Come on, turn back the clock with me to late August 2023. If we knew then what we knew now, we would be like Bob Garcia and have a locked position in the playoffs.
Beaters WR Tyreek Hill leads the league in scoring at his position.
While Christian McCaffrey has been a fantasy god (leading the league in scoring with 235 points, 19.6 a game), his presence on a roster does not guarantee a spot in the playoffs (sorry to burst that bubble for you, Ron).
Jordan, right now, is on the outside looking in and faces two must wins against the Blazing Saddles this week and the Packers next week to have a solid chance to advance to the money round.
Tyreek Hill (Beaters) leads the league in scoring for wideouts (215 points, 17.9 a game) and was an absolute steal at the back end of the first round.
Five teams will enter Week 14 action tied at 8-5 and will be battling for a win this week for the inside track to a postseason berth. The stakes could not be higher in these final two weeks of the regular season. And, hats off to those who survived Week 13 without a crippling injury at a key position – as there were several casualties.
There is an interesting development on the playoff front as four of the five teams deadlocked at 8-5 face each other this week. Simply put, two team owners are going to be pissed at the end of next week. And, why do I always think it is going to be me? Boo hoo for Vern again. I can just hear myself with the Lou Holtz excuses that will be spewing out of my mouth …. “If I had only … “ And, it won’t be any easier next week for WTNE, the Saddles or Invaiders. In Week 15, Blayze and Vern fight it out, and Jordan has to take on the juggernaut Packers. Saddle up, boys, it is going to be a rough ride.
ESPN loves the Spread Beaters (an 81-percent chance now of advancing, with the gutted Rangers to close out the year and the tiebreaker edge) and Packers (a 71-percent chance to advance) to join Bob’s Band Aids in the money round. The Invaiders have a 56-percent chance to advance, followed by WTNE at 51 percent and the Saddles at 41 percent.
The Blazing Saddles and WTNE interdivision battle highlights the slate this week, followed closely by the meeting of the two top-scoring teams in the Silent Division – the Invaiders and the Spread Beaters.
Two teams have the scoring edge (the Spread Beaters and Packers) if there is a tiebreaker invoked as both of those teams have topped 1,300 points this season. Next in the scoring-tiebreaker pecking order are the Invaiders at 1,251, WTNE at 1,240 and the Blazing Saddles at 1,212. WTNE and the Saddles might both have to win out to get in. A loss in the next two weeks and they could be on the outside of the postseason party and looking in.
A win in the Spread Beater-Invaider game should guarantee a spot for one of those teams in the playoffs because of the tiebreaker, and the loser likely faces the dreaded “must-win” scenario next week and hope for the best in the tiebreakers.
Injury bug bites again
A couple more big names left games early in Week 13 and a few are done for the season.
Houston WR Tank Dell (Band Aids) fractured his fibula and is done for the year.
Jags WR Christian Kirk is done for the season.
Cleveland WR Amari Cooper is in the concussion protocol and is projected for a Week 15 return.
QB Trevor Lawrence has a bum ankle and his backup is being touted as this week’s starter.
Commanders RB Brian Robinson Jr. strained his hammy and is likely out the next two weeks, this week for sure because he is on a bye.
RB Derrick Henry (Beaters) left Week 14 with a concussion. There were conflicting reports this week that he was in the concussion protocol on Monday, likely forcing him out this week’s game against the Invaiders, but a report Tuesday said he never entered the required protocol. So, stay tuned on that one.
Green Bay WR Christian Watson strained his oft-strained hammy again and likely may not be back until the final week of the season.
There was one transaction of note, as of this writing, following those injuries but it was Matt Pringle grabbing the Texans’ defense (yay, DeMeco Ryans) going against the offensively challenged New York Jets and likely a backup QB (late-breaking news, Matt … Zack Wilson will get the start this week for the Jets). Again, stay tuned.
Only two on a bye this week
Only the “who-cares” Arizona Cardinals and Washington Commanders are on the last of the NFL byes this week. No regular starter of note hails from either of those teams. Quick trivia: Will anyone notice that the Commanders are on a bye? The schedule, again, kicks off with a game only John would love – New England at Pittsburgh – Thursday night featuring two backups at QB in Bailey Zappe against Mitch Trubisky. Enjoy the game, John. You might be the only one watching it. The Sunday night game is a doozy, featuring the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys, and the chance for oodles of points for those with a Plowboy or Eagle rostered. The over/under on that one is a whopping 52.5 points (the highest of the week). And, for some reason, we have two Monday night games (both with a 5:15 kickoff) with the Titans at the Dolphins and the Packers at the Giants. Matt, looks like we both have to wait until Monday night to settle our feud.
