The league returns to divisional play for the final two weeks of the season, and the Week 12 fun kicks off with the Anderson Brewmeisters hosting the Naughty Figs at Saint Arnold Stadium. The Brewmeisters are returning home following a 1-2 road trip that had them fall back under .500 and concede the division title to Jody. With only five marks in the win column, Anderson needs at least one more "W" to qualify for its fourth consecutive playoff trip. There are even whispers in the clubhouse that the team may turn to Derrek Anderson in place of a struggling Peyton Manning (who has three combined points in his past two starts).

The Figs sit only a game back of the Brewskies in the standings, but the playoffs for them begin now. With only four wins to their credit, they need to win out (both on the road, nonetheless) and probably get some help to make the dance. The Figs were sitting pretty at 3-2 after Week 5, but they were crushed by the Brewmeisters 78-11 in Week 6, a loss that began a 1-5 tailspin. Will they have an answer for that defeat in the rematch, or are the '07 Figs bowing out?

back to scoreboard

The Vortex will be rockin' this weekend as Jody's Colossal Waste of Time celebrate their record-tying fifth division title. (Only the Irwin Hellions have as many.) With all the focus on the Bock Boys and surging Machines and Raze, the C.W.O.T. very quietly went about their business in the East, running up an impressive 6-1 mark within the division to earn the title and clinch a bye. Yet there's still a lot to play for; a win this week guarantees the C.W.O.T. a shot at the No. 1 overall seed when they travel to Bockville next week.

Present for the celebration – albeit unwillingly – are the Sims Stereco, who have just knocked off the Bock Boys in dramatic fashion and are looking to win two straight for the first time all season. Both Jody and Sims were wild cards a year ago, but while Jody surged upward to win the division, Sims slid backwards, becoming the first team eliminated from playoff consideration. The second-half Stereco have played much better than the first-half, and a strong finish would make the offseason much more bearable.

back to scoreboard

The suddenly slumping Thomas' Bock Boys head to En Fuego Field to take on the red hot Piana Raze in a key Western Division battle. Two weeks ago, Thomas had a seemingly insurmountable three-game lead over Piana and the Machines. Losses to the AMs and then the Sims Stereco, coupled with back-to-back wins from both Piana and the Abstracts, has cut the Boys' lead in the standings back to one. Thanks to a 6-1 mark in divisional play, all Thomas needs is to win one of its final two to formally clinch their second Western Division title and a first round bye.

The Raze – last year's Western champ and eventual Super Bowl winner – has won three straight coming into this one to clinch a third consecutive playoff berth. Like all other Western teams, they were kicked aside by Thomas in the first meeting, but are hopeful they now have the weapons in place to corral the Bock Boys.

back to scoreboard

The Abstract Machines host the Irwin Hellions in the second Western Division matchup of the week. The Machines are clinging to hopes of overtaking the Bock Boys for the division title, but they'll need to keep winning and get some help. There has been no hotter team than the Machines over the past two months, who have won six of their past seven to clinch their fifth straight playoff trip.

The once-mighty Hellions are heading in the opposite direction, having lost five of their past six. As with three other teams, the Hellions will need to win out and get some help to make the playoffs. If they can't (and with games against the Machines and Piana on the docket, it seems unlikely), the Hellions will miss the playoffs for the second straight season, a franchise first.

back to scoreboard

The Pimps host Pirk's Wicked Oil Profiteer$ in an old-school, Hotard Hall grudge match. Pirk has gotten up off the mat after dropping to 3-6, having crushed Jody's C.W.O.T. and the Irwin Hellions in successive weeks by a combined score of 81-12. Pirk is now only a win away from playoff eligibility, but winning out may be necessary to clinch a spot. The road has not been particularly kind to the Profiteer$ this season, however, as they've lost their last three on the road (and have won only two of six away from Oil Town).

The Pimps have cooled off following a strong start and are on the verge of being eliminated from playoff contention. As with the Figs and the Hellions, The Pimps have gone 1-5 over their past six and will need to win out to make the playoff field. Injuries have decimated the team, stripping them of Jake Delhomme, Shaun Alexander, and rookie Adrian Peterson. As a result, they're facing a third consecutive season without a playoff invitation. P.W.O.P., at least, has been the tonic to cure them of late; The Pimps have won the last three in the series.

back to scoreboard