Mahomes didn't choke. But will it matter?

Tirades QB scores more than 10 vs Invaiders; Kelce trade pays off for Blayze; Vern stole most of my preview with his "recap" on Tuesday

Pat Mahomes scored 18 points total is his two previous starts against the Invaiders, less than the 20-per-game average in all his other starts. He had 30 last night, but will it matter?

I'm not kidding, there is very little news to report today and Vern nicely did my job and laid out all the possibilities and probabilities earlier this week. While the Invaiders, Beaters and Saddles can pay attention to more important things this weekend, the Tirades, Band Aids and Recliners are forced to endure one more week of tense fantasy football action. Only this week, it's do-or-die.

Those three teams are basically tied for the final playoff spot, but even though the Tirades are in fact one game ahead in the standings, that won't really matter for two reasons:

1) The Tirades have to play the Invaiders. AGAIN. This is the third meeting of the season between the teams (who are in different divisions!) and the Silent Division leading Invaiders have won the previous two with a common theme: Tirades QB Pat Mahomes choked in both. The most painful was a 66-59 loss in Week 9 in which Mahomes scored 10; the other was a 91-80 loss in week 11 in which Mahomes scored only 8. He's averaging more than 20 points a game, so you can do the math. The Invaiders are heavily favored again this week, but something interesting has happened (more on that later).

2) The Recliners and Band Aids both hold the tiebreaker advantage over the Tirades, in that order. In other words, if they win, they very likely might be in. The Band Aids have the easiest path: They play the 3-10 Gerbils. The Recliners take on the ST Division leading Blazing Saddles, and a trade the two teams made two weeks ago will factor heavily in that one.

So how do things look after the Thursday night game? Let's break down this weekend's top battles (and the ones that don't matter).

Invaiders (-7) vs Tirades: As Mahomes goes, or more accurately doesn't go, so go the Invaiders. It's been true twice this season and after the first half of play last night in Los Angeles, it appeared to be coming true again. But then came the second half, the Mahomes magic, and the third time might be the charm for the Tirades after all. Mahomes scored 30 points last night, a modern miracle. I believe he had 4 at halftime, when I gave up on my season and moved on to something else (sleep). He rallied his Chiefs in the second half and threw two touchdown passes to TE Travis Kelce (see the Recliners-Saddles preview, below), one of them in overtime. And Tirades kicker Harrison Butker scored 8 (not the 2 that ESPN has recorded). Vern was happy that Austin Ekeler made an appearace (he was questionable) but he "only" scored 13 and was kept out of the end zone. What does all that mean? The Tirades have an early 38-13 lead. But then there is this to keep in mind: The Tirades have little punch outside of keeper RB Dalvin Cook, so must have another big game from him. WR DK Metcalf hasn't scored in double-digits since Russell Wilson was an MVP. At the other WR, the Tirades are so desperate for points they will likely start the Vikings fill-in for injured Adam Thelen (KJ Osborn ). The alternative is Terry McBorin', who eared his new nickname by never scoring when he get a start. Anyway, McBorin' is questionable, both on the injury report and in life. The Invaiders are not immune to the injury conundrum, either. Vern's other RB spot is currently Elijah Mitchell, but he's on the concussion protocol and has a knee injury. Leonard Fournette has been a beast lately but he's also questionable. If neither of those guys can go, Vern will use Antonio Gibson, who's not a bad 4th guy, but he's only predicted to score 11 against the Eagles in a key division showdown (and had only 2 points last week against Dallas). Vern should win this one with his WRs: Cooper Fucking Cupp and Davonte Adams, who have been solid all season. Invaiders by 12.

Band Aids (-6) vs Gerbils: You'd think that playing the last place team when you are fighting for a playoff spot would be a gimme, but that might not be the case for Bob Garcia as he goes up against Chuck Nelson's team. Bob's got a seemingly resurgent Alvin Kamara at RB and that is about it. Van Jefferson is is lone health receiver that is capable of either scoring in double digits or disappearing completely... and that's usually a coin toss on what you'll get. He's stuck with Brandin Cooks or Hunter Renfroe at the other WR spot and Davonta Freeman or Josh Jacobs as his other RB. WR Tyler Lockett is out and RB Damien Harris is questionable. Meanwhile, the Gerbils also have injury issues, especially at RB where they've already lost keeper Christian McCaffrey, and now Kareem Hunt is out after a one-game return from a previous injury. He's got Devin Singletary and (maybe, he's questionable) Javonte Williams of Denver. Bob is hoping his QB, Aaron Rodgers, can light things up against the Ravens defense, Chuck has Kirk Cousins going against the hapless Bears. Band Aids by 4.

Saddles TE Travis Kelce capped a 31-point effort Thursday with a game-winning TD in OT.

Saddles (-7) vs Recliners: The line in this one was thrown out the window Thursday night. The Recliners, who traded TE Travis Kelce to the Saddles a couple of weeks ago, saw the results of that blow up in their face this week. Kelce scored 31 last night and Blayze also got 13 more from Keenan Allen to break out to what should be an insurmountable 44-0 lead. Sure, Chris Zimnoch's got Joe Mixon and Tom Brady to go, but the JSFL Today staff thinks he should have pulled the trigger on a second trade before the deadline (Mixon was sought after) since he's almost certainly facing elimination, and the Kelce trade has seen to that. Saddles by 30.

Beaters (-34) vs Pillows: Matt Pringle's still hoping for a miracle (an Invaiders loss) that would move him back into a tie for first with the Invaiders in the Silent Division. He'd lose the tiebreaker to Vern (unless he somehow outscores the Invaiders by 80) but would have half of a division pennant to raise into the rafters. The other Matt, Huey, just wants to get this season over with and then the talks about who will be in the Consortium in 2022 will begin. Beaters by 40.

Rangers (-14) vs Packers: The Battle Lambert has begun and WR Tyreek Hill and QB Justin Herbert have the Rangers out to an early 42-6 lead. That 6 for the Packers came from RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Don't expect anything to change in this one. Rangers by 8.