Defeats for the Los Angeles Rams and Indianapolis Colts eliminated 1,604 entries from Circa Survivor on October 18, removing more than half the active field from the race for a $25,017,000 prize pool.
The Rams were the most popular selection of Week 6, while almost a quarter of the remaining entries backed Indianapolis. According to figures reported by Covers, those two choices accounted for just over 55% of the week’s selections.
Two Popular Picks Fall Apart
The Arizona Cardinals beat the Rams 18 to 16 on a field goal as time expired. That result ended the contest hopes of 901 entries, roughly 31% of that week’s field.
Indianapolis had already delivered another substantial blow. The Colts led the previously winless Tennessee Titans 13 to 0 at halftime, only for Tennessee to score the next 20 points. Indianapolis eventually lost, eliminating another 703 entries.
Those figures count entries rather than individual people. Contestants can hold multiple entries, so someone who lost a Rams selection could still have another entry alive on a different team.
A Single Defeat Ends an Entry’s Run
Circa Survivor costs $1,000 per entry. Participants select one NFL team to win each contest round, and each team can be used only once on that entry throughout the competition.
The chosen team must win its game outright. Point spreads do not count, and a tie also eliminates the entry. A narrow defeat therefore has the same consequence as a heavy loss.
There are up to 20 rounds, covering the 18 regular season weeks and separate Thanksgiving and Christmas rounds. That schedule adds another decision for participants, who must keep suitable teams available for the holiday games while trying to advance each week.
The Prize Pool Remains Intact
Sunday’s eliminations reduce the number of entries competing for the money. They do not reduce the $25,017,000 prize pool, which Circa confirmed in its published contest updates.
Under the official rules, a sole surviving entry wins the pool. If several entries complete all 20 rounds, they share it equally. There is also a provision for every remaining selection losing in the same round, in which case the pool is divided among the entries that submitted valid picks for that round.
Payments are scheduled to begin on January 16, 2027, regardless of how early the contest produces a winner.
