This article is part of our NFL Picks series.
This week we have no unanimous picks, but four of us are on the Chiefs, and three of us made them our best bets. The only team that's not anyone's best bet is the Patriots.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rams +3.5 at Saints | Rams | Saints | Rams | Rams | Saints |
| Patriots +3 at Chiefs | Patriots | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs |
| Best Bet | Rams | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Saints |
| Last Week's Record | 1-3 | 0-4 | 2-2 | 0-4 | 2-2 |
| 2018 Playoff Record | 1-6-1 | 1-6-1 | 2-5-1 | 2-5-1 | 2-5-1 |
| 2018 Record | 125-122-9 | 134-113-9 | 141-106-9 | 117-130-9 | 120-127-9 |
| Playoff Best Bet Record | 0-2 | 0-2 | 1-1 | 1-1 | 0-2 |
| 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 | 26-22-1 | ||||
| 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 |
This week we have no unanimous picks, but four of us are on the Chiefs, and three of us made them our best bets. The only team that's not anyone's best bet is the Patriots.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rams +3.5 at Saints | Rams | Saints | Rams | Rams | Saints |
| Patriots +3 at Chiefs | Patriots | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs |
| Best Bet | Rams | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Saints |
| Last Week's Record | 1-3 | 0-4 | 2-2 | 0-4 | 2-2 |
| 2018 Playoff Record | 1-6-1 | 1-6-1 | 2-5-1 | 2-5-1 | 2-5-1 |
| 2018 Record | 125-122-9 | 134-113-9 | 141-106-9 | 117-130-9 | 120-127-9 |
| Playoff Best Bet Record | 0-2 | 0-2 | 1-1 | 1-1 | 0-2 |
| 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 | 26-22-1 | ||||
| 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 no unanimous picks. Last week we had one unanimous pick, the Chargers, which we lost, putting our season record at 26-22-1. We went 0-4 on majority picks (three or more writers), putting our playoff record at 0-7-1. Our regular season record on majority picks was 132-115-9.
Comments:
| Writer | Comment |
|---|---|
| Erickson | I'm not really confident about either pick, and why would I be following the last two weeks? Both teams in the NFC game aren't the same offensive machines that they were in the first half, but the Rams seem closer to full function. I'll take the 3.5 points. |
| Pianowski | Home teams have dominated these spots in recent years. At least every potential Super Bowl matchup looks good, but it's been a lousy playoffs thus far. |
| Liss | I think the Rams are at least equal to the Saints, and they're getting the extra hook. I also think Aqib Talib will slow down Michael Thomas somewhat. The Chiefs are too talented for the Patriots, and unlike last week, the Patriots don't have every other conceivable advantage. |
| Stopa | The home/road splits for both AFC teams are pronounced, so I think this line should be more than the standard 3. Rams/Saints, conversely, feels like more of a toss-up, and I'd have set that line right at 3. |
| Del Don | Jared Goff has gotten 7.6 YPA with a 10:9 TD:INT ratio on the road this season, and he'll need to step up against a Saints defense that shuts down the run. Both these lines look about right, and if I were wagering, I'd tease the home teams this weekend. |
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.
