Week 16: Jeremy Makes His Move

Week 17 is upon us. Soon eyeballs across North America will be glued to their TV screens looking to see who will be crowned the 2012 Football Pool Champion. Five participants still remain in contention: Jarrett M., Jeremy, Joel, Patrick, and Jonathan. 

Jarrett M. sits in first and controls his own fate, but he might need to win week 17 in order to win the championship. (Jonathan already heard some gloating from Jarrett M. Bulletin board material?)

Joel is the closest he's been to the championship in a few years. He's thankful his idea of ending the pool after week 16 didn't gain steam.

Jeremy has catapulted into third place with his clutch picks of Baltimore and Seattle and is hoping to add another Norman Wiens Memorial Trophy to his already-full trophy case.

Patrick will be watching three games at once in his rec room. Shouts of "Get down!" and "This is my house!" will no doubt be heard from Portland Estates.

Jonathan has slipped a bit the past couple of weeks, but he's looking to connect on a Hail Mary.

The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. We'll see how it all turns out in only a few hours.

Week 15: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

This week:

1. Jarrett R. (11-5 + 1.5 bonus) - 12.5 points

1. Joel (11-5 + 1.5 bonus) - 12.5 points

1. Patrick (11-5 + 1.5 bonus) - 12.5 points

1. Jeremy (11-5 + 1.5 bonus) - 12.5 points

5. Jonathan (10-6) - 10 points

5. Jarrett M. (10-6) - 10 points

5. Roger (10-6) - 10 points

8. Bob (3-13) - 3 points

8. Nathan (3-13) - 3 points

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Christmastime? No, silly. It's the final two weeks of the Football Pool!

Jarrett M. is still in the lead, but he's now less than one point (0.96) ahead of Joel. And Jonathan, Patrick and Jeremy aren't too far behind. Who will make the big move in week 16?

Week 15 notes and ramblings: (1) Everybody probably laughed at Jeremy's pick of the Cardinals...until they won. However, that loner pick was cancelled out by his unsuccessful loner pick of the Ravens. (2) Jarrett M. did everyone a big favor by picking the Jets. It's McElroy time! (3) Your 2013 starting QB for the Jacksonville Jaguars: Tim Tebow! (4) Who's your MVP? Adrian Peterson? Peyton Manning? Tom Brady? (5) I'm never going to figure out the Giants. Maybe they aren't who I thought they were. I wouldn't be disappointed to see them slip out of the playoffs. (6) Same goes for the Steelers. Wouldn't it be nice to see the Bengals win that division? (7) Joel is now leading in bonus points, but he's tied for second (with Jonathan) in wins. Joel also still leads in points for. (8) If the 49ers had not won on Sunday night, Patrick may have raised the white flag in his backyard. 

So far:

1. Jarrett M. (145-78 + 12.83 bonus) - 157.83 points (no change) 

2. Joel (143-80 + 13.87 bonus) - 156.87 points (no change)

3. Jonathan (143-80 + 10.53 bonus) - 153.53 points (no change)

4. Patrick (140-83 + 12.08 bonus) - 152.08 points (no change)

5. Jeremy (141-82 + 9.95 bonus) - 150.95 points (no change)

6. Roger (137-86 + 8.08 bonus) - 145.08 points (no change)

7. Jarrett R. (131-92 + 12.08 bonus) - 143.08 points (+1)

8. Bob (124-99 + 11.03 points) - 135.03 points (-1)

9. Nathan (108-115 + 5.53 bonus) - 113.53 points (no change)

Week 7: Almost Perfect

This week:

1. Jonathan (12-1 + 2.5 bonus) - 14.5 points

1. Jeremy (12-1 + 2.5 bonus) - 14.5 points

3. Jarrett R. (11-2 + 0.33 bonus) - 11.33 points

3. Bob (11-2 + 0.33 bonus) - 11.33 points

3. Nathan (11-2 + 0.33 bonus) - 11.33 points

6. Joel (10-3) - 10 points

6. Patrick (10-3) - 10 points

6. Jarrett M. (10-3) - 10 points

6. Roger (10-3) - 10 points

"I'm not perfect."--Brett Favre

Jonathan and Jeremy came close to perfection in week 7, both posting a 12-1 record (with identical picks). After their big weeks, Jeremy is back in first, and Jonathan is now within striking distance.

First place for week 7 wasn't determined until after the Bears' victory over the Lions on Monday night. Jonathan and Jeremy won't mention to Joel that this was definitely the most fun game of the week. (Jarrett R. would have finished first with a Detroit win.)

Each week in Joel's weekly recaps, he give us his (sometimes logic-defying) best pick of the week, worst pick of the week, and most critical game of the week. Here's how were doing so far according to Joel. (Joel has not yet sent out his week 7 recap, so this covers only the first 6 weeks.)

