This article is part of our NFL Picks series.
Both Pianowski and Del Don have the Broncos as their best bets, and Erickson and I are on opposite sides of the same game (see our powerful reasoning in the comments below.)
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Titans +3 at Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars |
| Eagles -7.5 at Redskins | Eagles | Redskins | Redskins | Eagles | Eagles |
| Chargers +1.5 at 49ers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | 49ers |
| Vikings +6.5 at Dolphins | Vikings | Vikings | Dolphins | Dolphins | Dolphins |
| Packers -10.5 at Buccaneers | Packers | Packers | Buccaneers | Packers | Packers |
| Lions -8 at Bears | Bears | Bears | Bears | Lions | Bears |
| Falcons +6 at Saints | Saints | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons |
| Patriots -10 at Jets | Jets | Patriots | Jets | Patriots | Patriots |
| Chiefs +3 at Steelers | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Steelers |
| Browns +3.5 at Panthers | Panthers | Browns | Panthers | Browns | Panthers |
| Ravens -5.5 at Texans | Texans | Texans | Ravens | Ravens | Texans |
| Giants +5 at Rams | Giants | Giants | Rams | Rams | Rams |
| Bills -6 at Raiders | Bills | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders |
| Colts +3 at Cowboys | Colts | Cowboys | Colts | Colts | Colts |
| Seahawks -8 at Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Seahawks | Cardinals |
| Broncos -3 at Bengals | Broncos | Broncos | Bengals | Broncos | Broncos |
| Best Bet | Texans | Broncos | Ravens | Seahawks | Broncos |
| Last Week's Record | 7-8-1 | 9-6-1 | 7-8-1 | 10-5-1 | 7-8-1 |
| 2014 Record | 110-110-4 | 115-105-4 | 116-104-4 | 112-108-4 | 113-107-4 |
| Best Bet Record | 5-10 | 4-11 | 11-4 | 8-6-1 | 8-7 |
| Majority Record | 120-100-4 | ||||
| Unanimous |
Both Pianowski and Del Don have the Broncos as their best bets, and Erickson and I are on opposite sides of the same game (see our powerful reasoning in the comments below.)
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Titans +3 at Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars |
| Eagles -7.5 at Redskins | Eagles | Redskins | Redskins | Eagles | Eagles |
| Chargers +1.5 at 49ers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | 49ers |
| Vikings +6.5 at Dolphins | Vikings | Vikings | Dolphins | Dolphins | Dolphins |
| Packers -10.5 at Buccaneers | Packers | Packers | Buccaneers | Packers | Packers |
| Lions -8 at Bears | Bears | Bears | Bears | Lions | Bears |
| Falcons +6 at Saints | Saints | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons |
| Patriots -10 at Jets | Jets | Patriots | Jets | Patriots | Patriots |
| Chiefs +3 at Steelers | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Steelers |
| Browns +3.5 at Panthers | Panthers | Browns | Panthers | Browns | Panthers |
| Ravens -5.5 at Texans | Texans | Texans | Ravens | Ravens | Texans |
| Giants +5 at Rams | Giants | Giants | Rams | Rams | Rams |
| Bills -6 at Raiders | Bills | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders |
| Colts +3 at Cowboys | Colts | Cowboys | Colts | Colts | Colts |
| Seahawks -8 at Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Seahawks | Cardinals |
| Broncos -3 at Bengals | Broncos | Broncos | Bengals | Broncos | Broncos |
| Best Bet | Texans | Broncos | Ravens | Seahawks | Broncos |
| Last Week's Record | 7-8-1 | 9-6-1 | 7-8-1 | 10-5-1 | 7-8-1 |
