NFL Survivor Contest: A 1-point win gets to 9 in a row
We barely got that ninth win in a row last week as Lamar Jackson went down for the Ravens and they only won by a point at home against Denver. No streak worth having doesn't have a little luck though, right?
This week we are trying to make it an even 10 wins in a row and it might not be easy with 13 teams already burned throughout the season and six teams on a bye week this week — Atlanta, Chicago, Green Bay, Indianapolis, New Orleans and Washington. Most of those teams were "eligible" if not desirable though.
As we finish out the season over the next few weeks it might be time to get a little less cute with the picks. I never thought I would pick 10 winners in a row (even if my start to the season was forgettable). That ninth win for the season has already guaranteed a winning year.
Survivor Pool Teams Used So Far: Tennessee Titans, Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Chargers, Detroit Lions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Los Angeles Rams, Las Vegas Raiders, Minnesota Vikings, Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Commanders, San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens.
Record: 9-4
Week 14 Survivor Pool Recommendation
This week we have the biggest spread I can recall from the entire season with Dallas hosting Houston. The teams are not far from each other on the map, but no rivalry has developed to try and stir up some craziness.
Buffalo hosting the New York Jets and Kansas City visiting Denver are the only other situations where the favorites are expected to win by more than a touchdown. So if you are looking to pull from the largest favorites it is a small pool this week.
Speaking of which, the suddenly resurgent Raiders are nearly a TD favorite at the Rams. They are already off the board, but that line is an indicator of the type of season this has been.
The Pick: Dallas Cowboys
Dallas is the obvious choice this week. For starters they are a whopping -17 (and we only need them to win).
They are also one of the better teams in the league, obviously, third in scoring offense and third in scoring defense too. Last week they dropped 54 points in their win against Indianapolis, a team that is much better than Houston (yes, I know they tied the Colts earlier in the season). Dallas has lost just once at home this season and it seems unlikely that the worst team in the league is going to add to that total. It is hard to see where the Texans can find any sort of sustainable advantage.
Even with some motivation to stick it to former QB Deshaun Watson last week, the Texans could not do much. They have the worst offense in the league and the defense is only marginally better. Even if they play their best game of the season that probably just keeps the score from being a disaster.
Given the roll Dallas is currently on now is the time to use them for sure. After this game, three of their final four games are on the road and the other is a home date against Philadelphia. They might only be a favorite in one more game this season.
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