NFL Picks: Bengals, Browns, Steelers, Panthers, Redskins, Chargers, Giants and 49ers

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Updated on September 17, 2010 2:44AM EST

Pianowski and I set the pace last week at 10-4-2, while DDD and Erickson are two games back at 8-6. Stopa? He's like an aging receiver stranded on Revis island.

But the bigger news this week is we have a record eight consensus (or more precisely unanimous) picks. I get concerned there's a groupthink going on here even though we all make our picks independently. Unless, of course, we crush those eight games in which case, you can't really fault the group for getting them right.

Enjoy the games.

	Erickson	Pianowski	Liss	Stopa	Del Don
Ravens -1.5 at Bengals	Bengals	Bengals	Bengals	Bengals	Bengals
Dolphins +5.5 at Vikings	Vikings	Dolphins	Dolphins	Dolphins	Vikings
Bears +7.5 at Cowboys	Bears	Cowboys	Cowboys	Cowboys	Cowboys
Eagles -4.5 at Lions	Lions	Lions	Lions	Lions	Eagles
Cardinals +6.5 at Falcons	Cardinals	Falcons	Falcons	Cardinals	Falcons
Chiefs +1.5 at Browns	Browns	Browns	Browns	Browns	Browns
Bills +13 at Packers	Packers	Packers	Bills	Packers	Packers
Steelers +5 at Titans	Steelers	Steelers	Steelers	Steelers	Steelers
Buccaneers +3 at Panthers	Panthers	Panthers	Panthers	Panthers	Panthers
Rams +3.5 at Raiders	Raiders	Rams	Raiders	Raiders	Raiders
Seahawks +3.5 at Broncos	Broncos	Seahawks	Broncos	Broncos	Broncos
Texans -3 at Redskins	Redskins	Redskins	Redskins	Redskins	Redskins
Jaguars +7.5 at Chargers	Chargers	Chargers	Chargers	Chargers	Chargers
Patriots -2.5 at Jets	Patriots	Jets	Patriots	Jets	Patriots
Giants +5.5 at Colts	Giants	Giants	Giants	Giants	Giants
Saints -5.5 at 49ers	49ers	49ers	49ers	49ers	49ers
Best Bet	Chargers	Redskins	49ers	Packers	Panthers
Last Week's Record	8-6-2

Pianowski and I set the pace last week at 10-4-2, while DDD and Erickson are two games back at 8-6. Stopa? He's like an aging receiver stranded on Revis island.

Enjoy the games.

	Erickson	Pianowski	Liss	Stopa	Del Don
Ravens -1.5 at Bengals	Bengals	Bengals	Bengals	Bengals	Bengals
Dolphins +5.5 at Vikings	Vikings	Dolphins	Dolphins	Dolphins	Vikings
Bears +7.5 at Cowboys	Bears	Cowboys	Cowboys	Cowboys	Cowboys
Eagles -4.5 at Lions	Lions	Lions	Lions	Lions	Eagles
Cardinals +6.5 at Falcons	Cardinals	Falcons	Falcons	Cardinals	Falcons
Chiefs +1.5 at Browns	Browns	Browns	Browns	Browns	Browns
Bills +13 at Packers	Packers	Packers	Bills	Packers	Packers
Steelers +5 at Titans	Steelers	Steelers	Steelers	Steelers	Steelers
Buccaneers +3 at Panthers	Panthers	Panthers	Panthers	Panthers	Panthers
Rams +3.5 at Raiders	Raiders	Rams	Raiders	Raiders	Raiders
Seahawks +3.5 at Broncos	Broncos	Seahawks	Broncos	Broncos	Broncos
Texans -3 at Redskins	Redskins	Redskins	Redskins	Redskins	Redskins
Jaguars +7.5 at Chargers	Chargers	Chargers	Chargers	Chargers	Chargers
Patriots -2.5 at Jets	Patriots	Jets	Patriots	Jets	Patriots
Giants +5.5 at Colts	Giants	Giants	Giants	Giants	Giants
Saints -5.5 at 49ers	49ers	49ers	49ers	49ers	49ers
Best Bet	Chargers	Redskins	49ers	Packers	Panthers
Last Week's Record	8-6-2	10-4-2	10-4-2	4-10-2	8-6-2
Best Bet Record	0-1	0-1	0-1	0-0-1	0-0-1
Consensus Pick Record	1-1
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

Consensus Picks

This week we have a whopping eight consensus picks (an all-time record): the Bengals, Browns, Steelers, Panthers, Redskins, Chargers, Giants and 49ers.

Last week we won with the Steelers and lost with the Bills.

We finished 2009 at 19-23-1 on consensus picks, and were 24-19-2 on them in 2008.

Comments:

Writer	Comment
Erickson	I'm not sure I understand why the line moved so much, from 9.5 to 7.5 or 7, pending your source, and I hate laying big favorites early in the season, but I really think that Rivers and company will go nuts against that secondary.
Pianowski	One notable Houston win is not enough for me to start giving them major line credit on the road.
Liss	Like the 49ers, Bengals, Falcons and Panthers the best.
Stopa	A miserable Week 1 rocked my world, so I tried to keep it simple this week. Basically, I faded the public. When in doubt, I'll trust that Vegas knows how to set a line, and if the public is all over one team, I'll go with the other. I particularly like the 49ers and Jets for that reason (especially since the lines have moved in their favor). My best bet is the one time I sided with the herd instead of Vegas. I watched the Bills and the Packers last week, and I see 35-10 here. Rodgers will rebound after a mediocre Week 1, and the Bills can't keep up on offense.
Del Don	I had a harder time this week compared to last, with the Vikings, Eagles and Packers essentially coin flips. I'm not happy backing so many favorites (11). I liked Carolina more when the line opened at -2, but they're still my best bet. I also strongly considered the 49ers.

The players:

Jeff Erickson: RotoWire Senior editor, 2001, 2008 Staff Picks Champ. Writes the Value Meter. Covers and roots for the Bengals.
Scott Pianowski: Fantasy expert for Yahoo! Sports, and also contributes to Rotowire.com. 2009 Staff Picks Champ. Roots for the Patriots.
Chris Liss: RotoWire Managing Editor, 2000, 2002, 2006 Staff Picks Champ, 2003, 2004 co-champ. Writes Beating the Book and Surviving the Week in addition to Staff Picks. Covers and roots for the Giants.
Mark Stopa: Staff Writer, Writes Working the Wire. Roots for the Bills.
Dalton Del Don: RotoWire Senior Staff Writer. 2007 Staff Picks Champ. Writes the Game Capsules and the Barometer. Covers the Eagles and roots for the 49ers.