on the other side of the ball, the Machines are whispered to be the biggest threat to the Hellions' reign.

victims of the bye week: none

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During Kickoff Weekend of the 2000 season, an expansion Thomas' Bock Boys opened their FLF career by throttling the Piana Raze 39-0 at Bockyard Stadium. Two years removed from that massacre, the Raze get an opening day shot at revenge against the Boys.

Thomas made its second straight playoff appearance in 2001, but failed to make it out of the Wild Card round as their only QB – Daunte Culpepper – sat out with a knee injury. Well Daunte's back, and this time he's got a backup in draftee Quincy Carter. Ron Dayne and Joey Galloway were also brought in for offensive depth, but perhaps the best acquisition was kicker Jason Elam, who offers an immediate improvement in the Bock Boy kicking game.

Despite a 5-9 record last season, the Piana Raze ended 2001 on a high note, besting the eventual champion Hellions in Week 13 and the Brewmeisters in Draft Bowl V. After that, the franchise traded for Kurt Warner and Mike Vanderjagt to give the offense a much needed boost. The running game is still questionable at best, however, making the Raze an underdog in the stacked Western Division.

victims of the bye week: none

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Easily the highlight of Kickoff Weekend is an immediate Super Bowl V rematch between the FLF Champion Irwin Hellions and The Pimps. Last December, the Western Division Champion Hellions clipped the Eastern Division Champion Pimps 22-19 in the greatest Super Bowl game to date.

Given the parity of 2001 (the No. 3 playoff seed had a record of 7-6; the No. 6 seed was 6-7), the Hellions and Pimps ran away with their respective divisions, and finished the year with a combined 22 wins between them. Now, nearly nine months later, 12 of the 16 Super Bowl starters reconvene to kickoff the 2002 campaign.

As with the year before, Irwin drafted mostly for depth, with their first three picks going to replenish a receiving corps depleted by the salary cap. With their fourth pick, the Hellions took kicker Paul Edinger to fill the lineup spot left vacant by a benched Wade Richey during last year's playoff run. Perhaps most importantly to any dreams of a three-peat, Irwin welcomes back the electrifying Edgerrin James, who missed the majority of 2001 with a knee injury. If healthy, James will rejoin the offensive juggernaut of Brett Favre/Donovan McNabb, Curtis Martin, and Jimmy Smith as the Hellions look to hang on to their dominance in the West.

Despite the Super Bowl setback, The Pimps remain early favorites in the East, returning all starters from a year ago. Also drafting primarily for depth, The Pimps proudly welcomed longtime Profiteer Emmitt Smith into the family via a first round selection. Joining the already impressive backfield of Shaun Alexander and Jerome Bettis, Smith looks for the opportunity to end his career with a winner. The Pimps seem primed to make their fourth straight Championship Week appearance, but they'll need strong questionable quarterback play from Mark Brunell or rookie David Carr to do so.

victims of the bye week: none

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