To borrow a phrase from the great Bruce Springsteen, “Is there anybody alive out there tonight”?

As we enter Week 2 of the NFL season, I write this from the survivor afterlife, lying under the snapped limb I went out on by somewhat boldly picking the Detroit Lions. Per Warren Sharp, since 2006 there had been 782 teams that led by 17 in the fourth quarter. Only three of those 782 lost. Meet team No. 4.

A big key to success in survivor pools is bucking the trend at some point to separate yourself from the rest of the contestants. You must think differently. Well, Detroit sure was different. Circa runs a high-stakes, $1,000-entry survivor pool that this year amassed 1,390 players. If you’re laying down that kind of coin, you’re probably a serious and somewhat-skilled NFL bettor. Nearly 600 contestants were eliminated in Week 1.

Thankfully, most survivor pools offer the option to re-buy into the contest and make amends for an ill-fated early selection gone wrong. On that optimistic note, we look ahead to Week 2, and attempt to dance through the raindrops en route to eventual survivor glory.

Arizona Cardinals vs. Washington Football Team: Strange to see the Cardinals (-6.5) laying this big of a number. The winner of this game will be 2-0, and come Monday, will be the early surprise story of the league. The Cardinals are improved, they’re fun, but I don’t trust them yet and neither should you. Washington overcame a modest 3.4 yards per play against the Eagles to win going away, a testament to how talented it is on defense. Close game, and a stay-away.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers over Carolina Panthers: With no preseason and a limited offseason, I will let the new parts jell a little more before I turn in Tom Brady’s new team as my selection. Bucs (-8.5) are an intriguing option, but let’s look elsewhere.

San Francisco 49ers over New York Jets: Adam Gase may be on a studio show breaking down these games if he’s not on the winning side of some of them soon. The Jets performance last Sunday made them look like a serious contender … to draft Trevor Lawrence next April. However the 49ers (-7) will be traveling west to east, playing at 1 o’clock. Not only is it not an ideal spot, but the Super Bowl hangover is real, and I’m not sure the defending conference champs are immune. They not only lost to the Cardinals, but blew a 10-0 lead, and still seem to be trying to win around their quarterback as opposed to winning because of him. Thanks, but no thanks.

Tennessee Titans over Jacksonville Jaguars: There’s a major gulf in talent between these two squads, and I’m sure Titans coach Mike Vrabel has some motivational tactics up his sleeve. He not only can point to Jacksonville’s Week 1 upset as a reason for his team to not overlook the opponent, but Vrabel’s team was also beaten soundly last year by the Jags. The 26-3 beating the Titans took early in ’19 will keep this team focused. Vrabel played most of his career for Bill Belichick and knows the importance of not overlooking anyone. As crazy as 2020 is, the Jaguars being 2-0 would be about as strange as anything. The madness stops. Titans (-8) win comfortably and improve to 2-0.

William Hill (not to be confused with the sportsbook of the same name) is a contributor to VSiN’s Point Spread Weekly.