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Last Fan Standing: Week 3

By Justin Boylan

Last Fan Standing Pool

 

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- When did I know it was over? That moment happened well before the game ended. It was early in the third quarter, the Buccaneers had just bookended the half with a pair of touchdowns to go up 17-7. Drew Brees (or rather, the ghost of Drew Brees) tried to air out a deep ball on 2nd-and-8, which turned out to be more air than deep. The ball hung in the air for anywhere between three seconds and 45 minutes. It felt closer to 45 minutes, but I haven't gone back and clocked it. However long it was, it was enough time for Chris Conte to settle under the dying duck and make the interception.

Brees looked like a version of himself that should be featured in a Direct TV ad, and the game was worse than he was. The first eight possessions resulted in six punts and a made and missed field goal by Tampa Bay. The game was such a drag that Scott Hanson didn't even want to cut to it to show the touchdowns. It was the leader in the clubhouse for the day's most unwatchable matchup, which lasted until the start of America's game of the week.

The Bucs tried their hardest to fumble the game away, but the Saints were persistent and fumbled it right back. Brees is now dealing with a shoulder injury that likely occurred on the hit after throwing that aforementioned pick. Everyone was quick to write-off Peyton Manning this season, but I'd look to New Orleans for the guy who has fallen off the cliff. And maybe the coach is falling with him.

The loss was their sixth straight at home and their first home loss to the Bucs since 2010. I noted last week that Brees played poorly in both Tampa games a year ago but the team won anyway. This was clearly a pick made against the Bucs rather than for the Saints, a mistake I won't soon get over.

Week 2 was supposed to be smooth sailing for everyone who slipped by the unpredictability of Week 1. Nah, son. Sunday was the first time in NFL history that the Raiders, Jaguars, Browns, Buccaneers and Redskins all won on the same day. That perfect storm took out 14,826 fans. Add to that the Monday night upset and we are well over 16,000 gone before the Eagles have even won a game (RIP Last Fan Standing VIPs).

I did give out the Steelers last week, so I'm going to assume the 1,800 fans that remain are still standing thanks to me and that pick. You're welcome!

With so few of you left, now is not the time to overthink the pick. Look back to Super Bowl XLIX and take whichever team you have available. The Patriots are in full do-you-like-apples mode right now and have a home game against the Jaguars. Jacksonville is coming off a win and is sitting all high and mighty at first place in the AFC South. Tom Brady is 4-0 with a 105.4 QB rating vs. the Jags, duh. The Patriots over the Jaguars.

If you took New England already, go Seattle. I know you haven't used them yet, they're 0-2. This week they are finally home and all signs point to the return of Kam Chancellor. I honestly didn't even look to see who they are playing. Hold on. Oh, perfect. Jimmy Clausen. The Seahawks over the Bears.

Now if you want to mix it up, and keep those 2014 juggernauts in your back pocket I'll throw you two more games.

Through two weeks there's only one team that ranks in the bottom five in each DVOA category (offense, defense, special teams and total DVOA). That would the New Orleans Saints. The mess is unlikely to get cleaned up before Sunday's trip to 2-0 Carolina. The Saints will start an injured Brees or back-up Luke McCown or just not show up at all. The Panthers have given up just 26 points so far, second only to the Jets, and while that may have come against below-average offenses the Saints aren't exactly clicking on that side of the ball right now. I could be bitter, but the Panthers over the Saints.

Green Bay is home on Monday night. Stop. Aaron Rodgers' total QBR right now is 94.9. Full stop.

Poor Andy Reid, another primetime opportunity to have every decision he makes overanalyzed by every person in America. At least his team has already won a game! The Packers over the Chiefs.

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