Best pick of the week: Patrick (4), Jarrett R. (2), Jarrett M. (2), Jeremy (1), and everyone else has zero. Worst pick of the week: Nathan (4), Jarrett M. (3), Jarrett R. (2), Bob (2), Joel (2), Jeremy (2), Jonathan (1), Patrick (1), and Roger (1). Most critical game of the week: Jarrett R. (5), Patrick (3), Jarrett M. (3), Jeremy (3), Bob (2), Jonathan (2), Roger (2), Joel (1), and Nathan (1).

Week 7 notes: (1) only 0.8 points separate Patrick, Jarrett M., Jarrett R. and Jonathan. (2) I've got nothing else, sorry.

So far:

1. Jeremy (65-39 + 7.7 bonus) - 72.7 points

2. Patrick (63-41 + 6.33 bonus) - 69.33 points

2. Jarrett M. (63-41 + 6.33 bonus) - 69.33 points

4. Jarrett R. (62-42 + 6.83 bonus) - 68.83 points

5. Jonathan (63-41 + 5.53 bonus) - 68.53 points

6. Joel (61-43 + 4.37 bonus) - 65.37 points

7. Nathan (59-45 + 2.53 bonus) - 61.53 points

8. Bob (57-47 + 3.53 bonus) - 60.53 points

9. Roger (57-47 + 1.83 bonus) - 58.83 points

Week 3: What About Bob?

This week:

1. Bob (8-8 + 3 bonus) - 11 points
2. Jeremy (7-9 + 1.5 bonus) - 8.5 points
2. Roger (7-9 + 1.5 bonus) - 8.5 points
4. Patrick (6-10 + 1 bonus) - 7 points
5. Jarrett R. (6-10) - 6 points
5. Nathan (6-10) - 6 points
7. Jonathan (5-11) - 5 points
7. Jarrett M. (5-11) - 5 points
9. Joel (4-12) - 4 points

"You think he's gone? He's not gone. That's the whole point! He's never gone!"--Dr. Leo Marvin, What About Bob?

After week 1, Bob had a big problem. He forgot to submit his picks for week 1's Sunday games. (Full disclosure: Bob was awarded points for the five unanimous correct picks in week 1. This has been standard practice in the pool when picks have been forgotten.)

But Bob wasn't thinking about the seemingly impossible task of going from last to first. What was he thinking about? Baby steps.

Baby steps? Yes, baby steps. Bob's not thinking about one giant leap. He's thinking about taking one small step at a time until he reaches the top.

The wily veteran was the only pool member not under .500 in week 3. This week Bob took a few steps, passing Nathan, Jarrett M., and Roger. Next week he plans to take one or two more steps. Watch out, Patrick and Joel.

Baby steps.

Week 3 notes: (1) Through the first three weeks, the 2012 season has been, in recent memory, the toughest season for picks. (2) Somehow Patrick had two (TWO!) successful loner picks and still didn't finish in the top three. (3) Jarrett M. sent a text to Jonathan on Saturday evening proclaiming his confidence in a possible 15-0 week. Sadly for him, that confidence was unfounded.

So far:

1. Jeremy (27-21 + 5 bonus) - 32 points
2. Jarrett R. (27-21 + 4.5 bonus) - 31.5 points
3. Jonathan (25-23 + 2.5 bonus) - 27.5 points
4. Joel (23-25 + 1.83 bonus) - 24.83 points
5. Patrick (23-25 + 1.33 bonus) - 24.33 points
6. Bob (21-27 + 3 bonus) - 24 points
7. Roger (22-26 + 1.83 bonus) - 23.83 bonus
8. Jarrett M. (22-26 + 1 bonus) - 23 points
9. Nathan (21-27 + 0 bonus) - 21 points

Week 2 - Jeremy the Prophet Speaketh

This week:

1. Jeremy (11-5 + 3.5 bonus) - 14.5 points
2. Jarrett R. (9-7 + 1.5 bonus) - 10.5 points
2. Joel (9-7 + 1.5 bonus) - 10.5 points
4. Jarrett M. (8-8 + 0.5 bonus) - 8.5 points
5. Bob (8-8) - 8 points
5. Jonathan (8-8) - 8 points
7. Patrick (7-9) - 7 points
7. Nathan (7-9) - 7 points
8. Roger (5-11) - 5 points

"Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet..." (Matthew 27:9, KJV).

After surveying the 16 games of the NFL's second week, Jeremy declared, "The Panthers shall smite the Saints." No one in the pool agreed, but, of course, Jeremy was right. The prophet announced, "Give me the Colts against the Vikings." Again, he was correct. And then in a mighty voice he shouted, "The Broncos shall fall prey to the Falcons." Right again. The four-time champ is back!

