This article is part of our NFL Picks series.
This week we all like the Giants and the Ravens. And while Dalton Del Don (DDD) and Pianowski made the Cowboys their best bets, I took the other side of it with the Eagles.
To check out my handicapping podcast with DDD, click here.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broncos +3 at Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Broncos | Broncos | Chiefs |
| Texans +3 at Panthers | Panthers | Texans | Texans | Texans | Panthers |
| Buccaneers +9.5 at Saints | Saints | Saints | Saints | Buccaneers | Saints |
| 49ers +5.5 at Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | 49ers | 49ers | Steelers |
| Lions +3 at Vikings | Lions | Lions | Lions | Vikings | Vikings |
| Patriots -1 at Bills | Bills | Patriots | Bills | Bills | Patriots |
| Cardinals -2 at Bears | Bears | Bears | Cardinals | Cardinals | Bears |
| Titans pick 'em at Browns | Browns | Browns | Titans | Browns | Titans |
| Chargers +3.5 at Bengals | Bengals | Chargers | Bengals | Bengals | Chargers |
| Rams -3.5 at Redskins | Redskins | Redskins | Redskins | Rams | Redskins |
| Falcons +2.5 at Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants |
| Ravens -7 at Raiders | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens |
| Dolphins -6 at Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Dolphins | Jaguars |
| Cowboys +5 at Eagles | Cowboys | Cowboys | Eagles | Cowboys | Cowboys |
| Seahawks +3.5 at Packers | Packers | Seahawks | Packers | Packers | Packers |
| Jets +7 at Colts | Jets | Jets | Colts | Jets | Colts |
| Best Bet | Browns | Cowboys | Eagles | Buccaneers | Cowboys |
| Last Week's Record | 7-8-1 | 10-5-1 | 8-7-1 |
This week we all like the Giants and the Ravens. And while Dalton Del Don (DDD) and Pianowski made the Cowboys their best bets, I took the other side of it with the Eagles.
To check out my handicapping podcast with DDD, click here.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broncos +3 at Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Broncos | Broncos | Chiefs |
| Texans +3 at Panthers | Panthers | Texans | Texans | Texans | Panthers |
| Buccaneers +9.5 at Saints | Saints | Saints | Saints | Buccaneers | Saints |
| 49ers +5.5 at Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | 49ers | 49ers | Steelers |
| Lions +3 at Vikings | Lions | Lions | Lions | Vikings | Vikings |
| Patriots -1 at Bills | Bills | Patriots | Bills | Bills | Patriots |
| Cardinals -2 at Bears | Bears | Bears | Cardinals | Cardinals | Bears |
| Titans pick 'em at Browns | Browns | Browns | Titans | Browns | Titans |
| Chargers +3.5 at Bengals | Bengals | Chargers | Bengals | Bengals | Chargers |
| Rams -3.5 at Redskins | Redskins | Redskins | Redskins | Rams | Redskins |
| Falcons +2.5 at Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants |
| Ravens -7 at Raiders | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens |
| Dolphins -6 at Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Dolphins | Jaguars |
| Cowboys +5 at Eagles | Cowboys | Cowboys | Eagles | Cowboys | Cowboys |
| Seahawks +3.5 at Packers | Packers | Seahawks | Packers | Packers | Packers |
| Jets +7 at Colts | Jets | Jets | Colts | Jets | Colts |
| Best Bet | Browns | Cowboys | Eagles | Buccaneers | Cowboys |
| Last Week's Record | 7-8-1 | 10-5-1 | 8-7-1 | 8-7-1 | 7-8-1 |
| Best Bet Record | 0-1 | 1-0 | 1-0 | 0-0-1 | 1-0 |
| Unanimous Pick Record | 2-1 | ||||
| Majority Pick Record | 8-7-1 | ||||
| 2014 Unanimous Pick Record | 20-15-1 | ||||
| 2014 Majority Record | 146-116-5 | ||||
| 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
We have two unanimous picks this week, the Ravens and Giants. We went 2-1 on unanimous picks last week and 20-15-1 on them last year. We went 8-7-1 last week on majority picks (three or more writers) and 146-116-5 (including playoffs) on them last year.
Comments:
| Writer | Comment |
|---|---|
| Erickson | Titans as a road favorite after just one game? Mariota looked great, sure, but the Browns have a legitimate defense... I think I'm being a little contrarian this week, fading a lot of the teams that looked good in Week 1... I really struggled with Baltimore-Oakland. Both teams looked like mush on offense - is Oakland really the panacea for the Ravens? I'm paying a pretty high road price to find out. |
| Pianowski | I cannot stand this card. I'd take 8-8 right now if it were offered to me. Of course, not liking a card has no predictive value - you can love your picks and get squashed, you can hate your picks and do wonderful. Ah, the snow globe NFL. |
| Liss | Funny to see two Cowboys best bets. Dallas has a below average defense and is missing by far its best runner and receiver from a year ago. Tony Romo and the offensive line are great, but that's all they have. I think Philly will take it to them at home. I also like the Lions getting the full three in Minnesota. This was a playoff team that barely lost to the Cowboys who barely lost to the Packers who barely lost to the Seahawks who barely lost to the Patriots. What have the Vikings done to be considered equals? Monday night's showing certainly didn't bolster their case, either. |
| Stopa | I need to see a lot more out of the Saints before I lay double digits. With Tampa coming off a bad loss, that has to be the right play... I was surprised to see the Bills only getting a point. That tells me one of three things: (1) Vegas is buying in on the Bills; (2) The Patriots D isn't very good; or (3) Vegas is begging Joe Public to take NE. All three reasons support my Bills choice - not that I'm the most neutral analyst. ... I also like the Niners. Pitt is missing weapons on offense and is terrible on D. That line is too high. |
| Del Don | I went with more favorites than usual though did back the underdog Cowboys, who seem like an equal team to the Eagles yet are getting more than a field goal. |
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, 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.
