NFL Picks: Backing the Chiefs

NFL Picks: Backing the Chiefs

This article is part of our NFL Picks series.

The Staff has not had a good playoffs against the spread. Stopa, DDD and I are tied at 2-5-1, while Pianowski and Erickson are at 1-6-1. And our majority picks are at 0-7-1 through the first two rounds.

This week we have no unanimous picks, but four of us are on the Chiefs, and three of us made them our best bets. The only team that's not anyone's best bet is the Patriots.

EricksonPianowskiLissStopaDel Don
Rams +3.5 at SaintsRamsSaintsRamsRamsSaints
Patriots +3 at ChiefsPatriotsChiefsChiefsChiefsChiefs
Best BetRamsChiefsChiefsChiefsSaints
Last Week's Record1-30-42-20-42-2
2018 Playoff Record1-6-11-6-12-5-12-5-12-5-1
2018 Record125-122-9134-113-9141-106-9117-130-9120-127-9
Playoff Best Bet Record0-20-21-11-10-2
Best Bet Record12-511-610-78-8-17-9-1
2017 Best Bet Record8-7-29-7-112-4-18-7-211-6
Unanimous Pick Record26-22-1
Majority Pick Record132-115-9
2017 Playoff Record5-65-65-67-42-9
2016 Playoff Record6-55-66-54-76-5
2015 Playoff Record5-62-93-82-91-10
2014 Playoff Record10-15-69-24-79-2
2013 Playoff Record5-4-23-6-24-5-24-5-24-5-2
2012 Playoff Record4-6-15-5-16-4-14-6-18-2-1
2011 Playoff Record8-35-69-26-57-4
2010 Playoff Record6-55-65-67-48-3
2009 Playoff Record5-64-71-106-55-6
2008 Playoff Record6-55-65-68-34-7
2007 Playoff Record8-33-86-5N/A2-9
2006
The Staff has not had a good playoffs against the spread. Stopa, DDD and I are tied at 2-5-1, while Pianowski and Erickson are at 1-6-1. And our majority picks are at 0-7-1 through the first two rounds.

This week we have no unanimous picks, but four of us are on the Chiefs, and three of us made them our best bets. The only team that's not anyone's best bet is the Patriots.

EricksonPianowskiLissStopaDel Don
Rams +3.5 at SaintsRamsSaintsRamsRamsSaints
Patriots +3 at ChiefsPatriotsChiefsChiefsChiefsChiefs
Best BetRamsChiefsChiefsChiefsSaints
Last Week's Record1-30-42-20-42-2
2018 Playoff Record1-6-11-6-12-5-12-5-12-5-1
2018 Record125-122-9134-113-9141-106-9117-130-9120-127-9
Playoff Best Bet Record0-20-21-11-10-2
Best Bet Record12-511-610-78-8-17-9-1
2017 Best Bet Record8-7-29-7-112-4-18-7-211-6
Unanimous Pick Record26-22-1
Majority Pick Record132-115-9
2017 Playoff Record5-65-65-67-42-9
2016 Playoff Record6-55-66-54-76-5
2015 Playoff Record5-62-93-82-91-10
2014 Playoff Record10-15-69-24-79-2
2013 Playoff Record5-4-23-6-24-5-24-5-24-5-2
2012 Playoff Record4-6-15-5-16-4-14-6-18-2-1
2011 Playoff Record8-35-69-26-57-4
2010 Playoff Record6-55-65-67-48-3
2009 Playoff Record5-64-71-106-55-6
2008 Playoff Record6-55-65-68-34-7
2007 Playoff Record8-33-86-5N/A2-9
2006 Playoff Record7-4N/A4-7N/AN/A
2005 Playoff Record5-6N/A3-8N/AN/A
2004 Playoff Record6-5N/A4-7N/AN/A
2003 Playoff Record6-5N/A4-7N/AN/A
2002 Playoff Record6-57-45-6N/AN/A
2001 Playoff Record6-4-17-3-14-6-1N/AN/A
2017 Record117-125-14128-114-14117-125-14119-123-1498-144-14
2016 Record140-111-5130-121-5123-128-5115-136-5132-119-5
2015 Record134-114-8120-128-8114-134-8127-121-8121-127-8
2014 Record123-128-5140-111-5135-116-5124-127-5128-123-5
2013 Record132-114-10118-128-10123-123-10111-135-10128-118-10
2012 Record110-140-6125-125-6121-129-6143-107-6123-127-6
2011 Record121-128-7134-115-7124-125-7123-126-7127-122-7
2010 Record129-122-5134-117-5126-125-5136-115-5134-117-5
2009 Record123-130-3132-121-3131-122-3130-123-3126-127-3
2008 Record132-114-10128-118-10124-122-10125-121-10130-116-10
2007 Record127-120118-129127-120N/A130-117
2006 Record118-129N/A139-108N/AN/A
2005 Record121-126N/A127-120N/AN/A
2004 Record124-124N/A130-118N/AN/A
2003 Record121-126118-129124-123N/AN/A
2002 Record113-136123-126141-108N/AN/A
2001 Record124-113117-120118-119N/AN/A
2000 Record123-117134-106141-99N/AN/A

Unanimous/Majority Picks

This week we have no unanimous picks. Last week we had one unanimous pick, the Chargers, which we lost, putting our season record at 26-22-1. We went 0-4 on majority picks (three or more writers), putting our playoff record at 0-7-1. Our regular season record on majority picks was 132-115-9.

Comments:

WriterComment
Erickson I'm not really confident about either pick, and why would I be following the last two weeks? Both teams in the NFC game aren't the same offensive machines that they were in the first half, but the Rams seem closer to full function. I'll take the 3.5 points.
PianowskiHome teams have dominated these spots in recent years. At least every potential Super Bowl matchup looks good, but it's been a lousy playoffs thus far.
LissI think the Rams are at least equal to the Saints, and they're getting the extra hook. I also think Aqib Talib will slow down Michael Thomas somewhat. The Chiefs are too talented for the Patriots, and unlike last week, the Patriots don't have every other conceivable advantage.
Stopa The home/road splits for both AFC teams are pronounced, so I think this line should be more than the standard 3. Rams/Saints, conversely, feels like more of a toss-up, and I'd have set that line right at 3.
Del DonJared Goff has gotten 7.6 YPA with a 10:9 TD:INT ratio on the road this season, and he'll need to step up against a Saints defense that shuts down the run. Both these lines look about right, and if I were wagering, I'd tease the home teams this weekend.

The players:

• Jeff Erickson: RotoWire Senior editor, 2001, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2016 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, 2014 and 2017 Staff Picks Champ. Roots for the Patriots.

• Chris Liss: RotoWire Managing Editor, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2018 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.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chris Liss
Chris Liss was RotoWire's Managing Editor and Host of RotoWire Fantasy Sports Today on Sirius XM radio from 2001-2022.
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