Can the Rangers keep it going?

And who will win the ST Division title? Those and other questions will be posed (and not answered) in this Week 14 preview

The Rangers must win out to earn a playoff spot, and hope QB Derek Carr gets them there.

While Blaze's division title-seeking Saddles take on the second-cushiest opponent possible this week (the super-comfy Pillows), the Rangers will attempt to knock off the Recliners as the race for the final three playoff spots heads into the final stretch. The Tirades will try to put a fork in the Pack, who are coming off a devastating loss to the Saddles. Wins by the Tirades and Saddles likely clinch playoff spots; the Saddles can salt away the division title win a win and a Tirades loss. The Tirades have to win out for any chance at a division championship: they have the edge in total points, are a game behind the Saddles and have a slightly tougher schedule (Pack and Band Aids). The Saddles close against the Pillows and Invalids.

Over in the Silent Division, there is somewhat less drama. The Recliners clinched the division title with last week's victory over the Pillows. QB Lamar Jackson is hurt, but even without him the Recliners are formidable this week with RBs Saquon Barkley and Tony Pollard (vs. the lame Texans) and WR Tyreek Hill.

The other playoff spot is up for grabs. The Rangers threw their hat into the ring with a win over the Invalids last week, have won three of the last four and are now tied with the suddenly slumping Spread Beaters and Tirades, all at 7-6. The Rangers close against the Recliners and Spread Beaters, so two wins and they are in. It's possible. Matt Pringle's Beaters have been up-and-down lately after suffering through a three-week losing skid, but hold a significant tie-breaker advantage in points so unless they blow these final two games, they're pretty much a lock. So don't lose both, Matt, and good luck, John.

ESPN's odds have the Recliners as the playoff headliners and the Saddles (89 percent), Beaters (79 percent) and Tirades (72 percent) as the most likely to join the four-team playoff bracket. The Rangers (44%) and Packers (18%) hope to be spoilers, but the Rangers and Packers must win out because of the points-scored tiebreaker ... the Pack are 69 points behind the Tirades and the Rangers are 115 behind the Beaters.

Game of the Week

Recliners (-1) vs Rangers: It wasn't long ago we'd written off John Lambert's team, which has risen from the almost-dead to playoff contender. Sure, they need to summit a mountain -- they have to beat the league's top two scoring teams to close out the season -- but the Rangers have quieted doubters with three wins in their last four games. John needs to have a lot go his way this weekend: QB Derek Carr must light it up with multiple TD passes to WR Davante Adams against the Rams, RB Travis Etienne needs to bounce back from a foot injury and WR Justin Jefferson to get somewhat-accurate balls thrown his way by Kirk Cousins. The Recliners might roll the dice with Tom "I used to be great" Brady at QB with Jackson sidelined, and will rely on the Barkley-Pollard backfield tandem to get this one done. Take the Recliners and 5.

Rest of the Best

Saddles (-20) vs Pillows: The Saddles shouldn't have any problem improving to 8-5 and are heavy favorites over Matt Huey's slumping Pillow Biters, who seemingly have half the roster on a bye week. Matt's going to either hit the waiver wire (unlikely, the team has made two moves all season and the last one was almost a month ago) or he'll will be stuck starting the likes of RB James Robinson, who is averaging 1 point a game in three of his last four starts, and WR Adam Thielen, whose 12 points two weeks ago was the only time he's scored in double figures since Week 6. Unless Huey gets some offensive help, he'll be hoping that he gets huge performances from Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Nick Chubb. Otherwise, expect the Saddles to ride closer to the Shit Talkers Division sunset. Take the Saddles and 18.

Tirades (-7) vs Packers: ESPN's automatic lineup selection has been slightly better than owner Ron Hender's record this season... after losing three of the first four games, the Tirades are 5-3 since ESPN has been selecting starters (and yes, it was ESPN who benched RB Miles Sanders when he scored 27 two weeks ago). We'll see who gets the start opposite RB Dalvin Cook, either Sanders (vs. Giants) or Rhamondre Stevenson (vs. Cards). The other WR spot opposite Stefon Diggs has also been a black hole. Will the Tirades get back Mike Williams at WR, are they stuck with Brandon Aiyuk (7-6-4 in his last three starts), or will they go fishing in the free agent pool? The Packers will throw the usual out there: QB Josh Allen (vs. the Jets in a AFC West showdown) and RB Josh Jacobs (vs. Rams) and WR Ja'Marr Chase (vs. Cleveland). The Tirades typically choke against the Packers in this end-of-season matchup, and this year will likely be no different. Take the Pack by 4.

Beaters (-12) vs. Invalids: As fellow JSFL Today staffer Vern Ahrendes would say, "Move along. Nothing to see here." And he should know. His Invalids lead the league in lack of scoring and the Beaters are fighting for their playoff lives here. Pringle will need either D'Andre Swift or Isiah Pacheco at RB now that Kenneth Walker is out with a foot injury, so that will make this closer, but unless the Invalids get season-high outings from QB Geno Smith, RB James Conner and another big outing from free agent pickup WR Garrett Wilson, this one won't be close. Take the Beaters and 10.

Gerbils (-10) vs Band Aids: So much for the spoiler role. The Band Aids, who were busy gutting their roster for the last month (or at least trying to gut it, when they were not backing out of trades), are forced to start backup QB Deshawn Watson, who did not impress anyone in his return to the field last weekend, and RB Jeff Wilson because the Bears are on a bye week. Bob Garcia has been riding the resurgence of Bears QB Justin Fields, but will be in big trouble without him (he's scored 20+ in six of his last eight starts, and the Band Aids have won three of four as a result). The Gerbils have QB Joe Burrow throwing darts against the Browns. In the backfield, Christian McCaffrey will be relied on by the 49ers more without Jimmy G at QB, and Austin Ekeler goes against the Dolphins. This one doesn't matter anyway, unless these guys have a bet going on who's worse. Both teams are out of it at 5-8. Take the Gerbils and 8.