The 2008 edition of Neutral Site Week kicks off from Leander, Texas, where Thomas' Bock Boys meet up with the Anderson Brewmeisters in a Championship Week rematch from a year ago. The Brewmeisters won that battle in Bockville 27-21 to advance to Super Bowl XI while sending the top-seeded Bock Boys' home for the offseason.

The defending Western Division champion Bock Boys are off to a relatively rough start in '08. They've already lost as many games in six weeks of this season (three) as they had in 13 weeks of last season, and they're two games and a tiebreak behind the division-leading Profiteer$. They are coming off their best win of the season, having defeated the Irwin Hellions 37-32 last week. In a strange twist, Derrick Anderson, who was holding a clipboard for the Brew the last time these teams met, will likely be the starting QB for Thomas this week.

Like Thomas, Anderson is two games back of the leader in their own division at the midway point. Just last week, the still undefeated Figs swatted down the Super Bowl champs, who mistakenly sent two injured players into the huddle. The Brewmeisters will not likely make that same mistake again, particularly against a team they have beaten in four straight meetings.

victims of the bye week:
Thomas – QB Garrard, K Akers
Anderson – RB Westbrook

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A great Hotard Hall rivalry is renewed as Pirk's Wicked Oil Profiteer$ meet up with The Pimps on the blue turf of Boise State's Bronco Stadium. Although this is the only Neutral Site Week matchup to be played outside of Texas in 2008, it's a familiar venue for the FLF. Every two years, The Pimps opt to play in Boise, and they've gone 2-1 on the blue turf thus far. And seeing how they're playing the Western division front-runner while having yet to record a win of their own, The Pimps can use all the good karma they can get.

P.W.O.P. is already enjoying the good times. At 5-1, they're off to their best start in franchise history and have a two-game lead over Irwin and Thomas in the Western race. The only real downer of the first half is that Tony Romo just broke the pinky on his throwing hand, and his status remains up in the air. The Pimps also have an injured QB (Jon Kitna) and another out on bye this week (Warner), leaving Jake Delhomme to try and steer the Feathered Ones to their first victory of 2008.

victims of the bye week:
P.W.O.P. – RB Norwood
Pimps – QB Warner, RB Taylor, REC Curtis

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The Abstract Machines will try to shake off any lingering effects from last week' defensive meltdown as they head to Bulverde, Texas to take on Jody's Colossal Waste of Time in the 200-seat Warrior Stadium. The Machines were already in the lead over Piana when their Giants defense posted a minus-5, delivering the Machines their four loss in a row. Jody, meanwhile, has won four of their last five games to catch the Brewmeisters for second place in the East.

While the defense failed miserably for the Abstracts, last week's offense featured three players scoring in double-digits and another posting a nine. With a motivated Giants unit and a rested Titans unit to choose from, it seems highly unlikely the Machines' defense will go M.I.A. for the second week in a row. The C.W.O.T. now appear to be Aaron Rodgers' team, and he is quickly making the teams' fans forget about Carson Palmer. The defense and special teams will likely need to improve from last week's combined 3 points, however, for the Pewter & Black to stretch their winning streak to three.

victims of the bye week:
Machines – RB Hightower
Jody – REC White, K Scobee

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Rounding out the small stadium venues in Texas is Antler Field in Kerville, where the undefeated Naughty Figs meet up with the miraculously 2-4 Piana Raze. The FIgs were unquestionably the best team of the season's first half, and their six wins have already made them playoff eligible for the first time since 2004, which was the only year to date the Fig franchise made it to the postseason dance. Jay Cutler and a rejuvenated Clinton Portis have breathed new life into the Naughties and positioned them for a real shot at their first ever division crown.

Piana finished the 2007 regular season with the league's second best record, and despite an early exit from the playoffs, the Raze had high expectations for 2008. Yet the same QB woes from last year have persisted into this one. Matt Schaub could get the start this week, making him already the fourth Raze signal caller in just seven weeks. And were it not for the Machines defensive apocalypse last Monday Night, the Raze would be essentially buried in the Western race at 1-5.

victims of the bye week:
Piana – RB Jones-Drew, RB Turner, REC Jackson
Figs – QB Lienart, REC Boldin

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The Game of the Week goes old school for the Neutral Site Week finale, with the Irwin Hellions and Sims Stereco meeting up at Texas A&M's Kyle Field. Both clubs are coming off tough Week 6 losses, but both the Hellions and Stereco are playing at a level above what their respective records indicate.

These aren't the same Irwin Hellions that have missed out on the playoffs the past two seasons. Although the ground game is still suspect, all other areas have shown marked improvement in productivity. Quarterback Eli Manning must be itching to redeem himself this week following Monday Night's three-interception performance, and with Donovan McNabb out on bye, Manning will get the call once again. The Stereco will counter with Drew Brees, who's been the best thing about the '08 Stereco to date. Sims will also welcome back Rob Bironas, who sat out last week on bye and watched his kicker-less team lose to Pirk by 6.

Chris vs. Chris is one of the original and best interdivisional rivalries in the FLF, so be sure to stick around in the BCS following Tech's demolition of the Ags. Gig 'em!

victims of the bye week:
Irwin – QB McNabb, RB James, REC Brown, DEF Philadelphia
Sims – REC Fitzgerald

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