The Irwin Hellions hit the road to meet up with the Naughty Figs in the first of three interdivisional contests on tap for Week 9. Both clubs are coming off losses in Week 8; the Hellions lost a tough one at home to Jody's C.W.O.T. while the Figs were nearly doubled up by the Brewmeisters. At 2-6, the Figs will be hard pressed for a win to keep their slim playoff hopes alive, but they have yet to solve the Hellions in three previous tries.

In the wake of injuries, suspensions, and overall underachieving from some key veterans, Irwin has managed to stay in contention thanks to his defense (of course) and some key additions. First Rounder Chad Johnson and pickup Domanick Davis have been better than advertised for the once two-time defending world champions. The same cannot be said for the Figs, who have yet to find the collective talent to get them over the hump. Is it time to play spoiler already?

victims of the bye week:
Irwin - RB George
Figs - RB McGahee, DEF Buffalo, REC Reed

back to scoreboard

The Sims Stereco and Pirk's Wicked Oil Profiteer$ renew a recent postseason rivalry this week as the defending World Champions meet the current Western Division co-leaders. P.W.O.P. has hosted the Stereco for a Wild Card Week playoff encounter in each of the past two seasons. Pirk won the first meeting in 2001, 20-18, but Sims claimed last year's game 34-31 en route to the Super Bowl.

Of the five quarterbacks between the teams' two rosters, only Stereco rookie Byron Leftwich is available to play. The team's two starters for most of the season -- Drew Bledsoe and Steve McNair -- are out on bye, and Mike Vick and Jeff Garcia won't see any action due to injury. P.W.O.P. will already be without halfback Travis Henry and its lone TItan defense, which would seem to give Sims a better than average shot at breaking back into the win column.

victims of the bye week:
Sims - REC Mason, QB Bledsoe, REC Bennett
P.W.O.P. - QB McNair, RB Henry, REC Shaw, DEF Tennessee

back to scoreboard

The two division champions from a year ago meet for an important tilt at Bockyard Stadium. Despite their titles, both The Pimps and Thomas' Bock Boys failed to win during Championship Week a year ago, and now they each sit at 4-4 and trail in their respective division races.

The Pimps are trying their best to survive a season in which they have only two reliable scoring threats. Halfback Shaun Alexander and kicker John Kasay have consistently produced, but the rest of the team is starving for points. The good news, for this week at least, is that two of Thomas' biggest weapons will be out on bye. The Bock Boys will have to hope Thomas Jones and Michael Pittman can somehow make up for the absence of Priest Holmes and Tony Gonzales. If they can't, the chances of a second Western Division crown could all but disappear.

victims of the bye week:
Pimps - none
Thomas - RB Holmes, REC Gonzales, REC Davis

back to scoreboard

The Abstract Machines look to turn things around as they visit the division co-leading Piana Raze at En Fuego Field. The Mechanical Ones are in dire need of a tune up having lost four of their last five games, including three straight within the division. The Raze, by contrast, have won their last three divisional game and five of their last six overall.

Breaking back into the win column this week could be more difficult than advertised for the Machines, who will have to go without two of their most productive players. Trent Green and Morten Anderson, who combine on average for 15 points per game, will be sitting this one out on bye. The Raze will also be scrambling for new production as the receiving corps continues to be ravaged with injury and halfback William Green sits on bye.

victims of the bye week:
Machines - QB Green, K Andersen
Piana - RB Green, REC Morton, QB Holcomb

back to scoreboard

Jody's Colossal Waste of Time visit Saint Arnold Stadium and the Anderson Brewmeisters for an important Eastern Division battle in the Game of the Week.

The surging C.W.O.T. have pulled a game ahead in the East on the strength of a three-game winning streak. Those three wins, however, came against Western Division opponents, who have become regular victims of the Pewter & Black. Inside the division, Jody is a much less impressive 1-4 and has already dropped the first meeting with Anderson. Despite being a game back in the standings, the Brewmeisters are 3-1 in divisional play. Another win over Jody could put them in the driver's seat heading into the season's final month.

The C.W.O.T. have thrived behind their versatility. Marc Bulger and Aaron Brooks have successfully split time at quarterback, and Moe Williams and Anthony Thomas have shared carries alongside Deuce McAllister. Although they're out on bye this week, the Chiefs defense offers Jody an explosive alternative to the smash-mouth approach of their long standing Dolphin unit. Yet the C.W.O.T. are not without flaws, and they're inconsistent receiving corps could keep them from keeping up with the high-octane Brewmeisters.

Peyton Manning is having a an incredible run at quarterback for the Brew Krew, scoring 24, 12, 7, and 14 points in his last four starts. Torry Holt is arguably as hot, and halfback LaDainian Tomlinson has reached double-digits in three of his last four starts as well. Yet despite an easy win over the Figs last week, Anderson got zero production from its new Viking defense. They'll need a much better showing if Anderson hopes to score the season sweep over their arch-rivals.

This is definitely the FLF game to watch in Week 9; it's even more so with Peyton Manning in head-to-head play against Jody's Dolphin defense on Sunday.

victims of the bye week:
Jody - REC Morgan, DEF Kansas City
Anderson - REC Moulds

back to scoreboard