| 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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