Week 15 was a big week for many teams in the NFL, but it was a really big week for COVID-19. Back on the field after spending most of this season on the sidelines, COVID looked noticeably slimmer and much more elusive, infecting teams at breakneck speed and causing three games to be delayed into Monday and Tuesday. But of course, unlike other sports, the NFL was not to be deterred, as all games were played more or less as scheduled, unlike the NHL, whose schedule has been put on hold while teams work through positive cases.
However, as this is a football pool and this blog has to do with football games, I suppose it makes sense to actually talk about football. And this week was filled with drama:
On Thursday – which seems like a year ago now – the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers fought in an epic AFC West showdown, with the Chiefs winning in OT on a 34-yard slaloming touchdown catch and run by Travis Kelce.
There were expected to be two Saturday night games, which turned into one as COVID ran through the Cleveland Browns. Never fear though, the Patriots and Colts still played in another potential playoff preview, and it was the Colts who came out victorious, despite only completing five passes for 57 total yards. So how did they win? There was the blocked punt by Matthew Adams which was recovered by the Colts in the end zone for a touchdown in the second quarter, but it was mostly due to the Colts second year RB Jonathan Taylor. Taylor ran the ball 29 times for 170 yards and this game clinching touchdown in the fourth quarter. Taylor now has more games of 170+ yards rushing (3) than the rest of the NFL combined (2) and, at 1518 rushing yards, has 424 more yards that the second-most prolific RB (Joe Mixon, 1094). It’s no wonder that Taylor is starting to get consideration for the MVP, for anyone that doesn’t want to vote for Brady or Rodgers (or Mahomes).
On Sunday, we were treated to perhaps the biggest upset of the season as the previously 1-11-1 Lions throttled the 10-3 Cardinals 30-12, on the back of a 112 rushing yard performance by previously unknown RB Craig Reynolds. This marks the second impressive showing in a row, following an 83 yard performance against the Broncos in Week 14. So unheralded was the third year player from D-II Kutztown University that he was not fully elevated to the main roster until Monday morning.
In another big upset on Sunday, the New Orleans Saints went into Tampa this weekend and shut out Tom Brady and the Buccaneers by a score of 9-0. The Saints, of course the former team of NBC studio analyst Drew Brees, handed Brady his first shutout loss since 2006, a span of 255 games. Interestingly enough, Brees was never shut out in his 304 game NFL career. Brady will need to play another 18 seasons to challenge that streak again.
APY NFL FOOTBALL POOL WEEK 15 RESULTS
In the pool, our top scorers this week were Donna P, Alessandro, and Des, who all put up 15 points!
Donna is now in the money, as her 15 points put her in a tie for third place with 177 points – and now she’s just two points off the lead.
With his 15 points, Alessandro has cracked the top 15, now in a tie for 13th with 170 points.
Des, well we should focus on the present and not ancient history, so let’s congratulate him on his big week!
In the pool standings, Jerome continues to hold on to the lead, with 179 points.
Jason G is in second place, just one point off the pace at 178.
Donna P, Paul, and Will are all tied for third at 177, with Steve and Salvo just two points behind them with three weeks to go.
All spots are still within range for about 10 contestants who can make a move in the last three weeks.
| Name | Total |
| Jerome | 179 |
| Jason G | 178 |
| Donna P | 177 |
| Paul | 177 |
| Will | 177 |
| Steve | 175 |
| Salvo | 175 |
| Joe L | 173 |
| Sam | 173 |
| Baldip | 172 |
| Marcus | 172 |
| Neil | 171 |
| Alessandro | 170 |
| Adam | 170 |
| Team Bracken | 168 |
| Courtney | 167 |
| Predictor | 166 |
| Darryl | 166 |
| Marcel & Aiden | 166 |
| Lourdes | 166 |
| CSA Red Bulls | 165 |
| Denzil | 165 |
| Molly | 164 |
| Jay P | 163 |
| Farhan | 163 |
| Gary | 163 |
| Jason H | 162 |
| Quinn | 160 |
| Terry | 159 |
| Jason R | 158 |
| Des | 156 |
| Keville | 156 |
| Tom | 155 |
| Matt | 155 |
| Ronda | 155 |
| Joe S | 154 |
| Justin | 153 |
| Nigel | 151 |
| Darren | 140 |
| Donna K | 132 |
| Mark | 119 |
| Dwayne | 114 |
| David | 100 |
| Ruby | 19 |
| Average | 153.83 |
APY MINI POOLS
MINI POOL A – in mini-pool A, the Predictor has opened up a three point lead on the field, with 44 points through the first three weeks. Alessandro is in second at 41, while Quinn and Adam are tied for fourth at 40.
| Name | Total |
| Predictor | 44 |
| Alessandro | 41 |
| Quinn | 40 |
| Adam | 40 |
| Molly | 39 |
| Paul | 39 |
| Jerome | 39 |
| Team Bracken | 39 |
| Farhan | 39 |
| Marcus | 38 |
| Courtney | 38 |
| Denzil | 38 |
| Joe L | 37 |
| Salvo | 37 |
| CSA Red Bulls | 36 |
| Nigel | 36 |
| Matt | 35 |
| Joe S | 34 |
| Sam | 34 |
| Ronda | 33 |
| Darren | 22 |
| Donna K | 22 |
MINI POOL B
Mini-pool B has become quite interesting. At this point, Donna P has the most points in mini-pool B, with 43, though while she resides in the top four of the main pool, the one prize per person requirement means she would be ineligible for this one if the season ended today. That means Steve, who is in second with 41 points, would take the honours if the season ended today. Baldip, Darryl, Marcel & Aidan, along with Will and Jason G are all in the neighbourhood (though Will and Jason G would need to drop out of the top four to be eligible here as well)
| Name | Total |
| Donna P | 43 |
| Steve | 41 |
| Will | 41 |
| Baldip | 40 |
| Jason G | 40 |
| Darryl | 40 |
| Marcel & Aiden | 40 |
| Neil | 39 |
| Jay P | 38 |
| Jason H | 38 |
| Tom | 37 |
| Des | 36 |
| Keville | 35 |
| Lourdes | 35 |
| Terry | 32 |
| Gary | 32 |
| Jason R | 25 |
| Dwayne | 23 |
| Justin | 23 |
| Mark | 13 |
| Ruby | 0 |
| David | 0 |
MERRY CHRISTMAS!/SEASON’S GREETINGS
As this is (hopefully) the last email until Christmas, I want to take this time to wish all who celebrate a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! (And if you don’t celebrate, that’s just fine too… I wish you well regardless of course!) Normally we’d be just about winding down the pool but with three more weeks, there’s still a ton of action left. I hope everyone has enjoyed their time nonetheless and will look forward to the rest of the season!