This article is part of our NFL Picks series.
In fact, DDD is the only writer taking the Broncos and not by much as he has them winning by three, and they're 2.5-point favorites. Otherwise, it's all Seahawks with the margin of victory being the only difference. Pianowski has them by four, Erickson by seven, Stopa by 11 and I have them by 16. Erickson and DDD have the under (it's 48) while Pianowski, Stopa and I have the over.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seahawks +2.5 vs. Broncos | Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks | Broncos |
| Final Score | 24-17 | 27-23 | 33-17 | 31-20 | 24-21 |
| Last Week's Record | 1-1 | 1-1 | 2-0 | 0-2 | 0-2 |
| Playoff Record | 4-4-2 | 2-6-2 | 3-5-2 | 3-5-2 | 4-4-2 |
| Playoff Best Bet Record | 1-2 | 1-2 | 1-1-1 | 1-2 | 1-2 |
| Best Bet Record | 9-7-1 | 5-12 | 9-8 | 9-8 | 6-11 |
| Consensus Pick Record | 23-29-3 | ||||
| 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 |
In fact, DDD is the only writer taking the Broncos and not by much as he has them winning by three, and they're 2.5-point favorites. Otherwise, it's all Seahawks with the margin of victory being the only difference. Pianowski has them by four, Erickson by seven, Stopa by 11 and I have them by 16. Erickson and DDD have the under (it's 48) while Pianowski, Stopa and I have the over.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seahawks +2.5 vs. Broncos | Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks | Broncos |
| Final Score | 24-17 | 27-23 | 33-17 | 31-20 | 24-21 |
| Last Week's Record | 1-1 | 1-1 | 2-0 | 0-2 | 0-2 |
| Playoff Record | 4-4-2 | 2-6-2 | 3-5-2 | 3-5-2 | 4-4-2 |
| Playoff Best Bet Record | 1-2 | 1-2 | 1-1-1 | 1-2 | 1-2 |
| Best Bet Record | 9-7-1 | 5-12 | 9-8 | 9-8 | 6-11 |
| Consensus Pick Record | 23-29-3 | ||||
| 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 |
| 2000 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 7-4 | 6-5 | N/A | N/A |
| 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 |
Consensus Picks
This week we have no consensus picks. We went 23-29-3 on consensus picks this year.
Comments:
| Writer | Comment |
| Erickson | Denver hasn't played any of the elite defenses all season long. What was the best defense that they faced? San Diego? So while acknowledging this is more than just a great offense facing a great defense - it's an historically great offense facing an historically great defense - I'm going with the group that faced a much tougher schedule. |
| Pianowski | Broncos have an all-time offense, and Seattle obviously has a very good defense (the best of 2013). Maybe Denver has the edge there, maybe not. But I certainly think the venue and backdrop favor Seattle, and I also like the Seahawks offense against Denver's defense. X-factor: Russell Wilson's mobility. |
| Liss | I haven't felt this strongly about a Super Bowl since I can remember. Balanced teams with dominant defenses usually win over offensive juggernauts. |
| Stopa | I want to root for Peyton, and I've already explained how his 2013 season is on the short list for greatest individual seasons in sports history. But Seattle's roster is so much better than Denver's from 2-53, and I can't help but worry that playing outdoors in the cold (wind?) will impact Peyton just enough to prevent the perfect offensive execution he'll need to beat the Seahawks defense. I like Seattle, the over and Russell Wilson as MVP. I like any prop bets involving a Seattle blowout, too. Denver hasn't played a defense like this all year, and if the weather is bad and Peyton can't execute, it could get out of hand. |
| Del Don | There hasn't been a bigger PPG scored and allowed discrepancy between an offense and defense in a game since 1950, and this just so happens to be the Super Bowl. Put differently, this is arguably the greatest offense in NFL history versus one of the greatest defenses ever facing off on as big of a stage as it gets. I don't love that public money is all over Denver, and poor weather would obviously hurt a Broncos team that relies more on a passing attack. Moreover, Denver's defense has been demonstrably worse without Chris Harris in the lineup, and Percy Harvin looks good to go for Seattle. The coaching edge belongs to the Seahawks as well. On the other hand, Denver defends the run well, and Seattle is a much more vulnerable team when not playing at home. I wouldn't be surprised by either team winning, though I would be by a blowout. I'll say Broncos 24-21. |
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.
