NFL Picks: Giants and Titans

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Updated on December 30, 2015 11:21PM EST

I paced the field this week, but remain in last place, two games behind Pianowski. Erickson's 8-8 week actually gained him ground, and he now has a six-game lead over Stopa with 16 games left to play. They differ on seven games, so Stopa has to go 7-0 to beat him, the odds of which are 1 in 128.

We have two more unanimous picks this week, the Giants and Titans, and those happen to be my two best bets.

	Erickson	Pianowski	Liss	Stopa	Del Don
Jets -3 at Bills	Bills	Bills	Bills	Jets	Bills
Patriots -10.5 at Dolphins	Dolphins	Dolphins	Patriots	Dolphins	Patriots
Ravens +9 at Bengals	Bengals	Bengals	Bengals	Ravens	Bengals
Saints +4 at Falcons	Saints	Saints	Falcons	Saints	Saints
Jaguars +6 at Texans	Texans	Jaguars	Jaguars	Jaguars	Jaguars
Steelers -10.5 at Browns	Steelers	Steelers	Browns	Browns	Browns
Titans +6 at Colts	Titans	Titans	Titans	Titans	Titans
Redskins +3.5 at Cowboys	Redskins	Redskins	Cowboys	Redskins	Cowboys
Lions +1 at Bears	Lions	Lions	Lions	Lions	Bears
Eagles +3 at Giants	Giants	Giants	Giants	Giants	Giants
Buccaneers +10.5 at Panthers	Panthers	Buccaneers	Panthers	Buccaneers	Panthers
Raiders +6.5 at Chiefs	Chiefs	Chiefs	Raiders	Raiders	Raiders
Chargers +9 at Broncos	Chargers	Chargers	Broncos	Chargers	Chargers
Rams -3.5 at 49ers	Rams	49ers	49ers	Rams	49ers
Seahawks +6.5 at Cardinals	Cardinals	Seahawks	Seahawks	Seahawks	Seahawks
Vikings +3 at Packers	Vikings	Vikings	Packers	Vikings	Packers
Best Bet	Chargers	Steelers	Giants	Vikings	Packers
Last Week's Record	8-8	6-10	11-5	5-11	9-7
2015 Record	124-109-7	110-123-7

We have two more unanimous picks this week, the Giants and Titans, and those happen to be my two best bets.

	Erickson	Pianowski	Liss	Stopa	Del Don
Jets -3 at Bills	Bills	Bills	Bills	Jets	Bills
Patriots -10.5 at Dolphins	Dolphins	Dolphins	Patriots	Dolphins	Patriots
Ravens +9 at Bengals	Bengals	Bengals	Bengals	Ravens	Bengals
Saints +4 at Falcons	Saints	Saints	Falcons	Saints	Saints
Jaguars +6 at Texans	Texans	Jaguars	Jaguars	Jaguars	Jaguars
Steelers -10.5 at Browns	Steelers	Steelers	Browns	Browns	Browns
Titans +6 at Colts	Titans	Titans	Titans	Titans	Titans
Redskins +3.5 at Cowboys	Redskins	Redskins	Cowboys	Redskins	Cowboys
Lions +1 at Bears	Lions	Lions	Lions	Lions	Bears
Eagles +3 at Giants	Giants	Giants	Giants	Giants	Giants
Buccaneers +10.5 at Panthers	Panthers	Buccaneers	Panthers	Buccaneers	Panthers
Raiders +6.5 at Chiefs	Chiefs	Chiefs	Raiders	Raiders	Raiders
Chargers +9 at Broncos	Chargers	Chargers	Broncos	Chargers	Chargers
Rams -3.5 at 49ers	Rams	49ers	49ers	Rams	49ers
Seahawks +6.5 at Cardinals	Cardinals	Seahawks	Seahawks	Seahawks	Seahawks
Vikings +3 at Packers	Vikings	Vikings	Packers	Vikings	Packers
Best Bet	Chargers	Steelers	Giants	Vikings	Packers
Last Week's Record	8-8	6-10	11-5	5-11	9-7
2015 Record	124-109-7	110-123-7	108-125-7	118-115-7	114-119-7
Best Bet Record	8-7-1	7-9	7-7-2	6-9-1	8-8
Unanimous Pick Record	21-26
Majority Pick Record	112-121-7
2014 Unanimous Pick Record	20-15-1
2014 Majority Record	146-116-5
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 two more unanimous picks, the Titans and Giants. We went 1-2 on unanimous picks last week to bring our season record to 21-26. We went 8-8 on majority picks (three or more writers) to bring our season record to 112-121-7.

Comments:

Writer	Comment
Erickson	The Chargers defense quietly has played much better lately, and I don't fear the Broncos' offense, no matter how much they have to play for... The Rams feel like a sucker bet, but I guess I'm just that sucker... The Cowboys will get to face the Redskins backups for most of the game, but then again, the Cowboys are rolling out a bunch of backups anyhow... I feel the least confident about Seattle-Arizona and Jacksonville-Houston.
Pianowski	I'm willing to give Pittsburgh a mulligan for one lousy showing in the midst of several strong ones. It might not matter, but I expect the Steelers to beat the living snot out of hapless Cleveland in this critical game. The Pittsburgh offense is still as good as any in the league.
Liss	Interesting to see my two best bets (Giants and Titans) are also the only two unanimous picks.
Stopa	I'm so angry with myself for taking too many favorites last week. Every year in Weeks 16-17 we see teams lose when they really needed to win. I'm not making the same mistake again; this time, more often than not, I decided to fade the team that needs the win. In most such cases, the line moved from where it opened, so I like that approach even more... The jerseys say "Packers" but the results on the field read more like "mediocre." Minny's D is underrated, so as crazy as it might sound, I just don't see how Green Bay can score... Lost amidst the OT chaos last week was NE sitting on the ball with two minutes left in the first half. If the Pats don't trust their offense to score, why should I trust them enough to lay double digits? I also like under 47 points in that game a lot. The Pats played to win 20-17 last week; I don't see them pushing the envelope even if they get a double-digit lead... I wish I knew whether Ronald Darby was going to play for the Bills. If he's healthy (he missed last week), the Bills at least have a chance of matching up with the Jets stud wideouts. Without him, and with Gillmore also hurt, they have no prayer. Of course, it might not matter, because with Revis on Watkins, the Bills other targets all hurt, and the Jets run D playing so well, I don't see how the Bills can score.
Del Don	Handicapping any week in the NFL is tough, and there's an added element in Week 17 having to factor in motivation and uncertain playing time, making it even tougher (especially with our picks due mid-week)... I'm well aware of just how unimpressive Green Bay has been, but I like them in this spot at home in prime time coming off such an ugly performance.

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, 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.