John Middlekauff· Oct 23, 2026
After the Bears-Patriots Thursday night game, Middlekauff called both Chicago and New England playoff teams, leaned Steelers, Vikings, Panthers, Bengals, Raiders, Packers and Seahawks in the weekend slate, predicted a bleak remaining season for the Chargers, and said Justin Herbert isn't going anywhere.
“The Bears are definitely, as long as Caleb's healthy, going to go to the playoffs.”
said on air or in an interview · 3 and Out with John Middlekauff (podcast) · read the original →
13 checkable claims — 7 game outcome picks, 3 playoff picks, 1 mock draft pick, 1 season win total and 1 trade and signing call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 12 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
7 of 13 have settled so far, averaging 57.1 out of 100, against 42.9 for a naive guess at the same calls.
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Who this take is about
The games in this take
- Steelers at Saints 24 calls
- Bengals at Ravens 15 calls
- Colts at Vikings 19 calls
- Buccaneers at Panthers 11 calls
- Rams at Raiders 24 calls
- Packers at Lions 21 calls
- Chiefs at Seahawks 23 calls
13 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 calls show that game’s closing betting line under their grade: a dated fact from nflverse, for context and never part of a grade. MissedTakes takes no bets and earns nothing from any sportsbook.
- Game Outcome PicksGreen Bay PackersOct 23, 2026
Green Bay Packers to beat Detroit
“So, kind of like the Packers on the road in this spot.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 100-167 skillHow this was scored
- won:
- DET
- score:
- 17-20
- skill:
- −167
- they picked:
- GB
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 100
- the naive pick:
- DET
- difficulty:
- 1.67
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 12
Closing line (Oct 25): Lions by 3.5 · underdog pick, Packers 37%.
- Game Outcome PicksSeattle SeahawksOct 23, 2026
Seattle Seahawks to beat Kansas City
“I guess I just lean Seattle just because I do think it's must win.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- won:
- SEA
- score:
- 3-20
- skill:
- 0
- they picked:
- SEA
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- the naive pick:
- SEA
- difficulty:
- 1.67
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 12
Closing line (Oct 25): Seahawks by 3 · favorite pick, Seahawks 59%.
- Game Outcome PicksLas Vegas RaidersOct 23, 2026
Las Vegas Raiders to beat Rams
“So, I mean, I like the Raiders in this spot.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 0+0 skillHow this was scored
- won:
- LAR
- score:
- 35-21
- skill:
- 0
- they picked:
- LV
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 0
- the naive pick:
- LV
- difficulty:
- 1.67
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 12
Closing line (Oct 25): Rams by 3.5 · underdog pick, Raiders 38%.
- Game Outcome PicksCarolina PanthersOct 23, 2026
Carolina Panthers to beat Tampa
“I don't like the Panthers. I love the Panthers... So I'm really high on Carolina this week.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 0+0 skillHow this was scored
- won:
- TB
- score:
- 43-13
- skill:
- 0
- they picked:
- CAR
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 0
- the naive pick:
- CAR
- difficulty:
- 1.67
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 12
Closing line (Oct 25): Panthers by 3 · favorite pick, Panthers 60%.
- Game Outcome PicksMinnesota VikingsOct 23, 2026
Minnesota Vikings to beat Indianapolis
“So I love Minnesota this week... I would understand if it was just a complete implosion. And that's what I expect.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- won:
- MIN
- score:
- 10-16
- skill:
- 0
- they picked:
- MIN
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- the naive pick:
- MIN
- difficulty:
- 1.67
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 12
Closing line (Oct 25): Vikings by 6.5 · favorite pick, Vikings about 3 in 4 (73%).
- Game Outcome PicksPittsburgh SteelersOct 23, 2026
Pittsburgh Steelers to beat Saints
“I would lean the Steelers here. I would like the Saints more if this was just a normal home game... I'll lean the Steelers here.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+167 skillHow this was scored
- won:
- PIT
- score:
- 16-10
- skill:
- 167
- they picked:
- PIT
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- the naive pick:
- NO
- difficulty:
- 1.67
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 12
Closing line (Oct 25): Steelers by 3 · favorite pick, Steelers 59%.
