This article is part of our NFL Picks series.
Erickson's off to the playoff lead after going 4-0, while DDD went 3-1 and everyone else went 2-2. This week, strangely, four of five best bets are on the same game, with two of us (Erickson and me) on the Ravens and two (Stopa and Pianowski) on the Patriots.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ravens +7 at Patriots | Ravens | Patriots | Ravens | Patriots | Ravens |
| Panthers +11 at Seahawks | Panthers | Panthers | Seahawks | Panthers | Seahawks |
| Cowboys +6 at Packers | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | Packers | Cowboys |
| Colts +7 at Broncos | Colts | Colts | Colts | Colts | Broncos |
| Best Bet | Ravens | Patriots | Ravens | Patriots | Broncos |
| Last Week's Record | 4-0 | 2-2 | 2-2 | 2-2 | 3-1 |
| Best Bet Record | 7-11 | 6-12 | 13-5 | 10-7-1 | 10-8 |
| Unanimous Pick Record | 20-15-1 | ||||
| Majority Record | 140-115-5 | ||||
| 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 |
| 2000 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 7-4 | 6-5 | N/A | N/A |
| 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 |
Erickson's off to the playoff lead after going 4-0, while DDD went 3-1 and everyone else went 2-2. This week, strangely, four of five best bets are on the same game, with two of us (Erickson and me) on the Ravens and two (Stopa and Pianowski) on the Patriots.
Unanimous/Majority Picks
The players:
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ravens +7 at Patriots | Ravens | Patriots | Ravens | Patriots | Ravens |
| Panthers +11 at Seahawks | Panthers | Panthers | Seahawks | Panthers | Seahawks |
| Cowboys +6 at Packers | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | Packers | Cowboys |
| Colts +7 at Broncos | Colts | Colts | Colts | Colts | Broncos |
| Best Bet | Ravens | Patriots | Ravens | Patriots | Broncos |
| Last Week's Record | 4-0 | 2-2 | 2-2 | 2-2 | 3-1 |
| Best Bet Record | 7-11 | 6-12 | 13-5 | 10-7-1 | 10-8 |
| Unanimous Pick Record | 20-15-1 | ||||
| Majority Record | 140-115-5 | ||||
| 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 |
| 2000 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 7-4 | 6-5 | N/A | N/A |
| 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 no unanimous picks. Last week we won with the Ravens to go 20-15-1 on the year. And we went 3-1 on majority picks (three or more writers) to go 140-115-5.
Comments:
| Writer | Comment |
| Erickson | I waffled on Carolina-Seattle - the gap between Pete Carroll and Riverboat Ron is pretty wide, but Carolina's form has been great lately, though they were pretty sloppy against Arizona... I look for the Ravens to drag the first game into the muck as they always do against the Pats. |
| Pianowski | While the Patriots certainly would have preferred facing Cincinnati or Indianapolis this round, the Ravens have become so underrated they're actually an eyelash overrated. And remember the last two times Baltimore beat New England in the playoffs, neither team came in rested (unlike this instance, and being rested for this round is a notable advantage.) The Patriots also dominated the first half of the 2013 AFC Championship game (but didn't have a reflective lead at that time) before things fell apart. I'm not a New England homer by any means, though it is my team - I tend to be more pessimistic than most of my cronies. But I am quietly confident the Pats take care of business here. |
| Liss | I felt these lines were pretty tight. I like the way the Ravens match up against the Patriots. I went back and forth on the Panthers-Seahawks. My brain says the Panthers should cover, but my gut says it's a blowout. |
| Stopa | Ravens are getting too much love in MSM. Darrelle Revis will take away Steve Smith, NE will double Torrey, and the Ravens won't be able to score. Brady will go 300-plus and 2-3 TDs, though, against a pass D that's been bad all year. Pats 27-10... I'd be shocked if Carolina wins, but 11 points feels like too many when every average gambler will want to bet Seattle. Seahawks 20-10... This is the week the Dallas defense gets exposed. Packers 38-28... Indy gets a huge break avoiding NE in this round. I like how they match up with Denver so much better. Peyton Manning's struggles over the past month and over the course of his playoff career are a thing. Broncos to win, but just 24-23. |
| Del Don | I actually feel strongly about all four of these picks, so naturally I'll go 0-4. Having said that, I expect both Seattle and Denver to win comfortably and wouldn't be the least bit surprised if Baltimore and/or Dallas win outright. |
The players:
•Jeff Erickson: RotoWire Senior editor, 2001, 2008 and 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, 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.
