Contestants in NFL Survivor pools are dropping like flies. Weeks 1 and 2 eliminated large portions of NFL survivor pools across the industry, and Week 3 ousted even more.
Circa Sports’ Survivor contest entered Week 3 with 2,055 of 6,133 of its field remaining. Sunday’s action eliminated another 445 contestants, leaving 26.3% of the field to continue on to Week 4.
Several favorites lost, but the Chiefs and Chargers were the biggest culprits. Losses by the Raiders, 49ers, Bills, and Saints added to the list of eliminated players in NFL Survivor pools.
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Chiefs, Chargers Losses Erase NFL Survivor Contestants
The Chiefs and Chargers accounted for the largest losses, not only in Circa’s Survivor contest, but Yahoo’s NFL Survivor game as well.
Kansas City closed -250 on the moneyline at PointsBet Sportsbook, odds that imply a 71.4% chance of winning. Patrick Mahomes and Co. struggled offensively (17 points, two turnovers), but the biggest highlight was a sideline spat between Mahomes and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.
Patrick Mahomes vs Eric Bienemy. Wow.pic.twitter.com/QmTz8swPk7
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 25, 2022
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In-game friction between players and coaches is nothing new or novel, but it’s an exclamation point to a frustrating day for the Chiefs and their backers.
The Chargers’ loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars was more shocking, at least if we go by their moneyline odds. Los Angeles closed -350 at PointsBet, implying a 77.8% chance of victory. That’s no surprise given the surface factors at play, i.e. a superior team playing at home.
The Jags dominated the Chargers though, outgaining them by over 100 yards and running away with the time of possession (38:27 to 21:33). Perhaps the biggest factor bettors and survivor contestants should’ve paid attention to was Justin Herbert’s health. He opted to play through fractured rib cartilage and finished 25 of 45 with one touchdown pass and two turnovers.
Also read: Underdogs cash for bettors in NFL Week 3
Road Favorites Conspire to Oust Significant Numbers of Survivor Players
Week 3 reminded us once again of the pitfalls to avoid in NFL Survivor games.
The Raiders, 49ers, Bills, and Saints went into their Week 3 matchups as road favorites, and each left a loser. Only 46 of Circa’s contestants fell victim to those teams’ defeats, but it did not need to be so many, particularly in the case of the Bills and Saints.
https://twitter.com/CircaSports/status/1573836179081863169
Not only was Buffalo playing in a brutal road environment — the South Florida heat and humidity take their toll on visiting teams — but they also dealt with a number of absences.
Those who selected the Saints should have taken note of key injuries as well, namely to quarterback Jameis Winston. Winston played through four fractures in his back and an ankle injury. He managed to throw for 353 yards, but the Panthers hit him six times, recorded three sacks, and collected two interceptions.
Winning on the road, especially in the division, is an accomplishment even favorites struggle to achieve. It’s wise for bettors and gamers to place the proper degree of consideration in these cases. Additional caution is warranted when a team is suffering through numerous and/or key injuries.
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What Is An NFL Survivor Game?
Survivor pools are simple to grasp. Generally speaking, each member of the pool selects one team to win each week. The players that select a winning team remain in the pool. Those who pick a losing team are eliminated. The last one (or ones) standing claims victory. Easy enough, right?
It’s not quite that simple though. The frequency with which a team can be selected is limited. In traditional survivor pools, a team may be selected only once during the season.
If you picked the Baltimore Ravens in a cushy Week 1 matchup versus the New York Jets, you can kiss them goodbye for the remainder of 2022. Remaining survivors have 29 teams at their disposal in Week 4. Players who are still alive should consider the hard lessons learned by those who are now on the outside looking in.
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