- Game Outcome PicksCincinnati BengalsOct 23, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals to beat Ravens
“I think I'm leaning Cincinnati here, but historically it makes you a little nervous going into Baltimore.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+167 skillHow this was scored
- won:
- CIN
- score:
- 35-13
- skill:
- 167
- they picked:
- CIN
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- the naive pick:
- BAL
- difficulty:
- 1.67
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 12
Closing line (Oct 25): Bengals by 3 · favorite pick, Bengals 59%.
- Playoff PicksMinnesota VikingsOct 23, 2026
Minnesota Vikings to make the playoffs
“I mean the vikings they're a couple wins away from just they're gonna go to the playoffs”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksChicago BearsOct 23, 2026
Chicago Bears to make the playoffs
“The Bears are definitely, as long as Caleb's healthy, going to go to the playoffs.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Justin Herbert to stay with Los Angeles Chargers
“I do not think the Chargers are trading Justin Herbert. I think Justin Herbert is, you would say like locks, like Mahomes, Josh Allen, locks to be on the team next year.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksColin SimmonsOct 23, 2026
Colin Simmons to be picked “top 10 pick” (picks 1–10)
“Especially now that you don't have Colin Simmons, who's a top 10 pick, to chase Trinidad.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Season Win TotalsLos Angeles ChargersOct 23, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers to finish with 2–3 wins
“This year could get even worse. Like, I mean, there's a pretty good chance they win two or three games this year.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksNew England PatriotsOct 23, 2026
New England Patriots to make the playoffs
“New England... should if Drake's gonna keep playing like he's playing they should be you know a wild card team for sure”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Bill HuberGame Outcome Picks · Green Bay PackersHit · 100Huber argues Green Bay has no excuses left and will beat New England in Foxborough, and expects Christian Watson to play despite his rib injury. He also sketches the projected interior offensive line, with John Williams at center and Laken Tomlinson at right guard.
- Jeremy BrenerScore Predictions · Seattle SeahawksHit · 100Brener picked the Seahawks to beat the Cardinals in Week 9 by a multi-score margin, giving a final score of 27-13, and expressed confidence Seattle would be fine with Drew Lock starting at quarterback.
- Albert BreerGame Outcome Picks · Seattle SeahawksHit · 100Breer picks the Seahawks to beat the Cardinals in their Week 9 NFC West matchup.
- Tyler SullivanGame Outcome Picks · Seattle SeahawksHit · 100Sullivan picks the Seahawks to win in Week 9.
- Dave RichardGame Outcome Picks · Seattle SeahawksHit · 100Richard picks the Seahawks over the Cardinals.
- John PluymGame Outcome Picks · Seattle SeahawksHit · 100Pluym picks the Seahawks over the Cardinals.
More game outcome picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Jared KochGame Outcome Picks · Houston TexansHit · 100Koch predicts the Texans will beat the winless Chargers on the road in Week 9 by at least 10 points, with Houston's defense forcing a couple of turnovers to set up a multiple-score win.
- Eric ManginiGame Outcome Picks · Tampa Bay BuccaneersMiss · 0Mangini picked New England to beat Green Bay by more than a field goal, flagged Tampa Bay as his upset alert over Chicago, expects Kansas City to handle the Jets, took Buffalo over Minnesota, backed Cincinnati over Atlanta in Madrid, and updated his Super Bowl to Rams–Bengals.
- Nick WrightGame Outcome Picks · Tampa Bay BuccaneersMiss · 0Wright argued the Jaguars are the AFC's most complete team, calling them the considerable favorite for the No. 1 seed and the only club essentially locked into the playoffs. He also picked Tampa Bay to upset Chicago, had Kansas City sweeping its next three games, liked New England over Green Bay by about a field goal, and updated his Super Bowl matchup to Chiefs–49ers.
- Donte JohnsonGame Outcome Picks · Tampa Bay BuccaneersMiss · 0The former NFL safety picked the Buccaneers to upset the Bears in their Week 9 matchup, arguing Todd Bowles' defense would frustrate Caleb Williams.
- AJ HawkGame Outcome Picks · San Francisco 49ersHit · 100Hawk said the Chiefs would beat the Jets, the Seahawks would beat the Cardinals, and the 49ers would beat the Raiders, even while taking the points with the underdogs in each case.
- Connor RogersGame Outcome Picks · Houston TexansHit · 100Rogers picked straight-up winners in every Week 9 game, agreeing with Simms on all of them, and gave a 24-20 Bills score over the Vikings on Monday night.