This article is part of our NFL Picks series.
Stopa went 4-0 last week, and I went 3-1. The other writers went 2-10 between them. This week, there are no unanimous picks, but both DDD and Pianow like the Pats, and I'm the only one on the Titans, Pianow is the only one on the Eagles and DDD is the only one on the Steelers.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falcons -3 at Eagles | Falcons | Eagles | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons |
| Titans +13.5 at Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Titans | Patriots | Patriots |
| Jaguars +7.5 at Steelers | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Steelers |
| Saints +4 at Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Saints | Saints | Saints |
| Best Bet | Jaguars | Patriots | Jaguars | Falcons | Patriots |
| Last Week's Record | 1-3 | 0-4 | 3-1 | 4-0 | 1-3 |
| Best Bet Record | 8-8-2 | 9-8-1 | 12-5-1 | 9-7-2 | 11-7 |
| Unanimous Pick Record | 23-28-4 | ||||
| Majority Pick Record | 123-123-14 | ||||
| 2016 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 5-6 | 6-5 | 4-7 | 6-5 |
| 2015 Playoff Record | 5-6 | 2-9 | 3-8 | 2-9 | 1-10 |
| 2014 Playoff Record | 10-1 | 5-6 | 9-2 | 4-7 | 9-2 |
| 2013 Playoff Record | 5-4-2 | 3-6-2 | 4-5-2 | 4-5-2 | 4-5-2 |
| 2012 Playoff Record | 4-6-1 | 5-5-1 | 6-4-1 | 4-6-1 | 8-2-1 |
| 2011 Playoff Record | 8-3 | 5-6 | 9-2 | 6-5 | 7-4 |
| 2010 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 5-6 | 5-6 | 7-4 | 8-3 |
| 2009 Playoff Record | 5-6 | 4-7 | 1-10 | 6-5 | 5-6 |
| 2008 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 5-6 | 5-6 | 8-3 | 4-7 |
| 2007 Playoff Record | 8-3 | 3-8 | 6-5 | N/A | 2-9 |
| 2006 Playoff Record | 7-4 | N/A | 4-7 | N/A | N/A |
| 2005 Playoff Record | 5-6 | N/A | 3-8 | N/A | N/A |
| 2004 Playoff Record | 6-5 | N/A | 4-7 | N/A | N/A |
| 2003 Playoff Record | 6-5 | N/A | 4-7 | N/A | N/A |
| 2002 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 7-4 | 5-6 | N/A | N/A |
| 2001 |
Stopa went 4-0 last week, and I went 3-1. The other writers went 2-10 between them. This week, there are no unanimous picks, but both DDD and Pianow like the Pats, and I'm the only one on the Titans, Pianow is the only one on the Eagles and DDD is the only one on the Steelers.
Unanimous/Majority Picks
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falcons -3 at Eagles | Falcons | Eagles | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons |
| Titans +13.5 at Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Titans | Patriots | Patriots |
| Jaguars +7.5 at Steelers | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Steelers |
| Saints +4 at Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Saints | Saints | Saints |
| Best Bet | Jaguars | Patriots | Jaguars | Falcons | Patriots |
| Last Week's Record | 1-3 | 0-4 | 3-1 | 4-0 | 1-3 |
| Best Bet Record | 8-8-2 | 9-8-1 | 12-5-1 | 9-7-2 | 11-7 |
| Unanimous Pick Record | 23-28-4 | ||||
| Majority Pick Record | 123-123-14 | ||||
| 2016 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 5-6 | 6-5 | 4-7 | 6-5 |
| 2015 Playoff Record | 5-6 | 2-9 | 3-8 | 2-9 | 1-10 |
| 2014 Playoff Record | 10-1 | 5-6 | 9-2 | 4-7 | 9-2 |
| 2013 Playoff Record | 5-4-2 | 3-6-2 | 4-5-2 | 4-5-2 | 4-5-2 |
| 2012 Playoff Record | 4-6-1 | 5-5-1 | 6-4-1 | 4-6-1 | 8-2-1 |
| 2011 Playoff Record | 8-3 | 5-6 | 9-2 | 6-5 | 7-4 |
| 2010 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 5-6 | 5-6 | 7-4 | 8-3 |
| 2009 Playoff Record | 5-6 | 4-7 | 1-10 | 6-5 | 5-6 |
| 2008 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 5-6 | 5-6 | 8-3 | 4-7 |
| 2007 Playoff Record | 8-3 | 3-8 | 6-5 | N/A | 2-9 |
| 2006 Playoff Record | 7-4 | N/A | 4-7 | N/A | N/A |
| 2005 Playoff Record | 5-6 | N/A | 3-8 | N/A | N/A |
| 2004 Playoff Record | 6-5 | N/A | 4-7 | N/A | N/A |
| 2003 Playoff Record | 6-5 | N/A | 4-7 | N/A | N/A |
| 2002 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 7-4 | 5-6 | N/A | N/A |
