Twenty-One Years in the Making

 The 2022 Mariners, barring the most miraculous finish by Baltimore and the most epic of collapses by them, will make the playoffs for the first time in twenty-one years.  The playoff drought for this team will not see its 21st birthday if you count from the last playoff game in Mariner's history, which was October 22, 2001.  Just one more win by the Mariners and one more loss from the Baltimore Orioles will make it so it is impossible for Baltimore (or any team behind them, for that matter) can supplant the Mariners from a Wild Card playoff spot.

I have waited twenty-one long and painful years for this.  As a Mariner fan, I have endured ineptitude, horrible trades and free agent acquisitions and have always been disappointed by September at the latest.  It's going to be weird.  The Mariners in the playoffs seems so abnormal in today's world, like seeing someone still using an iPod shuffle or a Microsoft Zune.  But the Mariners making the playoffs has to become a new fad or trend, and one that will hopefully stick around longer than the Zune did.

It's hard to express my emotions right now.  To be honest, part of me is half-expecting to wake up and realize this was a dream and see the 2022 Mariners with a losing record.  So it might take a while for it to sink in with me.  

What would also help is having a home playoff game.  Playoff baseball in Seattle is like no other.  Unfortunately, there hasn't been enough of it in MLB history.  But playoff baseball in Seattle is, for lack of a better term, electric.  The Kingdome rocked in the 1990s with pennant fever.  T-Mobile park has shown signs of what the players have dubbed "The electric factory."  But imagine if the Mariners did damage and won a playoff series at home.  

Unfortunately, with the way the playoffs are currently designed, the Mariners would have to get the top wild card spot in order to guarantee themselves home playoff games.  Otherwise, they'd have to win their wild card series on the road, likely against Cleveland or Toronto.  Neither is an easy task.  So while the Mariners may end their playoff drought, they still might not get to host a playoff game, and that streak could continue.  

But I'm sure many Mariners fans, myself included, would take this situation in a heartbeat.  After twenty-one years, you'll just take any modicum of success your team can achieve.  To have the Mariners in a playoff series, even if it's entirely on the road, is something I've dreamed about for twenty-one years.  When I watch them play in the playoffs, it's going to feel so surreal, on the verge of feeling unreal, almost.  

I'm so stoked these guys are on the verge of ending this drought, and I wish them the absolute best for the rest of the season and in the playoffs.  Regardless of the finish (provided we clinch the playoffs), this 2022 season will always be looked back at fondly.  The playoff drought now is longer than the one this team endured to start its existence.  And you know what?  It's about damn time we made the playoffs.  Go Mariners.

What Constitutes a Successful Season at this Point for the 2022 Mariners

 The 2022 Seattle Mariners season has been quite the roller coaster.  From being 10 games under .500 to going on a 14-game winning streak, this team has really experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.  The Mariners currently sit at 82-67, guaranteed their first consecutive back-to-back winning seasons since 2002 and 2003.  But the team's sights are set on the postseason, to make their first trip there in 21 years.  

The Mariners are currently nearing the end of a three-city road trip, a road trip that has gone about as bad as it could for a contending team.  They salvaged the final games in each series so far from the Angels and A's, two teams that have no shot at the postseason.  They also seem to have lost Julio Rodriguez, their star player, for at least a few games.  Even if the Mariners sweep the Royals, they cannot have a winning road trip.

I'm left wondering what constitutes a successful season at this point.  The worst realistic scenario would be this hitting slump continues, injuries mount, and the Mariners limp into the #6 wild card spot and promptly lose two games in Cleveland.  That to me would not constitute a successful season given where the Mariners once stood.  

I'd say the bare minimum for the Mariners is they need to win a playoff game.  I could argue the Mariners need to host a playoff game, which would mean either claiming the top wild card spot or winning their wild card series.  I'll say this: If the Mariners can host a playoff game, it will definitely be a successful season, regardless of how the rest of the postseason goes.  If they cannot, it'll definitely be left up to the determination of their fans.

This recent stretch of losing and poor hitting is certainly concerning.  But if the Mariners can enter the postseason on a hot streak, good things can happen.  They'll need to use their final homestand to get right.  They'll need to use it to figure out which hitters will be on the postseason roster and to break some hitters out of slumps.  

Of course, the Mariners have not clinched anything yet.  The postseason is not guaranteed.  But a collapse of that proportion would be too much for most Mariners fans, myself included, to handle.  We have put up with too much heartbreak in the last two decades, and a collapse of that nature would put me over the edge as a Mariners fan.  

Once the season is over, I will make another post recapping and say if it was a successful season or not.  It'll be hard to say it's not a successful season if the Mariners make the playoffs, ending a 21-year postseason drought.  But if the Mariners limp in, promptly lose both games and fail to even host a playoff game, it'll be equally hard to call it a successful season.

New Hogwarts Houses and Who'd Be in Them

I just recently got back in to the Harry Potter series, and I thought of an interesting concept.  What if Hogwarts completely disbanded the four houses and created not four, but five new houses?  I feel like everyone would have a spot in one of these houses.  The big difference between these houses and the houses we know and love in Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin is that these five houses are based on your hobbies and interests, not your character traits.  I thought this would just be a fun little exercise to do, come up with these five houses and sort popular Harry Potter characters into them.  

I'll first name the house (explaining it's pronunciation and Latin origins), what hobbies and interests members of that house would have, explain a bit more about the house, and then name some witches and wizards who would be sorted into that house.

House #1: Valdepartum (VAL-DUH-PART-UM, Latin for very creative)
Hobbies/Interests: Writing, art, music, theater, cooking
Comment: Members of Valdepartum love to express their creativity through art, music, writing, and anything they can create or make and share with the world.
Members: Rita Skeeter, Celestina Warbeck, Dean Thomas, Nymphadora Tonks, Molly Weasley, Gilderoy Lockhart

House #2: Descientia (DUH-SIGH-EN-TEE-UH, Latin portmanteau of words for desire and knowledge)
Hobbies/Interests: Reading, learning, teaching, traveling, experiencing new things
Comment: Members of Descientia love learning and experiencing new things.  They enjoy learning and also sharing their knowledge, possibly through teaching.  They also love being the smartest person in the room.
Members: Hermione Granger, Albus Dumbledore, Percy Weasley, Bill Weasley, Severus Snape, Minerva McGonagall, Tom Riddle/Voldemort

House #3: Ludobonum (LOU-DOE-BOE-NUM, Latin portmanteau of words for game/sport and good)
Hobbiest/Interests: Sports (Quidditch), games (chess, gobstones, wizard crackers), competition
Comment: Members of Ludobonum love playing games and sports.  They generally are good sports and care more about having fun than winning.  They just want the world to be a happy and fun place.
Members: Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Ginny Weasley, Ludo Bagman, Dean Thomas, Fred and George Weasley

House #4: Amarevivus (UH-MAW-RAY-VEE-VUS, Latin portmanteau of words for love and living)
Hobbies/Interests: Animals, plants, magizoology
Comment: Members of Amarevivus love plants and/or animals.  They feel they sometimes can relate to them better than humans.  They hate to see any plant or animal life suffer and want to protect them and their rights.
Members: Neville Longbottom, Newt Scamander, Luna Lovegood, Charlie Weasley, Rubeus Hagrid, Pomona Sprout

House #5: Amiculus (UH-MICK-YOU-LUSS, Latin portmanteau of words for friendly and people)
Hobbies/Interests: Hanging out with friends, public speaking, talking, making friends
Comment: Members of Amiculus are what you'd call a "people person".  They fit right into any group, they make friends easily, and they are generally well-liked.  They want to make the world a better place and enjoy meeting new people.  They are best-suited of the five houses for a career in politics or social relations.
Members: Cedric Diggory, Fleur Delacour, Arthur Weasley, Sirius Black, James Potter

SURVIVOR 43 FOUR WORD GAME AND POWER RANKINGS

 CONTINUED ALL SEASON LONG! (Scroll to the bottom to see new posts)

Before/after each episode I will be giving a four-word description of each player, likely describing what they need to do to improve their game or to avoid getting voted out.  I am going to continue this all season long, as I will be editing this and adding more at the bottom each week.  

So first will be the four-word game.  I will do one now (pre-season) and after each episode.  And for this particular order, I will go in reverse power ranking order, so starting with #18 and going to #1.  In future recaps, I will separate the power rankings and four-word game.  

18. Gabler: Make age non-factor
He obviously can't lie too much about his age, but he can make it a non-factor, by being a force in challenges, by helping around camp, and by doing his best to relate to his younger tribe mates.

17. Jeanine: Just survive the pre-merge
Jeanine is one of those players that if she can survive the pre-merge, she can get far in the game, because I doubt she'll be seen as any kind of threat.  She'll need to do whatever it takes to ensure it isn't her name coming up at Tribal Council in the pre-merge.

16. Sami: Already being counted out
Every Survivor content creator I have seen is predicting Sami to be a pre-merge boot.  So am I.  But he could prove us all wrong.  He's only 19.  He likely has the toughest task in fitting in and getting in the majority.

15. Dwight: Don't overplay your hand
Dwight needs to be extremely careful or he'll go the way of JD.  He needs to not show off his smarts, but instead relate to people and not try to do too much too soon.  If he just lays low early, he can get pretty far.

14. Nneka: Be the tribe's Cirie
Nneka will need to be a calming presence and the most level-headed person on her tribe if she wants to survive the pre-merge.  Anytime there's any drama, she needs to be the one to calm everyone.  She will not survive if she's involved in any drama whatsoever.

13. Karla: May be vastly underestimated
Karla's willing to play a dirty game, so we'll see.  She's a player that could be an early boot or a potential winner, even (like Maryanne last season).  

12. Geo: Don't just sit around
That's what Romeo did last season, a guy who I compare Geo to, both being gay Latino men.  Geo will have to be involved, but not overly involved.

