When our original Football Survivor Pool started, it seemed like we were going to finish it up inside five to six weeks. We lost almost one-third the first week, another one-third the next two weeks, and then another one-fifth in Week 4. All told we were down 53 of 68 entries (78%) in just four weeks of the pool.
Now, we just can’t seem to get rid of anyone. There has just been 1 casualty in the last 4 weeks. Although people are hanging on by the skin of their teeth, and never more apparent than last week, Week 10.
The Chargers look like a safe bet against the Chiefs. Powerhouse offense, playing at home, two weeks to prepare and Chiefs still without a RB anyone has heard of with Larry Johnson still suspended. Tyler Thigpen at QB? Surely that has been a complete fluke the prior two weeks of slinging around the Thigpen… er, I mean, pigskin. In the dying seconds, the Chiefs are down by 7. A bounce pass off two Charger defenders and great catch by Tony Gonzalez for the TD. Go for the win, Herm! He does! The Chargers lost to the Broncos earlier this season the exact same way in the infamous fumble-not a fumble call. Thigpen rolls out, and, and, incomplete. Chiefs lose, Chargers win, and half our original survivor entries breathe a sigh of relief.
Okay, switch to Monday night, 49ers at Cardinals. I realize the then 5-3 Cards were big favourites to the 2-6 49ers, but I didn’t really understand why exactly. Sure, the 49ers got creamed their prior game, after which we learned new head coach Mike Singletary took his pants down at halftime. Think the players were maybe in shock for the second half of that game? I would be. But seriously, Singletary had two weeks to prep that team for the Cards game, coming off a game that embarassed him. I thought the 49ers would be ready for this one, and they were in spades. They lead most of the game. A less than flawless game by 9ers’ QB Shaun Hilll, and a near flawless game by the Cards QB Kurt Warner, brought Arizona back to take the lead with 4:21 on the play clock.
Back come the 49ers, now down by 5. Jason Hill makes a nice catch and spin move, bringing them down to the 2-yard line. No timeouts. Spike it! Why is the spike taking so long? Okay, ball spiked, 2nd-and-goal with about 20 seconds to go. Run! Gore to the left, he gets tagged and down before he can squirm in the end zone. Clock running… Final play. Its got to be an option run-pass, right, right? Run up the middle! Stopped! 49ers lose, Cards win, and so ends one of the wildest survivor pool weeks this season. Bring on Week 11.