This article is part of our NFL Picks series.
Wild card weekend was a poor one for the Staff as everyone except Stopa (2-1-1) had losing records, and three of us went 0-3-1.
This week the Chargers are our only unanimous pick, and three writers made them their best bets.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colts +5.5 at Chiefs | Colts | Colts | Chiefs | Colts | Colts |
| Cowboys +7 at Rams | Rams | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | Rams |
| Chargers +4 at Patriots | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers |
| Eagles +8 at Saints | Saints | Saints | Eagles | Saints | Eagles |
| Best Bet | Saints | Chargers | Chiefs | Chargers | Chargers |
| Last Week's Record | 0-3-1 | 1-2-1 | 0-3-1 | 2-1-1 | 0-3-1 |
| 2018 Record | 125-122-9 | 134-113-9 | 141-106-9 | 117-130-9 | 120-127-9 |
| Playoff Best Bet Record | 0-1 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 1-0 | 0-1 |
| Best Bet Record | 12-5 | 11-6 | 10-7 | 8-8-1 | 7-9-1 |
| 2017 Best Bet Record | 8-7-2 | 9-7-1 | 12-4-1 | 8-7-2 | 11-6 |
| Unanimous Pick Record | 26-21-1 | ||||
| Majority Pick Record | 132-115-9 | ||||
| 2017 Playoff Record | 5-6 | 5-6 | 5-6 | 7-4 | 2-9 |
| 2016 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 5-6 | 6-5 | 4-7 | 6-5 |
| 2015 Playoff Record | 5-6 | 2-9 | 3-8 | 2-9 | 1-10 |
| 2014 Playoff Record | 10-1 | 5-6 | 9-2 | 4-7 | 9-2 |
| 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 |
Wild card weekend was a poor one for the Staff as everyone except Stopa (2-1-1) had losing records, and three of us went 0-3-1.
Unanimous/Majority Picks
The players:
This week the Chargers are our only unanimous pick, and three writers made them their best bets.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colts +5.5 at Chiefs | Colts | Colts | Chiefs | Colts | Colts |
| Cowboys +7 at Rams | Rams | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | Rams |
| Chargers +4 at Patriots | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers |
| Eagles +8 at Saints | Saints | Saints | Eagles | Saints | Eagles |
| Best Bet | Saints | Chargers | Chiefs | Chargers | Chargers |
| Last Week's Record | 0-3-1 | 1-2-1 | 0-3-1 | 2-1-1 | 0-3-1 |
| 2018 Record | 125-122-9 | 134-113-9 | 141-106-9 | 117-130-9 | 120-127-9 |
| Playoff Best Bet Record | 0-1 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 1-0 | 0-1 |
| Best Bet Record | 12-5 | 11-6 | 10-7 | 8-8-1 | 7-9-1 |
| 2017 Best Bet Record | 8-7-2 | 9-7-1 | 12-4-1 | 8-7-2 | 11-6 |
| Unanimous Pick Record | 26-21-1 | ||||
| Majority Pick Record | 132-115-9 | ||||
| 2017 Playoff Record | 5-6 | 5-6 | 5-6 | 7-4 | 2-9 |
| 2016 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 5-6 | 6-5 | 4-7 | 6-5 |
| 2015 Playoff Record | 5-6 | 2-9 | 3-8 | 2-9 | 1-10 |
| 2014 Playoff Record | 10-1 | 5-6 | 9-2 | 4-7 | 9-2 |
| 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 |
| 2017 Record | 117-125-14 | 128-114-14 | 117-125-14 | 119-123-14 | 98-144-14 |
| 2016 Record | 140-111-5 | 130-121-5 | 123-128-5 | 115-136-5 | 132-119-5 |
| 2015 Record | 134-114-8 | 120-128-8 | 114-134-8 | 127-121-8 | 121-127-8 |
| 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 one unanimous pick, the Chargers. Last week we had no unanimous picks, keeping our season record at 26-21-1. We went 0-3-1 on majority picks (three or more writers) where our regular season record was 132-115-9.
Comments:
| Writer | Comment |
|---|---|
| Erickson | It's weird to go against the Eagles given their recent run and of course their playoff run last year, but this is a really poor matchup for Philly's injured and weak secondary... I feel pretty strongly about the Chargers too, despite all the history in favor of the Pats. |
| Pianowski | Generally this is a week where rested teams clean out Wild Card heroes, but it's not difficult to shoot holes in the top seeds. I want to take the Chiefs, but KC's playoff resume can't be completely ignored. The Patriots never give games away, but the Chargers have a talent edge almost everywhere - maybe they simply take it. I wish LAC wasn't battling the travel and weather issues. I can't lay a touchdown with the Rams given their recent form. |
| Liss | I like the Saturday games better than the Sunday ones. I know the Colts are hot, but their resume is thin, and the Chiefs have been a dominant offensive juggernaut all year, have two weeks to prep and host a dome team in Arrowhead. I also like the Cowboys getting the full TD against a Rams team that hasn't been great since the first half of the season. |
| Stopa | Indy's offensive line plus Andy Reid off a bye week will make for an offensive explosion in KC. I'd have set the O/U at 60.5, so I like over 56 a lot... The Patriots look old and slow, while the Chargers are young and fast. Give me the +170 money line there... I feel less confident about the NFC, but this feels like time time the party ends for Philly. The Rams, though, don't seem like a TD favorite to me against a good defense like Dallas. |
| Del Don | I could see both AFC dogs winning outright, but give me the Chargers as my best bet. The Patriots would have much preferred the Texans winning last week. |
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.
• 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.
