TMC-Week 8

Is anyone else wondering what happened to the St. Louis Rams? I know I'm not alone in saying that the job Joe Vitt has done has been amazing. Think about it, this team was picked by some to finish no higher than third in the putrid NFC West. Joe Vitt takes over the team when they are sitting at 2-3 heading into a Monday Nighter at Indy. Since falling there, they've won the last two at home, to get to 4-4 heading into their bye week. I know everyone is on the Joe V. bandwagon right now, but he does deserve a lot of credit for what he's done in a short amount of time. Who cares if the guy looks like a high school shop teacher, he can coach!

I guess it's time for me to munch on some crow, curtesy of Jake Plummer. I've been on him all year and he's been proving me wrong long enough, so Jake, I'm sorry I doubted your ability to be a decent fantasy QB. Although it was about this time last year (right after I traded for him) that the bottom fell out for him, so there's still time.
Anyway, the Broncos look to be for real. So do the G-Men. Wow. What a performance against the Redskins, huh? The Bengals have redefined the 12th man and the Colts still haven't lost. So what if it was a bye week for them.

Locally, it's time for the Hitters to undergo a name change. Thanks to Wes's victory, Hud gets a new nickname tomorrow morning. The Creamers appear to be the league's best team and TQ redefines bad luck after landing Daunte Culpepper. Let's get to it...

Wes 117, Hud 92 (prediction-Wes 81, Hud 78)
I'm glad the final score was what it was, because I'd hate to think that Hud lost because Jake Delhomme was on his bench. I've gotta give it up to Wes though, he's made some huge trades and has himself in a position to make a nice playoff run. Plus, he can show up two hours late to next year's draft and not miss making a pick! All kidding aside, the big games from Tiki, Tony, and Jerry Porter (remember him) did the Hitters in.
Game ball goes to-Jerry Porter. 6 catches for 123 yds and 2 TDs, 22 pts.

Ryan P. 138, Ryan F. 45 (prediction-Fagan 107, Pietsch 98)
Jake Plummer for President! Not really, but he's having a good season and this is the week I'm admitting my mistake of saying he sucks. Pietsch got monster games from Antonio Gates and Jake the Snake, and Eric Moulds's effort was pretty good too. Fagan, on the other hand, went down with the 'Skins. Brunell and Portis together put up a big, fat goose egg, and the Crapshoot couldn't get anyone else to step up.
Game ball goes to-Antonio Gates. 10 catches, 145 yds, 3 TDs, 38 pts.

Scott 86, Eric 68 (prediction-Scott 100, Eric 75)
Nothing too surprising here. Scott gets another nice performance from Steven Jackson and his defense (this week it was the Bengals) to cruise to the victory and even his record at 4-4. It's worth mentioning that, since this is the year of kicker in the MVRL, Hoffman did get a 21-point performance out of Jay Feely. The madness continues!
Game ball goes to-Teen Wolf. 200 total yds and a TD, 20 pts.

Horned Puffins 77, Burrowing Owls 46 (prediction-Owls 98, Puffins 89)
I continue to get lucky with my opponents' bye week. This week not only the bye got Mr. Quinn, but a nasty injury to just-acquired QB Daunte Culpepper. That sucks. It's unfortunate for the Vikings as well-especially Mike Tice. How's he still got a job anyway? I'd have canned him a month ago. L.T. tosses another TD pass and Marion Barber steps in for Eli Manning and gets it done for the Puffs. What's up with all the Manning stuff anyway? Who even cares?
Game ball goes to-the Cowboys D. 2 picks, one of which was returned for a TD, 3 sacks, and less than 100 yds rushing and 200 yds passing. 29 pts.

Rampage 92, Double Down 85 (prediction-DD 110, Rampage 95)
I'm guessing Daniels will not be sending Aaron Brooks a Christmas card this year. Mr. Milt follows up the MV Rams playoff victory with a big win of his own over the Double Down. Tatum Bell and Joey Galloway put him in a position to win and Anthony Wright and Heath Miller deliver the goods on MNF. A nice win for the Rampage.
Game ball goes to-Heath Miller. The former Virginia Cavalier only had 3 catches for 18 yds, but 2 were TDs. 15 pts.

Carpetbaggers 89, Pietschskins 77 (prediction-Al 83, Troy 67)
Troy gets 41 points out of the Giants D, a nice effort from Willis McGahee, and nothing else. Meanwhile, the 'Baggers pull the trigger on a deal to get Trent Green and he immediately has a big game. Maybe the worm has turned for Al? We'll find out.
Game ball goes to-Drew Brees. Perhaps the most underrated QB in the NFL, Brees goes for 325 total yds and 3 TDs. 22 pts.


The 3-3 week has me at 23-25 overall. I will get to .500, I just don't know when.
Be sure to get your claims in before midnight and look for the debut of the Benchpressers blog at 7:00 tomorrow morning!