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Championship Week Previews

Jody's C.W.O.T. at Anderson Brewmeisters
(8 - 6)   (11 - 2)
series history: Anderson leads 14-7
last meeting: Week 12
JODY 50, at Anderson 46
postseason records:
Jody 8-7, Anderson 7-5
 

Jody's Colossal Waste of Time returns to the scene of the season's most surprising comeback when they take on the Eastern Division Champion Anderson Brewmeisters for the first of two Championship Week bouts. Three short weeks ago, Jody staged an amazing Monday Night rally to stun the juggernaut Brewmeisters 50-46 at Saint Arnold Stadium, handing the Brew Men just their second loss on the season. The C.W.O.T. produced similar Monday Night heroics last week to clip the defending Super Bowl Champion Abstract Machines 41-39 to earn a return date with Anderson.

Jody will be making its fourth Championship Week appearance in five seasons thanks largely to the emergence of Frank Gore and Steven Jackson as a formidable backfield duo. Carson Palmer still leads an aerial attack which has been inconsistent at times this season but produced an impressive 32 points in last week's Wild Card win. While Josh Brown is a reliable kicker, picking between the Panthers and Falcons defense has been a dangerous game of Russian roulette at times for the C.W.O.T. They will need a solid effort from whichever unit gets the start in hopes of slowing down the Brewmeister potent offense.

Anderson can certainly hang its hat on the league's first-ever 11-win regular season, but none of those wins can guarantee a Super Bowl berth. Good thing the Brewskies have arguably the most dangerous offense to ever take the field in the FLF. LaDainian Tomlinson is quite possibly having the greatest season of any offensive player ever, and his backfield understudy (Brian Westbrook) could be a No. 1 starter on almost any other team. Peyton Manning's as prolific as quarterbacks come, and he has the likes of Torry Holt, Steve Smith, and Donald Driver to throw to. All told, it's an offense that has score 40 or more points (adjusted) in each of their past four games and has been held to under 30 just twice.

As playoff matchups go, there's certainly no shortage of storylines here. This will be the fourth playoff meeting between the C.W.O.T. and Brew, but first ever during Championship Week (Anderson leads the postseason series 2-1). They have alternated winning the Eastern Division over the past four years (twice apiece), and both have reached a Super Bowl within the past two seasons (both losing). And after that stunning Week 12 upset in front of their home faithful, revenge is high on the minds of the Brew Krew. Will LT and Company avenge that loss, or can lightning strike twice for Jody? This one might go down to the wire, with Palmer and Manning meeting head-to-head on MNF.

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Sims Stereco at Piana Raze
(10 - 4)   (8 - 4 - 1)
series history: Piana leads 8-3
last meeting: Week 2
Sims 23, at PIANA 27
postseason records:
Sims 5-4, Piana 7-4
 

The Sims Stereco make their second-ever Championship Week appearance when they visit the Western Division Champion Piana Raze at En Fuego Field for the 2006 Western Championship Game. The Stereco dismissed Pirk's Wicked Oil Profiteer$ 34-25 last week for their franchise record tenth win of the season. The Raze won their last three games down the stretch to clinch their fourth division title and are making their second straight Championship Week appearance (fifth overall).

The Stereco are led by Drew Brees, who's quickly become one of the league's most productive passers on the season. Mike Vick got the start in last week's Wild Card win, but produced only a single point of offense, paving the way for Brees' first career playoff start. Tatum Bell and Deuce McAllister are likely to work from the backfield, and a dangerous Stereco receiving corps will be anchored by Larry Fitzgerald, Terry Glenn, and Brian Berrian. Glenn, who came over in a trade with Piana during the offseason, led the teams' offense last week with 8 points. The Jaguar defense posted 10 points of its own, and will be looking to put the clamps on Piana's skill-position players.

Behind Anderson, Piana has arguably the next-best backfield duo consisting of Larry Johnson and Tiki Barber. Barber has stated plans to retire at season's end, and he hopes to go out with a Super Bowl appearance. The Raze have reworked a receiving corps that now features Reggie Wayne, Terrell Owens (acquired via preseason trade with Sims), and Roy Williams (acquired via mid-season trade with the Figs). Marc Bulger remains the signal-caller, but he's struggled late in the season, and Piana certainly can't afford any more 1- or 2-point outings from its QB.

The Raze handed Sims one of its four losses right here at En Fuego Field way back in Week 2. All of the Stereco's losses, in fact, have come on the road, and Piana has won its last four home games coming into this one. Sims will need to reverse those trends if they're to return to the Super Bowl in their first playoff run since 2002.

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