The final week of the regular season kicks off with Jody's Colossal Waste of Time visiting the hard-luck Pimps in search of a season split in the divisional series. The C.W.O.T. wrapped up the 2003 Eastern Division crown last week, bringing an end to The Pimps' two-year reign. The title is the third for Jody, tying The Pimps for most in the division's history (Anderson is the only other franchise to win the title, doing so 1998).

It's a good thing Jody wrapped up the division last week, as the C.W.O.T. have lost an astounding 10 straight regular season games to the Feathered Ones. Aside from just wanting to snap that horrendous streak, Jody can wrap up the playoff's No. 1 seed with a win. Halfback Deuce McAllister has scored 31 points in his last two games, and he just might be the catalyst for an overdue C.W.O.T. victory. The Pimps, meanwhile, helped Jody out last week by clipping Anderson on the road. Unfortunately, even with an eleventh straight win over the Pewter & Black, the defending division champions are destined to miss the playoffs for the first time since 1997.

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The defending World Champion Sims Stereco look to sneak into the playoffs as they host the Draft Bowl-bound Naughty Figs. The Stereco have won three of their last four games to break back into the playoff picture after a dismal 2-6 start. The Figs never made such a rebound and are suffering through their worst regular season in the four-year history of the franchise.

Sims has struggled all year without the formidable Michael Vick behind center. Drew Bledsoe and Byron Leftwich have been dismal in relief, but the team has surged back into contention on the legs of Ricky Williams and Stephen Davis. But to jump from contention to the playoffs, Sims will need some help. First, they will obviously need a win over the Figs, followed by a Machines' victory over Thomas, and then a Pimps' loss to Jody to sneak in as the Number 6 seed. Should they instead suffer a rare second loss to the Figs, the defending champs could wind up facing the Naughty Ones in next week's Draft Bowl.

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In the first of two Win-and-You're-In Week 13 games, Pirk's Collapsing Oil Profiteer$ hope to find a "W" when they visit the Anderson Brewmeisters at Saint Arnold Stadium. Having lost four straight following a 6-2 start, P.W.O.P. could potentially miss the playoffs with another loss (perhaps more remarkably, however, is that they could still make the playoffs with a fifth straight loss). After flirting with the Eastern Division title, the Brewmeisters have dropped two of their last three and could also be eliminated with a Week 13 defeat.

Not wanting to leave their postseason fates to tiebreakers, both clubs will be treating this one as a playoff game itself. Anderson has offensive weapons to spare, with Peyton Manning, LaDainian Tomlinson and Torry Holt anchoring a very dangerous squad. P.W.O.P. boasts a similar high-powered attack, but injuries to Travis Henry and Steve McNair have taken their toll. Defensively, the edge goes to Pirk, whose Titan defense is a consistent threat while Anderson' Viking unit is a question mark every week. The Brewmeisters hold an impressive 6-2 series lead all-time against the boys from Oil Town, but this season's interdivisional series belongs to the West, which holds a commanding 15-9 advantage over the East.

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Last season, the Piana Raze and Irwin Hellions brought the curtain down on disappointing seasons when they met in Draft Bowl VI. Fast forward 12 months, and the two Western Division rivals have both clinched playoff berths with one week to go. For the Hellions, the layoff was only one year following three straight Western Division titles. The Raze had to wait a bit longer, having sat out of the playoffs since 2000, but now return on the strength of the franchise's third divisional title and first since '98.

The resurgence of both clubs has re ignited an old-school rivalry. Piana claimed a hard-fought 21-20 decision over the Hellions at En Fuego Field back in Week 6. It was a victory that helped decide the division champion before the Hellions got their rematch in the regular season's finale, yet there are still things to be decided for both sides. A win for the Raze coupled with a C.W.O.T. loss would give Piana the No. 1 Playoff Seed. Irwin, meanwhile, needs a win to guarantee a home game in next week's Wild Card round.

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The season-ending Game of the Week features two Western Division rivals fighting for a guaranteed playoff berth. The Abstract Machines head into Bockville in hopes of turning the tide on Thomas' Bock Boys, who have won the last five regular season meetings with the Mechanical Ones.

The Machines have gone through a lot of growing pains this year, saying goodbye to the likes of Marshall Faulk and Corey Dillon, but have surged into the playoff picture by winning three of its last four games. Having to rely on its passing game and defense, the Machines are getting the job done. First-Round pick Ravens defense has been one of the best in the league this year, and rookie pickup Anquan Boldin has thrived starting opposite of Marvin Harrison at wideout. Trent Green runs the show from behind center, and it will be on his shoulders to get the Machines past Thomas and into the postseason.

The Bock Boys have picked the wrong time to stumble, losing two straight heading into the season's final week. With last week's stunning loss to Sims, Thomas conceded the Western Division crown and is left with this possible must-win game against the Machines to avoid missing the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. The fortunes of the Bock Boys ride on the heels of Priest Holmes, who has once again established himself as the premiere halfback in the league. With an underachieving Eagles defense, Daunte Culpepper and Tony Gonzales will have to step up and have big games after faltering last week.

History heavily favors Thomas in the series, but history alone won't be enough to turn back the Machines. Like the P.W.O.P.-Anderson game, this one is a playoff game one week early and highlights an exciting Holiday slate to close out the FLF's 2003 regular season.

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