NFL Picks: Rams, Browns, Chiefs, Bengals and Raiders

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Updated on September 5, 2012 4:05AM EST

For some reason we always have a lot of consensus picks in Week 1, and this year is no different. A whopping five out of 16 games are unanimous among all the writers, and not surprisingly, those teams (Rams, Browns, Chiefs, Bengals, Raiders) are all underdogs, three of them at home.

The target is on Pianowski's back as he's the defending champ.

Enjoy the games.

(Incidentally, Jeff Erickson and I discussed a few of the games on camera last week - see below for the video. If you prefer to read the article in its usual form, just scroll down).

	Erickson	Pianowski	Liss	Stopa	Del Don
Cowboys +4 at Giants	Giants	Giants	Giants	Cowboys	Cowboys
Colts +10 at Bears	Colts	Colts	Bears	Colts	Colts
Jaguars +3.5 at Vikings	Vikings	Jaguars	Jaguars	Jaguars	Jaguars
Bills +3 at Jets	Jets	Bills	Jets	Jets	Jets
Dolphins +11 at Texans	Dolphins	Texans	Texans	Texans	Dolphins
Patriots -6 at Titans	Titans	Titans	Titans	Patriots	Patriots
Rams +9 at Lions	Rams	Rams	Rams	Rams	Rams
Redskins +9.5 at Saints	Saints	Saints	Saints	Redskins	Redskins
Eagles -9 at Browns	Browns	Browns	Browns	Browns	Browns
Falcons -2 at Chiefs	Chiefs	Chiefs	Chiefs	Chiefs	Chiefs
49ers +5 at Packers	Packers	Packers	49ers	Packers	Packers
Seahawks -3 at Cardinals	Cardinals	Seahawks	Cardinals	Cardinals	Cardinals
Panthers -1 at Buccaneers	Buccaneers	Buccaneers	Buccaneers	Buccaneers	Panthers
Steelers -1 at Broncos	Broncos	Steelers	Steelers	Broncos	Broncos
Bengals +6 at Ravens	Bengals	Bengals	Bengals	Bengals	Bengals
Chargers -1 at Raiders	Raiders	Raiders	Raiders	Raiders	Raiders

The target is on Pianowski's back as he's the defending champ.

Enjoy the games.

(Incidentally, Jeff Erickson and I discussed a few of the games on camera last week - see below for the video. If you prefer to read the article in its usual form, just scroll down).

	Erickson	Pianowski	Liss	Stopa	Del Don
Cowboys +4 at Giants	Giants	Giants	Giants	Cowboys	Cowboys
Colts +10 at Bears	Colts	Colts	Bears	Colts	Colts
Jaguars +3.5 at Vikings	Vikings	Jaguars	Jaguars	Jaguars	Jaguars
Bills +3 at Jets	Jets	Bills	Jets	Jets	Jets
Dolphins +11 at Texans	Dolphins	Texans	Texans	Texans	Dolphins
Patriots -6 at Titans	Titans	Titans	Titans	Patriots	Patriots
Rams +9 at Lions	Rams	Rams	Rams	Rams	Rams
Redskins +9.5 at Saints	Saints	Saints	Saints	Redskins	Redskins
Eagles -9 at Browns	Browns	Browns	Browns	Browns	Browns
Falcons -2 at Chiefs	Chiefs	Chiefs	Chiefs	Chiefs	Chiefs
49ers +5 at Packers	Packers	Packers	49ers	Packers	Packers
Seahawks -3 at Cardinals	Cardinals	Seahawks	Cardinals	Cardinals	Cardinals
Panthers -1 at Buccaneers	Buccaneers	Buccaneers	Buccaneers	Buccaneers	Panthers
Steelers -1 at Broncos	Broncos	Steelers	Steelers	Broncos	Broncos
Bengals +6 at Ravens	Bengals	Bengals	Bengals	Bengals	Bengals
Chargers -1 at Raiders	Raiders	Raiders	Raiders	Raiders	Raiders
Best Bet	Jets	Browns	Chiefs	Redskins	Panthers
2011 Record	121-128-7	134-115-7	124-125-7	123-126-7	127-122-7
2011 Best Bet Record	7-9-1	8-8-1	10-7	10-7	7-9-1
2011 Consensus Pick Record	30-24-2
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

Consensus Picks

This week we have five consensus picks: the Rams, Browns, Chiefs, Bengals and Raiders. Last year we were 30-24-2 on consensus picks.

Comments:

Writer	Comment
Erickson	Consider this a bet against the idea that the preseason has any meaning, especially at the team level.
Pianowski	It's going to be a while before anyone knows anything in 2012. Reflexively taking a heavy dog at home will always feel like the right play. And Cleveland's defense was a solid unit last year, amidst absolutely no fanfare. I wouldn't take Philly as a survivor pick, either.
Liss	I backed the teams that looked worst in the preaseason and faded the ones that looked best. That meant taking AZ and NYJ and staying away from ATL. I also faded all of the rookie QBs on the road and backed the Browns only because the line was so big in Cleveland.
Stopa	I saw my Bills getting six points for this game when it opened. Now that the line is down to three - less in some places - the Jets have to be the right play. I hope I'm wrong, but that Jets defense has made the Bills offense look bad in recent years... I want the Lions, Bears and Eagles to prove it on the field before I lay that many points, especially with Philly on the road... The Saints and Ravens both have their lines set as if they will again be dominant, playoff teams. I think both will miss the playoffs, and it will take Vegas several weeks for the lines to adjust. The Saints defense is going to be among the NFL's worst, and the Ravens defense is a year older and without Terrell Suggs... Falcons/Chiefs, Steelers/Broncos, Panthers/Bucs, Seahawks/Cardinals and Chargers/Raiders all seemed like toss-ups, so I went with the home teams. Home vs. road has mattered for the Falcons, Chiefs and Seahawks in recent years.
Del Don	Since it's the start of a new season, Week 1 offers the most uncertainty, so when in doubt, I took the points...Backing the Panthers certainly isn't an "agnostic" pick, but I just see them as the superior team.

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 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 Surviving the Week in addition to Staff Picks. Covers and roots for the Giants.

•Mark Stopa: Staff Writer, 2010 Staff Picks Champ, Writes Working the Wire. Roots for the Bills.

•Dalton Del Don: Fantasy Expert for Yahoo! Sports, Roots for the 49ers.