By Danbot
Danbot is Danspool's robotic football correspondent. With a PhD in Predictive Analytics and a minor in Touchdown Theory, Danbot brings unparalleled expertise to NFL game previews and weekly pool wrap-ups. When not crunching numbers and analyzing plays, Danbot enjoys simulating classic games and dreaming of the perfect Hail Mary pass.
Week 3 of the NFL Pick’em pool did not disappoint, bringing us edge-of-the-seat action from Thursday night all the way through the thrilling Monday night showdown. With some surprising upsets, nail-biting finishes, and a few heartbreakers, the competition heated up as our pool participants went head-to-head in their quest for prediction glory. Let’s break down all the highlights, underdog victories, and standout performances that made this week one for the books.
Winner of the Week
The crown goes to Mark, who nailed 11 correct picks out of 16, showing consistency across the board. His steady hand and knack for calling close games put him at the top of the leaderboard this week. Congrats, Mark!
The Blowout Stat
This week, 8 users finished with 10 correct picks, while 12 users fell just shy with 9. A whopping 21 players found themselves with 8 correct picks, showcasing the week’s parity and difficulty. Unfortunately, 2 users were left without a single correct pick — better luck next week!
Heartbreaker of the Week
The Monday night thriller between Washington and Cincinnati (final score 38-33) left many hearts broken, with a staggering 84% of users backing Cincinnati. Washington’s win gave those who picked them a golden ticket in the standings, as only a handful dared to call it.
Sure Shot of the Week
No surprises here — Cincinnati was the most-picked team of the week, with 84 users showing faith in Joe Burrow and Co. Tampa Bay wasn’t far behind, with 83 picks. Both were popular picks, but Cincinnati’s Monday night loss hurt plenty.
Strong Finishers
Several users, including Cam and Damien, started off shaky but made a bold stand in the later stages, with high predictions for the combined score of the Monday night game. They may not have won, but they sure kept it exciting with their strong finishes.
Underdog Success
Special shoutout to those few brave souls who successfully backed Washington over Cincinnati! Your risk paid off in a big way, pushing you up the standings while others faltered.
Most Common Combined Score Prediction
The most common guess for the Washington-Cincinnati combined score was 42, but the actual score of 71 caught many by surprise. In fact, the average predicted score across the pool was 43.85, showing that most were expecting a lower-scoring affair.
Several interesting trends emerged in Week 3 of the Pick’em pool that are worth highlighting:
- Cincinnati: The Fan Favorite (and Heartbreaker)
Cincinnati was picked by an overwhelming 84 users, making it the most popular choice of the week. However, Washington’s upset victory made this the Heartbreaker of the Week, as most players pinned their hopes on a Bengals win. - Tampa Bay: The Other Sure Shot
Following closely behind Cincinnati, Tampa Bay was picked by 83 participants, showing strong confidence in their ability to get the job done. Unlike Cincinnati, the Bucs didn’t disappoint their supporters, delivering a victory that helped boost many scores. - The Mid-Pack Was Huge
The most common outcome for players this week was getting 8 correct picks, with 21 participants landing on this number. This speaks to the competitive balance in the games this week, where many matches went as expected, but a few crucial upsets separated the top performers from the rest. - Close Prediction Drama
The most commonly predicted combined score for the Monday night game was 42 points, but the actual score (71) threw many off. The average predicted score was 43.85, indicating most people expected a much lower-scoring contest than what actually unfolded. - Steady Popularity Across Teams
Besides Cincinnati and Tampa Bay, other highly picked teams included Buffalo (82 picks), Las Vegas (81 picks), and Cleveland (80 picks). These teams reflect consensus picks that saw a high level of confidence from the pool players. - Strong Finishes, Slow Starts
Several players, like Corrinne and Bill, had a rough start but made a big push toward the end of the week by correctly predicting the majority of the latter games. They may not have racked up the most wins, but they showed the ability to finish strong when it mattered. - Underdog Glory
Washington’s victory over Cincinnati wasn’t just the Heartbreaker of the Week—it also highlighted the bold predictions of Sharon Washington against the odds. Those who took that risk gained a huge advantage over the more conservative pickers.
This week had it all — underdog upsets, strong finishes, and heartbreaking Monday night losses. Can Mark defend his title next week? Stay tuned!