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Wild Card Week Previews
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Anderson Brewmeisters
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Thomas' Bock Boys
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(7 - 6)
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(8 - 5)
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series history: Thomas leads 1-0
last meeting: Week 3
Anderson 29, at THOMAS 38
postseason records:
Anderson 5-0, Thomas 0-0
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In what is set up as the
premeire matchup of the week, the two-time defending champion Anderson
Brewmeisters make a return trip to Bockville to take on the powerful
Thomas' Bock Boys. No longer appropriate to call them "expansion,"
the Bock Boys have surged to the top of the league behind a mixture
of budding superstars and accomplished veterans. Daunte Culpepper
and Jamal Lewis make a strong case for being the best collective
catch of the draft, while Robert Smith and Steve Christie are getting
back at the franchises that left them unprotected during expansion.
Thomas is hot, winning five of their last seven, including four
straight to close out the regular season.
The Bock Boys first ever postseason opponent is no stranger to life
- or adversity - after the regular season ends. Last season, the
Anderson Brewmeisters backed into the playoffs as the No. 6 seed
at 3-8-1, then proceeded to sweep through Jody, The Pimps, and the
then-Poststructural Spiritualists to claim their second straight
Super Bowl victory. In the offseason, rules were changed to prevent
such a mediocre regular season team from participating in the playoffs.
Yet the 2000 Brewmeisters, 3.5 games better than last year's squad,
finds itself in the six spot once again. Kurt Warner is long gone,
leaving Anderson's unblemished postseason record in the hands of
Peyton Manning, Fred Taylor, and the rest of the formidable Brewmeister
offense.
What really makes this matchup the one to watch is its short but
intense history. In Week 3, Anderson spent half of their season's
transactions to fill holes in their lineup as they visited Thomas
in Bockville. Despite the bold personnel moves, the Brewmeisters
came up short, losing to the Bock Boys by 9. Those spent transactions
left Anderson working lean the rest of the season. Now, three months
later, Anderson gets another crack at the Western Division's new
kid on the block.
victims of the bye week:
Anderson - DEF Baltimore, QB Banks
Thomas - RB Lewis
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The Pimps
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Piana Raze
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(7 - 6)
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(8 - 5)
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series history: Piana leads 3-2
last meeting: Week 2
Piana 37, at PIMPS 54
postseason records:
Pimps 0-3, Piana 3-1
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The
second Wild Card matchup features two teams who posted must-wins
last week against their respective division champions. The Pimps
ended their six-game slide with a 61-30 thrashing of the C.W.O.T.
while Piana smothered Irwin 16-0. Now, the two get to lock horns
for another shot at a division champion.
The Piana Raze have made a triumphant return to the playoffs thanks
largely to an aggressive defense. Between injuries to Terrell
Davis, Brian Griese, and Elvis Grbac, offensive points have been
hard to come by for the Raze. Yet the winners of the '97 Super
Bowl have scrapped thir way to seven wins over the past eight
weeks after starting the season 1-4. Piana is averaging a mere
25.7 points per game, easily the lowest total among the six playoff
teams, yet they are allowing a mere 23.4 ppg, second only to Irwin's
23.2 mark.
The Pimps are practically the exact opposite of the Raze - all
offense, no defense. The Pimps score a league best 38.3 points
per game, but are allowing a league-worst 35.7 ppg. With the likes
of Derrick Alexander, Rod Smith, and the resurgent Ricky Watters
and Jerome Bettis, The Pimps will be gunning to simply outstretch
the Raze's defensive advantage, as they did in their Week 2 matchup.
Moreover, this is a team coming into the playoffs with a bit of
a chip on its shoulder. The Pimps are the only FLF franchise (excluding
the two expansion clubs) that has yet to win a postseason game.
Can The Pimps exorcise their playoff demons and make a return
appearance in Championship Week, or will Piana stifle yet another
opponent at En Fuego Field? Don't look away!
victims of the bye week:
Pimps - K Stover
Piana - none
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Draft Bowl IV
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B.Y.O.B.
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The Players
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(5 - 8)
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(3 - 10)
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series history: B.Y.O.B. leads 1-0
last meeting: Week 8
Players 27, at B.Y.O.B. 37
postseason records:
B.Y.O.B. 0-0, Players 2-2
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The Players host Brandon's Yellow-bellied Overweight
Banshees in the league's fourth ever Draft Bowl. Coming off an
emotional win over the Abstract Machines, The players are looking
to make it two in a row and sew up the No. Draft Pick in next
year's draft. The Banshees are actually one of the hotter teams
in the league, winning four of their last six games. Yet despite
such late-season success, an early sweep at the hands of the Sims
Stereco puts them in Draft Bowl IV. Already guaranteed two first
rounders after a trade with Piana, Brandon is looking to only
better their first round positioning.
Rich Gannon and a Bills/Redskins defense-by-committee has been
the primary sources of the Banshees' recent success. Yet they'll
have their hands full this week against The Players' explosive
trio of Jeff Garcia, Randy Moss, and Muhsin Muhammed. Forget pride;
this is for the No. 1 draft pick!
victims of the bye week:
B.Y.O.B. - none
Players - REC Taylor
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