Last year, we had a then-record number of 10-for-10s during Thanksgiving weekend (2011 week #12) after the Cowboys escaped the Dolphins on Thanksgiving. This year, there was no escape - too deep a hole and not enough time to extricate. This wasn't like the old fable of the farmer whose donkey fell into a well.
The loss was disappointing, but not season-ending. The past two seasons, I have written a series of FanPosts called I Did the Math (2010 and 2011). .
In 2010, after week #13, the Cowboys had rebounded from the 1-7 start, the Tony Romo collarbone fracture, and the Wade Phillips firing to have a 4-8 record. Most of the stories and FanPosts were about tanking the season and looking ahead to the draft. As the "most optimistic fan in the world", I did the math to show that the Cowboys were still mathematically alive to win out and make the playoffs at 8-8. I outlined all the scenarios that had to fall into place, and one by one they began to happen. Alas, strike 3 came in a loss to the Eagles, a loss that mathematicallly eliminated the Cowboys.
In 2011, it was a little different. After week #12, the Cowboys were actually in first place and were 7-4. As the December swoon came, and bloggers grew more negative with each loss (a 1-4 ending to that 7-4 start), I pointed out each week the obvious - the Cowboys still controlled their destiny (one win against the Giants in either opportunity would bury the Giants and win the division) - and the less obvious (at the time, Cowboys were still mathematically alive for the #2 seed and a first-round bye).
With all the doom-and-gloom after the past two games (OT win and narrow loss), I may have to write a third series. We'll see. But, this series is about 10-for-10, so let's turn our attention to KD's contest.
If you are looking for a place to post your week #13 picks, this is not the place. Go to my Holiday Bonus #1 FanPost to post picks for this week (#13) or next week (#14). I will soon have up a Holiday Bonus #2 FanPost for posting picks for weeks #15-17.
Participation has continued its season-long decline. We had our smallest number this season posting this past weekend. However, it's still more than our largest week last season. Hopefully, the Holiday Bonus FanPosts will keep participation up through the rest of the season. Here is our season-long track of our weekly participation:
Participation | |||
Week | Played This Week | Missed This Week | Total |
1 | 222 | 0 | 222 |
2 | 199 | 44 | 243 |
3 | 177 | 69 | 246 |
4 | 168 | 83 | 251 |
5 | 149 | 104 | 253 |
6 | 147 | 108 | 255 |
7 | 137 | 119 | 256 |
8 | 137 | 120 | 257 |
9 | 131 | 127 | 258 |
10 | 130 | 129 | 259 |
11 | 122 | 137 | 259 |
12 | 120 | 139 | 259 |
Last season, out of the 256 games that were played, there were three times where we evenly split our consensus - same number of picks favoritn both beams in a game. We had our first tie of 2012 this week. In a game that garnered the least interest - only 30 included this game out of the 120 who participated - exactly fifteen each favored both St. Louis and Arizona. Unlike individual 10-for-10 results, where the St. Louis-San Francisco real-life tie cost me a 10-for-10 (couldn't count it as a win), our consensus picks can be scored a tie. So, our consensus record for this week was 9-6-1.
There were two games that all 120 participants included this week. The Cowboys game was mandated, but everyone also picked the Broncos and Chiefs (unanimous for the Broncos, over 90% for the Cowboys). Here are our results from this weekend, and how we picked each game (with no more byes, several games were heavily played, and others had much less action):
Week #12 Results (Home in CAPS) | |||
Win | Winners (we're great) | Lose | |
120 | Denver | KANSAS CITY | 0 |
112 | New England | NEW YORK JETS | 3 |
98 | CINCINNATI | Oakland | 0 |
94 | Houston | DETROIT | 5 |
79 | Baltimore | SAN DIEGO | 5 |
75 | INDIANAPOLIS | Buffalo | 5 |
53 | Atlanta | TAMPA BAY | 13 |
48 | CHICAGO | Minnesota | 7 |
33 | Carolina | PHILADELPHIA | 10 |
Win | Losers (we're bleep) | Lose | |
9 | Washington | DALLAS | 111 |
6 | NEW YORK GIANTS | Green Bay | 68 |
12 | MIAMI | Seattle | 48 |
9 | JACKSONVILLE | Tennessee | 30 |
Win | Pretty Even (we're indifferent) | Lose | |
28 | CLEVELAND | Pittsburgh | 37 |
24 | San Francisco | NEW ORLEANS | 28 |
15 | St. Louis | ARIZONA | 15 |
That tie also helped us gain a half-game against the Front Page, and narrow their lead from two games to a game-and-a-half.. They got one that we missed (Tennessee-Jacksonville), and we got one that they missed (Minnesota-Chicago). We gained the half-game because their consensus favored Arizona. In the other thirteen games, we had identical majority preferences.
