This article is part of our NFL Picks series.
Congrats to Jeff Erickson for winning the playoff portion of staff picks, though only because he's the only one not to be a total disaster (four of us are 2-8 or worse.)
This week, everyone's got the Panthers except me, and everyone has the under except Pianow.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broncos +6 vs. Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Broncos | Panthers | Panthers |
| Final Score | 24-10 | 27-19 | Panthers 17-13 | 24-13 | 23-13 |
| Last Week's Record | 1-1 | 1-1 | 0-2 | 1-1 | 0-2 |
| 2015 Playoff Record | 5-5 | 2-8 | 2-8 | 2-8 | 1-9 |
| Best Bet Record | 11-8-1 | 8-12 | 711-2 | 7-12-1 | 8-12 |
| Unanimous Pick Record | 21-29 | ||||
| Majority Pick Record | 124-134-8 | ||||
| 2014 Playoff Record | 10-1 | 5-6 | 9-2 | 4-7 | 9-2 |
| 2013 Playoff Record | 5-4-2 | 3-6-2 | 4-5-2 | 4-5-2 | 4-5-2 |
| 2012 Playoff Record | 4-6-1 | 5-5-1 | 6-4-1 | 4-6-1 | 8-2-1 |
| 2011 Playoff Record | 8-3 | 5-6 | 9-2 | 6-5 | 7-4 |
| 2010 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 5-6 | 5-6 | 7-4 | 8-3 |
| 2009 Playoff Record | 5-6 | 4-7 | 1-10 | 6-5 | 5-6 |
| 2008 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 5-6 | 5-6 | 8-3 | 4-7 |
| 2007 Playoff Record | 8-3 | 3-8 | 6-5 | N/A | 2-9 |
| 2006 Playoff Record | 7-4 | N/A | 4-7 | N/A | N/A |
| 2005 Playoff Record | 5-6 | N/A | 3-8 | N/A | N/A |
| 2004 Playoff Record | 6-5 | N/A | 4-7 | N/A | N/A |
| 2003 Playoff Record | 6-5 | N/A | 4-7 | N/A | N/A |
| 2002 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 7-4 | 5-6 | N/A | N/A |
| 2001 Playoff Record | 6-4-1 | 7-3-1 | 4-6-1 | N/A | N/A |
| 2000 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 7-4 | 6-5 | N/A | N/A |
| 2015 Record | 134-114-8 | 120-128-8 | 114-134-8 | 127-121-8 | 121-127-8 |
| 2014 Record | 123-128-5 | 140-111-5 | 135-116-5 | 124-127-5 | 128-123-5 |
| 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 |
Congrats to Jeff Erickson for winning the playoff portion of staff picks, though only because he's the only one not to be a total disaster (four of us are 2-8 or worse.)
Unanimous/Majority Picks
The players:
This week, everyone's got the Panthers except me, and everyone has the under except Pianow.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broncos +6 vs. Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Broncos | Panthers | Panthers |
| Final Score | 24-10 | 27-19 | Panthers 17-13 | 24-13 | 23-13 |
| Last Week's Record | 1-1 | 1-1 | 0-2 | 1-1 | 0-2 |
| 2015 Playoff Record | 5-5 | 2-8 | 2-8 | 2-8 | 1-9 |
| Best Bet Record | 11-8-1 | 8-12 | 711-2 | 7-12-1 | 8-12 |
| Unanimous Pick Record | 21-29 | ||||
| Majority Pick Record | 124-134-8 | ||||
| 2014 Playoff Record | 10-1 | 5-6 | 9-2 | 4-7 | 9-2 |
| 2013 Playoff Record | 5-4-2 | 3-6-2 | 4-5-2 | 4-5-2 | 4-5-2 |
| 2012 Playoff Record | 4-6-1 | 5-5-1 | 6-4-1 | 4-6-1 | 8-2-1 |
| 2011 Playoff Record | 8-3 | 5-6 | 9-2 | 6-5 | 7-4 |
| 2010 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 5-6 | 5-6 | 7-4 | 8-3 |
| 2009 Playoff Record | 5-6 | 4-7 | 1-10 | 6-5 | 5-6 |
| 2008 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 5-6 | 5-6 | 8-3 | 4-7 |
| 2007 Playoff Record | 8-3 | 3-8 | 6-5 | N/A | 2-9 |
| 2006 Playoff Record | 7-4 | N/A | 4-7 | N/A | N/A |
| 2005 Playoff Record | 5-6 | N/A | 3-8 | N/A | N/A |
| 2004 Playoff Record | 6-5 | N/A | 4-7 | N/A | N/A |
| 2003 Playoff Record | 6-5 | N/A | 4-7 | N/A | N/A |
| 2002 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 7-4 | 5-6 | N/A | N/A |
| 2001 Playoff Record | 6-4-1 | 7-3-1 | 4-6-1 | N/A | N/A |
| 2000 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 7-4 | 6-5 | N/A | N/A |
| 2015 Record | 134-114-8 | 120-128-8 | 114-134-8 | 127-121-8 | 121-127-8 |
| 2014 Record | 123-128-5 | 140-111-5 | 135-116-5 | 124-127-5 | 128-123-5 |
| 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 have no unanimous picks. We lost with the Patriots last week, dropping our YTD record to 21-29-1. We went 1-1 on majority picks (three or more writers) to bring our season record to 124-134-8.
Comments:
| Writer | Comment |
|---|---|
| Erickson | I guess I'm the square, because the general public seems to be on the Panthers too. At the start of the playoffs, the consensus was there were three dominant teams in the NFL, all residing in the NFC - Carolina, Arizona and Seattle. Carolina laid waste to both of them. The line on the AFC side was that every team there had its fleas. Denver has a great defense, but with Peyton Manning at quarterback, I think Carolina's defense is going to have a big day. I set my personal line at -7 before looking at the actual line, so I'm taking Carolina. I'm less confident on the total, but with two great defenses I will cheat towards the under. |
| Pianowski | I still don't trust Peyton Manning at all, and Cam Newton's mobility (and physicality) could partially neutralize Denver's excellent pass rush. |
| Liss | Elite defenses rarely lose in the Super Bowl and almost always cover. Denver grades out as elite, and far better than the Panthers defense when you adjust for strength of schedule. I am toying with hedging Panthers moneyline, though as Peyton Manning is terrible, and I could easily see them winning a close, low-scoring game. |
| Stopa | I've liked Carolina since the Conference title games ended but progressively less as the line has moved against them. I just hate being on the sucker side for the Super Bowl, as Vegas certainly isn't giving it away. But I can't bet on Peyton's noodle arm, particularly when I'm convinced Denver won't score in the 20s. That's actually my favorite Super Bowl bet - Denver under 20 points. I also like under 45.5 points and Cam for MVP. And make no mistake - unless there's a return TD, Newton will win MVP. |
| Del Don | I've faded Carolina all season, so it will be fitting that I'll lose after betting heavily on them in the Super Bowl. The Panthers had an easy schedule, but their 6.2 YPA allowed was the same as Denver's, and Carolina forced 10 more interceptions and had a lower passer rating against. I don't love how heavy everyone is on Carolina, which is why I went moneyline more so than the spread that continues to climb, but I just don't see Denver scoring many points, which is why I also like the under. A blowout shouldn't be ruled out here. |
The players:
• Jeff Erickson: RotoWire Senior editor, 2001, 2008, 2013, 2015 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 and 2014 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.
