LaDainian Tomlinson is playing the best football of his six-year pro career.  On Sunday, he racked up another 154 rushing and receiving yards and scored 4 touchdowns for 20 fantasy points as the Anderson Brewmeisters pulled away from the Thomas Bock Boys for a 62-40 win.  Of course, he didn’t do it all by himself.  Other major scoring contributors for the Brewmeisters were receivers Donald Driver (13) and Steve Smith (10).  But no one would argue that the Brewmeisters 9-1 record is not largely due to Tomlinson, who’s 13.9 ppg average is like having an extra player on the field each week. 

The undermanned Bock Boys tried valiantly to hang with the Brewskies, and were doing a pretty good job of it, until Tomlinson got untracked in the second half.  But by the time quarterback Rex Grossman (12) and kicker Jeff Wilkins (10) posted their numbers, only the final score was still in doubt.  The game was largely devoid of defense, as Thomas’ Patriots squad only managed a 6, which was still 7 better than the Brewmeisters’ Chargers D, which actually gave Thomas another point. 

The win, coupled with the Stereco's loss, puts the Brewmeisters only one win shy of clinching the Eastern Division crown and best regular season record in the league.  The Bock Boys loss puts them at 3 – 7, and needing to win out to have any shot at the playoffs. 

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The Jody’s C.W.O.T. put a complete game together for the first time in four weeks, and in the process became the 3rd team to reach playoff eligibility.  The unlucky victim this time was the Naughty Figs, who fell to their 7th loss against 3 wins, 49-5.  C.W.O.T. quarterback Carson Palmer had his best game of the season, throwing for 440 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 16 point performance, and was joined by running back Steven Jackson with 10 points.  Meanwhile, the Naughty Figs were all about underperforming, with no player scoring more than Javon Walker’s 6 points.  The Figs’ Steelers D was no help, putting up only 4 points against, while Jody’s Panther Defense racked up a 22 points-against game, which turned a mere pounding into a complete rout.  It also helped put the C.W.O.T. over the top in the race for this week’s high point honors, at 75 only 1 point more than P.W.O.P.’s 74. 

Jody’s 6-4 record, although third best in the league, is also unfortunately third best in the Eastern division.  They are, however, all but assured a playoff spot, while the Naughty Figs fall to a 3-7 mark, which leaves them alone in the Eastern division cellar, and needing to win out to make the playoffs.

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The Abstract Machines made a number of free agent pick-ups during the week, hoping to shore up the leagues 4th worst rushing attack.  They may have taken some major strides, as the running backs put up 21 points in a 42-34 home win over the Sims Stereco.  Running back Willie Parker seemed to take the new acquisitions as a personal affront, and responded with his best game of the season, running for 213 yards and scoring 2 touchdowns for 18 total points.  Quarterback Tom Brady, receiver Darryl Jackson, and kicker Morten Andersen pitched in 7 points apiece in the win.  For the Stereco, who lost for only the 3rd time in 10 games, quarterback Drew Brees had his third straight double-digit game, scoring 12 points, while running back Joseph Addai and kicker Robbie Gould, who is leading all kickers this season, scored 9 each.  The defenses fought to a draw, with Sims Jaguars and the Machines’ Ravens both posting 6 points against. 

At 7-3, Sims falls two games behind the Brewmeisters in the Eastern division, but still in good shape to pull a bye for the Wild Card round of the playoffs.  The Machines, in improving their record to 4-6, keep their playoff hopes alive and are tied with The Pimps for the 6th playoff seeding. 

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The Pimps refused to lie down against the Western Division leading Piana Raze, and instead posted their best total since week 5. The result was their fourth win of the season, which ended Piana’s modest two-game winning streak and tightened up the race in the West.  As they have all season, the Pimps relied on defense, and the Bears D responded with a defensive touchdown and a 16 points-against score.  This game, however, the stout defense was complemented with significant offense, as Donte’ Stallworth took game honors with a 139 yard, 1 touchdown, 10 point performance.  Running back Fred Taylor and kicker Jeff Reed added 7 each for the winners.  Brian’s defense finally contributed more than token points, as the Giants D posted 12 points against, but on the offensive side of the ball the heroes were few.  Running backs Larry Johnson and Tiki Barber each posted 8’s, as did receiver Terrell Owens, but the Raze’s defeat was sealed when quarterback Marc Bulger managed only a 2, his worst game of the season and 7 points under his average. 

The win by the Pimps keeps them in the hunt for the final playoff berth, tied with the Machines at 4-6 and needing two more wins in the final three games.  The Raze remain atop the Western division, but have given back a game to the P.W.O.P., who are now just a half game behind.  The two teams will face each other this weekend for the division lead in what surely must be the game of the week.

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The Wicked Oil Profiteer$ dropped the hammer on the Irwin Hellions 55-33 in a game which all but eliminated the Hellions from post-season consideration.  Led by quarterback Phil Rivers 338 yards passing and 3 touchdowns for 16 fantasy points, the Profiteer$ thoroughly outclassed a Hellions squad that went with the run-and-shoot in an effort to inject life into an anemic offense.  The Hellions have been so weak at running back this season that Irwin opted to play this game with his best four receiver and only one running back.  It didn’t help, however, as flex receiver Deion Branch managed only 1 point.  Receiver Curtis Johnson did post game honors with 260 yards receiving and 2 touchdowns for 19 points, easily his best game of the season, but Donovan McNabb had a second consecutive (for him) subpar game, with only 8 points, and no other Hellion player had more than Nate Kaeding’s 7.  With Rivers’ fireworks, kicker Shayne Graham’s 10, and league leading receiver Marques Coltson’s 8, the Profiteer$ pulled steadily away.  Defensively, P.W.O.P.’s Denver defense bested Irwin’s Eagles by 15-7.  In fact, the P.W.O.P. fell only 1 point short of tying for league high point honors for the week, with 74 total points scored. 

The Profiteer$’ win pulls them back into the thick of the Western division race, only a half game behind the Raze, and facing them this week in a bit of a scheduling plum.  At the other end of the spectrum, the Hellions now find themselves in a do-or-die situation, needing to win all three of their remaining games to make the playoffs.

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