11. Cassidy: Use your charm, looks
Cassidy will have to walk a fine line between using just the right amount of her looks and charm and not too much.  Unfortunately for girls like her, there's a persistent fear that the next Parvati will emerge.  

10. Justine: This season's Lindsay Dolashewich?
She's a bit of a tomboy like Lindsay, playing sports and being athletic.  She may be in a lot of immunity challenges if she can make the merge.  She may have a shot to win, just like Lindsay did.

9. Noelle: Make disability non-factor
Noelle's disability cannot be ignored, but she can downplay it.  She'll need to.  She'll need to find a way to get people thinking of her other than the paraplegic girl.  Like the challenge beast or something.  Now that may put a target on her back, but she'll at least have something else to go by.

8. Cody: Don't be too annoying
I'm getting a bad feeling about Cody, like he could be a pre-merge boot.  He's been featured a lot in the promos, so I'm unsure.  But if he just rubs the wrong person the wrong way, he could get an early boot.  Just be yourself Cody.  Just not too much.

7. Morriah: Possible lack of physicality?
I'm now starting to worry Morriah's lack of fitness may be a liability.  If her tribe struggles, I don't see her surviving until the merge.  She'll need to excel at puzzles or something.

6. Ryan: Everyone's favorite meat shield
Ryan could actually employ a strategy where he is someone's meat shield, like a Geo, Jesse, or Owen.  He then could deflect the target from him on to them, saying they're more strategic (which they likely would be).  

5. James: Cool it with chess
Everyone's thinking he's going to make a bunch of chess metaphors.  I'm just hoping he doesn't tell everyone about his chess prowess because that could put a target on his back.  

4. Owen: Will be a target
I can't imagine Owen getting through this game without being a target at some point.  First, he'll have to avoid it pre-merge, which shouldn't be too difficult.  But then once the merge happens, he'll need to rely upon a combination of allies, advantages, and possibly immunities to get far.

3. Lindsay: Be a secret strategist
Lindsay's strategy should be to downplay her abilities, but behind the scenes making a lot of moves.  It won't be easy, but if she pulls it off right, she could win.  

2. Elie: Targeted for being Aubry
I think Elie will be targeted at some point for being a smart female player similar to Aubry.  She'll need to do her best to avoid that target.

1. Jesse: Study, learn, then act
If my read of Jesse is correct, he will play the game slow at first.  He'll study people, learn their habits, priorities, etc.  Then, come around mid-merge is when he'll start making moves and using everything he has learned.  That's why I pick him as my winner this season.  

Well, that's it for the pre-season!  I will update below with a new four-word game and new power rankings

After Episode 1:

Gabler: Pulled off Zane strategy
It wasn't completely the same, but it was similar to the tactic Zane Knight used in Survivor Philippines, where he asked everyone to vote him out.  This time, Gabler said he would not play his idol and instead go for the shot in the dark and leave it up to chance.  And it worked!  They felt bad for him and switched the target to vote out a potential challenge liability instead.

Jeanine: Very possible next boot
If Jeanine's tribe loses another immunity, she will be a candidate to go home.  First, she only got one confessional in an episode where her tribe went to tribal council, which does not bode well for her future. Secondly, she is now the weak spot on her tribe.  

Sami: Tribe MVP so far
Hard to believe, but 19-year-old Sami is Baka tribe's MVP so far.  He figured out the brain teaser, and he got fire started, something Gabler, a man over twice his age, could not.  He is pulling off being 22 years old, which he lied about.  He needs to tone down the cockiness; it seems like he's being set up for a blind side.

Dwight: Not long for game
Dwight not only failed to get the Idol at the summit, but he didn't seem to build an alliance.  Everyone else in his tribe did.  This could mean Dwight's a very easy target if they lose, or Dwight's a potential swing vote if the two groups turn on each other (girls vs. Cody, Jesse, and Nneka).  I think the former is more likely.

Nneka: Doing better than predicted
Already, I might add.  I was worried she'd be the odd person out on her tribe, but it seems that is Dwight, instead.  She should stick with Jesse and Cody until the merge, as they could protect her.

Karla: Did the right thing
In not risking her vote.  I wouldn't have.  With the risk a vote, you don't automatically get a reward if one other person chooses not to risk their vote.  Instead, you have a game of chance, so your odds are much slimmer.  

Geo: Rare male potential liability
It's rare you see a male early on as a potential liability in challenges, but Geo was, in both the first reward and in the sweat part in which he and Ryan had to dig.  I give Geo a ton of credit for at least doing those two things, something James did not.

Cassidy: Not supposed to remember
I don't think we're supposed to get too attached to Cassidy, as she wasn't shown a ton in the premiere episode.  I think she'll be a boot around the merge, like I predicted.  

Justine: Very good premiere episode
Featured just the right amount with highlights, such as her starting a fire (which she didn't notice at first, ha!).  I hope she gets far.

Noelle: Disability a non-factor
Thank goodness.  And it will likely stay that way.  The showrunners likely avoided using any challenges that would put Noelle at a distinct disadvantage.  I like how she bonded with Justine.

Cody: Very impressed so far
Cody figured out how to get the flint off the bamboo that was at an angle for the first challenge.  He also formed a good alliance with Jesse and Nneka.  He doesn't seem to be too annoying... yet.  

Ryan: Will definitely make merge
Why?  Because Coco would be screwed without him.  The only way he doesn't is if he does something dumb and they know the merge is the very next day.  But if Coco didn't have Ryan, their "muscle" is Geo and James.  Yikes.  

James: Afraid of showing weakness?
James seems to be fairly strong, but didn't compete in either leg of the first challenge, nor did he do the "sweat" part with Ryan (leaving it up to tiny Geo).  He might be afraid of showing his liability in challenges, which I guess is fairly smart.  But if he doesn't show worth to his tribe, he could be an early boot.

Owen: Needs tight bond NOW
Owen became a target of the very first vote because he didn't have any tight bonds.  Sami and Gabler were together, the three girls were, but he wasn't really tight with anyone, it seemed.  He needs to work his way into the guy or girls (or both) as soon as possible, because it's either him or Jeanine if they lose again. 

Lindsay: Need to see more
I'm not sure if it's just me, but I felt like we didn't see enough of Lindsay.  Also, it seems like for the 3rd season in a row that the blue tribe will be the least featured.  Unfortunately, she wasn't able to pull out the first challenge despite being the first one to work on the flint.

Elie: Will be a FACTOR
I don't remember a premiere episode that was this good for one player.  Got a flashback package? Check.  Showed conversing with multiple people?  Check.  Highest number of confessionals?  Check.  Elie is setting up to be a huge player in the merge, likely a winner candidate for a long time.

Jesse: That's my winner pick!
I'm proud of my winner pick for working himself essentially into two alliances, with the two girls and Nneka and Cody.  He'll just need to ensure the two alliances don't come together to turn on him a la Sarah Lacina in Cagayan.

And for our departed player...

Morriah: Drew the short straw
She not only was unlucky in being on the losing tribe, but in being the target on that tribe.  Her tribe featured the oldest AND youngest players in the game, as well as Jeanine who you can't really argue is better at the physical aspect of challenges.  I don't think anyone saw her being the first boot with who else was on her tribe.  Sad to see her go so soon.

All right, now new power rankings!  These rankings factor in both how long I expect them to be in the game as well as their chance of winning.  So I might rank someone a little higher than a finale goat because they have a better chance of winning.  I'll also have a +/- to show how much they rose or fell from the previous episode.

17. Dwight (-2)
16. Jeanine (+1)
15. Gabler (+3)
14. James (-9)
13. Geo (-1)
12. Owen (-8)
11. Cassidy (0)
10. Nneka (+4)
9. Karla (+4)
8. Sami (+8)
7. Lindsay (-4)
6. Ryan (0)
5. Noelle (+4)
4. Cody (+4)
3. Justine (+7)
2. Jesse (-1)
1. Elie (+1)

Biggest rise: Sami (+8), shoutout to Justine for rising 7 and three others for rising 4 (Nneka, Noelle, Cody).
Biggest fall: James (-9), although Owen fell 8 and if you count Morriah's boot spot she'd be minus 11.  

Good to see my top two picks did well and I could keep them there.  We'll be seeing a lot of shuffling these first few episodes. Hopefully, none of my favorites get voted out or drop.  


Episode 2 Four Word Game:

Dwight: Got played, be cool
Dwight seemed hurt after the vote as Jesse didn't keep him in the loop, and they seem to be headed to a falling out.  Jesse has pull with Cody and Nneka, so Dwight has to keep his cool or he could be a goner.  At least this past episode we saw him bond with Jesse, for what it's worth.

Jeanine: Shouldn't have done that
She should not have gone through Gabler's bag.  We see he finds out in the next episode.  She should've just assumed the worst, or paid better attention/asked for clarification when he was reading his idol rules to them.  

Gabler: Health possibly an issue?
Gabler was dealing with bad nausea, so that's a big concern for him.  Also, there was a hint that he might lose the Hawaiian sling, which would cause him to lose favor in his tribe.  

James: Only zero confessional male
I love seeing the confessional count after each episode, and Coco tribe essentially got purpled this episode, which resulted in James being the only male not to get a confessional.  Yikes.

Geo: Romeo-type goat possibly
I'm getting big Romeo vibes from him.  He's gotten a bit more backstory I think (already), so that's bodes better for him, but I would not at all be surprised to see Geo at the end but not get a single vote.

Owen: Feeling a bit better
About Owen's chances, that is.  I don't think he'll win, but I think he can get at least a few votes past the merge, possibly.

Cassidy: I don't know much
About Cassidy.  I just don't.  There's a girl's alliance on Coco, and that's all I know.  They need to focus more on the Coco tribe.  It's Luvu all over again.

