Can Pringle close the deal?

Only three questions remain as we close out the final week of our regular season: Can Jordan chase down Matt Pringle for the last playoff spot? Who will be playing whom in the first round of the playoffs next week? And can anyone plunge far enough to wrestle the first pick in the 2026 Draft away from Bob Garcia?

Matt Pringle might pin his QB hopes on Brock Purdy, whose 49ers are going against the mediocre Titans.

On the first question, Jordan’s WTNE is a full game behind both Chris (Recliners), Chuck (Gerbils) and Pringle (Spread Beaters) for the fourth and final playoff spot.

But, barring a complete scoring lapse, we can safely say that Chris and Chuck, even with a loss this week, should be considered to be in the postseason based on scoring.

The Recliners have amassed 1,404 points and the Gerbils have scored 1,321 points. The “who-is-in” scenario gets a little more interesting when we look at the Spread Beaters and WTNE.

If Pringle wins this week against the Rangers, he is in. If the Spread Beaters lose and WTNE beats the Packers, the scoring check gets very interesting.

The Spread Beaters (1,271 points scored so far) have just a 7-point lead over WTNE (1,264 points). In that scenario, WTNE is in as the No. 4 seed (facing the Packers, again) and Pringle is curled up in a ball and crying his eyes out. Buckle up, boys, and keep the antacid tablets handy as this weekend plays out.

On the second question, the only answer we have so far is that the Packers, at 12-2, have sewn up the top seed and will draw the lowest seed of the teams who qualify. We still don’t have a champion, yet, in the Silent Division.

That division champ should be the No. 2 seed and the Recliners, based on scoring, is the leader in the clubhouse as we write this. But, the Spread Beaters, with a win and a Recliners’ loss, could still claim the No. 2 seed and division championship.

And, on the final matter, points also come into play and this issue should already be sewn up. Let me explain. Try as he might, Ron has been trying to tank for weeks for the first pick, but Bob Garcia, despite himself, continued to lose and holds a one-game lead for the “best of the worst” and the right to pick first next August. Even if Bob somehow wins and Ron and John Lambert both lose, Bob’s dreadful scoring total gives him a 16-point lead (1,134 for Bob) over John (1,150 points) for the right to pick first. Ron has scored 1,205 points to date and may have to score negative points this week to even be in the running.

Weather Forecast

After the first of two “atmospheric rivers” ripped through the Pacific Northwest on Saturday, we are bracing today for an even wetter round of weather and cresting rivers in six watersheds across Washington State. And, both of those weather systems will be moving across the Midwest and Eastern seaboard as crucial games kick off this weekend. Already, weather warnings are posted at eight NFL sites for potential issues for wet weather, below-freezing temperatures and potential snow flurries. The games in question are: the Chargers at Kansas City; Cleveland at Chicago; Buffalo at New England; the Raiders at Philadelphia; Indianapolis at Seattle; and Miami at Pittsburgh. Check late changes in weather conditions and adjust those lineups accordingly.

Weekly Schedule

The NFL schedule kicks off Thursday night as the Atlanta Falcons travel to Tampa Bay to take on the Buccaneers. The Sunday night game features the Minnesota Vikings at the Dallas Cowboys and wraps up Monday with the Miami Dolphins at the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Game of the Week

Rangers (4-10) vs. Spread Beaters, Beaters favored by 30: This is the only game of real concern this week. If the Spread Beaters take care of business and win this week, then the other games this week don’t matter. Much. WTNE would be eliminated and the only issue to be settled is who is the division champ. This will be the third matchup between these two teams this season. The Beaters won in Week 7 (76-57) and the Rangers avenged that loss in Week 12 (78-73). And if the stats geeks at ESPN have their pencils sharpened, this should be the biggest blowout of the schedule this week. And, the spread might grow as Pringle was still active on the waiver wire Wednesday morning as he reclaimed Brock Purdy and the 49ers defense (Go Niners!). The Beaters are favored at every position, but two. Pringle gets the nod at QB (either Jaxson Dart or Jameis Winston currently but the looming bad weather in the east might prompt a last-minute switch to Purdy), both RBs (the traded-for Jonathan Taylor and Derrick Henry), both WRs (Amon-Ra St. Brown and Nico Collins), tight end George Kittle, and kicker (Harrison Mevis of the Rams). The Rangers get the nod at flex (RB Josh Jacobs) and the Steelers’ defense. But, the 49ers have a tempting home match against the Tennessee Titans. The Swami thinks the Beaters will take care of business and win by 15.

Best of the Rest

WTNE (8-6) vs. Packers (12-2), Packers favored by 17: Even if the Rangers rise up and take down Pringle in the “Game of the Week,” Jordan Garcia faces the daunting task of having to take down the top-seeded Packers and then outscore Pringle by at least 8 points. Good luck with the first one and who knows about the second. The Packers have a distinct advantage across the board. Jeff gets the positional edge at QB with Lamar Jackson at Cincinnati, both RBs (still-injured De’Von Achane and James Cook III), both WRs (A.J. Brown and George Pickens) and flex (WR Justin Jefferson). WTNE gets the edge at tight end with Brock Bowers at Philadelphia and the Seahawks defense hosting the Daniel Jones-less Indianapolis Colts. The Swami says take the Pack and 10.

Recliners (9-5) vs. Gerbils (9-5), Gerbils favored by 3: Is it too soon to think this might be a preview of a matchup in the first round of the playoffs next week? This is the most entertaining game on the slate and we easily could see these two teams playing again next week. The game within the game is the wild NFL matchup between the Detroit Lions visiting the Los Angeles Rams (the highest over/under betting line of the week at a projected scoring total of 55 points) and several players in this game will be featured fixtures in it. This will be the third meeting between these two teams and the Gerbils won both (108-89 in week 3 and 117-98 in Week 12). In this one, the Recliners have a slight advantage at QB (Dak Prescott), WR2 (Ja’Marr Chase), tight end (Trey McBride) and flex (WR Puka Nacua). The Gerbils get the edge at RB1 (Jahmyr Gibbs), WR1 (Davante Adams), and the Texans defense at home to Arizona. The Swami says trust the Rams defense to limit Gibbs’ scoring and take the Recliners in a 1-point upset.

Dogs of the Week

Tirades (4-10) vs. Band Aids (3-11), Tirades favored by 6: Will either team play anyone this week? Make sure those crappy defenses are the only starters as they are the likeliest ones to scoring minus points, Ron. This will be the third meeting between these two teams and the Tirades won both times (85-61 in Week 4 and 137-74 in Week 10). The Tirades get the nod at QB (Jayden Daniels or Marcus Mariotta), RB1 (Aaron Jones Sr.), WR2 (CeeDee Lamb) and flex (RB Kareem Hunt). The Band Aids are favored at WR1 (Rashee Rice) and the Chiefs defense hosting the Los Angeles Chargers. The Swami says who cares but will pick the Band Aids, for fun, in an upset.

Invaiders (7-7) vs. Who Dey (5-9), Invaiders favored by 8: This is the other yawner no one else cares about, as nothing is at stake in this one. The Invaiders are locked into the fifth spot in the draft next August even with a win (WTNE has nearly a 100-point scoring edge if the two teams both end the year with eight wins). The Invaiders are favored in four of the seven positions that are not deemed a draw. The nod goes the Invaiders’ way at QB (Joe Burrow), both RBs (Bucky Irving and Bijan Robinson) and WR2 (DK Metcalf). Who Dey gets the positional nod at WR1 (Jaxon Smith-Njigba), tight end (Harold Fannin Jr.) and flex (WR Jameson Williams). The Swami says who cares but will selfishly say take the Invaiders and 1.