# Rich Eisen: Eisen defended the Chiefs (AFC West title, double-digit wins), predicted nearly all of last year's playoff teams return, backed Washington bouncing back, said Sam Darnold keeps their job, projected a 2,000-yard season for Puka Nacua, and forecast the Bengals back in the playoffs with the Steelers around 10-7. **Claimed:** Jun 23, 2025 **Pundit:** Rich Eisen — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/rich-eisen **Outlet:** Overreaction Monday (podcast) — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/overreaction-monday-podcast **How it reached us:** said on air, transcribed by us **Original:** https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.megaphone.fm/WWO3044203346.mp3?updated=1750693471 18 checkable claims — 11 playoff picks, 3 depth chart calls, 2 season win totals, 1 division winner and 1 player season number — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call. It names 19 players and teams, each linked to their own record. All 18 have settled, averaging 60.6 out of 100, against 59.8 for a naive guess at the same calls. > Sam Darnold is not getting benched in 2025. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Kansas City Chiefs to win the division** - Kind: Division Winners · About: Kansas City Chiefs - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Michael Penix Jr. to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 91.67 for a naive guess - **Philadelphia Eagles to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Philadelphia Eagles - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Pittsburgh Steelers to finish with 10 wins** - Kind: Season Win Totals · About: Pittsburgh Steelers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 85 for a naive guess - **Kansas City Chiefs to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Kansas City Chiefs - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Buffalo Bills to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Buffalo Bills - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Houston Texans to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Houston Texans - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Los Angeles Chargers to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Los Angeles Chargers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Tampa Bay Buccaneers to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Sam Darnold to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Baltimore Ravens to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Baltimore Ravens - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Detroit Lions to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Detroit Lions - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Los Angeles Rams to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Cincinnati Bengals to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Cincinnati Bengals - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Denver Broncos to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Denver Broncos - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Kansas City Chiefs to finish with 10 wins** - Kind: Season Win Totals · About: Kansas City Chiefs - Verdict: scored 20 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Puka Nacua to record 2,000 receiving yards** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: scored 71.5 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Daniel Jones to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess ## Who this take is about - Kansas City Chiefs — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/chiefs - Michael Penix Jr. — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/michael-penix-jr - Atlanta Falcons — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/falcons - Philadelphia Eagles — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/eagles - Pittsburgh Steelers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/steelers - Buffalo Bills — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/bills - Houston Texans — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/texans - Los Angeles Chargers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/chargers - Tampa Bay Buccaneers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/buccaneers - Sam Darnold — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/sam-darnold - Seattle Seahawks — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/seahawks - Baltimore Ravens — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/ravens - Detroit Lions — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/lions - Los Angeles Rams — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/rams - Cincinnati Bengals — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/bengals - Denver Broncos — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/broncos - Puka Nacua — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/puka-nacua - Daniel Jones — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/daniel-jones - Indianapolis Colts — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/colts ## What others said about the same people - Zack Kelberman on Sean Fresch Jr.: Kelberman expects Sean Fresch Jr. to clear waivers and return to the Broncos' practice squad, sees Riley Moss back from concussion for the Week 11 game at Las Vegas, and projects newly acquired Daiyan Henley to begin as the third inside linebacker behind Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad before likely moving into a starting role. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/978f775c-5611-4514-ad2f-b35a6eac0402 (scored 0) - Zack Kelberman on Sean Fresch Jr.: Kelberman writes that Riley Moss may sit out the preseason finale against Minnesota but should be available for the Week 1 opener at Kansas City; they also suggest undrafted corners Sean Fresch Jr. and Brent Austin are being evaluated for practice squad spots. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3c8c47b8-6041-4282-8d21-d21741d8f11b (scored 0) - Chris Clark on Nikko Remigio: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/99521265-d5c0-4db1-b2a0-fe77908ea0b3 (scored 0) - Nate Gosney on Daiyan Henley: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/60272861-4ad0-4749-b36a-dcdf09b9213f (scored 0) - Chad Jensen on Jordan Turner: Jensen predicts Daiyan Henley's arrival will cut into Justin Strnad's snaps while Alex Singleton keeps playing virtually every down, and that Denver will return to a three-linebacker rotation after the Week 10 bye. They also expect one of Jordan Turner or Karene Reid — most likely Turner — to be waived to clear a roster spot. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a84d2c6e-5554-46aa-95b1-620858d31e0f (scored 0) - Gilberto Manzano on Josh Downs: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/67d5af78-94ea-4ee2-a277-5e68347022de (scored 100) ## More playoff picks The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Ross Jackson on New Orleans Saints: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/4dc05898-73fd-4fcb-92c4-a940d7e395ba (scored 0) - Dwaine Board on San Francisco 49ers: Board argues the 49ers can still make the playoffs even if Trent Williams leaves, expects Williams to be brought back, and favors drafting a wide receiver at No. 27 over an offensive tackle. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/07beb6d4-aadc-4b2d-b131-b889c85204a3 (scored 100) - Chris Brockman on Chicago Bears: Brockman argued the Eagles' defense is the NFL's best and will drag a mediocre offense to the NFC championship, that the NFC North sends only two teams to the playoffs with the Bears among them, that the Rams are the league's best team, that a healthy Brock Purdy makes the 49ers an NFC threat who will beat the Saints and Falcons, and that the Panthers win the NFC South. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/58252eec-2c8f-4cfe-b95e-247dd9ce8f0e (scored 100) - Chris Brockman on Minnesota Vikings: Brockman argued the Seahawks are the NFC's best team and will land the No. 1 seed, that Jacksonville will reach 11 wins and steal the AFC South from Indianapolis, that JJ McCarthy will lead the Vikings to the playoffs, and that Matthew Stafford will be an MVP finalist. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c16dfbcb-8010-440d-9408-61df080434c8 (scored 0) - Chris Brockman on San Francisco 49ers: Brockman doubled down that the Ravens will win the AFC North, named Jonathan Taylor the NFL's MVP, locked in their seven NFC playoff teams with the Eagles as the NFC East's lone qualifier, and predicted Justin Fields will be the Jets' starting quarterback in 2026. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/6ea8b930-4e07-428a-b72c-95276e352db0 (scored 100) - Chris Brockman on Carolina Panthers: Brockman argued the Broncos win the AFC West and a playoff game, that either the Colts or Patriots will be the AFC's No. 1 seed, that the Chiefs are the best team in the NFL, that the Bears win the NFC North, and that the Panthers make the playoffs. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/59c50f45-6af8-4502-91e3-07583d6c5a65 (scored 100) --- Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages. Full method: https://missedtakes.co/methodology We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us: https://missedtakes.co/corrections?pundit=rich-eisen