This season, we are proud to bring you the return of the Footballguys.com Staff Confidence Pool Challenge. 17 Staff members will pick the winner of each NFL game, and rank each choice from most confident (16 points) to least (1 point). As a tie-breaker, the person who is closest to the total points scored on the last Monday Night game will be the winner. Winners will be announced from week to week and the best overall record will be crowned Confidence pool Champion. Picks and ranks are due on Wednesday, so any late-breaking news may not be reflected in the choices. Also please note that no point spread is taken into account with these picks – it is a straight up pick of which NFL team will win this week. See the other confidence pools for picks against the spread (ATS) or Survivor / Eliminator style.
WEEK 3 RESULTS
With everyone picking Denver in the Monday night game, and everyone ranking them between 13 and 15 points of confidence, the final board was set to be decided by Sunday night. As expected, the top six spots on the weekly board didn't change when Denver beat Oakland. Jeff Pasquino narrowly edged out Jeff Haseley. Both had only ten correct picks this week, but Pasquino didn't lose as much on the 49ers as Haseley did. With all of the upsets this week, several players tied for the top spot with 10 correct picks, but Pasquino and Haseley were the best at managing their risk.
| Staffer | KC | HOU | SD | STL | TB | CLE | ARI | DET | GB | NYG | ATL | JAC | IND | BUF | CHI | OAK | TOT |
| PHI | BAL | TEN | DAL | NE | MIN | NO | WAS | CIN | CAR | MIA | SEA | SF | NYJ | PIT | DEN | Pts | |
| Pasquino | PHI | BAL | TEN | DAL | NE | MIN | NO | DET | GB | NYG | MIA | SEA | SF | BUF | CHI | DEN | 98 |
| 5 | 4 | 11 | 8 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 15 | ||
| Haseley | KC | HOU | TEN | DAL | NE | MIN | NO | DET | GB | CAR | ATL | SEA | SF | BUF | CHI | DEN | 96 |
| 2 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 16 | 14 | 1 | 10 | 15 | ||
| Wood | KC | HOU | TEN | STL | NE | CLE | NO | DET | CIN | NYG | ATL | SEA | SF | BUF | PIT | DEN | 89 |
| 8 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 14 | 1 | 13 | 9 | 6 | 10 | 11 | 16 | 12 | 5 | 3 | 15 | ||
| Hester | PHI | BAL | TEN | DAL | NE | MIN | NO | WAS | GB | CAR | ATL | SEA | SF | NYJ | CHI | DEN | 87 |
| 8 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 16 | 11 | 1 | 6 | 15 | ||
| Garda | KC | HOU | SD | DAL | TB | MIN | NO | DET | GB | NYG | MIA | SEA | SF | BUF | CHI | DEN | 86 |
| 9 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 4 | 12 | 14 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 16 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 15 | ||
| Hicks | KC | BAL | TEN | STL | NE | MIN | NO | WAS | CIN | CAR | MIA | SEA | SF | BUF | PIT | DEN | 86 |
| 5 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 16 | 14 | 1 | 9 | 15 | ||
| Larkin | KC | BAL | TEN | STL | NE | MIN | NO | WAS | CIN | CAR | MIA | SEA | SF | BUF | PIT | DEN | 84 |
| 3 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 11 | 16 | 6 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 12 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 13 | ||
| Holloway | KC | HOU | TEN | DAL | NE | MIN | NO | DET | GB | NYG | ATL | SEA | SF | NYJ | CHI | DEN | 84 |
| 1 | 5 | 3 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 16 | 14 | 2 | 9 | 15 | ||
| Bitonti | PHI | HOU | TEN | DAL | NE | MIN | NO | DET | GB | NYG | ATL | SEA | SF | NYJ | CHI | DEN | 79 |
| 5 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 16 | 14 | 1 | 8 | 15 | ||
| Rudnicki | KC | HOU | SD | DAL | NE | MIN | NO | DET | GB | NYG | ATL | SEA | SF | BUF | CHI | DEN | 78 |
| 1 | 6 | 3 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 2 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 16 | 14 | 4 | 9 | 15 | ||
| Cummings | PHI | HOU | TEN | DAL | TB | MIN | NO | WAS | GB | CAR | ATL | SEA | SF | NYJ | CHI | DEN | 77 |
| 3 | 14 | 7 | 10 | 2 | 9 | 13 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 11 | 15 | ||
| Russell | KC | HOU | SD | DAL | NE | MIN | NO | DET | GB | NYG | ATL | SEA | SF | BUF | CHI | DEN | 75 |
| 2 | 9 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 3 | 12 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 11 | 4 | 14 | 15 | ||
| Tremblay | PHI | HOU | SD | DAL | NE | MIN | NO | DET | GB | NYG | ATL | SEA | SF | BUF | CHI | DEN | 71 |