2012 10-for-10 Consensus vs. Front Page Writers | ||||
Week | 10-for-10 Wins | 10-for-10 Losses | Front Page Wins | Front Page Losses |
1 | 11 | 5 | 11 | 5 |
2 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 6 |
3 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 11 |
4 | 10 | 5 | 10 | 5 |
5 | 10 | 4 | 10 | 4 |
6 | 4 | 10 | 6 | 8 |
7 | 12 | 1 | 12 | 1 |
8 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 4 |
9 | 11 | 3 | 10 | 4 |
10 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 5 |
11 | 13 | 1 | 13 | 1 |
12 | 9.5 | 6.5 | 9 | 7 |
Total | 113.5 | 62.5 | 115 | 61 |
We're still much better at picking certain teams. Although we aren't perfect with any team, we have only missed once with five teams. Houston and Kansas City are "easy" for us. We pick the Texans to win each week (same as Cowboys). So, our record is the same as theirs (10-1). We pick the Chiefs to lose every week; so, our 10-1 record mirrors their 1-10 mark. We have also gone 10-1 doing actual "picking" with Chicago, Denver, and San Diego. With each team, we have only failed once to pick correctly wins and losses.
I counted our "tie" preference this week as "half-right, half-wrong" for St. Louis and Arizona. Here is how we picked each team, each week (updated through week #12):
Picks/Results for Each Team/Each Week | |||||||||||||||||||
Team | Wk 1 | Wk 2 | Wk 3 | Wk 4 | Wk 5 | Wk 6 | Wk 7 | Wk 8 | Wk 9 | Wk 10 | Wk 11 | Wk 12 | Wk 13 | Wk 14 | Wk 15 | Wk 16 | Wk 17 | W | L |
Chicago | WW | LL | WW | LW | WW | Bye | WW | WW | WW | LL | LL | WW | 10 | 1 | |||||
Denver | WW | WL | LL | WW | LL | WW | Bye | WW | WW | WW | WW | WW | 10 | 1 | |||||
Houston | WW | WW | WW | WW | WW | WL | WW | Bye | WW | WW | WW | WW | 10 | 1 | |||||
Kansas City | LL | LL | LW | LL | LL | LL | Bye | LL | LL | LL | LL | LL | 10 | 1 | |||||
San Diego | WW | WW | LL | WW | LL | LL | Bye | WL | WW | LL | LL | LL | 10 | 1 | |||||
Baltimore | WW | WL | WW | WW | WW | LW | LL | Bye | WW | WW | WW | WW | 9 | 2 | |||||
Jacksonville | LL | LL | LW | LL | LL | Bye | LL | LL | LL | LL | LL | LW | 9 | 2 | |||||
New England | WW | WL | LL | WW | WW | WL | WW | WW | Bye | WW | WW | WW | 9 | 2 | |||||
Oakland | LL | WL | LW | LL | Bye | LL | WW | WW | LL | LL | LL | LL | 9 | 2 | |||||
Atlanta | WW | LW | WW | WW | WW | WW | Bye | WW | LW | WL | WW | WW | 8 | 3 | |||||
Buffalo | WL | WW | WW | LL | LL | LW | WL | Bye | LL | LL | WW | LL | 8 | 3 | |||||
Cleveland | LL | LL | LL | LL | LL | LW | LL | LW | LL | Bye | LL | LW | 8 | 3 | |||||
Philadelphia | WW | LW | LL | LW | LL | WL | Bye | LL | LL | LL | LL | LL | 8 | 3 | |||||
Tampa Bay | LW | LL | LL | WL | Bye | WW | LL | LW | WW | WW | WW | LL | 8 | 3 | |||||
Cincinnati | LL | WW | LW | WW | WL | WL | LL | Bye | LL | LW | WW | WW | 7 | 4 | |||||
New York Jets | LW | LL | WW | LL | LL | LW | LL | WL | Bye | LL | LW | LL | 7 | 4 | |||||
Pittsburgh | LL | WW | WL | Bye | WW | WL | WW | WW | LW | WW | LL | WL | 7 | 4 | |||||
Arizona | LW | LW | WW | WW | WL | WL | LL | LL | LL | Bye | LL | TL | 6.5 | 4.5 | |||||
Carolina | WL | LW | WL | LL | WL | Bye | LL | LL | LW | LL | LL | WW | 6 | 5 | |||||
Detroit | WW | LL | WL | WL | Bye | LW | LL | LW | WW | LW | LL | LL | 6 | 5 | |||||
Green Bay | WL | WW | WL | WW | WL | LW | WW | WW | WW | Bye | WW | WL | 6 | 5 | |||||
