Nacua’s TNF Explosion Sets the Tone for Ballers' "One for the Thumb" Playoff Run

"Puka is f*cking electric" gushed co-owner Taylor Swift over the Baller WR’s season-high 34.5 points on Thursday Night Football (photo: Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

By Soren Bernyn

FSPN

Ballers WR Puka Nacua torched the London Bakers Thursday night in the first playoff action of the 2025 NFFA season. His 34.5-point performance was his best this season, and second only to the Bakers’ KRankenstein Chimere Dike this season for any NFFA WR. 

Reached via FaceTime from their proverbial "undisclosed location," Ballers co-owners Mojo D and Taylor Swift were ecstatic: “this sets the tone and the table for the playoffs,” Mojo D exulted. He looked over at Swift and said “I promised her a ring - I can’t top what Trav did, but here we are!”

The call broke one of the Ballers’ few team protocols by talking about a game in progress. "A jinx? A jinx?!” Swift joked. “It may be a jinx, but hell's bells, sailor, we have a 13 in our logo!"

Mojo D added: "...besides, you can't NOT acknowledge a legendary performance like Puka's - that was some sh*t. And like I said earlier: peaking at just the right time."

After Nacua's record-setting night, FantasyPros gives the Ballers a 93.5% chance of winning the first-round playoff over the Bakers. (Disclosure: FantasyPros is majority owned by FSPN, an entity controlled by Mojo D’s and Swift’s private-equity fund, Baller Ventures XIII.)

This story is developing. 

Ballers Clinch 2025 Playoffs with Season-Best Performance Mojo D: "Like a great LSD trip, we are peaking at just the right time"

"So I get one of those this year, right? Right?!" Ballers Owners Taylor Swift and Mojo-D greet an intimate group of media, friends and Ballers faithful to celebrate going back to the NFFA playoffs.

By Soren Bernyn

FSPN

At a celebratory cocktail party Sunday evening at an undisclosed location, Ballers Co-Owner Mojo-D toasted his team's season-high score and playoff-clinching victory over the Village Green in the final week of the 2025 regular season: "Winning is a hell of a drug, y'all! But combine it with other drugs, and that's the Way of the Baller!"

Asked later if he was high, Mojo D threw back his head and laughed silently. He peered over his glasses and said "I learned a long time ago from Dr. Jorge Linardo through William D. Money that "you never let them see you straight." He turned and proceeded to the bar...

The Ballers' victory capped a rollercoaster regular season that saw them win 4 of their first five, then drop six straight. The team is now riding a four-game winning streak. "Yeah, these badass anti-heroes are built for the f*ckin' playoffs!" Ballers co-owner Taylor Swift said via Facetime during the brief media availability. "It also helps that 3 opponents were down bad with key offensive injuries early and that Stuart Smalley has been in a lavender haze and unable to find his ass with both hands this season, despite a loaded roster. But I don't want to ruin the friendship either: we love you, Goodrow!"

Before he opened the bar, Mojo-D added, "I've gotta shout out our QB Brock Purdy - total pro, total clutch, no ego. He was our 2022 Championship MVP when he stepped in at the last second, just as he did this weekend. He has throwback grit and a brain wired for the modern game and inspired tonight's signature cocktail: the Purdy Good Old Fashioned. Cheers, everybody: Salúd!" The media availability was over but the party was just getting started.

The NFFA will release the official bracket Tuesday but it appears the Ballers will host the (probably 9-6) Bakers and the 'Bubbas will travel to the (probably) 13-2 Cambridge Animals in the first round since the Ballers have a 2-1 edge over the Beelzebubbas during the regular season. "For the record, I'm still in favor of the symmetrical, 14-game season," Mojo-D offered, unprompted. "But I guess that bullshit Week 14 game worked for us this time." 

The Ballers have gone 4-3 in their seven NFFA Championship games since 2012 and have set their sights, well, high. "I mean, nobody gets into the playoffs with the idea that anything less than a Championship ring is good enough," Mojo D said during a smoke break in the cold Nashville air. "We have more playoff experience than any team in the league and we will exploit it over the next two weeks to get our 5th Championship!" With that, he turned to his right, flipped a switch and illuminated an enormous mural across the street from the speakeasy that read "ONE FOR THE THUMB - BALLERS 2025."

ANIMALS, BAKERS CLINCH PLAYOFF BERTHS Ballers, ‘Bubbas, Daddies vie for final two spots

QB Josh Allen has led the Cambridge Animals to the brink of a historic season.

By R.E. Porter

AssociatedWeb Press

Entering the final weekend of the 2025 regular season, two teams have clinched playoff spots and three others are in contention for the final two berths.

At 13-1, the Cambridge Animals are on the brink of the second-best regular season in league history. With a win over the London Bakers, they will complete one of the greatest regular seasons in league history — second only to the 2008 East Nashville Black Dogs who went undefeated. The Animals have clinched the number one overall seed and the Jorge division crown.

At 8-6, the Bakers have clinched the first wild-card spot and second place in the Jorge division, regardless of the outcome of their game against the Animals.

At 7-7, the West Nashville Beelzebubbas have the inside track for the final wild-card berth. If they defeat the Black Dogs this weekend, they’re in. If they lose, they will still clinch the final wild-card spot with a Ballers win and a loss by the Boca Chica Daddies. If they lose, the Ballers lose and the Daddies win, the Beelzebubbas will miss the playoffs via tiebreaker.

Also at 7-7, the Ballers are in position to claim the Linardo division title. They will be division champs with a win this weekend over the Village Green or a loss by the Boca Chica Daddies. If the Ballers lose and the Daddies win, the Daddies will win the division via tiebreaker. But the Ballers could still earn the final wild-card spot with a loss by the Beelzebubbas.

At 6-8, the Daddies still have a chance at winning the Jorge division. If they beat the Puget Browns this weekend and the Ballers lose to the Green, they will claim the division crown via tiebreaker.. They will be eliminated from the playoffs with a loss or a win by the Ballers. 

At 5-9, the Black Dogs, Browns and Green have all been eliminated from the championship playoffs. They will have the first three picks in the 2026 NFFA draft with order dependent on the outcome of this weekend’s contests.