Friends in football,

Mason Crosby's missed kick at the buzzer (pictured above) was huge - for both real NFL standings and SZN pools. More below, but FIRST...

Are you ready for our playoffs pools?

Playoffs Pick'em (you're in!): Just pick winners before each round. $15,000 in prizes; 200 places paid; $5K to the champ.

Super Bowl Props (you're in!): 25 fun questions, from National Anthem length to MVP. $10,000 in prizes; 150 places paid; $3K to the champ.

100 Tier Playoffs Pick'em: 500-player cap with $42,500 in prizes. $13K to the champ. Go big with us!

SUMMARY RESULTS

The BIG Survivor (BFIG) results

• Champ: @Charlotteman1!
• Best Squad: Blindfolded Dart Throwers

Weekly Pick'em (WeeWoo) results

• Weekly winner: Five bold souls went 15-1 and split the weekly haul - @Scooch777, @Sp090, @TTutko22, @mattchatt89, and @rydstein. All five missed Cards over Eagles
• Best Squad: PANDAS UP 1 OVER CLAMS. My favorite update every week. "Panda Warriors" and "Bearded Clams" refuse to separate. Many more are close
• Overall leader: @Sevdog55 and @jac211 are tied, up 2 on the field. Huge Week 18 ahead

Survivor #2 results

• Champ: @mikulis
• Best Squad: Stonemarkers

Survivor #3 results

• Champ: All 3 survivors went 4-1 in Week 17, which means we'll do a 3-way Week 18 Pickoff for the title
• Best Squad: Tommy's Teasers

QB One-and-Done results

• Top passer: Dak put up 345 in that wild Cowboys-Lions game, making his 90 pickers happy
• Weekly average: 259 yards per pick (18 yards above the average QB performance)
• Best Squad: Once again, "BLOODGATE" is on top. once again, the lead has narrowed. DRAMA
• Overall leader: @ShantheWOMAN (309 from Baker) is up 37 yards on @RM5589 (290 from Geno). Down to the wire!
• Interval 3 leader: @Free_OJ (lol, isn't he free?) catapulted into the lead by taking Lamar (340 yards). But an astonishing 16 people are within 100 yards of the lead

Loser Survivor Brought to You by The OddsBreakers results

• Champ: @Zeanah!
• Best Squad: Lake Meaders

"All 32" One-and-Done results

• W/L record: 1,442-2,618. THE RECKONING IS HERE. Our season-long win rate dropped to 63.1%
• Overall leader: Leader @mufc11 went 1-1 and is now tied with @Venez68 at 27-3. (Yes, THAT @Venez68, who also finished T2 in BFIG)
• Best Squad: "Ickey Woods All Stars" remains in front by two

THE ANNUAL INTERVIEW (WITH THE BIG SURVIVOR CHAMP)

A SZN rookie, @Charlotteman1 announced his presence by ripping off 20 straight BFIG wins. He then made one of the most legendary pickoff picks of all-time to wear The Title Belt. This is Commish's annual interview with the champ.

TheCommish: You're a SZN rookie. How did you find The SZN and what were you expecting this year?

@Charlotteman1: My wife and I were having lunch with family in Destin, Florida. I noticed her son, @hatmaked, who is a member of SZN, on his phone using The SZN. I asked him about it, he showed me a little bit, and then he sent me a friend referral. Thanks, Mr. Hatmaker. As far as my expectations, well I didn’t have any at all. I love sports and was just checking out SZN for some fun.

Commish: Have you played in other NFL Survivor pools before? Have you had any past triumphs?

@Charlotteman1: I have been in survivor pools many times before and have never gotten past the 5th week. I do play fantasy sports every year. I usually have like 4-5 teams and end up winning 1 of them. Just enough to keep me playing.

Commish: You opened your SZN by picking the Commanders and Giants in Weeks 1 and 2... and surviving. What do you have to say to your September self?

@Charlotteman1: I felt that was the best pick at the time and it payed off for me. Pure luck. The first few weeks are the toughest until you get to know the teams a little bit.

Commish: At what point did you start thinking, "I just might win this thing"?

@Charlotteman1: There were a few games that came down to the wire, like Philly/Buffalo and Lions/Bears - when my pick came thru, I did think, "wow, I can win this thing".

Commish: After finally losing in Week 15, you and the other two people who went 20-1 entered a pickoff for the title. How was that experience for you?

@Charlotteman1: The most nerve racking experience in my life. Lol. The experience was great because not only did I care about 1 or 2 games but I had to care about every single game in week 16 and I love football so that was easy for me to watch.

Commish: And you, good sir, changed your Pickoff picks several times, INCLUDING changing from SF to Baltimore - the pick that ultimately won you the title. Walk us through that decision!

@Charlotteman1: YES, I did change my picks several times. I have a friend in New Jersey, Travis, who is now a member of SZN as well, who helped me with my decisions. He would research games and then I made my decision. Some I listened to him and some I didn’t. Earlier in the year, I switched my pick of the Jags/Bills game based on Travis’ advice. So after praying and talking with God, I made my final picks. Thank you Lord for my Ravens pick!

Commish: How did you celebrate?

@Charlotteman1: I hugged my wife for a really long time and was happy it was over. I don’t think my heart could have handled another week. Lol. My wife and I are traveling to California next month to see the Hatmaker family (who got me in this thing). So, big party in SoCal!!

Commish: You won despite having just the 27th best Margin of Victory (+226). For context, your Pickoff combatant, @Autovhanchilly, was +320. Do you have any fingernails left?

@Charlotteman1: Yes I do have fingernails left but I’m sure my blood pressure took a toll throughout the year. Thanks SZN for that.

Commish: Are you now a Lamar Jackson stan?

@Charlotteman1: I do like Lamar, but I do NOT like him in Week 17 because I am a Dolphins fan. Go 'Phins!! Thank you for beating the 49ers, though, Lamar!

Commish: Any advice or parting words for the thousands of SZN members in awe of you?

@Charlotteman1: My advice would be to just have fun with it. Go into it with ZERO expectations and if you are lucky enough to win then it’s bonus. Good luck everyone! I look forward to repeating next year.

Yours in football,
The Commish