NFL Picks: Rams, Browns, Chiefs, Bengals and Raiders

NFL Picks: Rams, Browns, Chiefs, Bengals and Raiders

This article is part of our NFL Picks series.

For some reason we always have a lot of consensus picks in Week 1, and this year is no different. A whopping five out of 16 games are unanimous among all the writers, and not surprisingly, those teams (Rams, Browns, Chiefs, Bengals, Raiders) are all underdogs, three of them at home.

The target is on Pianowski's back as he's the defending champ.

Enjoy the games.

(Incidentally, Jeff Erickson and I discussed a few of the games on camera last week - see below for the video. If you prefer to read the article in its usual form, just scroll down).

EricksonPianowskiLissStopaDel Don
Cowboys +4 at GiantsGiantsGiantsGiantsCowboysCowboys
Colts +10 at BearsColtsColtsBearsColtsColts
Jaguars +3.5 at VikingsVikingsJaguarsJaguarsJaguarsJaguars
Bills +3 at JetsJetsBillsJetsJetsJets
Dolphins +11 at TexansDolphinsTexansTexansTexansDolphins
Patriots -6 at TitansTitansTitansTitansPatriotsPatriots
Rams +9 at LionsRamsRamsRamsRamsRams
Redskins +9.5 at SaintsSaintsSaintsSaintsRedskinsRedskins
Eagles -9 at BrownsBrownsBrownsBrownsBrownsBrowns
Falcons -2 at ChiefsChiefsChiefsChiefsChiefsChiefs
49ers +5 at PackersPackersPackers49ersPackersPackers
Seahawks -3 at CardinalsCardinalsSeahawksCardinalsCardinalsCardinals
Panthers -1 at BuccaneersBuccaneersBuccaneersBuccaneersBuccaneersPanthers
Steelers -1 at BroncosBroncosSteelersSteelersBroncosBroncos
Bengals +6 at RavensBengalsBengalsBengalsBengalsBengals
Chargers -1 at RaidersRaidersRaidersRaidersRaidersRaiders
For some reason we always have a lot of consensus picks in Week 1, and this year is no different. A whopping five out of 16 games are unanimous among all the writers, and not surprisingly, those teams (Rams, Browns, Chiefs, Bengals, Raiders) are all underdogs, three of them at home.

The target is on Pianowski's back as he's the defending champ.

Enjoy the games.

(Incidentally, Jeff Erickson and I discussed a few of the games on camera last week - see below for the video. If you prefer to read the article in its usual form, just scroll down).

EricksonPianowskiLissStopaDel Don
Cowboys +4 at GiantsGiantsGiantsGiantsCowboysCowboys
Colts +10 at BearsColtsColtsBearsColtsColts
Jaguars +3.5 at VikingsVikingsJaguarsJaguarsJaguarsJaguars
Bills +3 at JetsJetsBillsJetsJetsJets
Dolphins +11 at TexansDolphinsTexansTexansTexansDolphins
Patriots -6 at TitansTitansTitansTitansPatriotsPatriots
Rams +9 at LionsRamsRamsRamsRamsRams
Redskins +9.5 at SaintsSaintsSaintsSaintsRedskinsRedskins
Eagles -9 at BrownsBrownsBrownsBrownsBrownsBrowns
Falcons -2 at ChiefsChiefsChiefsChiefsChiefsChiefs
49ers +5 at PackersPackersPackers49ersPackersPackers
Seahawks -3 at CardinalsCardinalsSeahawksCardinalsCardinalsCardinals
Panthers -1 at BuccaneersBuccaneersBuccaneersBuccaneersBuccaneersPanthers
Steelers -1 at BroncosBroncosSteelersSteelersBroncosBroncos
Bengals +6 at RavensBengalsBengalsBengalsBengalsBengals
Chargers -1 at RaidersRaidersRaidersRaidersRaidersRaiders
Best BetJetsBrownsChiefsRedskinsPanthers
2011 Record121-128-7134-115-7124-125-7123-126-7127-122-7
2011 Best Bet Record7-9-18-8-110-710-77-9-1
2011 Consensus Pick Record30-24-2
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

Consensus Picks

This week we have five consensus picks: the Rams, Browns, Chiefs, Bengals and Raiders. Last year we were 30-24-2 on consensus picks.

Comments:

WriterComment
EricksonConsider this a bet against the idea that the preseason has any meaning, especially at the team level.
PianowskiIt's going to be a while before anyone knows anything in 2012. Reflexively taking a heavy dog at home will always feel like the right play. And Cleveland's defense was a solid unit last year, amidst absolutely no fanfare. I wouldn't take Philly as a survivor pick, either.
LissI backed the teams that looked worst in the preaseason and faded the ones that looked best. That meant taking AZ and NYJ and staying away from ATL. I also faded all of the rookie QBs on the road and backed the Browns only because the line was so big in Cleveland.
Stopa I saw my Bills getting six points for this game when it opened. Now that the line is down to three - less in some places - the Jets have to be the right play. I hope I'm wrong, but that Jets defense has made the Bills offense look bad in recent years... I want the Lions, Bears and Eagles to prove it on the field before I lay that many points, especially with Philly on the road... The Saints and Ravens both have their lines set as if they will again be dominant, playoff teams. I think both will miss the playoffs, and it will take Vegas several weeks for the lines to adjust. The Saints defense is going to be among the NFL's worst, and the Ravens defense is a year older and without Terrell Suggs... Falcons/Chiefs, Steelers/Broncos, Panthers/Bucs, Seahawks/Cardinals and Chargers/Raiders all seemed like toss-ups, so I went with the home teams. Home vs. road has mattered for the Falcons, Chiefs and Seahawks in recent years.
Del Don Since it's the start of a new season, Week 1 offers the most uncertainty, so when in doubt, I took the points...Backing the Panthers certainly isn't an "agnostic" pick, but I just see them as the superior team.

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 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 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: Fantasy Expert for Yahoo! Sports, 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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