Two more games have come and gone. One was an ugly blowout with Hurts stunting all over SF, and the other was a tight game that I really was hoping would go into overtime. Sadly it ended with a proper personal foul call as Mahomes was clearly out-of-bounds, but a call only the star QBs get in that situation. Milano popped Skylar Thompson far more violently late in the game during wildcard weekend knocking him backwards and off his feet, but no flag. But owell, and it certainly wasn’t Ossai’s fault. CIN had the ball twice after tying it up in the beginning of the 4th quarter after two KC punts. The first was a 5-play drive ending in an INT and the other was a 7-play, 22-yard drive, ending in a punt. And those are in addition to three other punts, 5 sacks, and a late 2nd quarter INT.
But really… how is there only one NFL game left? Doesn’t it feel like the season JUST started?! Either way, I CANNOT wait until Super Bowl Sunday!!
And now to our pool… 33 people picked both games correctly, 53 got both wrong, 72 had CIN/PHI, 37 had KC/SF, and 35 people couldn’t be bothered making picks.
Moving on… 707 points were scored overall, which averages out to 3.63 points per player – pretty close but short of the 3.98 average from the past 11 seasons, not even close to the high in 2015, and only better than three years.
January 2022 – 3.92 points per player
January 2021 – 4.01
January 2020 – 3.83
January 2019 – 4.54
January 2018 – 3.16
January 2017 – 5.00
January 2016 – 2.73
January 2015 – 6.16
January 2014 – 2.45
January 2013 – 4.35
OVERALL STANDINGS
Now this is what I’m talking about! Allllllll sorts of possibilities for people to win some serious cash! In total, there are 24 people that can place in the top 10 spots depending on how things fall. If SHUTCH05 picks the right team, he wins the whole thing and $3500 for his troubles. If he doesn’t, the door is open for either CPMELLO80, HOTDADDYWAGS, or BIGREDMACHINE84 to come in a steal the crown. In addition, the best SOCCUBARTSR could do is tie him, but he’ll land in second due to the “Key Pick” totals. The pressure is on!
The chart below shows who still has a chance to win a pile of money (or a free entry for those in 6th through 10th) – just gotta pick the right team and hope whoever is above you picks the opposite! The SB column is the number that you did NOT use last weekend and was automatically designated as your Super Bowl value.
Please note: if your name has a gray background and is crossed out, it means you don’t have enough points left to finish in the top 10.
| RANK | KEYS | MEMBER | POINTS | SB |
| 1 | 14 | SHUTCH05 | 173 | 4 |
| 2 | 8 | CPMELLO80 | 171 | 4 |
| 3 | 7 | HOTDADDYWAGS | 171 | 3 |
| 4 | 10 | SOCCUBARTSR | 170 | 3 |
| 5 | 8 | BIGREDMACHINE84 | 170 | 5 |
| 6 | 8 | CHUCKLES69 | 168 | 4 |
| 7 | 13 | ODPETE1219 | 166 | 5 |
| 8 | 8 | WILLY33 | 166 | 4 |
| 9 | 9 | RYAN_IS_NOT_MAYAN | 165 | 5 |
| 10-T | 8 | ERICKKEI | 165 | 3 |
| 10-T | 8 | X-MEN16 | 165 | 5 |
| 12 | 13 | TRABS | 164 | 5 |
| 13 | 9 | HARDEIGHT | 164 | 5 |
| 14 | 9 | MAC12CHRIS | 164 | 5 |
| 15 | 9 | SHOW-ME-YOUR-TDS | 164 | 4 |
| 16 | 9 | CASEY13 | 163 | 5 |
| 17 | 9 | TOMMYK11 | 163 | 4 |
| 18 | 8 | RYANOAKING | 163 | 3 |
| 19 | 14 | BRUNO_D | 162 | 3 |
| 21 | 11 | NEVILLE666 | 161 | 4 |
| 22 | 10 | CRAZYIAM | 161 | 4 |
| 24 | 7 | ZIGDAPLORABLE | 161 | 4 |
| 25 | 12 | GUARANTEEDTORUN | 160 | 5 |
| 28 | 9 | PJCARSON | 160 | 5 |
PLAYOFF STANDINGS
The Playoff pool pays the top seven spots and talk about endlesssssssss possibilities! For those of you at 19 with a 4 or 5 left, or those of you at 18 and a 5 left, you are simply hoping for the long-shot 7th place tie. But there are plenty of others that can do better. If MAC12CHRIS picks the correct team, he automatically wins $1500 for 1st place. If he doesn’t, HOTDADDYWAGS and thirteen other people below him have a chance to either jump right past him and a whole bunch have a chance to at least tie him.