Game of the Week
Blazing Saddles vs. WTNE, Saddles favored by 6: This one, quite simply, just might come down between who scores more between Christian McCaffrey (WTNE) at home against Seattle or Justin Jefferson (Saddles) on the road in Las Vegas. WTNE won their only meeting of the year (the opener) by 23 points, back when we thought the Saddles might go oh-for-2023. To come in favored should not be a shocker as the Saddles have been on a heater over the past two months. And, again, the loser in this one might have a dagger in the heart unless some miracles break their way next week. Blayze gets the coin flip at QB with Dak Prescott at home to the Eagles, who gave up a bundle of points to the 49ers at home last week (Go Niners!), at RB2 (Zack Moss filling in for the injured Jonathan Taylor), WR2 (Jefferson), tight end (Dalton Kincaid), defense (Miami) and kicker (Jason Sanders of Miami). Jordan gets the nod at RB1 (McCaffrey, who could score a bundle against the Seahawks), WR1 (Michael Pittman Jr. and flex (Jaylen Waddle). This is a pick ‘em game if there ever was one. ESPN leans with Blayze on this one and so does The Swami. Take the Saddles and 1.
Best of the Rest
Invaiders vs. Spread Beaters, Beaters favored by 6: Matt and I have been talking about this showdown, and its likely consequences, for two months now. Both teams went on a scoring fest last week and may not have anything left in the barrels this time around. The Beaters won the previous meeting, easily, by 39 points in Week 5. And ESPN thinks this is another pick ‘em game with free-agent snag RB Kyren Williams at Baltimore (ouch) as the player that may decide this one. Both have plenty of exposure to some potential scoring fests (De’Von Achane at home against Tennesee), and A.J. Brown at Dallas and T.J. Hockenson at Las Vegas. Pringle added the Texans defense at the New York Jets from waivers on Tuesday. The shootout at QB – Lamar Jackson vs. either Justin Fields or Tua likely determines this one. ESPN gives positional edges to Matt’s team at RB2 (Kyren against that difficult Ravens’ defense), WR2 (A.J. Brown) and the added Texans defense and the Dallas kicker (Brandon Aubrey). Three positions are a tossup, and the Invaiders get slight edges at QB and the flex (former Beater Achane). Matt’s matchups are brutal but The Swami thinks the Beaters win by 5.
Band Aids vs. Gerbils, Band Aids favored by 27:
The Bruins and Trojans will be battling once again but the only thing on the line this week is pure pride, and maybe a refreshment or two. The Band Aids won big (43 points) the first time they met in Week 6. Bob gets the ESPN love at nearly every position this week. Chuck gets the positional edge at RB2 (Najee Harris) and kicker (Harrison Butker, go kickers!). Chuck needs a prayer and likely gets blown out, and big. Take the Band Aids, pride and 30 points.
Recliners vs. Rangers, Rangers favored by 1:
Two more teams playing for pure pride are these two. The Rangers won by 5 points back In their Week 9 meeting, and likely will play to the wire once again. The biggest question up for grabs this week is does John tank to get a higher draft pick over Chris? The Recliners have been rolling and likely will have another big day. These two teams likely go into the final week tied at 6-8. We love the dog here. Take the Recliners by 5.
Do we have to watch?
Packers vs. Tirades, Packers favored by a bunch: When we say "Packers favored by a bunch," it means a bunch … Like 30-some points at last look. And, it could also mean Ron still has two vacant lineup spots to fill. Rhamondre is out, and Terry "Scorin'" McLaren is on bye. For the sanctity of the league, please update the RB, at least, before Thursday's kickoff.
Woof. Jeff can begin to make postseason travel plans with a win this week. Any team with 10 wins will get in, and 9 wins and his tiebreaker advantage should be enough. Never bet against the Packers. We went against that mantra last week, and The Swami got bit in the butt. Take the Packers by at least 30.
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