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Written by: Nicholas Mullick
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-mullick-354076184/
Twitter: @NicholasMullick
With Week 14 now officially completed, there were a lot of games that had a lot of upset
and hopefully you guys survived. As always I will discuss the rules for a survivor pool. It is a weekly contest where people select one team straight up per week to win their game. If a team chosen won, then they advance to the next week, but keep in mind that the team chosen can’t be used for the rest of the season. If a team that they chose for that week loses, well they are eliminated from the pool. So now that the rules are set it is time for me to give my Top 5 options, a trap pick, and a survivor pick I would have made for the week if it was still alive for Week 15.
1. Kansas City Chiefs at Houston Texans
Ok listen up people. We have debated one of the best teams in the AFC (You can debate the Bills) going off against one of the favorites in the Tournament for the 1st Overall pick with the Houston Texans. Who do you want to pick this week? If you choose the Texans, especially in this time where you are deep in the NFL Season, then you have wasted your time and probably will be a pick mocked by everyone in the league that is still alive. So take the Chiefs if you still have them as a choice this week.
2. Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears
Another easy choice as the Philadelphia Eagles are the best team in the NFC no question and the Bears on record are the worst team in the NFC. One team is tanking and the other is trying to lock up the division. If you still have them, take the Eagles.
3. Minnesota Vikings vs Indianapolis Colts
Another good pick to make. Yes the Colts are coming off a bye week, but they are punting the season since they fired Frank Reich. The Vikings are the better team on paper and as the home team they are going to play angry. Especially as they were upset against the Detroit Lions and lock up a playoff spot.
4. Green Bay Packers vs Los Angeles Rams
Look, the Green Bay Packers are an absolute mess and they have not been properly coached/run well this year, but let's be real they are a favorable matchup. The Rams performed well last week, but let's be real they faced a Raiders team who has one of the worst head coaches in the NFL today not named Nathanial Hackett. The Rams are still beaten up and while they had a mini bye, the Packers are coming off a bye week and should be well prepared.
5. Carolina Panthers vs Pittsburgh Steelers
This is the riskier pick to make this week via survivor pools. However it is an intriguing choice if you are desperate as the Steelers are in deep trouble with Kenny Pickett’s concussion. Mitchell Trubisky stinks and we all know how terrible Mason Rudolph was. It also does not help that the coordinators in Pittsburgh are terrible (Excluding Teryl Austin as he has been a solid defensive coordinator) and are only still employed because it is not the “Steelers Way” to fire coaches. Carolina is a better team than what their record shows and since this game is in Carolina, I can see them winning this game.
Trap Survivor Pick: Denver Broncos vs Arizona Cardinals
The Broncos have skyrocketed as a choice in survivor with the Cardinals likely being without QB Kyler Murray due to his injury and being poorly coached by Kliff Kingsbury. Look, I get people are desperate as this late in Survivor pools, but are you out of your mind for even wanting to touch this game? The Broncos are also a poorly coached squad with a brutal offense. Yes they likely will not have Russell Wilson due to suffering a concussion, but Brett Rypien has not been great either. I would stay far away from this Tank Game in the Tournament for the 1st Overall Pick.
Record (5-9) - Week 1: Washington Commanders, Week 2: New England Patriots, Week 3: Buffalo Bills, Week 4: Los Angeles Chargers, Week 5 Tennessee Titans, Week 6: San Francisco 49ers, Week 7: Green Bay Packers Week 8: San Francisco 49ers, Week 9: Cincinnati Bengals, Week 10: Las Vegas Raiders, Week 11: Buffalo Bills, Week 12: Los Angeles Chargers, Week 13: Cleveland Browns, Week 14: Buffalo Bills
Who I would of went with for my Survivor Pick for Week 15: Minnesota Vikings vs Indianapolis Colts
Sadly, I can’t take the Chiefs as they were my pick during Week 10. Dallas can’t be my pick so they are out. I think it is too risky to take the Carolina Panthers this week. This pick came down to the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers. I trust the Vikings more than I do the Packers and this could be the last time to use the Vikings, so I would have gone with the Vikings this week for my survivor choice.
Record (9-5) - Week 1: Tennessee Titans, Week 2: Cleveland Browns, Week 3: Philadelphia Eagles, Week 4: New York Giants, Week 5: Denver Broncos, Week 6: Los Angeles Rams, Week 7: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Week 8: Dallas Cowboys, Week 9: New England Patriots, Week 10: Kansas City Chiefs, Week 11: Washington Commanders, Week 12: Miami Dolphins, Week 13: Baltimore Ravens, Week 14: Las Vegas Raiders