NFL Picks: Packers and Patriots

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Updated on December 3, 2014 11:04PM EST

It was a great week for the staff - except for me. Everyone went 10-6 or better, while I went 5-11. As a result, DDD and I are now tied for first, and Pianowski is only three games back. We also went 10-6 on majority picks and won our unanimous one. Majority picks are beating all of us at 107-83.

This week everyone likes two favorites, Packers and Patriots.

	Erickson	Pianowski	Liss	Stopa	Del Don
Cowboys -3.5 at Bears	Bears	Bears	Bears	Cowboys	Bears
Ravens +3 at Dolphins	Ravens	Ravens	Ravens	Ravens	Dolphins
Steelers +3 at Bengals	Bengals	Steelers	Steelers	Bengals	Bengals
Colts -3.5 at Browns	Browns	Browns	Browns	Colts	Colts
Texans -5 at Jaguars	Jaguars	Jaguars	Texans	Texans	Texans
Giants pick 'em at Titans	Giants	Giants	Giants	Giants	Titans
Panthers +9.5 at Saints	Panthers	Saints	Saints	Panthers	Saints
Buccaneers +9.5 at Lions	Lions	Buccaneers	Buccaneers	Buccaneers	Buccaneers
Rams -3 at Redskins	Redskins	Redskins	Redskins	Redskins	Rams
Jets +6 at Vikings	Vikings	Vikings	Jets	Vikings	Vikings
Bills +10 at Broncos	Bills	Broncos	Broncos	Broncos	Broncos
Chiefs +1 at Cardinals	Cardinals	Cardinals	Chiefs	Chiefs	Chiefs
49ers -8 at Raiders	Raiders	49ers	49ers	Raiders	49ers
Seahawks +1 at Eagles	Seahawks	Eagles	Eagles	Eagles	Eagles
Patriots -3.5 at Chargers	Patriots	Patriots	Patriots	Patriots	Patriots
Falcons +12.5 at Packers	Packers	Packers	Packers	Packers	Packers
Best Bet	Bengals	Patriots	Buccaneers	Giants	Chiefs
Last Week's Record	10-6	11-5	5-11	11-5	10-6
2014 Record	93-97-2	100-9-2	103-87-2	95-95-2	103-87-2
Best Bet Record	5-8	3-10	10-3	7-6	7-6

This week everyone likes two favorites, Packers and Patriots.

	Erickson	Pianowski	Liss	Stopa	Del Don
Cowboys -3.5 at Bears	Bears	Bears	Bears	Cowboys	Bears
Ravens +3 at Dolphins	Ravens	Ravens	Ravens	Ravens	Dolphins
Steelers +3 at Bengals	Bengals	Steelers	Steelers	Bengals	Bengals
Colts -3.5 at Browns	Browns	Browns	Browns	Colts	Colts
Texans -5 at Jaguars	Jaguars	Jaguars	Texans	Texans	Texans
Giants pick 'em at Titans	Giants	Giants	Giants	Giants	Titans
Panthers +9.5 at Saints	Panthers	Saints	Saints	Panthers	Saints
Buccaneers +9.5 at Lions	Lions	Buccaneers	Buccaneers	Buccaneers	Buccaneers
Rams -3 at Redskins	Redskins	Redskins	Redskins	Redskins	Rams
Jets +6 at Vikings	Vikings	Vikings	Jets	Vikings	Vikings
Bills +10 at Broncos	Bills	Broncos	Broncos	Broncos	Broncos
Chiefs +1 at Cardinals	Cardinals	Cardinals	Chiefs	Chiefs	Chiefs
49ers -8 at Raiders	Raiders	49ers	49ers	Raiders	49ers
Seahawks +1 at Eagles	Seahawks	Eagles	Eagles	Eagles	Eagles
Patriots -3.5 at Chargers	Patriots	Patriots	Patriots	Patriots	Patriots
Falcons +12.5 at Packers	Packers	Packers	Packers	Packers	Packers
Best Bet	Bengals	Patriots	Buccaneers	Giants	Chiefs
Last Week's Record	10-6	11-5	5-11	11-5	10-6
2014 Record	93-97-2	100-9-2	103-87-2	95-95-2	103-87-2
Best Bet Record	5-8	3-10	10-3	7-6	7-6
Majority Record	107-83-2
Unanimous Pick Record	16-14
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 all like the Patriots and Packers. Last week we went 1-0 on unanimous picks to go 16-14 on the year. And we went 10-6 on majority picks (three or more writers) to go 107-83-2.

Comments:

Writer	Comment
Erickson	The Bengals were super lucky to win last week, and I don't trust Andy Dalton, yet I feel as if this line is driven less by the teams' respective product on the field and more the history between them, where Pittsburgh has traditionally owned the Bengals in Paul Brown Stadium. But I trust the Pittsburgh defense even less than I do Dalton... Does it get any more pointless than Giants-Titans this week?... To me, the Panthers are the bust of the year. Why are they so damn bad all of a sudden? Even a correction from overachieving last year shouldn't have made them fall this far, this fast.
Pianowski	Worried about going 3-13 this week. Loathe the slate. But there might not be anything predictive to that.
Liss	Maybe I'm imagining it, but the Bucs defense seems much better the last three weeks. It's odd to be backing so many big favorites (NO, SF, DEN and GB), but I couldn't bring myself to take the dog in any of those cases. Hope Pianow doesn't go 3-13 because we differ on only three picks. That would give me a 1 in 8 chance of going 0-16.
Stopa	The Titans have been an abomination on defense in recent weeks. When Ryan Fitzpatrick throws a six pack against you, it's bad. Giants are due for a win here... The Patriots won't lose two straight. They almost never do... Why are the Saints favored by so much? Have they blown out anyone all year?
Del Don	I went very heavy with favorites this week, which is always a scary proposition... Seems crazy to back New Orleans as big favorites, but the Panthers' -103 point differential is the worst in the NFC... Do you realize Ryan Fitzpatrick has an 8.1 YPA mark this season, while Zach Mettenberger's is 8.3?... I wanted to bet on both Washington and St. Louis, who seem much better now compared to earlier on, but I'm banking more so on the Rams, who have a ridiculous pass rush.

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 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.