Nneka: Bonded with right people
Vesi voted out Justine, their strongest female competitor, over their weakest female competitor, Nneka.  And they did this because Nneka was aligned with Cody (and sorta Jesse), and Justine wasn't.  This goes to show if you are possibly a challenge liability, align with who will save your butt.

Karla: Inexplicably in best spot
Karla's one of the people who looks to be in the worst shape, physically on the show.  She's also on the tribe that's barely been featured.  Yet, I think she might be in the best spot in the entire game.  Their tribe has the numbers advantage, and she can choose between working with the girls and James or Geo and Ryan.  

Sami: Young Boston Rob possibly?
Sami was fairly adamant about not wanting Owen or Gabler to go off and have a side conversation with the girls.  He came off to me like a young Boston Rob.  This doesn't particularly bode well in today's game.  Twenty seasons ago it would.  But not today.

Lindsay: Another mom getting purpled
In 41, Heather got purpled, just as it seems Lindsay is.  Why?  The editors/producers must not think they're as interesting.  I love hearing their stories.  Let's hope this changes, because otherwise, I can't see Lindsay even getting one vote at tribal.  

Ryan: At least he's strong
If Coco goes to Tribal Council, Ryan should survive the vote, because otherwise they'd be screwed without him.  The target would either be Geo or James, likely.  He'll need to form a bond with players on other tribes to get far.

Noelle: Yet another purpled paraplegic
Both Chad and Kelly Bruno weren't featured that much on their seasons, and when they were, it involved their prosthetic legs.  The same case seems to be happening to Noelle.  In a 90 minute episode where they went to tribal council, she only had a couple confessionals and lost her closest ally.  Not good.

Cody: Social suaveness of Tony
Cody getting the beads for the immunity bracelet was eerily reminiscent of Tony getting Fire Tokens to avoid the Extortion advantage.  Cody's social game is sneakily really good, and I think he could easily win if he could just get to the end.

Jesse: Playing too many sides
Playing two or three sides can be both a good and bad thing, and it seems like in Jesse's case, it for now is a bad thing.  He seems to have lost Dwight as an ally.  Fortunately, he can hopefully bond closer to Cody and Nneka.  It's not the end for Jesse, but his chances took a shot.

Elie: Skating on thin ice
I think she'll survive another tribal if Baka goes again, but after that, I'm not sure.  Let's say hypothetically Jeanine goes.  If they lose again, would Elie be able to convince Sami and Owen to target Gabler?  She'd have to or she's a goner.

And now, for our dearly departed player...

Justine: Misread her spot completely
I had her as a long-lasting player in this game and a possible finale competitor.  Oops.  I really didn't think Vesi would vote out their strongest female competitor.  That's twice now that the weakest member was saved.

And new power rankings!  These might surprise, and I'll explain below.

16. Jeanine (0)
15. Gabler (0)
14. Noelle (-9)
13. Dwight (+4)
12. Geo (+1)
11. James (+3)
10.  Sami (-2)
9. Ryan (-3)
8. Owen (+4)
7. Cassidy (+4)
6. Nneka (+4)
5. Jesse (-3)
4. Elie (-3)
3. Lindsay (+4)
2. Cody (+2)
1. Karla (+8)

Yeah, quite a few big movers there.  Biggest fall goes to Noelle, who lost her closest ally in Justine.  Biggest jump goes to Karla, who claims my #1 spot.  Like I said, she's in the best spot on the best tribe.  Also, Coco not getting featured is very reminiscent of Luvu in 41.  And Luvu had the winner on that tribe in Erika, so I'm thinking Karla could be the Erika of that tribe.  

After Episode 3 Four Word Game:

Jeanine: Will regret bag search
So all we got from Baka is the aftermath of Jeanine going through Gabler's bag, which I think she will regret after the boys take her or her ally Ellie out.

Gabler: Health cannot be ignored
That was great of Gabler to play dumb about his Idol, but his health situation cannot be ignored.  He's struggling, and the game will not get any easier.  Fortunately, his tribe won some fruit, so maybe that'll help him, but I think sleeping on bamboo will come back to hurt him... literally.  I think they briefly mentioned Gabler sleeping on the beach, probably for that very reason.

Noelle: Just the episode needed
After losing her closest ally, this was exactly the episode Noelle needed.  She got closer to Dwight, she got a Steal a Vote, and she did very well in the challenge not even using her prosthetic.  She could end up being an endgame player.

Dwight: In a tough spot
If Vesi loses another challenge, Dwight could be in trouble.  Jesse and Cody are fairly tight.  Noelle has her Steal a Vote.  He could side with Noelle and they could target one of the guys.  That would have to be his best option.  But if they win over Noelle, he's screwed.

Geo: Not a single confessional
His confessional count sure has dwindled.  If he suddenly gets a bunch, that likely means he's a goner.  But hey, Coco keeps winning.

James: Idol hunting guilt trip
It was James' birthday, and I can't remember who, but someone on his tribe guilt-tripped him into not hunting for an Idol.  Like why'd they have to say that to him?

Sami: Idea guy yet again
Whenever the guys on Baka come up with an idea, it's almost always Sami.  I think his ability to think on the fly will get noticed come the merge and I do think he'll get targeted then.

Ryan: Tribe provider should survive
Ryan was shown fishing (I believe) when Karla approached him about the beads.  Dude wins them challenges and provides for them.  If they lose a challenge, they should not vote him out.  It is so incredibly hard to go on an immunity run in today's Survivor, that that should not be a worry ever again.

Owen: Slyly playing both sides
Owen is sort of with the girls as he was their "lookout" when Jeanine went through Gabler's bag, and he's with the guys in playing dumb about the Idol's longevity.  Hopefully this doesn't come back to bite him in the butt.

Cassidy: One narrational confessional... yay
Cassidy got a confessional!  About James' birthday, I think.  So it was about another player.  This doesn't bode well for her.  She's setting up to be the one screwed by a twist, I feel.  Like Sydney or Lydia before her.

Jesse: Honestly I was worried
After Noelle got her Steal a Vote, she could've gotten with Dwight and used that against Jesse.  She mentioned possibly stealing his vote.  Fortunately, Jesse and Cody voted out Nneka instead.  But if they have to go to tribal again, I'm worried for Jesse, as Noelle will likely use her Steal a Vote then.

Elie: She's smarter than that
Gabler is fooling her and Jeanine, and I hope that doesn't come back to hurt her.  She's a psychologist and she should know he's playing her.  Maybe's she'll realize next episode.

Lindsay: More confessionals than Heather
I'm comparing Lindsay to Heather from 41: both purpled moms from the blue tribe.  But at least Lindsay isn't being hidden like Heather basically was.  But I still worry for her chances.  

Cody: Did the smart thing
In voting out his ally Nneka.  She was an extreme challenge liability.  It sucks to lose a close ally, but as Cody said, maybe he should've formed a bond with someone stronger (Uh, yeah!).  Instead he had to get all weird about Justine just because she's a salesperson (even though he's one, too!).

Karla: She keeps killing it
Right now she's being set up so extremely well.  She's on the best tribe, with two alliances on that tribe to choose from; she's now got an idol after completing her beware advantage.  She's going to be a threat come late merge.  She's this season's Ricard and Omar.  But can she pull it off unlike the two before her?

And for our dearly departed...

Nneka: Doomed from the start
If you go on to Survivor, you either have to be athletic (enough) or good at puzzles.  She was neither.  Even if she was on the Coco tribe (who hasn't lost immunity), she likely would've cost them a challenge at the puzzle stage anyway.  So Nneka was doomed from the start.  Even though she did what she could and formed a tight bond, they could not ignore her weaknesses in challenges.

New power rankings!  It's hard to rank as I don't know which tribe loses next, but I'll try nonetheless:

15. Jeanine (+1)
14. Gabler (+1)
13. Geo (-1)
12. Dwight (+1)
11. Cassidy (-4)
10. Elie (-6)
9. James (+2)
8. Ryan (+1)
7. Jesse (-2)
6. Sami (+4)
5. Noelle (+9)
4. Lindsay (-1) 
3. Cody (-1)
2. Owen (+6)
1. Karla (0)

Noelle with the biggest rise as she returns to the #5 spot which she was before last week.  Owen's jump of 6 cannot be ignored.  Elie fell 6 spots for me as I'm not a huge fan of what I've seen lately from her.  Karla retains the top spot with her impressive episode.  Also, the people that have been voted out were ranked #7, #3, and #6 as their last ranking.  Let's hope my predictions get a little better.

After Episode 4 Four Word Game:

Jeanine: Mark still on chin
Lack of content from Baka outside of one thing which I'll get to, so... hey she still has that mark on her chin!  It's starting to look better, though.

Gabler: Kindness not appreciated, unfortunately
Sometimes you can have nice intentions in the game of Survivor, but you have to have some social awareness.  The rest of his tribe was sleeping soundly, and Gabler decides to cover them with a palm frond.  It only woke them up.  This doesn't bode well for him.

Geo: Saved by Lindsay's paranoia
Geo was likely the target because he was in the minority and received a vote.  That vote, however, did wonders for his game as he was able to not only survive but so did his closest ally, Ryan.

Dwight: No moment too big
Dwight was put on the "hero" role essentially in both challenges and he came through both times.  He landed the sand bag, and he completed the two puzzles (with the help of his tribe).  His ability to do well under pressure has not gone unnoticed by me.

Cassidy: Pointed out the obvious
After the immunity challenge, Cassidy pointed out that Vesi helped Baka because Coco had yet to go to Immunity.  She took it as a slight when in all fairness, they were trying to keep the tribes even.  Also, I think Cassidy will be a forgetful boot shortly after the merge.

Elie: Tone it down Elie
She's one of the bigger personalities on her tribe with Gabler, and she needs to tone it down.  If they go to tribal and Gabler has the guys on his side, she's a likely target.  And she doesn't have an idol to protect herself... yet.

