Rich Eisen#38 of 87 NFL pundits · May 13, 2026

Eisen delivered their "way, way, way too early" top-10 NFL power rankings ahead of the schedule release, with the Rams first and Chargers second, and also predicted the Rams and Chargers could meet in Super Bowl 61 at SoFi. They also tabbed Ravens rookie guard Oliva Venga as an offensive rookie of the year contender and picked winners of all nine international series games.

Said on air, transcribed by us · The Rich Eisen Show (podcast)Hear the original

3 of 6calls landed3 hits · 3 misses · 6 waiting

50Average accuracyout of 100, across 6 calls

16.7A naive guessthe same calls, no knowledge

8Games calledeveryone’s picks below

#38Rich Eisen’s rankof 87 ranked NFL pundits

What Rich Eisen said

And that's my way, way, way too early power rankings. With the Rams one and the Chargers two.

Rich Eisen, the lead quote

Where it was said: The Rich Eisen Show (podcast)
The episode: Hour 1: Rich’s Way-Way-Way-Too-Early NFL Power Rankings, plus NFL International Schedule Reaction
The original: Hear the original
Read it wrong?: Tell us and we will look

SaidMay 13
PlayedSep 10–Nov 8
GradedSep 12–Nov 8

Box score, by kind

HitCloseMissWaiting

Group	Hits	Misses	Waiting
Game Outcome Picks	3	3	2
Conference Champions	0	0	2
Award Picks	0	0	1
Power Rankings	0	0	1
All	3	3	6

How each call scored

12 checkable claims — 8 game outcome picks, 2 conference champions, 1 award pick and 1 power ranking — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.

It names 11 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

6 of 12 have settled so far, averaging 50 out of 100, against 16.7 for a naive guess at the same calls.

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.

Game Outcome Picks3 hits · 3 misses · 2 waitingShow ▸

Cincinnati Bengals to beat Falcons
“I'm taking Joe Burrow in Madrid.”
Cincinnati Bengals
Bengals 34–17Bengals at Falcons
100Hit
100 − 0 naive = 100 × 2 difficulty = +200 skill
How this was scored
won:
CIN
score:
34-17
skill:
200
they picked:
CIN
season:
2026
accuracy:
100
baseline:
0
the naive pick:
ATL
difficulty:
2
weeks in the season:
18
weeks left when called:
18
Think this is wrong?
Pittsburgh Steelers to beat Saints
“I'm taking Aaron Rodgers in Paris... Going with the Steelers on that one.”
Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 16–10Steelers at Saints
100Hit
100 − 0 naive = 100 × 2 difficulty = +200 skill
How this was scored
won:
PIT
score:
16-10
skill:
200
they picked:
PIT
season:
2026
accuracy:
100
baseline:
0
the naive pick:
NO
difficulty:
2
weeks in the season:
18
weeks left when called:
18
Think this is wrong?
Philadelphia Eagles to beat Jaguars
“I'm going Eagles.”
Philadelphia Eagles
Jaguars 19–17Eagles at Jaguars
0Miss
0 − 100 naive = −100 × 2 difficulty = −200 skill
How this was scored
won:
JAX
score:
17-19
skill:
−200
they picked:
PHI
season:
2026
accuracy:
0
baseline:
100
the naive pick:
JAX
difficulty:
2
weeks in the season:
18
weeks left when called:
18
Think this is wrong?
Indianapolis Colts to beat Commanders
“Colts and commanders in London. Commander. No. I'm with you too. Colts.”
Indianapolis Colts
Colts 30–13Colts at Commanders
100Hit
100 − 0 naive = 100 × 2 difficulty = +200 skill
How this was scored
won:
IND
score:
30-13
skill:
200
they picked:
IND
season:
2026
accuracy:
100
baseline:
0
the naive pick:
WAS
difficulty:
2
weeks in the season:
18
weeks left when called:
18
Think this is wrong?
Dallas Cowboys to beat Ravens
“Cowboys in Rio or Ravens in Rio? ... I will too.”
Dallas Cowboys
Ravens 34–31Ravens at Cowboys
0Miss
0 − 0 naive = 0 × 2 difficulty = 0 skill
How this was scored
won:
BAL
score:
34-31
skill:
0
they picked:
DAL
season:
2026
accuracy:
0
baseline:
0
the naive pick:
DAL
difficulty:
2
weeks in the season:
18
weeks left when called:
18
Think this is wrong?
Los Angeles Rams to beat Niners
“Who wins week one? Niners and Rams in Melbourne. Rams. Rams. I agree.”
Los Angeles Rams
49ers 27–749ers at Rams
0Miss
0 − 0 naive = 0 × 2 difficulty = 0 skill
How this was scored
won:
SF
score:
27-7
skill:
0
they picked:
LAR
season:
2026
accuracy:
0
baseline:
0
the naive pick:
LAR
difficulty:
2
weeks in the season:
18
weeks left when called:
18
Think this is wrong?
San Francisco 49ers to beat Vikings
“Vikings in Mexico City. I'm going Niners.”
San Francisco 49ers
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Detroit Lions to beat Patriots
“Patriots, Lions in London. Oh, I'm taking the Lions.”
Detroit Lions
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?

