Staff Picks: Cardinals and Eagles

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Updated on September 4, 2019 6:57PM EST

Staff Picks Year 20

Who knew in 2000 when I suggested this feature that it would be here for one sixth of our lives? (I'm ambitiously setting my sights on 120, mostly to make sure I prevail on some longevity bets I've made.) Jeff Erickson has been in indentured servitude to the column for all 20 seasons, meaning he's sent me his picks 340 times not including the playoffs. Pianowski has been around for 17, and newbie Dalton Del Don, who hasn't won since George Bush was in office, clocks in at 13. Why he still does it, no one knows.

But this year we have a new addition, and I want to say above all that Kevin Payne is a real pro. He's lost money in Vegas for decades, and as you can see he's started strong by making his favorite team, the Bills, his best bet. Real man always picks his favorite team.

This week we all like the Eagles and Cardinals and have five different best bets.

	Erickson	Pianowski	Liss	Payne	Del Don
Packers +3 at Bears	Bears	Bears	Packers	Bears	Packers
Falcons +4 at Vikings	Vikings	Falcons	Falcons	Falcons	Falcons
Redskins +9.5 at Eagles	Eagles	Eagles	Eagles	Eagles	Eagles
Bills +3 at Jets	Jets	Bills	Jets	Bills	Jets
Ravens -7 at Dolphins	Dolphins	Ravens	Ravens	Dolphins	Dolphins
Chiefs -4 at Jaguars	Jaguars	Chiefs	Chiefs	Chiefs	Jaguars
Titans +5.5 at Browns	Titans	Browns	Browns	Browns	Browns
Rams -3 at Panthers	Panthers	Panthers	Panthers	Rams	Panthers
Bengals

Staff Picks Year 20

This week we all like the Eagles and Cardinals and have five different best bets.

	Erickson	Pianowski	Liss	Payne	Del Don
Packers +3 at Bears	Bears	Bears	Packers	Bears	Packers
Falcons +4 at Vikings	Vikings	Falcons	Falcons	Falcons	Falcons
Redskins +9.5 at Eagles	Eagles	Eagles	Eagles	Eagles	Eagles
Bills +3 at Jets	Jets	Bills	Jets	Bills	Jets
Ravens -7 at Dolphins	Dolphins	Ravens	Ravens	Dolphins	Dolphins
Chiefs -4 at Jaguars	Jaguars	Chiefs	Chiefs	Chiefs	Jaguars
Titans +5.5 at Browns	Titans	Browns	Browns	Browns	Browns
Rams -3 at Panthers	Panthers	Panthers	Panthers	Rams	Panthers
Bengals +9.5 at Seahawks	Bengals	Bengals	Bengals	Bengals	Seahawks
Colts +6.5 at Chargers	Chargers	Colts	Colts	Chargers	Colts
49ers pick'em at Buccaneers	Buccaneers	Buccaneers	49ers	Buccaneers	49ers
Lions -2.5 at Cardinals	Cardinals	Cardinals	Cardinals	Cardinals	Cardinals
Giants +7 at Cowboys	Cowboys	Cowboys	Giants	Cowboys	Giants
Steelers +5.5 at Patriots	Patriots	Patriots	Patriots	Steelers	Steelers
Texans +7 at Saints	Saints	Texans	Texans	Texans	Texans
Broncos pick 'em at Raiders	Raiders	Broncos	Raiders	Raiders	Broncos
Best Bet	Buccaneers	Broncos	Colts	Bills	Panthers
2018 Best Bet Record	12-5	11-6	10-7	N/A	7-9-1
2018 Unanimous Pick Record	26-21-1
2018 Majority Pick Record	132-115-9
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

Unanimous/Majority Picks

This week we have two unanimous picks, the Eagles and Cardinals. We went 26-21-1 on unanimous picks and 132-115-9 on majority picks (three or more writers) in 2018.

Comments:

Writer	Comment
Erickson	The biggest gap between the actual lines and my estimates of them was just two points, in the Bucs/Niners game. The Niners have to go east, deal with extreme humidity and have a lot of questions on both sides of the ball. It's not as if they're some juggernaut coming off of a big season, but the line treats them as if they're clearly better on a neutral turf, and I just don't see it that way.
Pianowski	I didn't like the opening card; a comment which, of course, is not predictive. But there's no way I could pass on Vic Fangio's defense against an Oakland offense that's had a clownish summer.
Liss	I think the market over-corrected due to Andrew Luck's retirement. The Colts are a still a good team, and the Chargers are missing some key players. I also like the Eagles to roll at home against a weak Redskins squad and the Giants to put up a fight in Dallas. And I'm not buying the Lions as road favorites against anyone.
Payne	Week 1 seems like it should be a cake walk with many obvious picks based on offseason developments. I think I've found a few and expect to come out positive this week. Having to pick every game is tougher than it seems.
Del Don	The Rams are going to have to make adjustments this season, and they get a tough opening test on the road at 10 am, so give me the points.

The players:

• 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 and 2017 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.