Oct 7, 2012; Landover, MD, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) prepares to take the snap from Atlanta Falcons center Todd McClure (62) against the Washington Redskins during the second half at FedEX Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-US PRESSWIRE

(For the purposes of this article we assume the most popular answer on our poll is the one that was used to survive last week. So far we have used Houston, Cincinnati, Dallas, Baltimore and San Francisco)

With each passing week, the “confidence” of your Ultimate Survivor friend reaches new heights. This week your stone-cold, triple-platinum, lock of the century, Survivor League pick has to be the Atlanta Falcons (5-0, RRPR 3) at home over the hapless marauders of Oakland (1-3, SI Ranking 29). The Raiders have to fly three time zones to play an early game against at team that is performing at a significantly higher level. Now that Brian Cushing of the Houston Texans (5-0, RRPR 1) is out for the season with an ACL tear, I have the Falcons poised to become the second best team in the NFL behind the retro Niners. Approximately once every year a West Coast team breaks the trend and wins an early game on the East Coast. Unfortunately for the Silver and Black, those honors have already been taken by the Arizona Cardinals (4-1, RRPR 13) in Week 2 courtesy of the New England Patriots (3-2, RRPR 5) and Mr. Snausages.

My alternate pick, in case you have used Atlanta already, this week is Arizona over the Buffaloed Bills. In two of their three road games this year, Buffaloed has been downright obliterated – losing by 20 to the New York Jets (2-3, RRPR 27) in Week 1, and by 42 to the Niners last week. The Bills did not even bother going home this week to prepare for the tail end of their back-to-back West Coast road trip. My guess is that the elongated stay was to avoid the 17 fans waiting for them back in Orchard Park. Regardless, look for another double digit loss by the soon-to-be Los Angeles Bills.

My sucker bet of the week is the Baltimore Ravens (4-1, RRPR 4) over the Dallas Cowboys (2-2, RRPR 15). The Ravens do not score a lot of points, and have not shown the same pass rush without Terrell Suggs anchoring the charge. I am not ready to say that the Cowboys take the win on this one, but I am also not ready to put my streak on the line on this game.

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Sept. 30, 2012; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; San Francisco 49ers fullback Bruce Miller (49) high fives teammates after quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) after a touchdown during the second quarter against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-US PRESSWIRE

What a difference a week … and a collective bargaining agreement… can make. Do you think it is any coincidence that order is restored in the Survivor football universe the same week the real referees take charge? Houston TexansTexans (4-0, Riggo’s Rag Power Rankings 1) – WIN. Baltimore Ravens (3-1, RRPR 4) – WIN. Survivor players – HAPPY. Do not forget, the Patriots actually scored the game winning touchdown against the Cardinals in Week 2 before it was called back by a phantom holding call on Rob “I Have Big Pecs” Gronkowski from some muttonhead who is now safely back teaching remedial English to Lingere Bowl rejects.

(For the purposes of this article we assume the most popular answer on our poll is the one that was used to survive last week.  So far we have used Houston, Cincinnati, Dallas, and Baltimore.)

For the six percent of you still alive in your Survivor leagues – and Lombardi bless you if you are – this week will be easier than clinching the AL West with a 13-game lead over a team with less than half your payroll and not a single fantasy player on the roster. It’s the Niners (3-1, RRPR 2) over the Buffaloed Bills (2-2, RRPR 24) this week mis amigos. The Bills’ two wins this year are against two teams with a win total of 1!: the Chiefs (1-3, RRPR 23) and Browns (0-4, RRPR 29). In their other two games, the Bills have lost by an average of 22 points – including a 20-point spanking by the propeller-less New York Jets (2-2, RRPR 27), and a 24-point flogging at home by an offense some think is slipping.  The New England Patriots (2-2, RRPR 5) scored more points in the final 20 minutes than they had scored in any single game this year. Meanwhile, the Niners remain the class of the NFC, beating that same Jets crew 34-0 in New York.

If you have already spent your Niners token this Survivor season, the sucker play is the New York “Should Be” Giants (2-2, RRPR 9). Barring a 14-point collapse in Week 2 from an underperforming Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-3, RRPR 19) team, the Giants would be 1-3. The only solid victory the “Should Be”s have this season is against an over-hyped, under-talented Carolina Panthers group (1-3, RRPR 25). Last season, the Giants were a double-digit favorite at home in Week 5 to an uppity Seattle Seahawks squad (2-2, RRPR 12), and were beaten in every facet of the game. The Giants, who historically play down to their competition, are poised to repeat Week 5 history this season against the Browns.

The better Plan B is the Cincinnati Bengals (3-1, RRPR 15) over the Miami Dolphins (1-3, RRPR 28) The Guppies are playing on the road for the second straight week, and are feeling the emotional hangover of back-to-back last minute losses in games they had no business losing. I like the Bengals by double digits in this one.

As for our Beltway Boys, I’m, uh-hem, picking the Falcons (4-0, RRPR 3). (Although there are much better picks than against our 3.5 point home dogs.)  Basically, I don’t like our secondary vs. their air attack, but more on that later today.

Hit me!

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