Indianapolis | LL | LW | WL | Bye | LW | WL | WW | LW | WW | WW | LL | WW | 6 | 5 | |||||
Miami | LL | LW | LL | LL | LW | WW | Bye | LW | LL | WL | LL | LW | 6 | 5 | |||||
New Orleans | WL | WL | WL | LL | WW | Bye | WW | LL | WW | LW | WW | WL | 6 | 5 | |||||
San Francisco | LW | WW | WL | WW | WW | WL | WW | WW | Bye | WT | WW | LW | 6 | 5 | |||||
St Louis | LL | LW | LL | LW | LW | LL | LL | LL | Bye | LT | WL | TW | 5.5 | 5.5 | |||||
Dallas | WW | WL | WW | WL | Bye | WL | WW | WL | WL | WW | WW | WL | 5 | 6 | |||||
Minnesota | WW | WL | LW | LW | WW | WL | WW | WL | LL | WL | Bye | LL | 5 | 6 | |||||
Tennessee | LL | LL | LW | LL | LL | LW | LW | WL | LL | LW | Bye | WL | 5 | 6 | |||||
New York Giants | LL | WW | LW | WL | WW | LW | WW | LW | WL | WL | Bye | LW | 4 | 7 | |||||
Washington | LW | WL | WL | LW | LL | LW | LL | LL | WL | Bye | WW | LW | 4 | 7 | |||||
Seattle | WL | LW | LW | WL | LW | LW | LL | WL | WW | WW | Bye | WL | 3 | 8 |
I gave preliminary and summary reports already on KD's week #12 contest page, updating the top scorers for both week #12 and the overall leaderboard. There were no 10-for-10s this week. Only nine survived Thanksgiving by picking the Redskins. Some missed early games on Sunday, and others missed on late games. The final two bit the dust with the Packers' loss to the Giants.
We did have five go 9-for-10, including one who only missed the Cowboys. Congratulations to connor.cmr for that 9-for-10. The other four scored 9-for-10 by picking Washington and missing somewhere else (Tennessee, Seattle, New Orleans, and Green Bay were their misses).
Our average score this week was 6.79-for-10. Our overall leader scored 7-for-10 this week (hitting the average on the nose), but widened his lead over four who are tied for second. If you were one of the thirty-four who scored 9-for-10 or 8-for-10, then you got closer this week. If you were like me, and scored 6-for-10 or worse, then you lost ground.
Congratulations to CowboyBaby for holding onto the lead, and expanding it to two games this week. Last year (see my 2011 week #12 report), Jebediah Flibberbrush held the overall lead with the same score - 90. Here are the top ninety-five scores this week, and the top ninety-five on the overall leaderboard:
Top Scores This Week | |||||||
Week #12 | Score | Week #12 | Score | Overall | Score | Overall | Score |
connor.cmr | 9 | kethry1313 | 7 | CowboyBaby | 90 | Timmy G | 82 |
Howleyesque | 9 | Lajitas Lava | 7 | BishopWest | 88 | Wittenstar82 | 82 |
illcowboy | 9 | lucke | 7 | ChrisMan | 88 | alfanti | 81 |
jstaubach | 9 | mdlusk | 7 | D_Carter | 88 | Allan Uy | 81 |
Realist Larry | 9 | meisternance | 7 | Hawkeye101 | 88 | beastygaming | 81 |
1Bullseye | 8 | Mikellie | 7 | j-man | 87 | boys.camncrew | 81 |
Aggie Man | 8 | mushpuppy | 7 | KD Drummond | 87 | CapitalT | 81 |
Antonio S | 8 | Nord15 | 7 | mdlusk | 87 | nikeorlipstick | 81 |
bcg08 | 8 | NorthStar99 | 7 | Aggie Man | 86 | Panzer84 | 81 |
Ben24626 | 8 | Pasipple | 7 | jstaubach | 86 | bcg08 | 80 |
BigBad Joe | 8 | Portland's Cowboy fan | 7 | Rex Pfister | 86 | HLCJ69 | 80 |
cee-los | 8 | revellyre | 7 | shainyc | 86 | Hookem Up | 80 |
ChrisMan | 8 | skinny post | 7 | ziggy 19 | 86 | jayrosser27 | 80 |
CowboysFan1994 | 8 | slowmotion80 | 7 | Against the Wall-24 | 85 | meisternance | 80 |
gabrielau23 | 8 | Specific | 7 | Ben24626 | 85 | One.Cool.Customer | 80 |
