Kicking things off, the Eastern Division Champion and overall top-seeded Anderson Brewmeisters welcome the fourth-seeded Abstract Machines to Saint Arnold Stadium. The two clubs have only met among the hashmarks eight times, and only once in the postseason, when the 5-8-1, sixth-seeded Brewmeisters romped past the 8-6, fifth-seeded Poststructural Spiritualists 40-6 in Super Bowl III. (For true league enthusiasts, it was that Brewmeister playoff run that led to the current six-win playoff eligibility rule.)

Super Bowl III has turned out to be the last playoff victory for the Brewmeister franchise; they've lost two wild card contests and have split a pair of Draft Bowl appearances in the four seasons since. Finally, five year's later, Anderson is on the cusp of playing in their third Super Bowl thanks to an incredible regular season in which they captured their first division title since 1998 and second overall. Peyton Manning is arguably the biggest reason for the team's success, having a season in which he's failed to score at least 11 points only once. Furthermore, LaDainian Tomlinson and Brian Westbrook have ramped up their performances during the final stretch of the season, each hitting double-digits in each of the final three games. Credit is also due for Anderson's Patriots defense, selected with the first overall pick following last year's Draft Bowl victory. The Patriots have scored at least 25 points in three of their last four games, helping catapult the Brewmeisters past the Figs and Pimps to claim the Eastern Division title.

As intimidating as the Brewmeisters are (they've won nine of their last 11 games), the one team that might be able to stand toe-to-toe with them and not flinch is the Abstract Machines. It was the Machines, you remember, who belted Anderson in Artesia, New Mexico, 42-11. Eleven points was by far the lowest point total for Anderson all season, and the Machines' Ravens defense are itching for the rematch. They scored 28 points in that Week 7 game, and scored another 27 in last week's wild card victory over The Pimps. Tom Brady and placekicker Morten Anderson are also coming off big wild card performances, and halfbacks Curtis Martin and Jerome Bettis are ready to wear down the Brewmeister defensive line.

The game may be at Saint Arnold Stadium, but the Abstract Machines will come in with the confidence earned through a franchise best 9-5 campaign to date. Plus, they've already hammered the Brew in their unofficial backyard. Anderson has regrouped since that Neutral Site Week loss, and is riding an impressive five-game winning streak. The best part: Peyton Manning vs. the Ravens D in head-to-head play Sunday night. I'd clear your calendar.

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Championship Week concludes in familiar territory as the Naughty Figs travel to take on the Western Division Champion Irwin Hellions at Purgatory Field. With the Hellions winning their league-leading fourth division title in just eight years of existence, the Hellhole once again becomes a gateway to the Super Bowl.

For the visiting Figs, this has been a week of first's. They played in their first ever playoff game and scored their first ever playoff victory, leading them into this week's first ever Championship Week appearance. To extend their season, they'll need one last major first: a win over the Hellions. The Figs have now won 29 games from eight other teams in their five seasons, but have yet to tag a loss on Irwin in five career chances. Just three weeks ago, on this very field, The Figs bowed to the Hellions yet again, 44-35. On the upside, Willis McGahee ran for 19 points in that loss and managed another dozen in last week's Wild Card win over Thomas. Furthermore, Joey Harrington has given way to Chad Pennington at QB, but Pennington can't afford another Harrington-esque performance (minus-1) like last week's. The Figs will likely need string games from those two as well as Clinton Portis if they're to pull the big upset this week.

The Irwin Hellions are used to playing with the Super Bowl on the line. This is their sixth appearance in Championship Week, and they're looking for their league-record fourth win. After a schizophrenic start to the season, the Hellions exploded down the stretch, winning their last four games capped off with a season-ending 70-8 pounding of the playoff-hungary Piana Raze. Donovan McNabb was unstoppable during that stretch, scoring 20, 14, 11, and 22 points. Moreover, Domanick Davis and Edgerrin James each hit double-digits twice as the Hellion offense became an immediate force to be reckoned with.

The Figs and Hellions represents a battle of playoff-tested opposites. The Figs have just won their first playoff game and are looking to make it two-for-two, while the Hellions already have a league-leading seven playoff victories to go with two Super Bowl titles. On paper, this game seems to be a lock for Irwin. They just better not play that way, or the visiting Figs could derail the Western Division champs.

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