James: Playing it cool worked
James kept a level head in the hours leading up to tribal, despite Lindsay's paranoia.  This is what people need to do more often.  Trust in your allies and trust in the plan.  Only be paranoid when you notice something distinctly off.

Ryan: Surprisingly struggled in challenges
Ryan struggled in the two challenges, first taking the longest to get the blocks off the archway, and then not being much help in the early stage of the immunity challenge (although he was the biggest force in getting the pieces up the rope crawl).  Therefore, I thought he'd be the target of the vote, but nope.  That bodes well for him.

Jesse: Cody's voice of reason
I think Jesse will be Cody's voice of reason/conscience as they move together in the game.  He was the one who did not want to steal their machete.  We'll see how this dynamic progresses as we move forward.

Sami: Keeping low for now
Sami doesn't have to be his tribe's leader or be very active in discussions.  He should lay low for a while to avoid getting his threat level up there.  Once the mid-merge hits (if he's still in the game), that's when he should turn it back on.

Noelle: Angelina would be proud
Noelle expertly negotiated to get fruit and a tool kit instead of the 10 fish (since they didn't have a fire at the time).  Angelina from DvG would be proud.  This could come in handy come the merge.  Also, she made friends with Baka by helping them with their puzzle, but she also made enemies with Coco.

Cody: Expertly used sales experience
Selling (or bartering) 101 is asking for more than you expect.  Which is exactly what he did.  Cody also dominated that first challenge for them.  He's going to be a force come the merge, but he's also going to have a target on his back, likely from the Coco tribe.  

Owen: Need to do something
Owen will have to make moves in this game to get far and win at the end.  I actually see him in the same boat as Maryanne last season.  She, too, was in a bit of trouble early.  She too, was not really a big contender to win pre-merge.  But she turned it on, made moves, and won the game.  Owen will need to do the same.

Karla: Smartest person in game?
Karla's social awareness is off the charts.  She noticed Cody fooling them when he came to steal an item.  She was the one to tell Lindsay to keep her cool.  She's going to make it far.  

And to our departed...

Lindsay: Paranoia is death.  Always.
We've seen this happen many times before in Survivor.  You get paranoid before a vote, your allies notice, and then they turn the vote on you.  Let this be a lesson to future Survivor players.

All right, new power rankings!  Will there be much change?  

14. Gabler (0)
13. Cassidy (-6)
12. Jeanine (+3)
11. Elie (-1)
10. Geo (+3)
9. Dwight (+3)
8. Ryan (0)
7. Owen (-5)
6. Sami (0)
5. Jesse (+2)
4. Noelle (+1)
3. Cody (0)
2. James (+7)
1. Karla (0)

Biggest rise: James
Biggest fall: Cassidy (followed closely by Owen)

James rose because he handled tribal and the drama leading up to it well.  Cassidy fell for no other reason than me believing that she has no shot of winning this game.  Owen fell because I realized I had him too high last week (for now).  Coco tribe seems to have odds stacked against them as the two other tribes seem to want to work together, so they'll need to find some way to get the odds back in their favor.  And again, someone ranked high got voted out, making it my #7, #3, #6, and now #4 being voted out.  Yikes.

After Episode 5 Four Word Game

Gabler: Just straight kicking himself
For giving Jeanine that bead.  Let this be a lesson, don't give anything to a player you want to vote out.  

Cassidy: Almost pulled a Lindsay
Carla and James almost switched to Cassidy for the very reason they voted out Lindsay.  Fortunately for Cassidy, they did not.  I don't see Cassidy as a huge power player (likely early boot after merge).

Jeanine: ALMOST MVP of Episode
If she had won the KIP advantage instead of Geo, she would've had one of the greatest episodes (in terms of advantages) in the new era of Survivor.  She did a great job of getting the beads.

Elie: Lack of discretion hurt
When you're discussing an Idol or advantage, you have to make sure no one is going to walk up on you, which Owen did.  Oops.  Hopefully, for Elie's sake, she doesn't make a similar mistake after the merge.

Dwight: My poor purpled player
Vesi didn't get any camp content and only Jesse got confessionals since he did that summit.  Dwight is the only player to see his confessionals dwindle every episode.  I don't know much about his gameplay.  We need more!

Ryan: Committed a cardinal sin
In throwing a challenge.  Was he just saying this because of his gaffe?  Possibly.  But if he did throw it, that's something you never want to do unless you're positive you and your alliance are safe (if you have one), which is rare.  Ryan lost his closest ally, and now he'll have to make a new one.

Owen: Right place, right time
Owen found himself at the right place at the right time, because otherwise, he doesn't learn about Jeanine's advantage.  Let this be a lesson: Go on many walks; you never know what you might stumble upon.

Sami: Wants to create chaos
I think Sami told Gabler about Jeanine's idol because he wants to create chaos.  I think he wants everyone to go at each other's throats.  It's a bold strategy, and we'll see if it pays off.

Jesse: Risked for a reason
I thought it wasn't particularly smart for Jesse to risk his vote, but then I realized it was.  First off, his tribe had already won.  Secondly, he must've seen 41 and 42 and noticed the merge would be after the next vote.  Because Jesse doesn't have a vote, people will have to wait for an additional tribal to know where his loyalties lie.  It's actually smart, and you can tell multiple people you would've voted with them (if you had your vote).  

Noelle: So impressive in challenges
Since we didn't get any camp content, all I can say is I am so impressed with how well Noelle has done in challenges.  In the last challenge, how she hopped forward for as long as she did was impressive.

Cody: Will be challenge threat
I'm calling it now: Cody will be a challenge threat.  I think he has an incredible amount of concentration and dexterity.  It's going to be tough for him to get a target off his back.

James: I know his placement
James will finish as either a runner-up in this game or one of the first boots of the finale.  This guy is making it to the finale, but he's not winning.  I could be wrong.  But I think he'll have to take out Karla to boost his resumé to have any shot.

Karla: Still playing flawless game
I've still yet to see a crack in her game.  She's like a more impressive Erika (41).  Although a more impressive Erika in 41 likely gets taken out before Final 3.  We'll see about Karla.

And to our departed...

Geo: Missed Karla's other alliance
It seems like Geo was under the impression that Karla was only aligned with him.  This is why you need to be aware of who your allies might also be allied with.  Cost Geo his game.  

New Power Rankings!  I thought I'd shake it up since we know the merge is coming, and a cross-tribal alliance of Vesi and Baka seems possible.

13. Ryan (-5)
12. Jeanine (0)
11. Gabler (+3)
10. Cassidy (+3)
9. Elie (+2)
8. Dwight (+1)
7. Noelle (-3)
6. Owen (+1)
5. Sami (+1)
4. James (-2)
3. Cody (0)
2. Karla (-1)
1. Jesse (+4)

Biggest Rise: Jesse (+4)
Biggest Fall: Ryan (-5)

3 of the remaining 4 Coco players fell (Cassidy didn't because she couldn't).  I had Jesse rise.  I think he's maybe in the best position.  He has a shield in Cody.  Karla doesn't have a shield.  Will the big names be targeted first?  And what twist will they introduce with the merge this time?  We'll just have to wait and see. 

After Episode 6 Four Word Game

Ryan: Always go with jock
It seems like the stud or the jock's team always wins the merge challenge.  Jonathan's team won the challenge in 42 (before the ridiculous hourglass twist stole it) and now Ryan's team won it here.  Fortunately for Ryan, there was no hourglass twist, otherwise he would've been a candidate to go.

Jeanine: Some good, some bad
Jeanine lost her closest ally in Elie, which is not good.  It's hard to see her swaying a jury after that, but if she plays close to flawlessly the rest of the game, it's possible.  But she can argue she didn't have her vote to help turn the tide and she saved her idol for herself.  Her playing her idol correctly just became even more critical.

Gabler: Only won the battle
He won the battle, but he did not win the war.  Jeanine is likely against him.  Now that Gabler will (likely?) be vulnerable, he may be a spite vote.  Generally now is when threats leave, but other players may decide to get rid of him due to how brash and blunt he is.  No one's going to want to ride to the end with him.

Cassidy: Skirted vote with ease
I don't know how she did it.  Her name was brought up, but she didn't receive a vote.  Instead, her ally, James, did.  I'm becoming more and more impressed with her game.  She's playing a very solid UTR game.

Dwight: Got purpled yet again
This was the second episode in a row he doesn't have a single confessional, and he's only had ONE in the last 3 episodes.  He's getting a Romeo-like edit, meaning I think he'll be a goat that gets dragged to the end.  The dude needs to do something to be featured more.

Noelle: Forcefully given gray rock?
I want to talk about the merge challenge.  The ramp that was part of it looked like something Noelle might not be able to do because of her disability.  Did production make her take the gray rock as a result?  But one would think if they have an amputee on the show, that they'd only include challenges they could reasonably perform.  Or maybe this was the plan all along if she was still in the game.

Owen: Still not liking game
He's just not doing enough.  At best, he's Sami's right-hand man.  He did well in not succumbing to Elie or Gabler's accusations, but he needs to do something besides reacting.  I did like his advantage recap; that was good.

Sami: There is a path
I could see Sami winning.  He'd likely have to go up against a pair like Dwight and Owen or Owen and Jeanine (provided Jeanine's game isn't great).  But he's got a path.  I don't see him beating James, Cody, Jesse, Karla, or Cassidy, so he's got some work to do.

James: Reactions were on point
His reactions to his votes were hilarious; I can't wait to see what he does if and when he's voted out.  He's lucky Elie stirred up too much drama because otherwise, he may have been the boot.

Cody: Social game is spectacular
I'm shocked he didn't get a single vote.  His social game is one of the best we've seen in a while.  I can comfortably say that if he gets to the end (without destroying his game), he is winning.  But the problem is, can he get there?  

