Week Thirteen of the 2024 NFL season is here. As always, I will start by discussing the rules for a survivor pool. It is a weekly contest where people select one team per week, straight up, to win their game.
If a chosen team wins, it advances to the next week, but remember that the selected team can't be used for the rest of the season. If a team they chose for that week loses, it is eliminated from the pool.
Now that the rules are set, it is time for me to give my top three options: a risky pick, a trap pick, and a survivor pick that I would have made if I were still alive in Survivor. It would have been nice for Cincinnati to prepare for their first regular-season game.
1 Kansas City Chiefs vs Las Vegas Raiders
Yes, the Chiefs pulled a Mike Tomlin last week by playing down to inferior competition, but they at least got the win. This week they face a much worse opponent in the Las Vegas Raiders. Vegas is poorly coached and lost Gardner Minshew for the season with an injury. The Raiders will be starting either Desmond Ridder or Aidan O'Connell. Both are arguably worse than Bryce Young at quarterback. Kansas City should take care of business against a terrible Raiders team that has all but given up on the season.
2. Washington Commanders vs Tennessee Titans
What the heck was that performance last week Washington? They were so sloppy against a terrible Dallas Cowboys team. This week they face a much worse Titans team who iscoming off an upset win against the Houston Texans. This time, Washington should be extra prepared after that embarrassment, and take care of business against a terrible Titans.
3. Denver Broncos vs Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns have been an absolute mess this season. While they did upset the Steelers, keep in mindit's a yearly tradition for a Mike Tomlin-coached team to play down to massively inferior competition. There are always 3 games a year where that happens. The Browns may have extra time to prepare, but Denver is a difficult place to play in the NFL, and the Broncos have a much better offense than the Steelers do. Taking the Broncos here would be wise.
Risky Pick - Dallas Cowboys vs New York Giants
Where to even begin with this game? From All of the Thanksgiving games, Dallas vs New York is the weakest of the bunch. However, this is a sneakily good play to make in Survivor. Dallas may be a terrible team, but they're not as chaotic as the Giants are. That team has quit on the coach, and the release of Daniel Jones has made things worse. I like Tommy Devito, but he got no help from his offensive line last week and is now dealing with a forearm injury. There is a legit chance DeVito doesn't play in this game and Drew Lock gets to.
Dallas should take off business against a bad New York Giants team. It's risky, as it's a divisional prime-time game, but it could be worth it if you want to save top teams for later in the week.
The only other week you can use Dallas is in Week 15 against the Carolina Panthers, but Dallas will not be the home team and Carolina has been playing decently the past few weeks.
2024 Risky Survivor Pick History (7-5) - Week 1: Minnesota Vikings, Week 2: Washington Commanders, Week 3: San Francisco 49ers, Week 4: Tennessee Titans, Week 5: New England Patriots, Week 6: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Week 7: Jacksonville Jaguars, Week 8: Arizona Cardinals, Week 9: New Orleans Saints, Week 10: New York Giants, Week 11: Green Bay Packers, Week 12: Houston Texans
Trap Pick - Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans
I don't care if they make the playoffs, but I'm done with the 2024 Houston Texans. They have played horrendously this season, and the only reason they will make the playoffs is due to how bad the AFC South division is. They have been frauds since losing to a dysfunctional New York Jets team weeks ago. The way they played against an awful Titans squad was just telling.
This week the Texans face the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars may be the worst team in the NFL, and have a head coach and GM who should have been fired yesterday, but they're a sneaky team this week. They're coming off of a bye week, and Trevor Lawrence returned from injury this week. The Jaguars played the Texans close earlier this season too.
Just don't take the Texans this week. Avoid them at all costs until they prove themselves, or you're limited on options. I'm out on this team.
2024 Trap Survivor Pick History (4-8) - Week 1: Buffalo Bills, Week 2: Indianapolis Colts,Week 3: Seattle Seahawks, Week 4: Philadelphia Eagles, Week 5: Chicago Bears, Week 6: Buffalo Bills, Week 7: Cincinnati Bengals, Week 8: New York Jets, Week 9: Baltimore Ravens,Week 10: Philadelphia Eagles, Week 11: New York Jets, Week 12: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Who I Would Have Taken in Survivor - Dallas Cowboys
I can't use the Kansas City Chiefs as they were my pick last week. I can't use the Denver Broncos as they were my pick in Week 8. So basically this pick came down to the Washington Commanders and Dallas Cowboys. While Washington is a solid choice, there is an interesting pick in Week 15 when they're coming off a bye and facing a terrible Saints team. I don't see another chance to take Dallas. Let's get risky, I would have taken the Dallas Cowboys if I were still alive in Survivor.
2024 My Survivor Pick History (7-5) - Week 1: Cincinnati Bengals,Week 2: Los Angeles Chargers, Week 3: Las Vegas Raiders, Week 4: Tennessee Titans, Week 5: New England Patriots, Week 6: Philadelphia Eagles, Week 7: Los Angeles Rams, Week 8: Denver Broncos,Week 9: New Orleans Saints, Week 10: Chicago Bears, Week 11: Detroit Lions, Week 12: Kansas City Chiefs
Have a Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!!!