The Mile High Messiah

There comes a point where you know you shouldn't believe anymore. But you do still believe. And then it happens. And your faith deepens.

Week Fourteen Picks

Like:

BRONCOS -3.5 over Bears
Giants +4.5 over COWBOYS
Colts +16.5 over RAVENS
BENGALS -2.5 over Texans
TITANS +3.5 over Saints

If forced to choose:

Bucs -3 over JAGUARS
Niners -4 over CARDINALS
Falcons -3 over PANTHERS
LIONS -10 over Vikings
Bills +7 over CHARGERS
Patriots -7.5 over REDSKINS
Eagles +3 over DOLPHINS
SEAHAWKS -10.5 over Rams
Raiders +11.5 over PACKERS
JETS -10.5 over Chiefs
Browns +14 over STEELERS $

Lock season record: 0-0
Really like season record: 3-2
Like season record: 22-22-1
If forced to choose season record: 74-66-2
All games season record: 99-90-2

Week Thirteen Observations

My Week Thirteen Observations for Football Nation, including a surprise Coach of the Year candidate and the weekly power rankings.

Lessons Learned From Hidden Immunity Idols

Survivor first introduced the hidden immunity idol in its eleventh season. The hidden immunity idol is a talisman hidden near the camp which provides a one-time antidote from being voted out if revealed immediately after the fatal vote. When used properly, it's an extra life in a game of survival, the most powerful tool one can attain in the quest for a million dollars.

The logical thing to do after finding the hidden immunity idol is to hide it, shut your mouth, wait until you are on the chopping block, then play the idol to simultaneously save yourself and off your nemesis.

Almost without fail, however, the castaway who discovers the hidden immunity idol ends up spilling the beans to his tribemates. The usual pattern: one castaway finds the hidden immunity idol up in a tree or under a rock, celebrates gleefully with the cameraman, gives an emotional interview about the power of the idol and her newfound position in the game, sits on it contentedly for a day or two, then reveals it to multiple competitors under the pretense of currying favor and building alliances.

There are many fascinating aspects to Survivor, but perhaps the most compelling is watching how people deal with the extreme but extremely finite desolation. All the castaways are thrust into a physically, mentally, and socially exhausting crucible without any relationship to their teammates/adversaries, without a friend in the world. There is a million dollar prize at the finish line, but 90% of contestants lose sight of that goal and make decisions to placate temporary human relationships that will be irrelevant within a week or two. The choices they make will affect the rest of their lives, yet they often make the ones that will only benefit them for a few days. Loneliness, even in its most temporary form, is just too hard for most people to face. Consciously or subconsciously, they'll make any sacrifice for companionship, however fleeting it may be. Even the diabolical Russell Hantz couldn't keep his idols to himself.

The notable exception came last season, when Boston Rob Mariano found the idol early on and hid it until the last moment it was playable. Rob credited his performance, the most dominant start-to-finish run in Survivor's 23 seasons, to the strength his family gave him while cast away. Rob played the most heartlessly efficient, singularly focused game in Survivor history, but only because he never felt alone.

November Top 15

15. Rodney Crowell - Still Learning How To Fly
14. Ryan Adams - Chains of Love
13. U2 - With Or Without You
12. Fountains of Wayne - The Summer Place
11. The Naked And Famous - Girls Like You

10. The Rolling Stones - Play With Fire
9. Augustana - Steal Your Heart
8. Augustana - Borrowed Time
7. Rogue Wave - Bird on a Wire
6. The Rolling Stones - You Can't Always Get What You Want

5. Ryan Adams - Lucky Now
4. Travis - Somewhere Else
3. Liars - The Other Side of Mt. Heart Attack
2. Augustana - Shot In The Dark

Song of the Month: Bee Gees - To Love Somebody

Week Thirteen Picks

Really Like:

Ravens -6.5 over BROWNS

Like:

BUCS -3 over Panthers
GIANTS +6.5 over Packers
Raiders +3 over DOLPHINS
Broncos +2 over VIKINGS
Cowboys -4 over CARDINALS

If forced to choose:

JAGUARS +3 over Chargers
SEAHAWKS +3 over Eagles $
Lions +8.5 over SAINTS
TEXANS +2.5 over Falcons
Jets -2.5 over REDSKINS
BILLS -2 over Titans
Bengals +7 over STEELERS
Colts +20 over PATRIOTS
BEARS -7 over Chiefs
Rams +13.5 over NINERS

Lock season record: 0-0
Really like season record: 2-2
Like season record: 20-19-1
If forced to choose season record: 70-60-2
All games season record: 92-81-3

Week Twelve Observations

31 observations on the twelfth week of the NFL season for Football Nation, plus the weekly power rankings.