This article is part of our NFL Picks series.
A good week for everyone on the Staff except Payne, but he can still tie for the playoff title with Pianowski if the Rams cover. Everyone else is drawing dead.
Everyone but Payne is on the Bengals, while totals are split between three unders and two overs.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Payne | Del Don | |
| Bengals +4.5 at Rams | Bengals | Bengals | Bengals | Rams | Bengals |
| Total 48.5 | Under | Under | Over | Over | Under |
| Score | Bengals 24-23 | Bengals 23-20 | Bengals 26-23 | Rams 35-17 | Rams 24-23 |
| Last week's Record | 2-0 | 2-0 | 2-0 | 0-2 | 1-1 |
| Playoff Record | 6-6 | 8-4 | 7-5 | 7-5 | 7-5 |
| Playoff Best Bet Record | 2-1 | 2-1 | 2-1 | 2-1 | 3-0 |
| Unanimous Pick Record | 29-26 | ||||
| Majority Pick Record | 135-134-3 | ||||
| 2021 Best Bet Record | 12-6 | 10-8 | 12-6 | 12-6 | 7-11 |
| 2020 Playoff Record | 5-8 | 8-5 | 8-5 | 6-7 | 7-6 |
| 2019 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 5-6 | 6-5 | 4-7 | 7-4 |
| 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 |
| 2021 Record | 129-140-3 | 134-135-3 | 139-130-3 | 145-124-3 | 136-133-3 |
| 2020 Record | 121-127-8 | 128-120-8 | 118-130-8 | 115-133-8 | 118-130-8 |
| 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 have no unanimous picks. We had no unanimous picks last week either. We went 29-26 on unanimous picks and 135-134-3 on majority picks (three or more writers on the year. We went 17-23 on unanimous picks and 118-130-8 on majority picks in 2020.
| Writer | Comment |
|---|---|
| Erickson | Picking with my heart a little bit here, no doubt, but I think the difference-makers for the Bengals are their underrated defense and the kicking game. |
| Pianowski | The obvious key to this game is the Bengals pass protection against the Rams pass rush, but I also have great respect for Joe Burrow's improving pocket awareness. I would also bet on Matthew Stafford throwing at least one interception. I expect a competitive game for four quarters, likely coming down to the final drive. MVP: Joe Burrow. |
| Liss | The Rams have the better defense, and that's a concern, but these are roughly equal teams, and 4.5 strikes me as far too much on a neutral field. O/U was a coin flip for me. |
| Payne | I don't see any significant advantage for the Bengals outside of maybe kicker. I think there's a huge advantage at the line on both sides for the Rams. I think they easily cover this. |
| Del Don | The Rams enter with a big advantage at DL > OL and with home field, but I'll take the points anyway. A similar strategy used against KC of just rushing three could work well again for Cincinnati (Matthew Stafford thrives vs. the blitz), and even if the Rams jump out to a big lead, Sean McVay will coach the Bengals back into the game. |
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, 2017, 2019 and 2020 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. 2021 Staff Picks Champ.
• Dalton Del Don: Fantasy Expert for Yahoo! Sports, 2007 Staff Picks Champ. Roots for the 49ers.