| 2014 Record | 110-110-4 | 115-105-4 | 116-104-4 | 112-108-4 | 113-107-4 |
| Best Bet Record | 5-10 | 4-11 | 11-4 | 8-6-1 | 8-7 |
| Majority Record | 120-100-4 | ||||
| Unanimous Pick Record | 18-15 | ||||
| 2013 Record | 132-114-10 | 118-128-10 | 123-123-10 | 111-135-10 | 128-118-10 |
| 2012 Record | 110-140-6 | 125-125-6 | 121-129-6 | 143-107-6 | 123-127-6 |
| 2011 Record | 121-128-7 | 134-115-7 | 124-125-7 | 123-126-7 | 127-122-7 |
| 2010 Record | 129-122-5 | 134-117-5 | 126-125-5 | 136-115-5 | 134-117-5 |
| 2009 Record | 123-130-3 | 132-121-3 | 131-122-3 | 130-123-3 | 126-127-3 |
| 2008 Record | 132-114-10 | 128-118-10 | 124-122-10 | 125-121-10 | 130-116-10 |
| 2007 Record | 127-120 | 118-129 | 127-120 | N/A | 130-117 |
| 2006 Record | 118-129 | N/A | 139-108 | N/A | N/A |
| 2005 Record | 121-126 | N/A | 127-120 | N/A | N/A |
| 2004 Record | 124-124 | N/A | 130-118 | N/A | N/A |
| 2003 Record | 121-126 | 118-129 | 124-123 | N/A | N/A |
| 2002 Record | 113-136 | 123-126 | 141-108 | N/A | N/A |
| 2001 Record | 124-113 | 117-120 | 118-119 | N/A | N/A |
| 2000 Record | 123-117 | 134-106 | 141-99 | N/A | N/A |
Unanimous/Majority Picks
This week, we have only one unanimous pick: the Jaguars. Last week we went 1-0 on unanimous picks to go 18-15 on the year. And we went 8-7-1 on majority picks (three or more writers) to go 120-100-4.
Comments:
| Writer | Comment |
| Erickson | My best bets suck, so I used a random number generator to decide which one it would be this week, after making my picks first. So Texans, come on down! I understand the QB slot there is a mess right now, so this could be a mistake, but I think that the defense will keep this game close... I'm always wrong about my Bengals, but hate seeing them on the national stage, where they always seem to fail. |
| Pianowski | Andy Dalton and Marvin Lewis in a critical prime-time game? Give me the other guys. |
| Liss | I never look at anyone's picks until after I've posted my own, but I was torn between the Panthers and Ravens for a best bet here, went with Carolina initially, but changed it to the Ravens after reading Erickson's rationale for his best bet. |
| Stopa | As good as the Cardinals defense is, how will they score once Seattle inevitably breaks through and gets a lead?... Oakland always seems to get up for good teams, so it's time to sell high on Buffalo... I have no idea what to make of the Bengals. Are they good? Bad? Mediocre? Erickson, what say you? |
| Del Don | I backed a lot of favorites, some even on the road, thinking a handful of teams have packed in it for the season... The three games I struggled with most were Saints/Falcons, Rams/Giants and Colts/Cowboys... The Broncos are without question the sucker side, but I'll be the square in this matchup. |
The players:
•Jeff Erickson: RotoWire Senior editor, 2001, 2008, 2013 Staff Picks Champ. Writes the Weekly Rankings. Covers and roots for the Bengals.
•Scott Pianowski: Fantasy expert for Yahoo! Sports, and also contributes to Rotowire.com. 2009 and 2011 Staff Picks Champ. Roots for the Patriots.
•Chris Liss: RotoWire Managing Editor, 2000, 2002, 2006 Staff Picks Champ, 2003, 2004 co-champ. Writes East Coast Offense, Beating the Book and the Survivor column in addition to Staff Picks. Covers and roots for the Giants.
•Mark Stopa: Staff Writer, 2010, 2012 Staff Picks Champ, Writes Run 'N' Shoot. Roots for the Bills.
•Dalton Del Don: Fantasy Expert for Yahoo! Sports, 2007 Staff Picks Champ. Roots for the 49ers.
