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Regular Season
 Wild Card Week Championship Week Super Bowl IV

 

Championship Week Previews


Eastern Championship Game

The Pimps
at
Jody's C.W.O.T.
(8 - 6)
(8 - 5)


series history: Pimps lead 5-3
last meeting: Week 13
Jody 30, at PIMPS 61
postseason records:
Pimps 1-3, Jody 2-3
 

Championship Week 2000 kicks off with the 2000 Eastern Division Champion Jody's Colossal Waste of Time playing host to last season's division champs, The Pimps. Jody took the title away behind an 8-5 record, one game better than The Pimps. Coincidentally, the C.W.O.T. were swept in the season series against The Pimps, and, alarmingly, have not beaten them since the early half of the '98 season. Just two weeks ago, The Pimps throttled the division champs 61-30. They meet for a third time in 2000 with a berth in the Super Bowl hanging in the balance.

Jody's C.W.O.T. has graciously welcomed the bye week to nurse injuries sustained through the 13 week war of a regular season. Kerry Collins will get the call yet again at quarterback, as he has proven himself capable of leading the team. The lifeforce of this offense, however, is the running game. A healthy Eddie George and Stephen Davis could make it a long day for The Pimps' defensive line. More times than not, Jody lives and dies with that backfield. The receiving corps isn't nearly as threatening as it has been in years past, but Tim Brown and Joe Horn can keep a secondary on its toes. Martin Gramatica is an awesome placekicker with incredible range and consistency. If it's close, he could become a huge factor. Yet there is no more dramatic a playoff lore than that of Jody's Miami defense. The Dolphins seem to play their best when it counts the most. In 1998, the lone year Jody made it to the big game, the Dolphins took a combined 60+ points away from the C.W.O.T.'s first two playoff opponents. They'll need another high-calibur perfromance to slow down the explosiveness of The Pimps offense.

It's been an incredibly odd journey back to Championship Week for The Pimps. After Week 6, they had yet take on a loss and seemed like a lock to repeat as Eastern Division Champions. But things fell apart as they dropped an astonishing six in a row and nearly out of the playoffs. The Pimps crushed Jody in Week 13 to stop the bleeding and make the playoffs. Last week, they earned the franchise's first ever postseason victory with a seven-point win over the Piana Raze. The Pimp's Packer defense was the star of that game, but The Pimps are all about offense. Steve Beurlein and Jeff George have had up and down years, but both have big game potential. Possibly the biggest surprise of 2000 was the return of Jerome Bettis and Ricky Watters. Being the only two runningbacks on the roster, they both produced stellar seasons well above expectations. The most dangerous weapon The Pimps have is the receiving corps. Derrick Alexander, Rod Smith, and James McKnight have been outstanding and one of the most feared threesomes in the league. The Pimps also have a two-headed monster at kicker as Jeff Wilkens can easily be relieved by the powerful Matt Stover.

This will be the third Championship Week appearance for Jody in four seasons, while The Pimps can now boast of two straight trips to the FLF's Final Four. Can Jody finally conquer The Pimps, or will past demons haunt the C.W.O.T. evermore. Perhaps the biggest stat of note: No Number 1 seed has ever reached the Super Bowl.


victims of the bye week:
Pimps - none
Jody - none


Western Championship Game

   
Thomas' Bock Boys
at
Irwin Hellions
(9 - 5)
(8 - 5)

series history: tied 1-1
last meeting: Week 12
Irwin 19, at THOMAS 49
postseason records:
Thomas 1-0, Irwin 2-3
 

The drama of Championship Week 2000 doesn't slow down a bit for the Western Championship Game, which pits two of the three teams that finished tied atop the Western Division. The Irwin Hellions claimed the official title through the tiebreak, earning them a much needed bye week. Thomas' Bock Boys had to get here the hard way -by knocking off the two-time defending champion Anderson Brewmeisters. Now, the aspiring Bock Men are a single game away from reaching the Super Bowl in their first year of existence, and would like nothing better than to go through their division champions to get there.

These clubs met twice during the regular season, and it was indeed a tale of two games. In Week 2, the green Bock Boys were ambushed at Purgatory Field 63-4, but just three weeks ago, they turned the Hellions on their head 49-19 in Bockville. In total, Thomas has now won five straight games while Irwin has dropped its last two, scoring a combined 19 points. So now the stage is set for round three in the "Hellhole."

Up until just recently, Irwin looked to be the most dominant team in the league, and rightfully so. The offense is fueled on the legs of Curtis Martin and Edgerrin James, who continue to put up big numbers. Brett Favre has been splitting time with Donovan McNabb, who looks to be the starter here. The mobile McNabb could give the Bock Boy defenders headaches. When he's not trying to scramble, he'll be throwing to the likes of Quadry Ismail, Chris Carter, and Jimmy Smith. Olindo Mare's production has dropped off a bit from last year, but he's still a solid placekicker. The spirit of the franchise is best summed up by its Buccaneer defense - hard-hitting, mean, and relentless. If they can shut down the Bock Boys, Irwin will be making its first trip to the Bowl since '97.

What can be said about Thomas' Bock Boys that hasn't been already? They've taken the FLF by storm thanks to shrewd management and all-star efforts across the board. Daunte Culpepper is an emerging force at quarterback. Rookie Jamal Lewis will be welcomed back after a bye week to run alongside the astonishing Robert Smith. While Keyshawn Johnson may have been a disappointment, Tony Gonzales has been the star of an up and coming receiving corps. Steve Christie - last week notwithstanding - has been good for nearly 10 points a game. The defense has also been strong; the Eagles can be spelled quickly by a capable Raider squad.

There are some things you will always remember. Thomas will never forget its first loss, a 59-point shelling here at the Hellhole. If there is any more redemption to be had, it's here for the taking. But the Hellions have some points to prove own their own, and will be looking to slap back the first-year Boys. Beer and Hell collide with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line!


victims of the bye week:
Thomas - none
Irwin - none