NFL Picks: Backing the Ravens

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Updated on December 26, 2014 6:42PM EST

This is the closest the Staff Picks has been in its 15 seasons - with eight games separating first and last place. Pianowski took the lead in Week 16 with an 11-5 mark, and I'm one game back. It's likely to come down to the two of us, barring a collapse and a huge week from DDD. We have one unanimous pick this week, the Ravens.

	Erickson	Pianowski	Liss	Stopa	Del Don
Jaguars +9.5 at Texans	Jaguars	Jaguars	Jaguars	Texans	Jaguars
Colts -7 at Titans	Titans	Colts	Titans	Titans	Titans
Browns +10 at Ravens	Ravens	Ravens	Ravens	Ravens	Ravens
Bills +4.5 at Patriots	Patriots	Bills	Bills	Patriots	Bills
Jets +6 at Dolphins	Dolphins	Jets	Jets	Dolphins	Dolphins
Bears +6 at Vikings	Vikings	Bears	Bears	Vikings	Bears
Chargers +1 at Chiefs	Chargers	Chiefs	Chiefs	Chargers	Chargers
Eagles +3 at Giants	Giants	Eagles	Eagles	Eagles	Eagles
Cowboys -6 at Redskins	Redskins	Redskins	Redskins	Cowboys	Redskins
Saints -4 at Buccaneers	Buccaneers	Buccaneers	Buccaneers	Saints	Saints
Lions +7.5 at Packers	Lions	Packers	Packers	Packers	Packers
Panthers +4 at Falcons	Panthers	Panthers	Falcons	Panthers	Panthers
Rams +12.5 at Seahawks	Rams	Seahawks	Rams	Seahawks	Rams
Cardinals +6 at 49ers	49ers	Cardinals	Cardinals	Cardinals	49ers
Raiders +14 at Broncos	Broncos	Broncos	Broncos	Raiders	Broncos
Bengals +3.5 at Steelers	Bengals	Steelers	Bengals	Bengals	Bengals
Best Bet	Chargers	Broncos	Bills	Cardinals	Packers
Last Week's Record	9-7	11-5	9-7	6-10	8-8
2014 Record	119-117-4	126-110-4	125-111-4	118-118-4	121-115-4
Best Bet Record	6-10	4-12	11-5	9-6-1	8-8
Majority Record	128-108-4
Unanimous

	Erickson	Pianowski	Liss	Stopa	Del Don
Jaguars +9.5 at Texans	Jaguars	Jaguars	Jaguars	Texans	Jaguars
Colts -7 at Titans	Titans	Colts	Titans	Titans	Titans
Browns +10 at Ravens	Ravens	Ravens	Ravens	Ravens	Ravens
Bills +4.5 at Patriots	Patriots	Bills	Bills	Patriots	Bills
Jets +6 at Dolphins	Dolphins	Jets	Jets	Dolphins	Dolphins
Bears +6 at Vikings	Vikings	Bears	Bears	Vikings	Bears
Chargers +1 at Chiefs	Chargers	Chiefs	Chiefs	Chargers	Chargers
Eagles +3 at Giants	Giants	Eagles	Eagles	Eagles	Eagles
Cowboys -6 at Redskins	Redskins	Redskins	Redskins	Cowboys	Redskins
Saints -4 at Buccaneers	Buccaneers	Buccaneers	Buccaneers	Saints	Saints
Lions +7.5 at Packers	Lions	Packers	Packers	Packers	Packers
Panthers +4 at Falcons	Panthers	Panthers	Falcons	Panthers	Panthers
Rams +12.5 at Seahawks	Rams	Seahawks	Rams	Seahawks	Rams
Cardinals +6 at 49ers	49ers	Cardinals	Cardinals	Cardinals	49ers
Raiders +14 at Broncos	Broncos	Broncos	Broncos	Raiders	Broncos
Bengals +3.5 at Steelers	Bengals	Steelers	Bengals	Bengals	Bengals
Best Bet	Chargers	Broncos	Bills	Cardinals	Packers
Last Week's Record	9-7	11-5	9-7	6-10	8-8
2014 Record	119-117-4	126-110-4	125-111-4	118-118-4	121-115-4
Best Bet Record	6-10	4-12	11-5	9-6-1	8-8
Majority Record	128-108-4
Unanimous Pick Record	19-15
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 Ravens. Last week we went 1-0 on unanimous picks to go 19-15 on the year. And we went 8-8 on majority picks (three or more writers) to go 128-108-4.

Comments:

Writer	Comment
Erickson	I really hope I'm not wrong on my Bengals yet again. It's entirely possible... Maybe losing Alex Smith isn't a huge deal, maybe it is. I'll go with the team that can clinch a playoff birth with the win.
Pianowski	The league did a wise thing a few years back when it switched to the all-division matchups for the finale. Nonetheless, we have a bunch of curious and quirky Week 17 games. If Andy Dalton takes me down for the second straight week, perhaps it's just not meant to be. I also expect Green Bay's home offense to unmask the frauds of Detroit, and KC to give an honest effort against San Diego. I had no idea what to do in the NFC South, same as it was all season. The Arizona-San Francisco game also felt impossible to handicap; I reflexively grabbed the points. Usually it's hard for to me to lay double digits with anyone, but I fell for Denver's need and Seattle's recent form.
Liss	The Bills are a decent team, and I don't expect the Patriots to go all out this week with home field locked up. Curious to see I was the only one on the Falcons - they're better at home and have played better the last few weeks.
Stopa	I get points with a playoff team while fading the Jim Harbaugh 49ers funeral? Sign me up. I'd bet my own money here if I were in Vegas... Oakland is better than its record indicates, and it's stood toe to toe with several good teams over the course of the year... Have to take SD with the Alex Smith news.
Del Don	Week 17 is as crazy as ever. I'll go with the Packers as my best bet, though I worry about Aaron Rodgers' health.

The players:

•Jeff Erickson: RotoWire Senior editor, 2001, 2008, 2013 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 and 2011 Staff Picks Champ. Roots for the Patriots.

•Chris Liss: RotoWire Managing Editor, 2000, 2002, 2006 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.