NFL Picks: Browns, Bears and 49ers

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Updated on December 7, 2016 7:18PM EST

Erickson had a 14-game lead at one point, but after a 5-10 week, it's down to only 10, though keep in mind 10 is essentially insurmountable in a contest like this with only four weeks to play. There's zero percent chance he chokes this away, so there's no point in even speculating on whether it would be the greatest collapse of all time because it cannot happen.

We have three consensus picks this week, the Browns, Bears and 49ers. Ugly is the new beautiful.

	Erickson	Pianowski	Liss	Stopa	Del Don
Raiders +3 at Chiefs	Chiefs	Raiders	Chiefs	Chiefs	Chiefs
Broncos +1 at Titans	Titans	Titans	Broncos	Broncos	Titans
Chargers +1 at Panthers	Panthers	Panthers	Panthers	Chargers	Panthers
Texans +6 at Colts	Colts	Texans	Texans	Texans	Texans
Bengals -6 at Browns	Browns	Browns	Browns	Browns	Browns
Steelers -2 at Bills	Bills	Bills	Bills	Steelers	Bills
Cardinals +1 at Dolphins	Dolphins	Dolphins	Dolphins	Cardinals	Dolphins
Bears +8.5 at Lions	Bears	Bears	Bears	Bears	Bears
Vikings -3.5 at Jaguars	Vikings	Vikings	Jaguars	Vikings	Jaguars
Redskins -1 at Eagles	Redskins	Redskins	Redskins	Redskins	Eagles
Saints +2.5 at Buccaneers	Buccaneers	Buccaneers	Buccaneers	Saints	Buccaneers
Jets +2.5 at 49ers	49ers	49ers	49ers	49ers	49ers
Seahawks -2.5 at Packers	Packers	Seahawks	Packers	Seahawks	Packers
Falcons -6 at Rams	Rams	Rams	Rams	Falcons	Rams
Cowboys -3 at Giants	Cowboys	Giants	Giants	Cowboys	Giants
Ravens +7.5 at Patriots	Patriots	Ravens	Ravens	Patriots	Patriots
Best Bet	Buccaneers	Ravens	Bills	Chargers	Patriots
Last week's Record	5-10	8-7	8-7	6-9	8-7
2016

We have three consensus picks this week, the Browns, Bears and 49ers. Ugly is the new beautiful.

	Erickson	Pianowski	Liss	Stopa	Del Don
Raiders +3 at Chiefs	Chiefs	Raiders	Chiefs	Chiefs	Chiefs
Broncos +1 at Titans	Titans	Titans	Broncos	Broncos	Titans
Chargers +1 at Panthers	Panthers	Panthers	Panthers	Chargers	Panthers
Texans +6 at Colts	Colts	Texans	Texans	Texans	Texans
Bengals -6 at Browns	Browns	Browns	Browns	Browns	Browns
Steelers -2 at Bills	Bills	Bills	Bills	Steelers	Bills
Cardinals +1 at Dolphins	Dolphins	Dolphins	Dolphins	Cardinals	Dolphins
Bears +8.5 at Lions	Bears	Bears	Bears	Bears	Bears
Vikings -3.5 at Jaguars	Vikings	Vikings	Jaguars	Vikings	Jaguars
Redskins -1 at Eagles	Redskins	Redskins	Redskins	Redskins	Eagles
Saints +2.5 at Buccaneers	Buccaneers	Buccaneers	Buccaneers	Saints	Buccaneers
Jets +2.5 at 49ers	49ers	49ers	49ers	49ers	49ers
Seahawks -2.5 at Packers	Packers	Seahawks	Packers	Seahawks	Packers
Falcons -6 at Rams	Rams	Rams	Rams	Falcons	Rams
Cowboys -3 at Giants	Cowboys	Giants	Giants	Cowboys	Giants
Ravens +7.5 at Patriots	Patriots	Ravens	Ravens	Patriots	Patriots
Best Bet	Buccaneers	Ravens	Bills	Chargers	Patriots
Last week's Record	5-10	8-7	8-7	6-9	8-7
2016 Record	107-81-4	95-93-4	91-97-4	86-102-4	97-91-4
Best Bet Record	7-6	8-5	7-6	6-7	8-5
2016 Unanimous Pick Record	21-15-2
2016 Majority Pick Record	97-91-4
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

This week we have three unanimous picks, the Browns, Bears and 49ers. We went 1-1 on unanimous picks last week, winning with the Patriots and losing with the Bills to bring our season record to 21-15-2. We went 7-8 on majority (three or more writers) picks to bring our season record to 97-91-4.

Comments:

Writer	Comment
Erickson	I'm coming off my worst week by far, and I think it's because of the changing nature of the NFL. Teams aren't what they were at the start of the season, and I was slow to pick up on that last week. For instance, I whiffed badly on Colts-Jets, two teams that have move drastically in opposite directions. The Bucs are another such team, as their defense is infinitely better than it was earlier this year.
Pianowski	Baltimore traditionally plays the Patriots well, and while New England is still a solid team, there are a few leaks to be plugged. The Ravens can at least hang around, maybe win outright.
Liss	I had the Bills as three-point favorites at home against a Steelers team that doesn't travel well, so I love getting two. I also like the Chiefs at home on the short week against the Raiders.
Stopa	Now is when it gets tough to tell if teams like the Jets and Panthers had one bad week or have mailed it in altogether. I'll go with the latter.
Del Don	I like the Pats in this spot (would be essentially a pick 'em in Baltimore), but I also wouldn't feel great at all laying that many points with the Lions, so the Bears would be my second best bet.

The players:

• Jeff Erickson: RotoWire Senior editor, 2001, 2008, 2013, 2015 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 and 2014 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.