| RANK | KEYS | MEMBER | POINTS | SB |
| 1 | x | HOTDADDYWAGS | 25 | 3 |
| 2 | x | MAC12CHRIS | 25 | 5 |
| 3 | x | BEAVBELIEVER22 | 24 | 4 |
| 4 | x | CZCZCZ | 24 | 4 |
| 5 | x | FAGE88 | 24 | 3 |
| 6 | x | ALLBOUS | 23 | 4 |
| 7 | x | ERICKKEI | 23 | 3 |
| 7-T | x | JGREMILA | 23 | 5 |
| 7-T | x | SYLVANPETER | 23 | 3 |
| 10 | x | BOSTONJOHN88 | 22 | 5 |
| 11 | x | LPARKS | 22 | 4 |
| 12 | x | MGOCONNOR | 22 | 3 |
| 13 | x | RYANOAKING | 22 | 3 |
| 14 | x | SHANECOLEMAN25 | 22 | 5 |
| 15 | x | X-MEN16 | 22 | 5 |
| 16 | x | BRIAN ZUKOWSKI | 21 | 5 |
| 17 | x | JIMBRIANI2 | 21 | 3 |
| 18 | x | LAINAS | 21 | 4 |
| 19 | x | RALPH 1 OF THE 3 STERN | 21 | 3 |
| 20 | x | SEAMUSPK | 21 | 4 |
| 21 | x | THE_BRIGADE | 21 | 4 |
| 22 | x | YER MY BOY BLUE! | 21 | 5 |
| 23 | x | BIGREDMACHINE84 | 20 | 5 |
| 24 | x | CHUCKLES69 | 20 | 4 |
| 25 | x | JGILLESPIE478 | 20 | 5 |
| 26 | x | JOHNNY CABLE | 20 | 3 |
| 27 | x | MOSISTARS | 20 | 5 |
| 28 | x | SEANB4848 | 20 | 5 |
| 29 | x | THEGIRLISTHEGOAT | 20 | 4 |
| 30 | x | USCG | 20 | 3 |
| 31 | x | BIG GUNZ | 19 | 4 |
| 32 | x | CRAZY ROOSTER | 19 | 5 |
| 33 | x | HARDEIGHT | 19 | 5 |
| 34 | x | SHOW-ME-YOUR-TDS | 19 | 4 |
| 37 | x | SPOOKYTHECAT | 19 | 5 |
| 38 | x | STONE.BRIANK | 19 | 5 |
| 40 | x | J.LIPPOLIS | 18 | 5 |
ROOKIE RACE
This race is much simpler to report on as there’s only three people alive. If ODPETE1219 picks the correct team, he automatically wins $250 for both him and his “jockey” and is awarded the “Rookie of the Year” prize. If he doesn’t, both RYANOAKING and BRUNO_D have a chance to jump right past him!
| RANK | KEYS | MEMBER | POINTS | SB |
| 1 | 13 | ODPETE1219 | 25 | 5 |
| 2 | 8 | RYANOAKING | 25 | 3 |
| 3 | 14 | BRUNO_D | 24 | 3 |
COMBO RACE
Now this race is crazy close! Three squads have a shot, but only one will win…
| RANK | KEYS | HORSE / JOCKEY | PTS | SB |
| 1 | 21 | ODPETE1219 / SEAMUS | 322 | 5+4 = 9 |
| 2 | 16 | RYANOAKING / FAGE88 | 322 | 3+3 = 6 |
| 3 | 18 | JIMBRIANI2 / HE MAN W H | 320 | 3+3 = 6 |
VETERANS POOL
This one is all over. SHUTCH05 cannot be caught from behind in the 5-year race and TOMMYK11 also cannot be caught from behind, but in the 10-year race, so both fellas split the $1000 prize equally.
FIRST ANNUAL REC LEAGUE POOL (thanks YIGGITY for the idea!)
DIME PIECES have 767 points, which is 9 points ahead of BORA BORA BOYS’ 758, and 13 points ahead of THE BEASTIE BALLS’ 754. With five people on every squad, there’s lots of chances to catch up. The other 11 Rec League teams are more than 25 (max 5 per team member) points behind. Remember that this prize is worth $1365 ($273 per player) for the winner, and second place gets their $125 worth of dues back.
BEST OF NOTHING and LAST PLACE OVERALL
These are yet to be determined, but they’re both worth a free entry into next season for two (un)lucky members!
Good luck to everyone and I hope all 230 members will join us again next season, but I know that won’t be happening. Every year we seem to lose 25-35 people, but that’s good news for anyone that is looking to get someone new into the league. There’s already a waiting list, so start telling your friends and family NOW about the best pick ‘em pool you’ve ever been involved with!
Look for one final recap sometime shortly after the Super Bowl in mid-February. All money winners will get paid soon after, but may take some extra time in certain instances depending on Venmo’s weekly payment limits.
Can’t believe pro football is almost gone again… it just got here!
Be well,
Dan and Mark