Conference Champions2 waitingShow ▸

Los Angeles Chargers to reach the Super Bowl
“the LA chargers are too, and get ready for a Super Bowl sixty one in SoFi to potentially be in that team against my number one team, the Los Angeles Rams”
Los Angeles Chargers
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Los Angeles Rams to reach the Super Bowl
“get ready for a Super Bowl sixty one in SoFi to potentially be in that team against my number one team, the Los Angeles Rams”
Los Angeles Rams
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?

Award Picks1 waitingShow ▸

Olaivavega Ioane to win Offensive Rookie of the Year
“a right guard that will be in the mix for offensive rookie of the year”
Olaivavega Ioane Baltimore Ravens
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?

Power Rankings1 waitingShow ▸

“Rich Eisen's 10-team "way, way, way too early" power rankings: 10 Ravens, 9 49ers, 8 Eagles, 7 Patriots, 6 Bears, 5 Cowboys, 4 Broncos, 3 defending Super Bowl champs, 2 Chargers, 1 Rams”
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?

The games in this take

every pundit’s pick on each

Who this take is about

Where do you stand on this one?Pick every open claim on Picks →

Others on the same people

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.
Parker Hurley · Roster Spot Calls · Khalid Kareem · Miss 0
Hurley predicts the 49ers will release Khalil Kareem when Nate Hobbs is activated and cut Brandin Cooks when C.J. West returns, while arguing Sebastian Valdez won't be the one let go and no cornerback will be cut.
John Middlekauff · Draft Bust Calls · Anthony Richardson · Hit 100
Middlekoff's bold predictions, as relayed on the show, have the Patriots and Colts making the playoffs; they also argue the Colts whiffed on Anthony Richardson, comparing them to Trey Lance.
Bryan DeArdo · Trade and Signing Calls · Joey Porter Jr. · Miss 0
The piece predicts Joey Porter Jr. most likely stays with the Steelers through 2026, while listing possible trade destinations if they were moved.
Colin Cowherd · Trade and Signing Calls · Matthew Stafford · Hit 100
Cowherd predicts Matt Stafford stays with the Rams rather than moving on, and says Travis Hunter may underachieve because they're being asked to play both ways — Cowherd doubts they're a No. 1 receiver and would slot them as a No. 2 receiver while being a No. 1 corner.
Colin Cowherd · Trade and Signing Calls · Matthew Stafford · Hit 100
Cowherd believes Matt Stafford's public negotiation posturing means he ultimately stays in Los Angeles, and he flags Travis Hunter as a high draft pick who could underachieve because trying to play both cornerback and receiver full-time will hurt him.

More game outcome picks

The same kind of call, about other players and teams.

Sam Monson · Game Outcome Picks · New York Giants · Miss 0
Monson picked every Week 10 game, taking the Giants, Lions, Packers, Panthers, Colts, Texans, Bills, Chiefs, Jaguars, Seahawks, Rams, Cowboys, Bengals and Ravens, and also suggested the Chargers' only likely wins the rest of the way come against the Jets and Dolphins.
Eva Geitheim · Game Outcome Picks · Washington Commanders · Hit 100
Geitheim picked the Commanders, Lions, Chiefs, Texans, Vikings, Jaguars, Colts, Panthers, Bills, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Bengals and Ravens in Week 10.
Conor Orr · Game Outcome Picks · New York Giants · Miss 0
Orr picked the Giants, Lions, Chiefs, Texans, Packers, Jaguars, Dolphins, Panthers, Bills, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Bengals and Chargers in Week 10.
Albert Breer · Game Outcome Picks · New York Giants · Miss 0
Breer picked all 14 Week 10 games straight up, favoring the Giants, Lions, Chiefs, Texans, Packers, Jaguars, Dolphins, Panthers, Bills, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Bengals and Ravens.
Mitch Goldich · Game Outcome Picks · New York Giants · Miss 0
Goldich picked the Giants, Lions, Chiefs, Texans, Packers, Jaguars, Dolphins, Panthers, Bills, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Bengals and Ravens in Week 10.
Matt Verderame · Game Outcome Picks · New York Giants · Miss 0
Verderame picked the Giants, Lions, Chiefs, Texans, Packers, Jaguars, Dolphins, Saints, Bills, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Bengals and Ravens in Week 10.