| 2001 Playoff Record | 6-4-1 | 7-3-1 | 4-6-1 | N/A | N/A |
| 2017 Record | 117-125-14 | 128-114-14 | 117-125-14 | 119-123-14 | 98-144-14 |
| 2016 Record | 133-102-5 | 122-113-5 | 115-120-5 | 108-127-5 | 123-112-5 |
| 2015 Record | 134-114-8 | 120-128-8 | 114-134-8 | 127-121-8 | 121-127-8 |
| 2014 Record | 123-128-5 | 140-111-5 | 135-116-5 | 124-127-5 | 128-123-5 |
| 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
Like last week, we have no unanimous picks. We were 23-28-4 on the season on them. We went 2-2 on majority picks (three or more writers) to bring our season record to 123-123-14. Last year we went 27-22-2 on unanimous picks and 138-124-5 on majority picks.
Comments:
| Writer | Comment |
|---|---|
| Erickson | By default, the Jaguars are my best bet as it's the only game I didn't vacillate back-and-forth about. But even that game I was tempted to switch my pick because of how poorly Bortles played last week. But at the end of the day, I'm still betting on the best defense. |
| Pianowski | Because most of the room had the Titans last week, didn't hear any complaining. Anyone want to sell their bet at 21-3? Anyone think Mariota's non-fumble at the end of the first half was BS? Anyone see Mariota throwing a touchdown pass to himself - and not fumbling at the pylon, either - was fortuitous? Anyone think Travis Kelce getting hurt in the first half was a huge hit to the Chiefs? Okay, I'm salty for an 0-4 week (thanks for nothing, Pharoah Cooper; nice backdoor, Panthers; how could you not cover after allowing just three points, Jags?). I'm worse in the playoffs than Billy Beane, apparently. |
| Liss | I like the Jaguars to keep this game close and possibly win outright, given the way the Steelers defense has played since losing Ryan Shazier. I also think the Titans will move the ball and make it a game - the Patriots aren't quite the well-oiled machine they've been in the past. The Falcons refuse to die, and I think they'll handle the Nick Foles Eagles. Saints-Vikings is a coin flip for me. |
| Stopa | Would the Eagles even be in the playoffs if Wentz tore his ACL in August? I think not. The Falcons D is better than people realize. Falcons 27-13. On paper, the Titans offensive line and smash-mouth style matches up well with the Patriots atrocious front seven. But history tells us the top seed smashes the surprise Wild Card winner in this spot, and when the Pats inevitably get a lead, the Titans advantage in the running game won't matter much. Pats 34-13. If you're going to lay 7-plus points, you have to feel confident the favorite can blow out the dog. How are the Steelers going to blow out the Jaguars? I see no weaknesses on that defense. Steelers 19-13. The Saints struggles on defense in the WC Round alarmed me a bit, and if the line were three, I'd take Minny. But at four, I can't lay the wood when the Saints are better at quarterback and offensive line, and Cam Jordan has a massive mismatch no matter which side he lines up on. Case Keenum's lack of playoff experience may be an issue here, too - he's bound to be nervous realizing how a great playoffs versus a bad game may be the difference in tens of millions of dollars. Vikings 18-17. |
| Del Don | Philadelphia is the "sharp" side, but I'm not overthinking this. The Falcons are playing solid defense and would have a decent chance of beating the Eagles even with Carson Wentz. With Nick Foles, I expect the Falcons to win, though it may be ugly... Speaking of ugly, New England can name its margin of victory. A road to a championship game is seldom easier... Blake Bortles is the difference in Pittsburgh, while the winner of the Saints/Vikings game will likely be hosting the NFC title game. |
The players:
• Jeff Erickson: RotoWire Senior editor, 2001, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2016 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, 2011, 2014 and 2017 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.
