A Second Chance for NFL Survivor Casualties

Recapping the Carnage

Before the season’s first NFL kickoff, more than 9,000 entries laid their lives on the line in Splash’s Big Blue Survivor Contest worth $100,000. Not even a full two weeks in, and more than half have met their demise.

Only 44 percent of the originals remain, the other 56 percent of entries succumbing to the sword. For those of you who have felt the fate of the dodo, you probably have your head in your heads, all too aware of what brought us here. For those of you whose heart still pumps - to whom I offer my sincerest congratulations - you might be wondering: how did this happen?

The carnage came early. The Lions stunned the Chiefs at Arrowhead, 21-20, on the first Thursday Night Football of the campaign. The consequence: more than 7 percent of all entries evaporated.

In the opening time slot on the initial Sunday of the season, the Vikings committed three turnovers as they came up short at home to the traveling Buccaneers, 20-17, and almost 12 percent of all entries cried in vain. Those who bet their survival on the Seahawks may have laughed then, but their moods swung a few hours later when the Rams ran away in Seattle, 30-13. About 4.5 percent of entries ended there.

The escapees largely went with the Ravens and Commanders, who had the collective backing of more than 54 percent of entries. Baltimore comfortably evaded Houston. Washington cut it close against Arizona. The result for their pickers was the same: survival.

As you’d expect, Week 2 wasn’t as ruthless. Players had a week of football to help with their judgments, and it showed. But not for everyone. More than 6 percent of surviving entries hopped on the Detroit bandwagon after the big win in Kansas City – they were swiftly informed of life as a Lions fan. About 2.5 percent of pickers didn’t learn their lesson from Week 1 and bet on the Broncos, who let an 18-point lead over the Commanders slip as not even a Hail Mary could save them. The Falcons outlasting the Packers and the Titans getting it done in overtime over the Chargers were the other leading causes of death.

It's not over yet. There are clear favorites among Splash survivor players in the two Monday Night Football matchups: the Saints have 3.17 percent of the overall picks, and the Browns hold 1.35 percent. Even those who went for the Panthers or Steelers are vulnerable. More will swim in the sea before the week’s close.

The Bills, Cowboys, Giants, 49ers, and Eagles were the five most picked teams in Week 2, and their believers are all happy with their decisions right about now. But this game is far from over, even for those already out.

Survival Revival: Redemption for the 56 Percent

If you’re reading this, you might think it’s too late. You’d be wrong. Even if you’re among the unlucky (at least that’s what they tell themselves) majority and find yourself on the outside looking in, you can still play Splash’s NFL Survivor game. You can even still play it with a chance at serious cash. No, not $100,000, but how does $10,000 sound? Not bad for a second chance.

This week, Splash has opened its NFL Survivor Revival contest to the public with five figures on the line, disproving the long-standing statute that you only live once. But you can’t fall into the same trap this time. This cannot be squandered. At a minimum, you have to make it longer than a fortnight.

That means choosing wisely. There are two main ways to play survivor: week-by-week, and season-long. As in, you either focus on surviving the week at hand first and foremost, or you do your best to map out future picks for longevity. Select a strategy, and go with it.

Maybe do whichever one you didn’t the first time considering how that went. Regardless, Week 3 is approaching, and it will require a pick.

Revival players have a fresh slate of teams to pick from, which they can and should use to their advantage. Maybe the Chiefs burned you in Week 1, but that doesn’t mean they will again. In Week 3, the defending-champs host the 0-2 Bears, who are yet to throw for more than 200 yards in a game this season. Plus, we've got a money-back guarantee running on the Chiefs this week for our Survivor Revival contest. Check out the details here.

That’s not the only matchup next week that looks lopsided on paper. The Colts head to Baltimore, where they are not particularly well-liked, perhaps without rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson, who suffered a head injury in Week 2. The Cowboys have looked unstoppable so far, and the Cardinals have appeared anything but. They’ll meet in Glendale on Sunday in one of two pairings between an undefeated and winless team. The other sees the Broncos go to South Florida to take on the Dolphins as Sean Payton searches for something and Miami aims to tighten its grip on the AFC East. The Jaguars do have a blemish on their record, but the defending AFC South champs are hosting the Texans, and they’re absolutely horrendous. San Francisco has been outstanding to start the season and haven’t lost at home since Week 7 of last year, while the Giants spent the first three halves of their season scoreless.

Maybe you want to save those teams for future weeks or are still alive in your survivor contest and can’t reuse them. A more controversial outlet is available in the Bills at the Commanders, which will likely draw less attention thanks to the game’s location and Washington’s 2-0 mark scaring some from relying on the Bills. But a disastrous Week 1 for Josh Allen doesn’t mean Buffalo’s offense is no longer among the league’s elite, and the Commanders’ narrow navigations against the Cardinals and Broncos doesn’t mean they’re suddenly world beaters. Going for the Bills might not be a bad shout if your strategy is to counter the crowd.

No matter what angle you take, even the 56 percent that struck out can revive their survival lives for a prize that still moves the needle. All you have to do is pick one winner. No parlays, no lines, no loopholes; just one winner. Don’t let this opportunity slip through your fingers.