Karla: Hopefully hand not hindrance
Karla hurt her hand badly during the challenge.  We know Survivor likes to do a lot of endurance challenges in the individual portion of the game, many of which involve using your hands.  Karla likely won't be winning many individual challenges.  Also, I felt like her lack of strategy shown isn't a particularly good sign here.  

Jesse: Lost vote no harm
Jesse didn't have his vote, but it was no harm, as the person who his closest allies voted for (Elie) was voted out.  He still got a few good confessionals leading me to believe he's at least making mid-merge (F8 or better).

And now to our departed...

Elie: Dug her own grave
Most people couldn't handle Elie's antics, including her own former tribemates in Owen and Sami.  Sure, Gabler threw her under the bus, but she threw out James, Cassady, and Cody.  Way to piss off the two other tribes.  Someone playing a much more subtle and sly game is going to win, as clearly these kinds of moves will not work.

New power rankings! Crazy that there's still 12 people left.

12. Gabler (-1)
11. Ryan (+2)
10. Jeanine (+2)
9. Owen (-3)
8. Noelle (-1)
7. Dwight (+1)
6. James (-2)
5. Sami (0)
4. Karla (-2)
3. Cassidy (+7)
2. Jesse (-1)
1. Cody (+2)

Biggest Rise: Cassidy (+7)
Biggest Fall: Owen (-3)

Cassidy rose for me; as someone who I was sure was going to get votes based on who was immune, the fact that she didn't get any speaks volumes.  She's a legit player and threat.  Owen fell the most because I'm not liking his chances of getting to the end or winning.  Cody claims the top spot, he's to me got the best shot so long as he doesn't make himself a target.

After Episode 7 Four Word Game

Gabler: Yet to see vulnerable
Gabler has had immunity on the two individual votes so far.  Will he be a target when he finally doesn't have immunity?  Or will everyone consider him a joke?  Time will tell.

Ryan: Keeps skirting on by
Ryan is like some odd combination of Jonathan and Romeo from last season.  He's got (near) the challenge ability of Jonathan combined with the lack of play of Romeo.  He's a possible finale goat.

Jeanine: Blindsided last two times
First she loses her closest ally, and now she loses her idol.  Jeanine is not having a good merge (for someone still in the game).  I'm not sure she can recover her game enough to get votes at the end (if she makes it that far).

Owen: Most mid player currently
Owen is the most mid player right now, meaning he is neither a target nor a goat.  He's not being voted out soon, nor do I think he's going far.  He's not invisible in the edit, but he's not the most visible.  He's mid.

Noelle: Can't be too aggressive
Elie was too aggressive, and it cost her the game.  Noelle started being aggressive, and Jesse and Cody turned on her as a result.  Heaven forbid a perceived passive player try making moves.  Yikes.

James: Will his luck continue?
James has gotten votes each of the first two post-merge tribal councils.  Now that they know he has the KIP, he's likely going to remain a target.  Yet, Coco is the one tribe to not have someone voted out post-merge since they have not turned on each other.

Sami: Showed maturity, laid low
First off, when his partner Noelle struggled in the net crawl, Sami showed incredible maturity in not blaming her and being the first to help her out.  No one is going to believe it when he tells them he's 19.  Secondly, he laid low for most of this episode, which is good.  But he's got to be careful Coco doesn't get the numbers by pulling in a few extra players.

Karla: Post-merge surprisingly quiet
For someone visible and active pre-merge, she's been mostly quiet post-merge.  She's also not lost an ally.  I think she's playing it perfectly so far.  She'll need to turn it back on when the time is right, which I'm sure she will.

Cassidy: Back to being invisible
There were a few pre-merge episodes where Cassidy was largely invisible, and she got featured on the Geo boot episode.  But basically since then, she's been invisible.  This last episode she got zero confessionals.  That's usually not a good thing, but Erica was invisible at this point, too. 

Jesse: Tribal lines now blurred
Seems like old tribal lines are gone as Jesse (and Cody) turned on Dwight/Noelle.  He showed his bond with Karla, which is good.  Is there a core group?  There might be, with players like Gabler, Jeanine, Noelle, and Ryan on the verge of being on the outs.

Cody: No progression this episode
There wasn't much for me to think that Cody's chances are improving.  He showed incredible strength and toughness at the challenge.  I'm not sure he should've turned on Vesi just yet, but we'll see the fallout next episode.

And to our departed player...

Dwight: Needed tighter Jesse bond
Dwight and Jesse's bond was definitely fractured, but Dwight needed to mend fences and become close to Jesse (and Cody).  If he had, he likely survives that vote.  He was disposable to them.  Also, his invisibility the last few episodes leads me to believe other invisible players might be the target of future votes.

New power rankings!

11. Jeanine (-1)
10. Ryan (+1)
9. Gabler (+3)
8. Noelle (0)
7. Cassidy (-4)
6. James (0)
5. Owen (+4)
4. Sami (+1)
3. Cody (-2)
2. Jesse (0)
1. Karla (+3)

Biggest Rise: Owen (+4)
Biggest Fall: Cassidy (-4)

The funny thing is, Owen nor Cassidy didn't really do much; my perspective of their games just changed due to how other players are doing in comparison to them.  Karla reclaims the top spot since I like the fact she's laying low, hasn't lost an ally, and still no one knows of her idol.  

After Episode 8 Four Word Game

Ryan: Poor time to fish
I assume they only had 1/2 a day at most to strategize to figure out who to vote for.  Ryan almost had the vote turned on him because he wasn't a part of the talks and went fishing.  Players aren't going to float your name if you're around.  He should've waited to fish until the following day.  Yet another problem with 26 day seasons, as there probably isn't much time to fish.

Gabler: From target to goat?
Gabler was going to be target come the merge, but he got immunity for the first two votes.  He was finally vulnerable, but wasn't even a target.  Looks like the seven aren't considering him a threat, and might turn on each other before taking him out.  Gabler could be a finale goat.  I bet they'll target him if he wins immunity again.

Noelle: Weird spot, morally speaking
Noelle is well-liked by this cast, but she's on the wrong side of the numbers.  Despite this, we did not see her name come up.  I think no one wants to be the one who targets the amputee.  But no one will want to go to the end against her, either.  Someone's going to have to bite the bullet and target her at some point.  

Cassidy: Couldn't get her way
Shockingly, Cassidy was the only one not to vote correctly (other than Jeanine).  She voiced that she wanted a man out, but she couldn't get her way.  This speaks volumes, and I can't see a jury awarding her the title of Sole Survivor over James or Karla (if she goes to the end with them).

James: Building a solid case
James survived the two initial "merge" votes, and now he got most everyone to vote out Jeanine.  He got his way.  He still has Ryan as a "shield" and ally.  But I worry people, namely Cody, Jesse, and/or Sami, will notice this and target him.

Owen: Playing from the bottom
Good on Owen for winning immunity, but unfortunately for him, he'll be playing from the bottom for what seems like the rest of the game.  His best chance is to hope the seven turn on each other and forget about him.  But even then, he'd be a finale goat at best.

Sami: Can't turn back now
Sami was very close to joining the minority, and if he was the sole swing vote, he likely would've.  And it would've been a smart move, too.  But just him wasn't enough.  And now that Jeanine is gone and he couldn't get his way with Ryan, his chances of taking over the game took a shot.

Cody: Going with the flow
Cody is fully embracing the Aloha spirit now, going with the flow and the majority.  I don't dislike this strategy.  He also was the runner-up at the immunity challenge again, so he may get noticed as a challenge threat at some point.

Jesse: Move of the game?
Jesse is not only safeguarding Cody's idol, but he got Dwight to give him Jeanine's idol.  That might be the move of the game, and a move that could sway a jury.  

Karla: Playing flawless game still
Karla wisely listened to Sami's proposal of voting out Ryan instead of instantly shooting him down.  She, like Cody, is also laying a bit low.  And still, no one knows about her idol.

And to our dearly departed....

Jeanine: Unluckiest three tribals ever
Jeanine lost her closest ally in the first "merge" vote, thought she lost her idol (and another close ally), and then got voted out, all back to back to back.  That's a string of tribal councils you rarely see someone have. 

All right, new power rankings!  The majority seven alliance makes up the top 7, of course.

10. Owen (-5)
9. Gabler (0)
8. Noelle (0)
7. Ryan (+3)
6. Cassidy (+1)
5. Sami (-1)
4. James (+2)
3. Cody (0)
2. Karla (-1)
1. Jesse (+1)

Biggest Rise: Ryan (+3)
Biggest Fall: Owen (-5)

Ryan somehow has the biggest rise, despite being the secondary target and receiving a couple of votes.  I feel since he survived that vote, he'll survive for a bit longer.  Owen falls the most as I feel he is likely the next target, considering his immunity win.  Jesse and Karla flip-flop again for the top spot. 

After Episode 9 Four Word Game: 

Owen: Controlling temper is key
Not that Owen has much of a temper, but the reason we've seen so little yelling and arguments in recent seasons is that that's almost a guaranteed way to get yourself voted out.  Fortunately for Owen, the other three felt James was too big of a threat.

Gabler: On a Mike path?
Gabler's game is starting to look more and more like Mike's last season.  At this point, I still don't think Gabler can win at the end.  Especially with Ryan gone, there's not anyone he could sit next to and win.  But I think his chances of getting to the end are pretty good.

Noelle: Such a clever move
That wasn't the Vote Steal's intended use, but man, did Noelle use it cleverly.  She didn't use it to really steal a vote; she used it to give James a sense of security.  Noelle is a dark horse, and there still isn't talk of booting her because of her threat to win at the end.  

Cassidy: Shouldn't have survived vote
Ryan was a goat and someone you want around camp to help get food, tend to the fire, etc.  Cassidy isn't as helpful and she's a social/strategic threat.  Yet Cody and Jesse picked her sticking around over Ryan.  Another perplexing move, especially considering they saw James had been voted out.

