Mismatch Week kicks off with an Eastern Division grudge match between The PImps and Jody's Colossal Waste of Time. Between them, they've won the last four Eastern Division titles. The Pimps, however, have won three of those four and have not lost a regular season game against the C.W.O.T. since 1998 -- that's a staggering 9-game win streak (Jody's 2000 Championship Week victory notwithstanding). Both teams enter this particular duel in less-than-championship form, sporting equal 2-2 records and coming off Week 4 losses.

The Pimps' offense is struggling, producing a league-worst 89 points through the first four games, including only 22 during their current two-game losing streak. Tommy Maddox has been limited after a huge Week 1, and the success of the four receiver-set has suffered. Thankfully, halfback Shaun Alexander returns to the lineup after his bye week. Jody could benefit from an offensive shot in the arm as well. While Deuce McAllister has been strong, quarterback Aaron Brooks has been inconsistent and actually surrendered a career-worst 5 points in last week's loss to Sims. The C.W.O.T. will need to find their A-game if they're to stop The Pimps' current series streak.

victims of the bye week:
Pimps - REC Bruce, QB Carr
Jody - REC Heap

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Fresh off a victory over Jody's C.W.O.T., the Sims Stereco look to make it two wins in a row when they pay a visit to arguably their favorite opponent, the Naughty Figs. The defending champs have dominated this series, winning all six of the previous meetings. The Figs must do their best to overcome that disparaging history if they're to finally break into this season's win column.

The Stereco have to be feeling good this week, coming off a big win in which stars Ricky Williams and Amani Toomer were out on bye. Drew Bledsoe and Stephen Davis were phenomenal in their absence, and now all four look to carry the Stereco above .500 for the first time this season. The Figs have been awful the past two weeks, being outscored by a combined 97-28 while watching the losses mount. Granted, they've reloaded considerably from last week's walking-wounded starting lineup. Matt Hasselbeck, Clinton Portis, and Koren Robinson should all be back on the field after missing last week's rout at the hands of Anderson.

victims of the bye week:
Sims - REC Gaffney
Figs - none

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The only interdivisional meeting of the week has the surprising 3-1 Piana Raze visiting the 2-2 Anderson Brewmeisters. Of the eight previous meetings between the two, Anderson has actually tied more times (2) than won (1), including last year's 34-34 draw at En Fuego Field. The one victory the Brewskies did have over the Raze came way back in their inaugural 1998 season, so the players and coaches feel that they're due for a breakthrough.

Dating back to last season, the Raze have now won five of their past six games. This week, though, they'll be without their best halfback as Jamal Lewis rests on a bye. The team will look to Tiki Barber and William Green to pick up the slack. Quarterbacks Jake Plummer and Brad Johnson both joined the team after the start of the season, and one will become the first QB to start two games for the Raze this week. Whispers of a QB controversy in Brew Country were likely put to rest with Peyton Manning's herculean 26-point effort against the Figs last week. A surging LaDainian Tomlinson and Charlie Garner could play a deciding role if Anderson is to finally land Win No. 2 against Piana this week.

victims of the bye week:
Piana - RB Lewis, REC Moss
Anderson - REC Holt

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Thomas' Bock Boys are hurting. As the defending Western Division Champions, they've stumbled out of the gate with a 1-3 record and have already dropped divisional games to the Hellions and Raze -- two teams that didn't even make the playoffs last season. Now, they get to visit the 2-2 Abstract Machines, who, coincidentally, also sat out the playoffs last season. In the Boys' favor, however, is that they've won of 5 of 7 lifetime against the Mechanical Ones, including the last four regular season meetings.

The Bock Boys might actually be relieved to get back on the road after an 0-2 start in Bockville. Quincy Carter will get his second consecutive start from behind center, but the main offensive threat -- as it always is -- is Priest Holmes. Homes was held to a modest 6 points last week and is eager to get back into the end zone. The Machines fell to P.W.O.P. in a shootout last week, but the play of the team's two newest halfbacks is cause for celebration. Troy Hambrick and T.J. Duckett combined for 15 points last week, and a similar effort here should free up Marvin Harrison and Darrell jackson to test the Bock Boy secondary.

victims of the bye week:
Thomas - REC Conway, K Wilkins
Machines - DEF Baltimore

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The Week 5 Game of the Week features the most lopsided series in the FLF. The Irwin Hellions have defeated Pirk's Wicked Oil Profiteer$ in 10 of their 13 career meetings. P.W.O.P. surged back into the series with a pair of wins last season, and now the two 3-1 teams meet with the division lead on the line.

The Hellions have surged out to an impressive start thanks largely to their suffocating defense. In the past two games against Anderson and The Pimps, the Hellion "D" produced 26 and 21 points, and ultimately a pair of victories. Yet none of Irwin's opponent's thus far have been on the same explosive level as the Profiteer$. P.W.O.P. leads the league in scoring has scored in excess of 45 points in each of their three wins. Of course, they also gave up 40+ points in each of those victories, which is cause for concern. Irwin, meanwhile, hasn't reached the 40 mark in 28 straight games, so it seems something has to give.

Steve McNair will get his second straight start for the Profiteer$, who will be counting on a healthy Travis Henry to help spell Ahman Green in the backfield. The Hellions best offensive threat is in the receiving corps, where first round pick Chad Johnson will team up the freshly-reinstated Jimmy Smith to stretch to Profiteer defense.

Ultimately, this matchup comes back to the league's best offense going head-to-head against the league's best defense. That alone should be worth the price of admission at Purgatory Field.

victims of the bye week:
P.W.O.P. - none
Irwin - RB Mack, REC A. Johnson

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