NFL Picks: Backing the Seahawks

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Updated on December 20, 2017 5:29PM EST

It was a brutal week for the Staff, and no one fared worse than me. Put differently, Pianowski picked up three games on me by going 6-7-3. I'm now in a three-way tie for fourth with Erickson and Stopa, nine games back with only two weeks to go. Pianowski has 2017 locked up, barring a monumental collapse. We also went 1-4 on unanimous picks.

This week we all like the Seahawks and each have a different best bet.

	Erickson	Pianowski	Liss	Stopa	Del Don
Colts +13.5 at Ravens	Ravens	Ravens	Ravens	Colts	Colts
Vikings -9 at Packers	Packers	Packers	Packers	Packers	Vikings
Lions -5 at Bengals	Lions	Bengals	Bengals	Lions	Bengals
Chargers -7 at Jets	Jets	Jets	Jets	Jets	Chargers
Rams -6.5 at Titans	Titans	Titans	Titans	Rams	Rams
Browns +6.5 at Bears	Browns	Browns	Bears	Bears	Browns
Buccaneers +10 at Panthers	Panthers	Buccaneers	Panthers	Buccaneers	Buccaneers
Falcons +5.5 at Saints	Saints	Falcons	Falcons	Saints	Falcons
Broncos +3.5 at Redskins	Redskins	Redskins	Redskins	Redskins	Broncos
Dolphins +10.5 at Chiefs	Chiefs	Dolphins	Dolphins	Dolphins	Dolphins
Bills +12 at Patriots	Patriots	Bills	Bills	Bills	Patriots
Jaguars -4.5 at 49ers	49ers	49ers	49ers	Jaguars	49ers
Giants +3.5 at Cardinals	Cardinals	Cardinals	Cardinals	Giants	Giants
Seahawks +5 at Cowboys	Seahawks	Seahawks	Seahawks	Seahawks	Seahawks
Steelers -9.5 at Texans	Texans	Texans	Texans	Steelers	Texans
Raiders +9 at Eagles	Eagles	Eagles	Eagles	Raiders	Raiders
Best Bet	Redskins	Texans	Bengals	Saints	49ers
Last Week's Record	6-7-3	6-7-3	3-10-3	5-8-3	4-9-3
2017 Record	103-109-12	112-100-12	103-109-12	103-109-12	85-127-12

This week we all like the Seahawks and each have a different best bet.

	Erickson	Pianowski	Liss	Stopa	Del Don
Colts +13.5 at Ravens	Ravens	Ravens	Ravens	Colts	Colts
Vikings -9 at Packers	Packers	Packers	Packers	Packers	Vikings
Lions -5 at Bengals	Lions	Bengals	Bengals	Lions	Bengals
Chargers -7 at Jets	Jets	Jets	Jets	Jets	Chargers
Rams -6.5 at Titans	Titans	Titans	Titans	Rams	Rams
Browns +6.5 at Bears	Browns	Browns	Bears	Bears	Browns
Buccaneers +10 at Panthers	Panthers	Buccaneers	Panthers	Buccaneers	Buccaneers
Falcons +5.5 at Saints	Saints	Falcons	Falcons	Saints	Falcons
Broncos +3.5 at Redskins	Redskins	Redskins	Redskins	Redskins	Broncos
Dolphins +10.5 at Chiefs	Chiefs	Dolphins	Dolphins	Dolphins	Dolphins
Bills +12 at Patriots	Patriots	Bills	Bills	Bills	Patriots
Jaguars -4.5 at 49ers	49ers	49ers	49ers	Jaguars	49ers
Giants +3.5 at Cardinals	Cardinals	Cardinals	Cardinals	Giants	Giants
Seahawks +5 at Cowboys	Seahawks	Seahawks	Seahawks	Seahawks	Seahawks
Steelers -9.5 at Texans	Texans	Texans	Texans	Steelers	Texans
Raiders +9 at Eagles	Eagles	Eagles	Eagles	Raiders	Raiders
Best Bet	Redskins	Texans	Bengals	Saints	49ers
Last Week's Record	6-7-3	6-7-3	3-10-3	5-8-3	4-9-3
2017 Record	103-109-12	112-100-12	103-109-12	103-109-12	85-127-12
Best Bet Record	8-6-1	8-6-1	11-3-1	7-6-2	9-6
Unanimous Pick Record	20-25-4
Majority Pick Record	106-106-12
2016 Record	133-102-5	122-113-5	115-120-5	108-127-5	123-112-5
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 Seahawks. Last week we went 1-4 on unanimous picks, winning with the Buccaneers and losing with the Chargers, Packers, Browns and Seahawks to put us at 20-25-4 on the season. We went 5-8-3 on majority picks (three or more writers) to bring our season record to 106-106-12. Last year we went 27-22-2 on unanimous picks and 138-124-5 on majority picks.

Comments:

Writer	Comment
Erickson	I don't really have a best bet, but I'll go with the Redskins, as the Broncos are fiddling around with the idea of starting Paxton Lynch again. Even if that doesn't happen, I don't think that Brock Osweiler can repeat what he did against the Colts.
Pianowski	Hoping Steelers do their usual thing, play to the level of the competition. I hate this slate, not that disliking (or liking) a slate holds predictive value.
Liss	I like five teams in particular on the slate: the Ravens, Bengals, Titans, Bills and Seahawks. I'll go with a buy-low on the Bengals, who were total no-shows the last two weeks, as my best bet.
Stopa	Every year, the teams who "need to win" in Weeks 16-17 don't win. I've learned from experience here. Trust me. Fade the teams who need to win.
Del Don	I went back to the well and made the 49ers my best bet again, though Jimmy G gets by far his toughest matchup yet. Otherwise I went extreme dog-heavy, as most lines felt a bit bloated this 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 and 2014 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.