| 6 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 2 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 16 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 13 | ||
| Grant | PHI | HOU | SD | DAL | NE | MIN | NO | WAS | GB | CAR | ATL | SEA | SF | BUF | CHI | DEN | 68 |
| 10 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 16 | 15 | 6 | 3 | 13 | ||
| Harstad | PHI | HOU | SD | STL | NE | MIN | NO | DET | GB | CAR | ATL | SEA | SF | BUF | CHI | DEN | 66 |
| 11 | 10 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 12 | 16 | 13 | 7 | 14 | 15 | ||
| Wimer | KC | HOU | SD | STL | NE | MIN | NO | DET | GB | NYG | ATL | SEA | SF | BUF | CHI | DEN | 57 |
| 8 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 11 | 3 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 14 | ||
| Brimacombe | PHI | HOU | SD | DAL | NE | MIN | NO | WAS | GB | NYG | ATL | SEA | SF | BUF | PIT | DEN | 53 |
| 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 14 | ||
| Away | KC | HOU | SD | STL | TB | CLE | ARI | DET | GB | NYG | ATL | JAC | IND | BUF | CHI | OAK | |
| Total Pts | 39 | 93 | 43 | 27 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 52 | 93 | 59 | 116 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 104 | 0 | |
| Home | PHI | BAL | TEN | DAL | NE | MIN | NO | WAS | CIN | CAR | MIA | SEA | SF | NYJ | PIT | DEN | |
| Total Pts | 60 | 22 | 64 | 106 | 158 | 165 | 213 | 33 | 20 | 30 | 9 | 268 | 215 | 8 | 15 | 247 |
When San Francisco was beaten by Indianapolis, everyone in the contest took a big hit. Cleveland's upset of Minnesota hurt the field as well. Houston, Atlanta and Green Bay all had strong support and these key upsets explain why the scoring was so low this week.
OVERALL RANKINGS
Wood continues to lead the pack for the third week in a row, but his lead has dwindled to just three points. Haseley's near win propelled him into second overall Larkin hung tough and falls just one spot to third, while Pasquino's win allowed him to jump up into 4th overall, just 12 points from the top spot.
| Staffer | W1 | W2 | W3 | Total |
| Wood | 117 | 110 | 89 | 316 |
| Haseley | 100 | 117 | 96 | 313 |
| Larkin | 102 | 121 | 84 | 307 |
| Pasquino | 94 | 112 | 98 | 304 |
| Holloway | 103 | 111 | 84 | 298 |
| Hester | 95 | 115 | 87 | 297 |
| Rudnicki | 101 | 111 | 78 | 290 |
| Bitonti | 112 | 97 | 79 | 288 |
| Hicks | 113 | 85 | 86 | 284 |
| Grant | 107 | 105 | 68 | 280 |
| Cummings | 100 | 101 | 77 | 278 |
| Russell | 100 | 102 | 75 | 277 |
| Garda | 81 | 105 | 86 | 272 |
| Tremblay | 92 | 106 | 71 | 269 |
| Harstad | 85 | 117 | 66 | 268 |
| Brimacombe | 109 | 103 | 53 | 265 |
| Wimer | 90 | 90 | 57 | 237 |
Wimer and Brimacombe fell hard this week and it pulled them well down the overall pace. There are still plenty of weeks left to catch up, but being 50 points off the top spot after three weeks is a big hole to try and dig you way out.
THIS WEEK'S PICKS
Here are the picks for this week.
| Staffer | SF | IND | SEA | CHI | NYG | CIN | ARI | BAL | PIT | NYJ | DAL | WAS | PHI | NE | MIA | MNF |
| STL | JAC | HOU | DET | KC | CLE | TB | BUF | MIN | TEN | SD | OAK | DEN | ATL | NO | TOT | |
| Rudnicki | SF | IND | SEA | CHI | KC | CIN | ARI | BAL | MIN | TEN | DAL | WAS | DEN | NE | NO | 48 |
| 10 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 4 | 12 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 2 | 13 | ||
| Harstad | SF | IND | SEA | CHI | KC | CIN | TB | BUF | MIN | TEN | DAL | WAS | DEN | ATL | NO | 52 |
| 13 | 14 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 8 | 11 | ||
| Garda | SF | IND | SEA | CHI | KC | CIN | TB | BAL | PIT | NYJ | DAL | WAS | DEN | ATL | MIA | 64 |
| 13 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 1 | 4 | ||
| Hicks | STL | IND | SEA | DET | KC | CIN | ARI | BUF | MIN | TEN | DAL | WAS | DEN | NE | NO | 45 |
| 5 | 15 | 12 | 8 | 14 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 13 | 10 | 6 | ||
| Larkin | SF | IND | SEA | CHI | KC | CIN | ARI | BAL | PIT | NYJ | DAL | WAS | DEN | ATL | NO | 52 |
| 6 | 15 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 8 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 14 | 12 | 11 | ||
| Russell | SF | IND | SEA | CHI | KC | CIN | TB | BAL | MIN | TEN | SD | OAK | DEN | ATL | NO | 44 |
| 11 | 15 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 6 | 12 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 14 | 3 | 2 | ||
