This article is part of our NFL Picks series.
DDD won the playoff portion of the Staff picks as he's 7-3, and neither Erickson nor I can catch him because we're all on the 49ers.
I'm the only writer on the over, for what it's worth.
Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Payne | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49ers +1 vs Chiefs | 49ers | 49ers | 49ers | 49ers | 49ers |
| O/U 54.5 | U 28-24 | U 27-24 | O 37-26 | U 24-21 | U 27-24 |
| Last week's Record | 1-1 | 0-2 | 1-1 | 1-1 | 1-1 |
| 2019 Playoff Record | 6-4 | 5-5 | 6-4 | 4-6 | 7-3 |
| Playoff Best Bet Record | 2-1 | 1-2 | 2-1 | 1-2 | 2-1 |
| Best Bet Record | 9-8 | 9-7-1 | 8-9 | 12-4-1 | 8-9 |
| Unanimous Pick Record | 27-22-1 | ||||
| Majority Pick Record | 130-120-6 | ||||
| 2018 Playoff Record | 3-6-1 | 1-8-1 | 3-6-1 | N/A | 2-7-1 |
| 2017 Playoff Record | 5-6 | 5-6 | 5-6 | N/A | 2-9 |
| 2016 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 5-6 | 6-5 | N/A | 6-5 |
| 2015 Playoff Record | 5-6 | 2-9 | 3-8 | N/A | 1-10 |
| 2014 Playoff Record | 10-1 | 5-6 | 9-2 | N/A | 9-2 |
| 2013 Playoff Record | 5-4-2 | 3-6-2 | 4-5-2 | N/A | 4-5-2 |
| 2012 Playoff Record | 4-6-1 | 5-5-1 | 6-4-1 | N/A | 8-2-1 |
| 2011 Playoff Record | 8-3 | 5-6 | 9-2 | N/A | 7-4 |
| 2010 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 5-6 | 5-6 | N/A | 8-3 |
| 2009 Playoff Record | 5-6 | 4-7 | 1-10 | N/A | 5-6 |
| 2008 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 5-6 | 5-6 | N/A | 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 |
| 2019 Record | 126-124-6 | 140-110-6 | 127-123-6 | 127-123-6 | 134-116-6 |
| 2018 Record | 125-122-9 | 134-113-9 | 141-106-9 | N/A | 120-127-9 |
| 2017 Record | 117-125-14 | 128-114-14 | 117-125-14 | N/A | 98-144-14 |
| 2016 Record | 140-111-5 | 130-121-5 | 123-128-5 | N/A | 132-119-5 |
| 2015 Record | 134-114-8 | 120-128-8 | 114-134-8 | N/A | 121-127-8 |
| 2014 Record | 123-128-5 | 140-111-5 | 135-116-5 | N/A | 128-123-5 |
| 2013 Record | 132-114-10 | 118-128-10 | 123-123-10 | N/A | 128-118-10 |
| 2012 Record | 110-140-6 | 125-125-6 | 121-129-6 | N/A | 123-127-6 |
| 2011 Record | 121-128-7 | 134-115-7 | 124-125-7 | N/A | 127-122-7 |
| 2010 Record | 129-122-5 | 134-117-5 | 126-125-5 | N/A | 134-117-5 |
| 2009 Record | 123-130-3 | 132-121-3 | 131-122-3 | N/A | 126-127-3 |
| 2008 Record | 132-114-10 | 128-118-10 | 124-122-10 | N/A | 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 |
This week we're all on the 49ers. Last week, we lost our only unanimous pick, the Titans, to go 2-1 for the playoffs. During the regular season we were 23-17-1 on unanimous picks and 130-120-6 on majority picks (three or more writers). We were 26-21-1 on unanimous picks and 132-115-9 on majority picks in 2018.
| Writer | Comment |
|---|---|
| Erickson | The NFC was the better conference this year, and the Niners went through a gauntlet of a schedule to get here. They were the more convincing team in the playoffs, too. Finally, I'm buying into the theory that the team with the better defense is more likely to prevail, especially in a two-week cycle. |
| Pianowski | In spots like this, I generally want the defensive team. The Niners are also the more physical team. The X-factor is Jimmy Garoppolo; the Niners have hidden him for two weeks but probably can't in this game. Is he ready for his close up? |
| Liss | The better defense usually has the edge in Super Bowls, so I'm on the 49ers. I wrote about this at length in Beating the Book. I'm the only one on the over -- I see this being like the Raiders-Bucs 2003 game where the Bucs got out to a huge lead, and the Raiders narrowed it somewhat in garbage time. |
| Payne | From what I can tell everyone is pounding the over so I'll take the under. The game narrative makes sense that if the 49ers defense (the much stronger of the two) does what I expect them too and the 49ers establish the run, both of these should hit. Looking forward to what should be an entertaining game. |
| Del Don | I'm a 49ers season ticket holder and got them at 40:1 before the season, so I'll be rooting for SF, but Patrick Mahomes might be the best football player ever and is obviously terrifying. Andy Reid rarely loses when he gets two weeks, while Kyle Shanahan might be the NFL's current MVP (if not Mahomes). Should be good stuff. 49ers 27-24. |
• 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, 2017 and 2019 Staff Picks Champ. Roots for the Patriots.
• Chris Liss: RotoWire Managing Editor, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2018 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.
• Kevin Payne: Staff Writer, Writes our Waiver Wire column. Roots for the Bills.
• Dalton Del Don: Fantasy Expert for Yahoo! Sports, 2007 Staff Picks Champ. Roots for the 49ers.
