Greg AumanSep 15, 2026
After the Chiefs' dominant Week 1 win over Denver, Auman declared that the AFC West once again runs through Kansas City, and described Denver's upcoming opponents — the Jaguars, Rams, 49ers, Chargers and Seahawks — as 2025 playoff teams expected to return to the postseason in 2026.
Published in writing · Fox SportsRead the original
What Greg Auman said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromA surprisingly resounding Week 1 divisional win, combined with the Chargers' wobbly start losing to Arizona, and just like that, the AFC West goes through Kansas City again.
- Where it was published
- Fox Sports
- The piece
- Patrick Mahomes Gets Win In Return: 3 Takeaways As Chiefs Beat Broncos
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- 1Los Angeles Chargers to make the playoffs“Home vs. the Jaguars and Rams, at the 49ers and Chargers, then home against the Seahawks — all 2025 playoff teams expected to do the same this season.”
- 2Jacksonville Jaguars to make the playoffs“Home vs. the Jaguars and Rams, at the 49ers and Chargers, then home against the Seahawks — all 2025 playoff teams expected to do the same this season.”
- 3Seattle Seahawks to make the playoffs“Home vs. the Jaguars and Rams, at the 49ers and Chargers, then home against the Seahawks — all 2025 playoff teams expected to do the same this season.”
- 4Kansas City Chiefs to win the division“A surprisingly resounding Week 1 divisional win, combined with the Chargers' wobbly start losing to Arizona, and just like that, the AFC West goes through Kansas City again.”
- 5Los Angeles Rams to make the playoffs“Home vs. the Jaguars and Rams, at the 49ers and Chargers, then home against the Seahawks — all 2025 playoff teams expected to do the same this season.”
- 6San Francisco 49ers to make the playoffs“Home vs. the Jaguars and Rams, at the 49ers and Chargers, then home against the Seahawks — all 2025 playoff teams expected to do the same this season.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Chargers to make the playoffs1 | Playoff Picks | — | — | — | — | |
| Jacksonville Jaguars to make the playoffs2 | Playoff Picks | — | — | — | — | |
| Seattle Seahawks to make the playoffs3 | Playoff Picks | — | — | — | — | |
| Kansas City Chiefs to win the division4 | Division Winners | — | — | — | — | |
| Los Angeles Rams to make the playoffs5 | Playoff Picks | — | — | — | — | |
| San Francisco 49ers to make the playoffs6 | Playoff Picks | — | — | — | — | |
| 6 calls · 6 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
6 checkable claims — 5 playoff picks and 1 division winner — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 6 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Each call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same calls; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.
Their call against the record
Their call against what actually happened last time. Not yet settled.
1Playoff PicksLos Angeles Chargers
Los Angeles Chargers to make the playoffs
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Playoff PicksJacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars to make the playoffs
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Playoff PicksSeattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks to make the playoffs
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
4Division WinnersKansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs to win the division
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
5Playoff PicksLos Angeles Rams
Los Angeles Rams to make the playoffs
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
6Playoff PicksSan Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers to make the playoffs
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Chris Clark · Trade and Signing Calls · Nikko Remigio · Miss 0
Clark expects the Chiefs to bring back exclusive-rights receiver Nico (Remigio) and long snapper James Winchester, to re-sign JuJu Smith-Schuster as a cheap veteran fifth receiver, and not to bring back Hollywood Brown, Josh Dobbs-type depth, Gardner Minshew, Janarius Robinson or Mike Caliendo; they also say the Chiefs will not use a franchise tag and believes Bryan Cook won't return.Nate Gosney · Trade and Signing Calls · Daiyan Henley · Miss 0
After the Broncos rescinded the trade, Gosney expects Daiyan Henley to remain with the Chargers for the rest of the 2026 season, but believes the awkward fallout has effectively killed any chance of them signing a new contract with Los Angeles after the season.Gilberto Manzano · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
Previewing the trade deadline, he expects Justin Herbert to stay in Los Angeles despite the Chargers' 0–7 start, thinks the Jets will keep Garrett Wilson and pair him with their young weapons, expects a receiver-hungry Kansas City to be aggressive with Josh Downs the likeliest target, and suggests expiring Eagles contracts Moro Ojomo and Riq Woolen could be dealt for mid-round picks.Joshua Poniatowski · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
Poniatowski names several trade targets, predicting Malik Willis underperforms this week against New England, that Omarion Hampton could become a viable RB2 if Adam Gase takes over play-calling, that Josh Downs gets traded (ideally to Kansas City, where they'd be a top-24 WR), that Brian Thomas Jr. could be dealt to the Rams or 49ers, and that Travis Kelce remains a consistent weekly TE.
More playoff picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Ross Jackson · Playoff Picks · New Orleans Saints · Miss 0
Jackson projects a big sophomore jump for Saints QB Tyler Shuck, laying out a Drake May-style stat line (17 starts, 72% completions, ~4,601 passing yards, 24 TDs, 9 INTs) or a Bo Nix-style consistency line (over 4,000 yards, over 20 TDs, ~10 INTs), and says either path means a playoff season for New Orleans in 2026.Rich Eisen · Playoff Picks · Minnesota Vikings · Miss 0
Eisen argues Ohio State will produce multiple top-10 picks — Sonny Styles, Arvell Reese and Caleb Downs — becoming the first school with three defensive players in the top 10, and that Styles will not be available at No. 12 to the Cowboys. He also thinks Fernando Mendoza is worthy of the No. 1 overall pick and expects the Raiders to draft him, and picks Trey Lance over Anthony Richardson to start a game first, Micah Parsons to fetch a bigger trade return than Maxx Crosby, Kirk Cousins as the released QB most likely to reach the playoffs, and J.J. McCarthy as the Vikings' Week 1 starter.Rich Eisen · Playoff Picks · Carolina Panthers · Hit 100
Eisen forecast the Week 18 results and the entire wild-card field: Buccaneers over Panthers but Carolina still gets in as the 5 seed when Atlanta beats New Orleans, 49ers over Seahawks, Ravens over Steelers, Jaguars beating Tennessee to win the AFC South, and six wild-card matchups (Seahawks-Panthers, Bills-Jaguars, Texans-Ravens, Packers-Bears, Chargers-Patriots, Rams-Eagles), with Houston upsetting Baltimore. They also tabbed Saints rookie Tyler Shough as a possible Offensive Rookie of the Year.Chris Brockman · Playoff Picks · Pittsburgh Steelers · Hit 100
Brockman argued the road to the Super Bowl in the AFC goes through Foxborough, meaning the Patriots will finish as the No. 1 seed, and called their shot that the Chargers beat Denver in Week 18. They also declared the Bears a team of destiny who will win the NFC, said the Steelers will end their playoff win drought, and that Trevor Lawrence is playing like a top-five quarterback.Rich Eisen · Playoff Picks · Green Bay Packers · Hit 100
Eisen agreed the Bears are a team of destiny who will win the NFC, insisted the Packers will make the playoffs and won't lose at home to the Ravens, said the Steelers should make the playoffs, and endorsed the view that Trevor Lawrence is playing like a top-five quarterback.