NFL Picks: Ravens and Falcons

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Updated on December 5, 2013 2:02AM EST

It was a rough week for the staff with everyone finishing below .500, thanks in part to two losing consensus picks (Bucs and Jets). This week we have two more consenus picks, the Ravens and Falcons, though the latter is based on a made-up line of plus-six which will move a lot depending on Aaron Rodgers' status.

	Erickson	Pianowski	Liss	Stopa	Del Don
Texans -3 at Jaguars	Jaguars	Texans	Texans	Texans	Texans
Chiefs -3 at Redskins	Redskins	Chiefs	Redskins	Chiefs	Chiefs
Vikings +6.5 at Ravens	Ravens	Ravens	Ravens	Ravens	Ravens
Browns +12.5 at Patriots	Patriots	Browns	Browns	Browns	Patriots
Raiders +3 at Jets	Raiders	Jets	Jets	Jets	Jets
Colts +6 at Bengals	Bengals	Colts	Bengals	Bengals	Colts
Lions +3 at Eagles	Eagles	Eagles	Lions	Eagles	Eagles
Dolphins +3 at Steelers	Steelers	Steelers	Dolphins	Steelers	Steelers
Bills +2.5 at Buccaneers	Buccaneers	Buccaneers	Bills	Bills	Buccaneers
Falcons +6* at Packers	Falcons	Falcons	Falcons	Falcons	Falcons
Titans +12 at Broncos	Titans	Titans	Titans	Titans	Broncos
Rams +6.5 at Cardinals	Rams	Rams	Rams	Cardinals	Rams
Giants +3 at Chargers	Chargers	Giants	Giants	Chargers	Giants
Seahawks +3 at 49ers	Seahawks	49ers	49ers	49ers	49ers
Panthers +3 at Saints	Saints	Panthers	Saints	Panthers	Saints
Cowboys +1 at Bears	Bears	Bears	Bears	Cowboys	Bears
Best Bet	Ravens	Rams	Saints	49ers	Buccaneers
Last Week's Record	7-8-1	7-8-1	6-9-1	5-10-1	7-8-1
2013 Record	102-81-9	87-96-9	92-91-9	80-103-9	94-89-9
Best Bet Record	8-4-1	4-9	5-8	8-5	5-8
2013 Consensus Pick Record	14-22-3
2012 Record	110-140-6	124-126-6	121-129-6	143-107-6	123-127-6

	Erickson	Pianowski	Liss	Stopa	Del Don
Texans -3 at Jaguars	Jaguars	Texans	Texans	Texans	Texans
Chiefs -3 at Redskins	Redskins	Chiefs	Redskins	Chiefs	Chiefs
Vikings +6.5 at Ravens	Ravens	Ravens	Ravens	Ravens	Ravens
Browns +12.5 at Patriots	Patriots	Browns	Browns	Browns	Patriots
Raiders +3 at Jets	Raiders	Jets	Jets	Jets	Jets
Colts +6 at Bengals	Bengals	Colts	Bengals	Bengals	Colts
Lions +3 at Eagles	Eagles	Eagles	Lions	Eagles	Eagles
Dolphins +3 at Steelers	Steelers	Steelers	Dolphins	Steelers	Steelers
Bills +2.5 at Buccaneers	Buccaneers	Buccaneers	Bills	Bills	Buccaneers
Falcons +6* at Packers	Falcons	Falcons	Falcons	Falcons	Falcons
Titans +12 at Broncos	Titans	Titans	Titans	Titans	Broncos
Rams +6.5 at Cardinals	Rams	Rams	Rams	Cardinals	Rams
Giants +3 at Chargers	Chargers	Giants	Giants	Chargers	Giants
Seahawks +3 at 49ers	Seahawks	49ers	49ers	49ers	49ers
Panthers +3 at Saints	Saints	Panthers	Saints	Panthers	Saints
Cowboys +1 at Bears	Bears	Bears	Bears	Cowboys	Bears
Best Bet	Ravens	Rams	Saints	49ers	Buccaneers
Last Week's Record	7-8-1	7-8-1	6-9-1	5-10-1	7-8-1
2013 Record	102-81-9	87-96-9	92-91-9	80-103-9	94-89-9
Best Bet Record	8-4-1	4-9	5-8	8-5	5-8
2013 Consensus Pick Record	14-22-3
2012 Record	110-140-6	124-126-6	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

Consensus Picks

This week we have two consensus picks: the Ravens and Falcons. Last week we went 0-2 to put us at 14-22-3 on the season.

Comments:

Writer	Comment
Erickson	Vikings defense is still a dumpster fire, and I think even the Ravens' offense will be able to take advantage of that in Baltimore, where they're an infinitely better team... Falcons-Packers is where our picks on Wednesday format screws us - Rodgers is worth possibly 10 points in the line - there's a reason why there's no line yet. It's also illustrative of how much the bettor is hosed in the long run. Think of it this way - if this were earlier in the year, and Rodgers were healthy, and you put your bet in on a Wednesday, and then he suffers that collarbone injury on Thursday, could you get your money back on your bet? Of course not - you're locked and loaded. Second least-worst bet, as I struggled with nearly all of them this week, is Pittsburgh.
Pianowski	I feel strongly about the Rams, Niners and Bears, so have fun with your power fade. The New England line also seems too high, not that you can ever back Cleveland with any level of confidence.
Liss	Looks like I'm on my own with the Dolphins and Bills. Both picks felt contrarian, so I'm not surprised. Besides the Saints, I like the 49ers, Texans, Redskins and Bears.
Stopa	Fade away, faders.
Del Don	The Bucs are a different team now than they were over the first half of the season, and I don't see why they aren't favored by the full three here. My second best bet would probably be the Ravens, who have played much better defense at home than on the road this season.

The players:

•Jeff Erickson: RotoWire Senior editor, 2001, 2008 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.