Carter Bahns· Sep 23, 2026
Bahns argues the Bengals are now a complete, top-tier team whose defensive additions can carry them back to the Super Bowl, while the Chargers' season may already be lost with road games at Buffalo and Seattle looking unwinnable. He also sees the Saints as division favorites, picks Jacksonville over New England and expects the Eagles to reach 3-0 against a Bears team likely without Caleb Williams.
“The defensive personnel changes are difference makers -- ones that can help the Bengals get back to the Super Bowl.”
published in writing · CBS Sports · read the original →
7 checkable claims — 4 game outcome picks, 1 availability call, 1 conference champion and 1 division winner — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 8 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
3 of 7 have settled so far, averaging 66.7 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls.
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Who this take is about
The games in this take
- Chargers at Bills 22 calls
- Patriots at Jaguars 16 calls
- Eagles at Bears 23 calls
- Chargers at Seahawks 6 calls
7 checkable claims in this take
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
- Game Outcome PicksPhiladelphia EaglesSep 23, 2026
Philadelphia Eagles to beat Chicago Bears
“That is an unenviable matchup for a third-string quarterback and a prime spot for the Eagles to improve to 3-0.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 100-189 skillHow this was scored
- won:
- CHI
- score:
- 7-27
- skill:
- -189
- they picked:
- PHI
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 100
- the naive pick:
- CHI
- difficulty:
- 1.89
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 16
- Game Outcome PicksJacksonville JaguarsSep 23, 2026
Jacksonville Jaguars to beat New England Patriots
“The Jacksonville Jaguars have lost consecutive games just once since 2024 and could put up a number New England cannot match in this contest between 1-1 squads.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- won:
- JAX
- score:
- 6-35
- skill:
- 0
- they picked:
- JAX
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- the naive pick:
- JAX
- difficulty:
- 1.89
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 16
- Game Outcome PicksBuffalo BillsSep 23, 2026
Buffalo Bills to beat Chargers
“in order to salvage the first month of the campaign, the Chargers have to right their wrongs on the road against the Buffalo Bills and Seattle Seahawks. That feels unachievable.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- won:
- BUF
- score:
- 16-24
- skill:
- 0
- they picked:
- BUF
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- the naive pick:
- BUF
- difficulty:
- 1.89
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 16
- Game Outcome PicksSeattle SeahawksSep 23, 2026
Seattle Seahawks to beat Chargers
“the Chargers have to right their wrongs on the road against the Buffalo Bills and Seattle Seahawks. That feels unachievable.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersNew Orleans SaintsSep 23, 2026
New Orleans Saints to win the division
“The schedule ahead is favorable, and if the Saints take advantage, the division should be theirs to lose.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Availability CallsCaleb WilliamsChicago BearsSep 23, 2026
“Caleb Williams is likely out with a hamstring issue (Week 3, Monday Night Football vs. Eagles)”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Conference ChampionsCincinnati BengalsSep 23, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals to reach the Super Bowl
“The defensive personnel changes are difference makers -- ones that can help the Bengals get back to the Super Bowl.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · New Orleans SaintsClose · 48Simms went through the entire Week 3 slate with straight-up winners and predicted final scores, taking Jacksonville, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle, the Giants, Baltimore, New Orleans, Minnesota, San Francisco, Denver and Philadelphia. He also expected Zay Flowers and Puka Nacua to sit, Kyler Murray to play, and said Marvin Harrison Jr. projects as no better than a good No. 2 or high-end No. 3 receiver.
- Connor RogersGame Outcome Picks · Seattle SeahawksMiss · 0Rogers picked Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle and the Giants to win their Week 3 games, saying the Chiefs win by two touchdowns and the Giants by a field goal.
- Chris LongGame Outcome Picks · Cincinnati BengalsMiss · 0Long liked the Rams over the Broncos on Sunday night even without Puka Nacua, and expected the Bills to beat the winless Chargers in Buffalo. He also backed the Bengals over the Steelers, expected an angry Detroit team to handle the Jets, and still thought both the Lions and Vikings could win the NFC North.
- Nate TiceGame Outcome Picks · Philadelphia EaglesMiss · 0Tice matched his guest on every Week 3 game, picking the Ravens over the Cowboys, the Jaguars over the Patriots in a close game, the Broncos to upset the Rams, the Raiders over the Saints, the Eagles over the Bears and the Lions over the Jets.
- Steven RuizGame Outcome Picks · Philadelphia EaglesMiss · 0Previewing Week 3, Ruiz picked the Ravens to beat the Cowboys in Brazil, Jacksonville over New England in a low-scoring game, an upset by the Broncos over the Rams, the Raiders over the Saints, the Eagles over the Bears, the Lions over the Jets, and his Hail Mary that Houston beats Indianapolis by two touchdowns.
- Sam MonsonGame Outcome Picks · Seattle SeahawksMiss · 0Monson picked the Chargers to beat the Bills outright (jokingly crediting Buffalo's gray 'Nickel City' jerseys), took the Vikings to win outright in Tampa, and said Seattle would destroy Washington. He also reiterated his Super Bowl pick of Denver over the Rams, called the Dolphins destined for the No. 1 overall pick, and said the Saints are a worst-to-first candidate in the NFC South.
More game outcome picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Connor RogersGame Outcome Picks · New York GiantsHit · 100Rogers picked Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle and the Giants to win their Week 3 games, saying the Chiefs win by two touchdowns and the Giants by a field goal.
- Chris LongGame Outcome Picks · Los Angeles RamsMiss · 0Long liked the Rams over the Broncos on Sunday night even without Puka Nacua, and expected the Bills to beat the winless Chargers in Buffalo. He also backed the Bengals over the Steelers, expected an angry Detroit team to handle the Jets, and still thought both the Lions and Vikings could win the NFC North.
- Steven RuizGame Outcome Picks · Las Vegas RaidersHit · 100Previewing Week 3, Ruiz picked the Ravens to beat the Cowboys in Brazil, Jacksonville over New England in a low-scoring game, an upset by the Broncos over the Rams, the Raiders over the Saints, the Eagles over the Bears, the Lions over the Jets, and his Hail Mary that Houston beats Indianapolis by two touchdowns.
- Nate TiceGame Outcome Picks · Baltimore RavensHit · 100Tice matched his guest on every Week 3 game, picking the Ravens over the Cowboys, the Jaguars over the Patriots in a close game, the Broncos to upset the Rams, the Raiders over the Saints, the Eagles over the Bears and the Lions over the Jets.
- Sam MonsonGame Outcome Picks · Minnesota VikingsHit · 100Monson picked the Chargers to beat the Bills outright (jokingly crediting Buffalo's gray 'Nickel City' jerseys), took the Vikings to win outright in Tampa, and said Seattle would destroy Washington. He also reiterated his Super Bowl pick of Denver over the Rams, called the Dolphins destined for the No. 1 overall pick, and said the Saints are a worst-to-first candidate in the NFC South.
- Nate TiceGame Outcome Picks · New England PatriotsHit · 100Tice picked the Bengals over the Texans in a low-scoring game, the Jaguars at Denver, the Bears over the Vikings, the Patriots over the Steelers and the Rams to edge the Giants, and his Hail Mary was the Cowboys scoring 40 on Washington. He also floated Abdul Carter as a possible All-Pro.