This article is part of our NFL Picks series.
Stopa won the week at 9-5, but Pianowski's still a comfortable five games in front. I'm still in last place, but narrowed the gap by a game. We have four consensus picks this week: the Texans, Jets, Bears and Giants. And Pianow's best bet is the Giants, while Stopa's is the Bears.
Have a great Thanksgiving and enjoy the games.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
| Packers -6 at Lions | Packers | Packers | Lions | Packers | Lions |
| Dolphins +7 at Cowboys | Dolphins | Cowboys | Dolphins | Cowboys | Dolphins |
| 49ers +3.5 at Ravens | 49ers | 49ers | 49ers | Ravens | Ravens |
| Vikings +9.5 at Falcons | Vikings | Vikings | Falcons | Vikings | Vikings |
| Texans -3.5 at Jaguars | Texans | Texans | Texans | Texans | Texans |
| Buccaneers +3 at Titans | Titans | Buccaneers | Titans | Buccaneers | Titans |
| Cardinals +3 at Rams | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Rams |
| Browns +8 at Bengals | Browns | Bengals | Browns | Browns | Bengals |
| Bills +9 at Jets | Jets | Jets | Jets | Jets | Jets |
| Panthers -3.5 at Colts | Colts | Panthers | Colts | Colts | Panthers |
| Redskins +3.5 at Seahawks | Seahawks | Redskins | Seahawks | Seahawks | Redskins |
| Bears +4 at Raiders | Bears | Bears | Bears | Bears | Bears |
| Patriots -3 at Eagles | Patriots | Patriots | Eagles | Patriots | Eagles |
| Broncos +7 at Chargers | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Chargers | Broncos |
| Steelers -10.5 at Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Steelers | Steelers |
| Giants +7 at Saints | Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants |
| Best Bet | Seahawks | Giants | Broncos | Bears | Titans |
| Last Week's Record | 7-7 | 6-8 | 8-6 | 9-5 | 7-7 |
| 2011 Record | 77-78-5 | 84-71-5 | 75-80-5 | 79-76-5 | 77-78-5 |
| Best Bet Record | 6-5 | 5-5-1 | 6-5 | 8-3 | 3-7-1 |
| Consensus Pick Record | 19-13-1 | ||||
| 2010 Record | 129-122-5 | 134-117-5 | 126-125-5 | 136-115-5 |
Stopa won the week at 9-5, but Pianowski's still a comfortable five games in front. I'm still in last place, but narrowed the gap by a game. We have four consensus picks this week: the Texans, Jets, Bears and Giants. And Pianow's best bet is the Giants, while Stopa's is the Bears.
Have a great Thanksgiving and enjoy the games.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
| Packers -6 at Lions | Packers | Packers | Lions | Packers | Lions |
| Dolphins +7 at Cowboys | Dolphins | Cowboys | Dolphins | Cowboys | Dolphins |
| 49ers +3.5 at Ravens | 49ers | 49ers | 49ers | Ravens | Ravens |
| Vikings +9.5 at Falcons | Vikings | Vikings | Falcons | Vikings | Vikings |
| Texans -3.5 at Jaguars | Texans | Texans | Texans | Texans | Texans |
| Buccaneers +3 at Titans | Titans | Buccaneers | Titans | Buccaneers | Titans |
| Cardinals +3 at Rams | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Rams |
| Browns +8 at Bengals | Browns | Bengals | Browns | Browns | Bengals |
| Bills +9 at Jets | Jets | Jets | Jets | Jets | Jets |
| Panthers -3.5 at Colts | Colts | Panthers | Colts | Colts | Panthers |
| Redskins +3.5 at Seahawks | Seahawks | Redskins | Seahawks | Seahawks | Redskins |
| Bears +4 at Raiders | Bears | Bears | Bears | Bears | Bears |
| Patriots -3 at Eagles | Patriots | Patriots | Eagles | Patriots | Eagles |
| Broncos +7 at Chargers | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Chargers | Broncos |
| Steelers -10.5 at Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Steelers | Steelers |
| Giants +7 at Saints | Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants |
| Best Bet | Seahawks | Giants | Broncos | Bears | Titans |
| Last Week's Record | 7-7 | 6-8 | 8-6 | 9-5 | 7-7 |
| 2011 Record | 77-78-5 | 84-71-5 | 75-80-5 | 79-76-5 | 77-78-5 |
| Best Bet Record | 6-5 | 5-5-1 | 6-5 | 8-3 | 3-7-1 |
| Consensus Pick Record | 19-13-1 | ||||
| 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 four consensus picks: Texans, Jets, Bears and Giants. We went 1-1 on consensus picks in Week 11 to go 19-13-1 on the year. We went 32-21-1 on consensus picks in 2010.
Comments:
| Writer | Comment |
| Erickson | So much uncertainty this week regarding injuries, I hate having to pick so early... Giants seem to do better when nobody expects them to do well... The Bears have to scramble without Cutler, but they still have a great defense, and the Raiders might have to turn to Willie Gault at wideout given how many injuries they have there... Tim Tebow has gotten all the attention while the Broncos have been winning, but it's been their previously awful defense that's carried the day for them, and why I still think there's some value on their side of the coin. |
| Pianowski | You know how the Giants roll - love them as a dog, be wary as a favorite. Tom Coughlin will know the right cards to play in practice this week; we'll see a competitive game on the bayou. |
| Liss | Surprised everyone's on the Texans as they're a very heavy public team this week. Also surprised no one else took the Falcons at home against the Vikings who are likely without Adrian Peterson. |
| Stopa | For the second week in a row and the third time in six weeks, the Bears are my best bet. Even with Cutler out, I just can't believe they're getting that many points from the Raiders. Yes, Oakland is 6-4, but that's in the AFC West, they have a negative point differential, and Darren McFadden is hurt. (By contrast, the Bears are 7-3 in the NFL's best division and they have a +61 point differential.) Obviously I'd prefer Cutler under center, but the Raiders allow an NFL-worst 5.2 YPC, which means the Bears should succeed with their conservative, run-oriented game-plan. I see this as a push, so five points is just gravy... Did you know the Browns lead the NFL in pass defense? I'm not saying they're good, but especially with A.J. Green either inactive or less than 100%, this line should be less than 7, not more... The Panthers are 2-8, 0-4 on the road, and have the NFL's worst defense (bottom four in YPC and YPA - that's hard to do). They shouldn't be laying more than a FG on the road to anyone, even the Colts... The Giants match up well with the Saints and can keep that game close... If you remove the Bills record and just look at the team they're fielding right now (no Kyle Williams, no Eric Wood, no Terrance McGee, no Fred Jackson, no pass rush whatsoever, nicked up George Wilson, only Stevie Johnson can get open against press coverage), I'd need to get double digits before I thought about taking them against a Jets team fighting for its season. I'd make the Jets my best bet if the Bears line weren't so ridiculous. ... I still think the Chargers will win the division, and their run starts this week (and I don't want the Broncos to be a unanimous pick, as I fear they would if I take them). |
| Del Don | I had a hard time choosing between Houston and Tennessee as my best bet, but with the way I've performed with those this season, that just means you should be hammering Jacksonville and Tampa Bay. |
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 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: RotoWire Senior Staff Writer. 2007 Staff Picks Champ. Writes the Game Capsules and the Barometer. Covers the Eagles and roots for the 49ers.