Sami: Losing hope for him
Sami's game isn't bad, but it's not a winner's game.  He's like Xander that's playing harder, but not more successfully.  At this point, I don't see Sami winning, and I could see him losing to the likes of Cassidy or Noelle.

Cody: Third time's the charm
For the third time in a row the final two of a challenge was Cody and someone else.  First, he lost to Gabler.  Then he lost to Owen.  Now, he finally outlasted someone in Ryan.  Good for him.  Although, again, I'm perplexed by his and Jesse's decision to vote out Ryan.

Karla: Had to do it
Karla had to turn on James at some point.  Is it a bit early?  Maybe.  But better to turn on your partner in crime a little early rather than too late (and they get you).  Also, kudos to Karla, she killed it in that challenge with a bum finger.

Jesse: Bad feeling about this
You know when in every Star Wars movie they say, "I have a bad feeling about this"?  Well, that's how I feel about Jesse's game.  Of course in the promo next week we got Gabler turning on Jesse and Cody.  We'll see.  But I need to see something from Jesse to assert his place and dominance in the game.  

And to our two departed players...

James: Never become the mafioso
If people think you are running things, they will target you.  That's exactly what happened with James.  I don't know what he could have done differently.  His social game wasn't the best, seeing how he treated Owen.

Ryan: What a good sport
I'll miss Ryan and his upbeat nature.  He definitely did not hold any animosity.  I wish he had stayed, and he should've.  He'd have been a goat to drag to the end, which was maybe his strategy.  

All right, new power rankings!  This is going to be very different.  

8. Owen (+2)
7. Sami (-2)
6. Gabler (+3)
5. Cody (-2)
4. Jesse (-3)
3. Cassidy (+3)
2. Karla (0)
1. Noelle (+7)

Biggest rise: Noelle (+7)
Biggest fall: Jesse (-3)

A new #1!  And all three girls are in the top 3 for me.  I think the big threats are going to get targeted, so that's why Cody and Jesse fell.  Sami's game is just falling flat for me, and I don't think he has a great shot at the end, which is why he fell.  But Noelle... she's low-key playing a great game, and she has really done perfectly since losing her ally in Justine on the second vote of the game.  Also, I put Jesse ahead of Cody simply because Jesse has two idols.  (Has he even given Cody back his idol?  I feel like if he had, we would've seen it).

After Episode 10 Four Word Game: 

Owen: Still at the bottom...
Owen is still a fan favorite, but unfortunately he is still at the bottom, as he was not in on the Noelle boot.  Hard to see him winning.  Against Sami and Gabler, he'd have a shot, but would likely lose if anyone else is in the final 3 with him.

Sami: Slowly became new goat
There's always someone every season who we know if they get to the end, they're getting one vote, max.  That right now might be Sami.  It's a shame; he had such a strong start.

Gabler: Making moves, but... respected?
Gabler has done what Sami should've done.  But can Gabler get the votes and respect at the end to win?  If he's going against the right people, possibly. And I'll say this: He's doing much better than I thought he would at the start of the season.

Cody: From presence to invisible
Cody was one of the largest pre-merge personalities/presences.  But since the merge, he's kind of disappeared.  He's going to need a big episode/big move to regain some swagger.  That big move could be taking out his closest ally in Jesse.

Jesse: Too obvious an edit
Jesse's edit now is bordering on way too obvious.  We haven't seen a winner highlighted this much since Ben in HHH or Tony in Cagayan.  Can Jesse pull it off?   He's dominating, and it would be suicide for anyone to go to the final 3 with him.

Cassidy: Needed that immunity win
The talk was about splitting the vote between her and Karla before the challenge.  Who knows if they still would've switched to Noelle had she not won?  Cassidy's in a precarious spot, being both a target and someone I can't see winning at the end (at least not against Jesse, Karla, or perhaps Cody).

Karla: Didn't get big moves-itis
Karla was likely tempted to play her idol, but she smartly saved it, trusting in Jesse and Cody.  She didn't feel the need to try to make a big move... yet.  But if she can play it successfully to take out Jesse or Cody, she's got smooth sailing the rest of the way.

And to our departed player...

Noelle: Wasn't UTR long enough
It's very hard to play UTR (Under the Radar), but if Noelle was able to a bit longer, she would've been in a great spot.  I put stock in her chances too soon.  Also, what a weird episode for Noelle to go from winning that reward challenge that way to getting blindsided.  

All right, new power rankings!  

7. Sami (0)
6. Owen (+2)
5. Cassidy (-2)
4. Cody (+1)
3. Gabler (+3)
2. Karla (0)
1. Jesse (+3)

Biggest rise: Gabler and Jesse (+3)
Biggest fall: Cassidy (-2)

Technically, Noelle had the biggest fall, going from 1st to 8th.  Yikes.  Also, yes, I have Gabler third.  I do think he could win against Cody or Cassidy at a Final 3, but he would need to have a good FTC.  We don't see many his age doing that in recent memory.  Jesse reclaims the top spot with one of the best edits for a single player in recent history.  His three-step plan to a blind side is not something you see from someone who finishes 7th or loses at FTC.

After Episode 11 Four Word Game

Owen: Becoming the finale goat
I hate to say it, but Owen is becoming a finale goat.  Everyone realizes he's been on the wrong side of the vote (except this last vote).  I could definitely see him getting to the end, but I'd be surprised if he got more than one vote, if that.

Cassidy: Keeps sliding on by
Somehow she keeps doing it.  She's been linked to Karla for a while, and it seems likely one of them will go soon.  The smarter move (for everyone else) would be to get rid of Karla, but she does still have an idol...

Cody: Factor in the finale
Cody's going to factor into the finale someway somehow and something he does will help determine the winner.  He might set up his buddy Jesse for a win, or completely remove him from contention.  I have a feeling also since Cody said he wouldn't want to do firemaking against Sami that Cody will be doing the Final 4 firemaking challenge against someone.

Gabler: The Mike this season
I think Gabler's going to the final 3.  I think he'll be the Mike (from 42) of this season.  He'll have a shot at the end, but someone, either Karla, Jesse, or Cody (Or even Cassidy?) will beat him.  

Karla: Probably needed that immunity
Otherwise, she likely uses her idol, Sami still goes, and she goes into the Final 6 with no safety.  She's virtually guaranteed Final 5 because of her idol.  She might still use it to save Cassidy as a sign of power, and to drag Cassidy to the end.  

Jesse: Sitting pretty... too pretty?
I believe he technically still has two idols.  Will either get played?  Or will the people with them just target the people without them?  It seems like in this new era, idols are more of a shield than a weapon.  People are too scared to go after someone with an idol.  

And to our departed player...

Sami: Strategy wasn't the best
Sami showed his lack of maturity/age with his poor strategy post-merge.  He flip-flopped and never really formed tight bonds.  He should've become Gabler or Owen's sidekick and then made a move on them or someone around Final 6.  

New power rankings!  2nd to last of the season!

6. Cassidy (-1)
5. Owen (+1)
4. Gabler (-1)
3. Cody (+1)
2. Karla (0)
1. Jesse (0)

Biggest Rise: Cody and Owen
Biggest Fall: Cassidy and Gabler

I didn't see much reason to move anyone significantly, seeing as there are only so many spots left.  Cassidy drops to the bottom, because I think she's next to go.  The idols in the game protect my top 3.  I guess it could also be one of the other 2 in Owen or Gabler, but Cassidy is viewed as more of a threat.  We shall see. 

After Episode 12 Four Word Game
Heads up, these will focus more on their end games, not the past episode.

Cassidy: Only one victorious path?
With Cassidy, there may be only one path to victory: getting Karla out at 5 and Jesse at 4.  I think she could beat Gabler and Owen.  But that's going to be a tough task, and will also require her to be immune for the votes at 4 and/or 5.

Owen: Likability could help, hinder
Owen is likable and I'm sure everyone knows it.  This could help him get votes at the end, or it could be the reason he is sent to fire-making.  Owen's a bit of a longshot, but I wouldn't fully count him out.

Gabler: Not looked at seriously
Gabler's got a decent shot of getting to the end, but will the jury look at him seriously if he does?  He seems like someone that'll be lucky to get a vote or two.

Karla: Fate in Jesse's hands
If Jesse wants to keep her around as someone he can beat at challenges (fire-making or otherwise), he can do that since he still has an idol.  But the question is: Will he?

Jesse: Set up to win
We haven't seen someone set up to win this much since Tony in WaW.  If Jesse cannot get to the end, it'll prove the game is still a bit flawed, as he has clearly played the best game.  

And to our departed....

Cody: Must play Survivor again
How can you not bring someone like Cody back?  He's perhaps the best character in this new era and is a great player.  He got blindsided in epic fashion, and it'd be interesting to see how he treats his closest allies if he were given the chance to play again.

Final Power Rankings of the Season!

5. Gabler (-1)
4. Owen (+1)
3. Karla (-1)
2. Cassidy (+4)
1. Jesse (0)

Biggest Rise: Cassidy (+4)
Biggest Falls: Gabler and Karla (-1)

I keep Karla fairly high, because she wins if she gets to the end against virtually anyone (Jesse would be tough, but doable).  Her chance of being the next boot is very high though, however.  Gabler and Owen clog the bottom, both are 1-vote finalists (at most) if they get to the end.  Cassidy's got a fairly good shot of getting to the end and a somewhat decent shot of winning, especially if the next two boots are Karla and Jesse.