| Cummings | SF | IND | SEA | DET | KC | CIN | TB | BAL | MIN | TEN | DAL | WAS | DEN | ATL | NO | 52 |
| 13 | 15 | 14 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 2 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 1 | ||
| Brimacombe | SF | IND | SEA | DET | KC | CIN | ARI | BUF | PIT | TEN | SD | WAS | DEN | ATL | NO | 49 |
| 10 | 15 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 14 | 12 | 13 | ||
| Wood | SF | IND | HOU | DET | NYG | CIN | TB | BUF | MIN | NYJ | DAL | WAS | DEN | ATL | NO | 45 |
| 10 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 14 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 13 | 5 | 6 | ||
| Haseley | SF | IND | SEA | CHI | KC | CIN | TB | BAL | PIT | TEN | DAL | WAS | DEN | ATL | NO | 53 |
| 6 | 15 | 11 | 5 | 9 | 10 | 3 | 12 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 1 | 13 | ||
| Pasquino | STL | IND | SEA | CHI | KC | CIN | TB | BAL | MIN | TEN | SD | OAK | DEN | NE | NO | 51 |
| 1 | 14 | 12 | 7 | 9 | 13 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 15 | 2 | 10 | ||
| Wimer | STL | IND | SEA | DET | KC | CIN | ARI | BAL | MIN | NYJ | DAL | WAS | DEN | ATL | NO | 45 |
| 9 | 13 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 14 | ||
| Bitonti | SF | IND | SEA | DET | KC | CIN | TB | BAL | PIT | TEN | DAL | WAS | DEN | ATL | NO | 50 |
| 9 | 13 | 8 | 3 | 12 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 11 | 15 | 6 | 14 | ||
| Tremblay | SF | IND | SEA | DET | KC | CIN | ARI | BAL | PIT | TEN | SD | WAS | DEN | NE | NO | 48 |
| 7 | 15 | 10 | 4 | 14 | 12 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 13 | 3 | 11 | ||
| Hester | SF | IND | SEA | DET | KC | CIN | TB | BAL | PIT | NYJ | DAL | OAK | DEN | ATL | NO | 51 |
| 12 | 15 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 2 | 10 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 14 | 7 | 13 | ||
| Holloway | STL | IND | SEA | DET | KC | CIN | TB | BAL | MIN | TEN | DAL | OAK | DEN | NE | NO | 47 |
| 1 | 14 | 8 | 4 | 11 | 13 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 15 | 2 | 12 | ||
| Grant | SF | IND | SEA | CHI | KC | C | TB | B | PIT | TEN | DAL | WAS | DEN | NE | NO | 52 |
| 9 | 15 | 7 | 2 | 12 | 11 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 14 | 5 | 13 | ||
| Away | SF | IND | SEA | CHI | NYG | CIN | ARI | BAL | PIT | NYJ | DAL | WAS | PHI | NE | MIA | |
| Total Pts | 129 | 248 | 150 | 60 | 7 | 177 | 23 | 106 | 38 | 17 | 68 | 58 | 0 | 24 | 4 | |
| Home | STL | JAC | HOU | DET | KC | CLE | TB | BUF | MIN | TEN | SD | OAK | DEN | ATL | NO | |
| Total Pts | 16 | 0 | 11 | 56 | 163 | 0 | 53 | 17 | 35 | 79 | 14 | 10 | 219 | 74 | 163 |
HEAVY FAVORITES
The 'Whoever Jacksonville is playing' strategy is in full force this week with Colts being the unanimous choice with at least 13 confidence points or more from everyone. Denver continues to draw strong support with everyone picking them to beat the Eagles this week and risking a lot of points on them as well. The Bengals were the only other team to draw complete support from the field, although Cleveland's upset win last week had people risking fewer points this week. Kansas City drew strong support this week against the winless Giants and most of the field supports the Saints on Monday night against the Dolphins.
DUAL SUPPORT
Chicago against Detroit looks to be a tough match-up this week and both teams drew almost equal support from the field as well. The London matchup of Minnesota vs. Pittsburgh was the closest contest this week, with only three points of support separating the two teams and a combined total of just 73 confidence points for the game. Washington may have been a solid favorite over Oakland this week, but the 68 total confidence points was the lowest total of any game.
ODDS AND ENDS
Bye weeks start to take effect this week, so the maximum total points drops from 136 to just 120. While this doesn't seem like a lot and it impacts everyone in the field, it makes it harder for teams to move up on the overall leaderboard. As we move deeper into the bye-week gauntlet, expect to see the overall board settle down a bit with teams only moving a couple points up or down each week. Teams more than 20 points off of the top spot are really going to have to pick well if they hope to move up during this timeframe.
Good Luck this Weekend!
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