The only two Eastern Division clubs to post wins last week meet at Saint Arnold Stadium as the Anderson Brewmeisters host the streaking Sims Stereco. The Brewmeisters have locked up a playoff berth and are looking to wrap up a second consecutive Eastern Division title. Sims, meanwhile, has won two straight and remains mathematically alive in the playoff hunt, so long as they keep up their new winning ways for two more weeks.

The Stereco have run hot and cold most of the season, but they're coming off a great effort against Thomas and look to carry that momentum over. Mike Vick has hit double-digits in each of his past three games, and sophomore receiver Larry Fitzgerald has emerged as a consistent scoring threat. Anderson, of course, counters with the likes of Peyton Manning, Torry Holt, and LaDainain Tomlinson, but their Detroit defense has become suddenly suspect. Sims won the first meeting and a season sweep could put the Stereco on the improbable cusp of the playoffs.

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The Pimps host Jody's Colossal Waste of Time in a battle of Eastern clubs desperately needing wins following Week 11 losses. Jody is already playoff eligible with 6 wins, but they are a game back of Anderson in the division race and may need to win out for a shot at the title. The Pimps will now need to win out just to be considered for a wild card spot, so – essentially – their playoffs start now.

As with the aforementioned Figs, the Machines must win two of their final three games to become playoff eligible. That road will be particularly difficult for the Mechanical Ones, whose last three opponents (Jody, Piana, Anderson) are all currently 6-4. Making immediate matters even worse, the C.W.O.T. are already 5-0 at home this season and will certainly be gunning for a perfect 6-0 mark. Carson Palmer and Antonio Gates will be back from byes to help the C.W.O.T.'s cause.

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The lone interdivisional contest of Week 12 has the 4-7 Naughty Figs visiting the 3-7-1 Pirk's Wicked Oil Profiteer$. After finishing a game shy of the Super Bowl a year ago, the Figs are on the verge of being eliminated from playoff contention, just as the Profiteer$ were with last week's loss to Piana.

The Fig offense has failed to live up to expectations this season, particularly with an anemic receiving corps that has only one receiver ranked in the top 20 (at No. 20). Draftee LaMont Jordan has been a solid halfback, but Clinton Portis and Willis McGahee have struggled to maintain their prior production. Pirk drafted a few very serviceable players (Carnell Williams, Chris Chambers, Warrick Dunn) hoping to return to the playoffs, but injuries to Ahman Green, Williams, and Hines Ward have kept the Oil Men down. Given the salty history of this interdivisional series, P.W.O.P. can at least get some pleasure with a win that would ultimately send the Figs home for the holidays.

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The Piana Raze visit the Abstract machines in the first of two critical Western Division showdowns. The Raze have already clinched a playoff berth – their first since 2003 – but they also know that if they win out, they will claim the Division title. The Machines, meanwhile, are still one win shy of playoff eligibility at 5-5-1.

With the emergence of Larry Johnson to run alongside Tiki Barber, Piana's ground game has developed into one of the best in the league. The quarterback rotation is still a mystery, with neither Mark Brunell nor Trent Green doing anything lately to earn the job out right. The Machines have the very reliable Tom Brady calling the shots in the huddle, but their own running game has almost vanished; Curtis Martin has hit double-digits just once this season. The receiving corps is still deep, however, and will likely be the key to getting the Mechanical Ones back into the playoffs.

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It's not often that the Game of the Week shines its light onto a pair of teams that have gone a combined 1-5 over the previous three weeks, but anytime the Irwin Hellions and Thomas' Bock Boys lock horns, it's worth a look. The Hellions snapped a two-game skid with a huge 52-20 home win over The Pimps last week, while the Bock Boys can't seem to get their footing, having now lost three straight. As a result, Irwin leads the Boys by two games in the Western race with only two to play.

The fate of the defending Super Bowl champions is now in the hands of sophomore quarterback Eli Manning, who steps in for the injured Donovan McNabb. Other stars from a year ago – Domanick Davis and Andre Johnson – have also missed significant time due to injury, but the reliable talents of Edgerrin James and Chad Johnson have kept the Hellions at the top of the league. With most everyone healthy, Irwin could be a force down the final stretch.

Thomas is coming off its first home loss of the season – to Sims no less – but the Boys have historically been rude hosts for the Hellions. Just last season, in fact, they mercilessly ripped Irwin 58-0 in front of the Bockyard faithful. Drew Bledsoe desperately needs a good game, having scored failed to score more than 5 points in any one game since Week 5. Reuben Droughns has been a pleasant surprise in the backfield, but he can't do it alone. Thomas will look to veteran Stephen Davis to help keep the Hellions honest.

Thomas needs just one more win to lock up a playoff invitation, and they're still (barely) alive for the Western Division title, but they need to stop this losing streak right now. Irwin has lost its last two on the road (and is only 2-3 for the season), so a win here could go a long way to making sure they don't have to play on the road come December.

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