Well, with the finale a week away, I'm going to list the jurors and their preferences with regards to the Final 5.  This isn't factual, but what I believe to be their preference on who wins (from most to least): 

Jeanine: Karla, Cassidy, Jesse, Owen, Gabler
James: Jesse, Owen, Cassidy, Karla, Gabler
Ryan: Karla, Gabler, Jesse, Owen, Cassidy
Noelle: Karla, Jesse, Owen, Cassidy, Gabler 
Sami: Jesse, Karla, Owen, Cassidy, Gabler
Cody: Jesse, Karla, Gabler, Owen, Cassidy

So, with 5 points being someone's favorite, 4 being someone's second favorite, here are the standings:

Jesse: 25
Karla: 25
Owen: 16
Cassidy: 13
Gabler: 11

So, a tie between Jesse and Karla.  Now let's see how each of the final 5 would view the rest of the 4.

Jesse: Karla, Owen, Gabler, Cassidy
Karla: Jesse, Cassidy, Owen, Gabler
Owen: Jesse, Karla, Gabler, Cassidy
Cassidy: Karla, Owen, Jesse, Gabler
Gabler: Jesse, Owen, Karla, Cassidy

Now each of those rankings get added to the ones above.  The max here is 4, then 3, then 2, and 1.  They have slightly less of an impact since 3 of those will be in the final 3, anyway.

Jesse: 39 (+14)
Karla: 38 (+13)
Owen: 27 (+11)
Cassidy: 19 (+6)
Gabler: 17 (+6)

Still VERY close between Jesse and Karla, but Jesse has the slight edge.  Finally, here are my rankings of Final 3's, from least likely to most likely to occur:

Jesse - Karla - Cassidy
Jesse - Karla - Owen
Jesse - Karla - Gabler
Karla - Cassidy - Owen
Karla - Cassidy - Gabler
Cassidy - Owen - Gabler
Jesse - Cassidy - Owen
Jesse - Cassidy - Gabler
Jesse - Gabler - Owen

My money is on Jesse to win.  He has an idol to get to 4.  Unless he wins final 4 immunity, he'll need to win final 4 firemaking or somehow convince the winner to take him (unlikely).  And the best part is, he was my preseason winner pick.  If he falls short, hopefully Owen or Karla can take it home.  

After the Finale Four Word Game:

Karla: Should've shown her value
I think Karla could've been valuable to Jesse.  She could've been someone he used as a shield at 4.  And knowing now the final 4 challenge, Karla likely doesn't win due to her injuries.  

Jesse: Legendary fallen angel player
There have been a lot of great fallen angel players in Survivor history (the player eliminated right before the Final Tribal Council).  There's been Kathy, Cirie, Terry, Ozzy, David, and now Jesse.  Like I said above, Jesse should've used Karla as a shield.  Sure, there's a chance he loses to her at the end if they both make it, but that's a much better chance than trying to beat Gabler or Owen at fire.

Owen: Greatest zero vote finalist?
Owen is certainly up there.  He owned up to his game, unlike most zero vote finalists.  I think Owen is up there with Spencer and Fischbach as one of the best.  

Cassidy: Winning immunity her downfall
First, I don't see a path for Cassidy starting at 5 for her to win.  Anyway, her winning Final 4 immunity was the end of her game.  Only one person has won final 4 immunity (since the introduction of forced firemaking) and kept it and won the game, and that was Nick Wilson.  Everyone else has lost, from Dominic to Noura to Natalie to Xander to Romeo.

Gabler: Ultimate zero to hero
Who saw this guy, who after the first challenge, almost pulled a Zane Knight-type move, winning the game?  It's crazy.  It goes to show how much people can change in the game.  And kudos to Gabler; it definitely seemed like no one suffered as much as him on the island (due to his age).  

Well, that's all I have!  My pre-season winner pick, Jesse, was one fire-making challenge away from winning the game.  We still have not had a full Hispanic man win Survivor.  But at least we had our first old guy winner since Bob.  See you for Season 44 in March.  I'll do a pre-season predictions post in February.

Survivor 43 Preview and Predictions

I blogged about Survivor's 41 and 42 on another platform, and I thought I'd go here for Survivor 43.  The cast has now been fully revealed, and I definitely have some opinions on them.  I'm going to go through each of the Survivors, picking a range of placement that I think they will fall in.  I'll even provide a few comparables of Survivors I think they'll be like.  I'll come back throughout the season and update each castaway as they're voted out and see if they fell in the range or not.

I will also make a winner pick.  My winner pick for 41 was Evie (eh) and my winner pick for 42 was Maryanne (Spot on!).  So I'm 1 for 2 so far.  

Cassidy Clark, 26, Designer from Austin, TX
Comparables: Sydney Segal, Tori Meehan
Cassidy seems to be another one of those pretty white girls that'll finish around the time of the merge.  Or she could be an early boot if she doesn't integrate herself on her tribe well early.  But I'll lean towards the former.
Predicted finish: 12th-7th
WRONG, 2nd
Yikes, I severely underestimated Cassidy, as I'm sure many others did.

Cody Assenmacher, 35, Elevator Salesman from Honolulu, HI
Comparables: Aaron Meredith, Jay Starlett
Cody's definitely got a big personality, and that'll either work for or against him.  I don't see him targeted too soon unless he does something dumb, which I must admit, is a legit possibility.
Predicted finish: 10th-5th
CORRECT, 6th
I did not see him being as good of a player as he was, but he was taken out before the end, which I predicted.

Dwight Moore, 22, Graduate Student from Collierville, TN
Comparables: Jacob Derwin, Jairus Robinson
I'm getting early boot vibes from him, hence the above comparables.  I think he's going to have a tough time forming bonds, and if his tribe struggles at all, he could be a goner.
Predicted finish: 17th-12th
CORRECT, 12th
He did slightly better than I thought he would.  

Elie Scott, 31, Clinical Psychologist from Salt Lake, UT
Comparables: Aubrey Bracco, Angelina Keely
Elie might not want to reveal her occupation as to not seem threatening.  I think she could make it far.  But winning?  That's another story.  Not sure if she seems like the type that can build up enough of a resumé.
Predicted finish: 7th-2nd
WRONG, 13th
I did not see Elie overplaying and putting herself out there that much.  I thought she'd be a bit sneakier.

Geo Bustamante, 35, Project Manager from Honolulu, HI
Comparables: Romeo Escobar, Joe Mena
Those comparables are quite different, but I think Geo's going to be like a bit of each of them.  He's going to let others make moves like Romeo but be a bit loud like Joe.  Not the best combination.  
Predicted finish: 13th-8th
WRONG, 14th
I was right in that he wasn't going to be the best player, but I actually gave him slightly too much credit.

James Jones, 37, Event Planner from Philadelphia, PA
Comparables: Rocksroy Bailey, Deshawn Radden
I think James will be a combination of Rocks and Deshawn.  His age is closer to Rocksroy, but I think he's going to ingratiate himself better like Deshawn.  But how will that means he fares?  Probably somewhere in between those two.
Predicted finish: 8th-3rd
WRONG, 10th
James was in a good spot but should've played a bit quieter early on.  He was seen running the show with Karla when he should've been seen as her right hand man.

Jeanine Zheng, 24, UX Designer from San Francisco, CA
Comparables: Jenny Kim, So Kim
I don't see production/editing wanting us to get too close to her.  Too often, women of Asian descent have gotten an early boot and been screwed over by their tribe.  I could be totally wrong.
Predicted finish: 18th-13th
WRONG, 11th
Another one I didn't miss by too much on.  I definitely underestimated her.  I had her and Morriah swapped in terms of how well they did.

Jesse Lopez, 30, Political Science PHD student from Durham, NC
Comparables: Tony Vlachos, Wardog DaSilva
This is my winner pick for 43.  I just have a good feeling about him.  We have never had a Hispanic man win Survivor.  Time for that to change.  As for his comparables, I see him being like Tony but quieter, and like Wardog perhaps in challenges but also with scheming.  
Predicted finish: 6th-1st
CORRECT, 4th
And he would have won if he could've made fire even quicker than Gabler.

Justine Brennan, 29, Cyber Security Saleswoman from Marina Del Ray, CA
Comparables: Stephanie Gonzalez, Alexis Maxwell
Justine is one that is hard to place.  She could be a very early boot or a mid-merge boot.  I think the latter, she seems to have a decent head on her shoulders.  
Predicted finish: 11th-6th
WRONG, 17th
I did say she could be a very early boot.  But then I said she could be a mid-merge boot and went with that.  Oops.

Karla Cruz Godoy, 28, Educational Project Manager from Newark, DE
Comparables: Lydia Meredith, Genie Chen
Karla is another LGBTQ player, and we haven't really had one that's done particularly well recently, including Evie (41) and Elaine (IotI).  She could buck the trend, but I wouldn't bet on it.
Predicted finish: 14th-9th
WRONG, 5th
I underestimated Karla.  She was great player.  And she did buck the trend.

Lindsay Carmine, 42, Pediatric Nurse from Downington, PA
Comparables: Heather Aldret, Chrissy Hofbeck
Let's hope for Lindsay's sake she doesn't get purpled like Heather did.  I could potentially see her as a losing finalist like Chrissy, but no better.  She'll likely not be a threat to anyone, so if she can survive the pre-merge, she can make it far.
Predicted finish: 8th-3rd
WRONG, 15th
And she could not survive the pre-merge due to being too paranoid.  I think most Survivor fans had her getting at least somewhat far.

Mike Gabler, 52, Heart Valve Specialist from Meridian, ID
Comparables: Brad Reese, Chicken Morris
Guys like Mike don't tend to last very long, but we saw another "Mike" get all the way to 2nd place last season.  I think that was a bucking of the trend, and I don't think this Mike will last particularly long.
Predicted finish: 18th-13th
WRONG, 1st
I could not have been more wrong.  Give it up for the old dudes!  If they can make the merge, nobody considers them threats.  And Gabler did enough at the end to win.

