Recliners maintain lead in Silent Division with low-scoring win over Gerbils
Jonathan Taylor's clutch Monday Night effort was just enough to give the Saddles a win.
With three weeks to play in the regular season, we're starting to get some clarity (and separation) as we head down the stretch to the playoffs.
The big winners in Week 12 were the Saddles, Packers, Recliners and Invaiders. Two of those teams are leading their divisions: Blayze Hanson's Saddles squeaked by the Tirades to emerge as the sole leader of the ST Division; Chris Zimnoch's Recliners eked out a win over the Gerbils to improve to 9-3 and have all but clinched a playoff spot (and division title). The Packers rolled past the Band Aids to move into a second-place tie with the Tirades in the ST Division and the Invaiders, nee Invalids, recovered from their season-long malaise for at least a week, scoring more than 100 points in a win over the Pillows.
Here's a look at what happened in Week 12...
Saddles 95, Tirades 94: Sure, it's easy to point at Jonathan Taylor's second-half performance on Monday Night Football as the difference in this one. The Saddles were down by 14. He'd barely done anything in the first half, but showed a bit of life on the Colts last drive of the half and had a whopping four points as a result. But he did exactly what Blayze need him to do in the second half: he scored a touchdown, and ended up with 15 points... just enough for the victory that settled on the division lead among the Shit Talkers. But that wasn't the factor that decided this one. And it wasn't the fact that the Tirades left inconsistent Miles Sanders and his 27 points on the bench (more about that later). The Tirades can look squarely in the eyes of QB Pat Mahomes and say "you fucked this one up, dude." Mahomes had the ball on the opponents three yard line, third-and-goal, and bolted out of the pocket toward the end zone. He had a clear path to a touchdown. Instead, he stops suddenly at the 4 and... throws a pick instead. Bye bye, six-point score. Hello, -2 for the pick. Instead of bettering his projected total of 23 points by two, he finishes with 17 and the Tirades (6-6) lose. Ouch. The Saddles (7-5) also got 15 from RB Aaron Jones and QB Tua and 14 from K Jason Sanders. Miles Sanders, by the way, has averaged 8.1 points in his five starts for the Tirades this season, and it's the second time he's scored 27 on the bench.
Packers 101, Band Aids 90: Jeff Lambert's birthday is in September, not November. But he got a late gift on Sunday night to win this one as RB Josh Jacobs scored 41 points, 14 of which came on a log TD run to win the game in overtime. Bob Garcia's Band Aids (4-8) thought they were in position to win this one as all but the Cowboys defense scored in double figures, led by WR Amon-Ra St. Brown's 18 points and 15 more from TE Dalton Shultz. QB Josh Allen had 27 and free agent pickup WR Christian Watson had 17, and scored a TD for the third consecutive week to lead the Pack (6-6).
Invaiders 104, Pillows 60: In a game that likely has no effect on the outcome of anything this season, the Invaiders (nee Invalids) improved to 5-7 and finally broke the 100-point barrier and won anyway, thanks in part to QB Geno Smith (20 points) and a NY Jets WR who did absolutely nothing (well he had one point) the week before. This week, Garrett Wilson scored 21. Nick Chubb had 18 for the Pillows (5-7).
Beaters 82, Rangers 81: Matt Pringle's team remained in playoff position in the Silent Division, holding onto second place and a one-game lead over the Rangers with this slim victory. QB Jalen Hurts had 29 to lead the Beaters (7-5), who managed to win despite a -1 from the Patriots defense. QB Derek Carr had 20 and WR Justin Jefferson 19 for the Rangers (6-6).
Recliners 75, Gerbils 67: Chris Zimnoch's march toward the Silent Division title continued with this boring win over the Gerbils, who are not mathematically eliminated ... yet. QB Lamar Jackson had 23 and WR Tee Higgins 17 for the Recliners (9-3). QB Joe Burrow had 17 and Austin Ekeler 14 for the Gerbs (5-7)
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