Zachary PerelesNov 3, 2026
Pereles leans toward all four NFC North teams — the Vikings, Bears, Lions and Packers — making the playoffs, which would be the first division to produce four postseason teams since the 2002 realignment.
Published in writing · CBS SportsRead the original
What Zachary Pereles said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromRight now, I'd lean toward the NFC North getting all four teams in, but it's a very slight lean.
- Where it was published
- CBS Sports
- The piece
- Could NFC North have four playoff teams? After strong Week 8, it's looking more likely than ever
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- 1Detroit Lions to make the playoffs“Right now, I'd lean toward the NFC North getting all four teams in, but it's a very slight lean.”
- 2Minnesota Vikings to make the playoffs“Right now, I'd lean toward the NFC North getting all four teams in, but it's a very slight lean.”
- 3Chicago Bears to make the playoffs“Right now, I'd lean toward the NFC North getting all four teams in, but it's a very slight lean.”
- 4Green Bay Packers to make the playoffs“The NFC North is staring down the distinct possibility of becoming the first division to produce four playoff teams since the 2002 realignment ... Right now, I'd lean toward the NFC North getting all four teams in”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit Lions to make the playoffs1 | Playoff Picks | — | — | — | — | |
| Minnesota Vikings to make the playoffs2 | Playoff Picks | — | — | — | — | |
| Chicago Bears to make the playoffs3 | Playoff Picks | — | — | — | — | |
| Green Bay Packers to make the playoffs4 | Playoff Picks | — | — | — | — | |
| 4 calls · 4 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
4 checkable claims — 4 playoff picks — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 4 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.
Detroit Lions to make the playoffs
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Playoff PicksMinnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings to make the playoffs
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Chicago Bears to make the playoffs
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
4Playoff PicksGreen Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers 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
Logan Lazarczyk · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Ahead of the trade deadline, they float three Raiders moves: shipping Kirk Cousins to Minnesota if the Vikings offer a second-round pick, selling Maxx Crosby to Dallas for a first-rounder plus, and acquiring Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. for a second- or third-round pick.Charean Williams · Roster Spot Calls · Odell Beckham Jr. · Miss 0
Williams writes that after releasing Odell Beckham Jr. to open a roster spot for Kirk Cousins, the Vikings will bring them back on the practice squad.John Middlekauff · Draft Bust Calls · Caleb Williams · Miss 0
Middlekauff expects either Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson to win this year's MVP, calling them the two best players in the league. They are pessimistic on the Bears, forecasting six or seven wins and saying they'd bet Caleb Williams doesn't work out as a franchise quarterback. They also see Oklahoma's John Mattier as a first-round pick who'll be in the Heisman mix.Justin Penik · Trade and Signing Calls · Aaron Jones · Hit 100
Pennock predicted Sam Darnold to Pittsburgh, Zach Baun re-signing in Philadelphia, Charvarius Ward and Jamien Sherwood to Washington, Cam Robinson to Chicago as left tackle, Cam Bynum to the Jets, Darius Slayton to the Chargers, Aaron Jones back to Minnesota and Aaron Rodgers to the Giants.
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 · 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.