Morriah Young, 28, Teacher from Philadelphia, PA
Comparables: Chanelle Howell, Lyrsa Torres
Shoutout to Morriah for possibly being the player that I slowly start to think is attractive, like I did with Chanelle.  She seems colorful like Lyrsa, so we'll see how that affects her game.  I think she's around a mid-merge boot.
Predicted finish: 9th-4th
WRONG, 18th
Well, I couldn't start developing an attraction because she was the first boot.  Like I said, I had Jeanine and her swapped.

Nneka Ejere, 43, Pharmacist from Weatherford, TX
Comparables: Francesca Hogie, Michaela Bradshaw
Not sure how she'll handle challenges, but if she's at all a liability and her tribe struggles, she won't get to the merge.  It's hard to say with her, but I can't see her getting extremely far.
Predicted finish: 15th-10th
WRONG, 16th
So close, but I give myself a range of 6 spots, so a miss is a miss.  If only Vesi could've done better in challenges early on.  She wasn't in a bad spot.

Noelle Lambert, 25, Paralympian from Manchester, NH
Comparables: Kelly Bruno, Elizabeth Beisel
We've never had a paraplegic get that far on Survivor, but could Noelle be the first?  Kelly Bruno was an early-ish boot, and Chad from Vanuatu was a boot soon after the merge.  We'll see.  She seems cheerful, which could both work for and against her.
Predicted finish: 11th-6th
CORRECT, 8th
Got her right in the middle of my range.  But her disability had little to do with her boot.

Owen Knight, 29, College Admissions Director from New Orelans, LA
Comparables: Woo Hwang, Jonas Otsuji
Owen apparently has applied many times and finally got on.  He also seems to have the support of many past players.  This tells me he will be a fan favorite and do fairly well.  Winning though?  Eh, maybe, but I already predicted Jesse to win.
Predicted finish: 7th-2nd
CORRECT, 3rd
I did see Owen as a potential losing finalist, so I got that right.  

Ryan Medrano, 24, Warehouse Associate from El Paso, TX
Comparables: Jonathan Young, Danny McCray
Ryan will likely be a physical force and carry his tribe in challenges.  Not as much as Jonathan, but I think even more than Danny.  How will his strategic game play out though?  Hard to say.  Can't see him getting extremely far, though.
Predicted finish: 9th-4th
CORRECT, 9th
I almost gave him too much credit.  He definitely played a game I was expecting, although I thought he'd be slightly more game savvy.

Sami Layadi, 19, Pet Cremator from Las Vegas, NV
Comparables: David Voce, Zach Wurtenberger
Teenagers have not done particularly well in Survivor's history.  They're just too young to adapt.  Sami reminds me of a younger Voce, who himself was an early boot.  If Sami gets really far, I'll be shocked.
Predicted finish: 17th-12th
WRONG, 7th
I completely underestimated Sami.  If you can hide your age and play like a 20-year-old, you can get fairly far.

All right, now with those boot ranges, let's put together a boot order that fits everyone's range:

18th: Mike Gabler
17th: Jeanine Zheng
16th: Sami Layadi
15th: Dwight Moore
14th: Nneka Ejere
13th: Carla Cruz Godoy
12th: Geo Bustamante
11th: Cassidy Clark
10th: Justine Brennan
9th: Noelle Lambert
8th: Cody Assenmacher
7th: Morriah Young
6th: Ryan Medrano
5th: James Jones
4th: Owen Knight
3rd: Lindsay Carmine
2nd: Elie Scott
1st: Jesse Lopez

There you have it.  My predicted winner is Jesse.  My backups are Owen and Elie.  Should be a pretty fun season!  Again, I'll come back to this after every episode and update each contestant after they're voted out to see if they fell into my range or not.  I'm generally pretty good at that (right about 60-70% of the time).

Well, I predicted pretty badly for this season.  I only had 6/18 (33%) in their correct range.  Yikes.  Hopefully, I can do better for 44.  

Every NFL Team's Opposite Conference Team to Root For

Something I've discovered is that there's basically a match across conferences in the NFL for each NFL team.  And by match, I mean teams that have similar backgrounds and fans that like their teams for similar reasons.  I'm going to pair up each NFL team across conferences, so no same-conference pairs.  Also, I'll try to stay away from pairs that have played each other in the Super Bowl, because there's bad memories for at least one side.  Basically, this shows who fans of each team should root for in the opposite conference, if they're looking for a second team.

1. Seattle Seahawks and Buffalo Bills
Heart-breaking Super Bowl losses?  Check.  Passionate fans through thick and thin?  Check.  Braving the elements?  Check.  Bills and Seahawks fans have a lot in common, and really have very little reason to dislike the other.  They also share a mutual disdain for the New England Patriots.  

2. Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns
Does this one need to be explained?  It can be easily argued these are the two longest suffering fanbases in the NFL (or even in sports).  But both fanbases remain loyal.  Both organizations, for the most part, have struggled to find franchise quarterbacks in their history.  

3. Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs
I know I said I'd try to stay away from Super Bowl matchups, but these two matched up in Super Bowl I over 55 years ago, so it's not like any current fans harbor any ill will towards the other team.  Anyway, both teams have passionate and loud fans that brave the cold for their teams.  They also are two very exciting teams to watch with stellar QB play, usually.  Both can hate on the Broncos together, too.  

4. Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars
They came into the league at the same time, so this was a gimmie.  Both have had strings of success with QB's/coaches (Panthers with Newton and Rivera, Jaguars with Brunell and Coughlin) and had a smaller amount of success outside of that with a less stellar QB (Delhomme, Bortles).  

5. Arizona Cardinals and Houston Texans
Now the histories aren't even close because the Cardinals have existed for WAY longer, but I had to match up a few older NFC teams with younger AFC teams because all of the old teams in the NFL are in the NFC.  Anyway, both teams tend to mostly have losing seasons and poor management.  They've each wasted the career of a superstar receiver (Fitzgerald, Johnson/Hopkins).  They also play in climate-controlled stadiums that have hosted multiple Super Bowls, so they're both used to watching other teams celebrate Super Bowls in their stadium.

6. San Francisco 49ers and New England Patriots
Both fanbases are fortunate to have so many Super Bowls to look back on.  Both teams have the best case for the best two-decade stretch in NFL history (49ers in the 80s and 90s, Patriots in the 2000s and 2010s).  Both teams are storied franchises that don't really have a reason to be mad at the other as they've never matched up in the Super Bowl... yet.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Baltimore Ravens
If you love defense, you'll love these two teams.  Both won Super Bowls in the early 2000s with an all-time defense and a QB that was less than stellar (Dilfer, Johnson).  Both have won another Super Bowl since then over a team in a Western division.  Both teams also employ pyrotechnics and play in milder climates.

8. Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins
Now the climates are nowhere near similar, but they have similar histories.  The Bears and Dolphins both excelled in the 70s and 80s and haven't had much luck since.  Both have struggled to find franchise quarterbacks in the last 25 years.  And if you think about it, one could argue the two single greatest seasons in NFL history belong to these two teams ('72 Dolphins, '85 Bears).  

9. Dallas Cowboys and Las Vegas Raiders
Now this is probably my most controversial pairing, but both teams have widespread fanbases and high-tech fancy stadiums.  Both fanbases would probably be ranked near the bottom of NFL fanbases by an unbiased poll.  Both have had success in their history, but not a lot in recent memory.  Both fanbases will be unsufferable once they finally win it all again.

10. Atlanta Falcons and Los Angeles Chargers
Both play in fancy new stadiums, both have had mild spurts of success but never winning it all.  Both organizations have had some of the greatest offensive players in NFL history.  Both play in milder climates and stadiums that have hosted a Super Bowl.  

11. Philadelphia Eagles and New York Jets
Both play on the East Coast and wear the color green.  Both organizations have been through some rough years.  Both have won just one Super Bowl.  And it's not exactly a mark of pride to say you're a fan of either of these teams.  

12. New York Giants and Denver Broncos
Both teams succeeded in the 90s, resulting in Super Bowl wins.  Both won at least one Super Bowl this millennium, thanks to a Manning.  Both have struggled to find the successor to Manning.  Both organizations are storied franchises that have fans across the country.

13. Washington Commanders and Pittsburgh Steelers
Hear me out.  If we were in the late 90s, this would be without question.  However, they have not had the same success in recent years.  But I would still argue that if the Steelers fan wanted a "baby brother" type team to root for, it'd be the Commanders.  And if a Commanders fan wanted a more successful team to root for, it'd be the Steelers.  Both teams had success many years ago, and you can't talk about the history of the NFL in the 70s-90s without bringing up these two teams.  And hey, they can both hate on the Cowboys.

14. Minnesota Vikings and Cincinnati Bengals
Neither has won a Super Bowl, although they've both made it to multiple Super Bowls.  They've seen some great offense in the last 20 years, although only a few division titles and fewer playoff wins.  They each have a big brother in their division, a storied franchise they would love to see struggle (Packers, Steelers).  They each have a little brother who always seems to struggle (Lions, Browns).  

15. New Orleans Saints and Tennessee Titans
They both play in the South and in the past 20 years are generally competitive.  They both currently have amazing running backs (Kamara, Henry) and don't have the most success in their history, so neither can really gloat.  And both have loyal fans whose jerseys you'll typically only see in their home state.

16. Los Angeles Rams and Indianapolis Colts
The biggest similarity I see is both teams had one of the best offenses in NFL history in the early 2000s.  Both have shown the ability to score on artificial turf.  Both have had amazing running backs throughout their history.  Both have drafted a QB #1 overall in the last 15 years who battled injuries throughout their career and did not win them a Super Bowl (Luck, Bradford).  Both have moved west in their history.  

Well, those are all the matchups I see.  These could change throughout the years.  I almost wanted to put the Bills and Vikings together, as they've seen the most Super Bowl losses, but I didn't know who to put with the Seahawks, then.