Week 2 notes: (1) For the second straight week, Jarrett M. had a loner pick. This week he correctly picked the Rams to beat the Redskins. (2) There was one unsuccessful loner pick this week: Jarrett R. incorrectly picked the Browns to defeat the Bengals. (3) Jarrett R. forgot to submit a pick for the Thursday night game. Sources indicate that he would have picked the Packers.

So far:

1. Jarrett R. (21-11 + 4.5 bonus) - 25.5 points
2. Jeremy (20-12 + 3.5 bonus) - 23.5 points
3. Jonathan (20-12 + 2.5 bonus) - 22.5 points
4. Joel (19-13 + 1.83 bonus) - 20.83 points
5. Jarrett M. (17-15 + 1 bonus) - 18 points
6. Patrick (17-15 + 0.33 bonus) - 17.33 points
7. Roger (15-17 + 0.33 bonus) - 15.33 points
8. Nathan (15-17) - 15 points
9. Bob (8-24) - 8 points

Week 14 - Kuehner Fever

Week 14 Results

Jeremy - 15-1 (+3)
Joel - 13-3 (+1.5)
Patrick - 13-3 (+1.5)
Jarrett - 12-4
Jonathan - 12-4
John - 12-4
Roger - 12-4
Bob - 11-5

Did the rumored tongue-lashing from Bert "Double Crown" Kuehner actually take place? If so, it was effective as both Kuehner boys posted good weeks. But it was the Golden Boy, Jeremy, who took top spot. The only pick he got wrong (SF) was also picked wrong by everyone else.

"Tacos in the wild?! I haven't been this excited since that one time I thought I might actually have a chance to win the pool!! Hey, anyone know if there's a bathroom close by?"--Joel Kuehner (Jeremy, less excited, is on the right.)

For the second week in a row, the Mighty Morand narrowed the gap between him and Commander Couch.   But if Patrick would have put a little faith in his Jaguars, he would be 1.5 points closer! The importance of each point is now magnified.

Week 14 notes: (1) Patrick is now 4.67 points behind John. (2) If Patrick had picked the Jaguars, he would only be 3.17 points behind. (3) Jonathan has now passed Bob for third, which means that the Forest Hills Boys are now 1-2-3.

It's said, "Bad company spoils ruins good morals" (1 Cor. 15:33 ESV). Perhaps it should also be said, "Bad company spoils good football sense." (Jarrett is front row center.)

--Jonathan

Well, week 14 is in, and Jeremy is the big winner, with a stellar 15-1 record. Fortunately for him, he did 2 better than everyone else. Otherwise, there would have been some controversy. Why? Well, his Thursday pick was a consensus pick. And my policy is to allow consensus picks, especially for pretty one-sided games. However, I don't (intentionally, at least) allow consensus picks to give you bonus points. So, in other words, the bonus points are based on Jeremy going 14-2. Since 14-2 is still better than everyone else, he gets full bonus. Actually, on a week with only 4 games that matter, getting 2 better than everyone else is pretty good.

Jeremy blew by me, Jonathan has squeaked by Bob, and Patrick is continuing his mission to squeeze by John.

Best pick of the week: Jaguars over Buccaneers.

Worst pick of the week: Dolphins over Eagles. (Come on, all you Dolphin bandwagoners. Philly's badness and Miami's goodness are relative.)

Critical game of the week: Giants at Cowboys (ridiculous).

Three weeks left, with one of them being a free-for-all.

--Joel

Week 5 - Somebody Stop John!

Week 5 Results

This week's winners:

  

He could...go...all...the...way!

At one point during the early games it looked like I might gain a few points on John. Then everything fell apart. Well, at least I got the San Francisco pick right.

Question: Why are the late games so much easier to pick?

--Jonathan

Well, I think I did it! I think I pretty much picked all of the teams that would be trailing after three quarters! At least my Lions are providing me some joy this season.

Best pick of the week: Raiders over Texans.

Worst pick of the week: Bucs over Niners (and John still won the week).

Critical game of the week: Cardinals at Vikings.

--Joel

Current Standings

Week 4 - Off the Couch and into the Lead

Week 4 Results

This week's winners:

 

I believe the goal this season is to pick who will be trailing after 3 quarters.  If you can figure that out, then you assume that team will be the winner.

As Jonathan says, we have a new leader.  Congratulations to John.  However, Patrick's still right there, and he had another solid week.  He's yet to have a vintage Pat week in which he forfeits his entire season's gains.

Best pick of the week: Titans over Browns.

Worst pick of the week: Broncos over Packers in cheese town.

Critical game of the week: Giants at Cardinals.  I know that's probably a bit biased, but if that game had gone the way it was supposed to, without the refs blowing a call, I'd have beat y'all.  (Of course, I always say you can't blame a game's outcome on a single call.)

--Joel Kuehner

Current Standings

(Here's the video of the "fumble.")