Last Fan Standing: Week 9
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- We are halfway through the year. This column is getting revamped, because I have a confession to make. Out of the more than 27,000 fans that joined the Last Fan Standing, 1.2 percent of entries are still going. That's a total of 340 people. Well, 340 and me.
Allow me to explain. Before the season began, a handful of WIP hosts and producers were asked to be Last Fan Standing "VIPs" and make our picks public. So I created a new login under my name to use for that purpose. Shortly after, I came across an e-mail on a different, older account reminding me to "come back to WIP's largest football pool." It's an e-mail address I rarely use or check, and the login for the pool goes back so far that the already-registered name is AD28MVP. That name refers to my favorite college football player ever, Adrian Peterson, entering his rookie year in 2008 and my hopes he would immediately win the MVP (he did win it in 2012, so I basically called it).
I didn't think twice, joining with AD28MVP. I can't win anyway because I'm a CBS employee, so I might as well make two picks a week. How long could I possibly last anyway? Well, the "VIPs" were all out before Week 3, all seven of us knocked out by either the Colts or Saints. It was Week 2 when I gave very poor advice to take those two teams, or the Steelers. AD28MVP went with the Steelers, and it's been smooth sailing ever since.
So I will continue to give out picks, which you should definitely follow blindly since I'm 8-2 in the last three weeks, but the main goal will be to get AD28MVP as far as I can go. Maybe I'm a cheater for having second, secret handle. I will never admit it. I will appeal any punishment that befalls me. Bring it on, commissioner!
There are six teams on the bye this week (Arizona, Baltimore, Detroit, Houston, Kansas City and Seattle) so your choices are already limited to begin with. In order to stay standing, this comes down to three games.
The Eagles and Cowboys play Sunday night in the Why Didn't They Flex This? Bowl. It's Matt Cassel and Sam Bradford, under the lights, with the nation watching. The Eagles can't lose this one, right? There's no way they are going to get swept by the Cowboys at the hands of Matt freaking Cassel. Right? Dallas has lost five straight since winning in Philly, a win Cowboys fans would definitely trade in for a healthy Tony Romo.
The defenses in this game are head-and-shoulders above the offenses. This one will come down to turnovers and whether the Eagles can rush for more than 0.4 yards per carry. If they lose this game it will murder pro football in Philadelphia for 2015. There's too much on the line for me to make it my LFS pick. That's too many eggs in one place under the protection of Bradford. Still, the Eagles over the Cowboys.
Tonight the Bengals host the Browns in what should be a popular pick in the pool this week. Cincy is one of two undefeated teams I have available, the other being Carolina. The Panthers are playing Green Bay so that's a no-go.
The Bengals have won games by starting strong and finishing strong. Fourteen of their 24 offensive touchdowns have come in the first and fourth quarters. The Bengals are second to the Patriots in offensive DVOA, but are no. 1 in pass offense. Andy Dalton is playing as good as any quarterback in the league not named Tom.
I don't hate this Browns team, but Johnny Manziel is getting thrown into the fire with little time to prepare. It's been a murderous stretch for Cleveland, with three straight losses to the Broncos, Rams and Cardinals, and it's taken its toll on the squad. They will be without two receivers and a pair of starters in the secondary tonight.
The Bengals will lose sooner rather than later, but tonight isn't the night. The Bengals over the Browns.
My last choice is the Saints. The red-hot Saints. They have a home game against the Titans who are the only team with a six-game losing streak this season, a streak that is still intact. Tennessee just fired their coach on Tuesday but on the bright side will likely get Marcus Mariota back under center.
The Titans could use a spark on offense. In their last four games, including one before Mariota's injury, they have scored a combined 36 points. The Saints just scored 52 in four quarters.
If the Titans were ever to get the offense going, this would be the week. The Saints are 32nd in defensive DVOA and are also ranked last in pass defense. The Giants game was not an aberration that hurt their numbers, since they were 31st going into last week. This is a bad defense they are facing.
If the Saints were ever to get the defense going, this would be the week. The Titans are 32nd in offensive DVOA and are also ranked last in pass offense. This is a bad offense they are facing. Whoa, déjà vu. The Saints over the Titans.
Honestly, I am still slightly scarred from the Saints taking me out (and 8,500 others) back in Week 2. I'd like to think that won't happen again, but why put myself in that position? I'm not afraid of a Bengals loss, I would just much rather use them a week from now when they've had a long week before a Monday night game against the Texans.
Looking ahead, smh. Don't break my heart again, Drew Brees, don't do it.