Jebediah Flibberbrush | 8 | TARHEEL PAUL | 7 | BigBad Joe | 85 | Rohpuri | 80 |
j-man | 8 | Through Thick And Thin | 7 | cowboy1966 | 85 | skinny post | 80 |
k@s! | 8 | Timmy G | 7 | hookerhome | 85 | slowmotion80 | 80 |
KD Drummond | 8 | Trueblue122 | 7 | illcowboy | 85 | TARHEEL PAUL | 80 |
letsgtld | 8 | Tuna Helper | 7 | Jebediah Flibberbrush | 85 | TheDemolitionDan | 80 |
Max2 | 8 | Wittenstar82 | 7 | krikaley | 85 | Benthere | 79 |
MSM33 | 8 | ziggy 19 | 7 | mushpuppy | 85 | Cowboy Joe | 79 |
nikeorlipstick | 8 | 88Deztined46 | 6 | Tennessee_Jed | 85 | @Tonekupone | 78 |
One.Cool.Customer | 8 | Aaron Burtram | 6 | cproctor6 | 84 | CowboyinExile | 78 |
pierrelmn | 8 | Babygirl71 | 6 | Fergie3108 | 84 | jakezze01 | 78 |
Rex Pfister | 8 | Benthere | 6 | Frankster_1 | 84 | kethry1313 | 78 |
Rohpuri | 8 | boyman | 6 | JDobermans | 84 | lucke | 78 |
shainyc | 8 | Cowboy Joe | 6 | milehightexan | 84 | Bertangalo | 77 |
SoCal Cowboys | 8 | cowdog | 6 | oldboysfan | 84 | BoydNation | 77 |
Switters023 | 8 | D_Carter | 6 | revellyre | 84 | EchoEcho | 77 |
TheBlueBaron | 8 | EchoEcho | 6 | Through Thick And Thin | 84 | ginge159 | 77 |
True Blue-liever | 8 | Frankster_1 | 6 | Travlr | 84 | jockmeister | 77 |
Tunabomber11 | 8 | Gabby | 6 | True Blue-liever | 84 | Junkyard Dog | 77 |
Unique | 8 | Hobbes42 | 6 | WA_Cowboy | 84 | Mikellie | 77 |
@Tonekupone | 7 | Hookem Up | 6 | Wardo83 | 84 | NorthStar99 | 77 |
Against the Wall-24 | 7 | hookerhome | 6 | boyman | 83 | Tuna Helper | 77 |
beastygaming | 7 | ibleedcowboyblue | 6 | cee-los | 83 | 1Bullseye | 76 |
behind.enemylines | 7 | jakezze01 | 6 | Howleyesque | 83 | Aaron Burtram | 76 |
Bertangalo | 7 | krikaley | 6 | k@s! | 83 | Static | 76 |
BishopWest | 7 | milehightexan | 6 | Switters023 | 83 | Cuban Cowboy | 75 |
BoydNation | 7 | MosesArt | 6 | Tunabomber11 | 83 | letsgtld | 75 |
cowboy1966 | 7 | Oh Hai Doggy | 6 | wittenfan | 83 | Max2 | 75 |
CowboyBaby | 7 | oldboysfan | 6 | Alpha | 82 | CowboysFan1994 | 74 |
CowboyinExile | 7 | Pnut Gallery | 6 | Antonio S | 82 | Unique | 74 |
cproctor6 | 7 | Static | 6 | connor.cmr | 82 | Lajitas Lava | 73 |
cwby4lf | 7 | swanhooch | 6 | cowdog | 82 | Gabby | 72 |
Fergie3108 | 7 | Tallgrass Prairie | 6 | MSM33 | 82 | Realist Larry | 72 |
ginge159 | 7 | Tennessee_Jed | 6 | Nord15 | 82 | swanhooch | 71 |
Hawkeye101 | 7 | TheDemolitionDan | 6 | Pasipple | 82 | yellowrose | 71 |
jayrosser27 | 7 | WA_Cowboy | 6 | Pnut Gallery | 82 | pierrelmn | 70 |
JDobermans | 7 | Wardo83 | 6 | SoCal Cowboys | 82 | Portland's Cowboy fan | 70 |
jockmeister | 7 | wittenfan | 6 | Specific | 82 | tsylvest | 70 |
Junkyard Dog | 7 | 13 tied with | 5 | TheBlueBaron | 82 | 4 tied with | 69 |
Again, I apologize for the delay in getting out this FanPost. I'm hitting my busiest time of the year at my church, and I had no opportunity to put this all together the past two days.
Remember (as I said at the beginning of this FanPost), I am not taking early picks on my FanPosts the remainder of the season. You either need to wait for KD's contest page - normally posted on Thursday - or make early picks on my Holiday Bonus FanPost. On the current Holiday Bonus, I am taking early picks for both this week (#13) and next week (#14). In less than a week, I plan to put up Holiday Bonus FanPost #2, where I will take picks for weeks #15-17.