Gavin CarlsonMay 19, 2026
Carlson went game-by-game through the Rams' 2026 schedule, picking losses at Denver, at San Francisco, to Green Bay and in the Week 18 rematch with Seattle, finishing 13-4 as NFC West champions with a first-round bye.
Said on air, transcribed by us · Locked On Rams (podcast)Hear the original
What Gavin Carlson said
Rams win this game, they beat Tampa Bay, and that week 18 game against Seattle, it doesn't even matter. Rams have the division clinched by then.
- Where it was said
- Locked On Rams (podcast)
- The episode
- RAMS SQUAD SHOW: Schedule of DOOM? Predicting EVERY game in 2026 + Puka Nacua on pace to be GOAT WR?
- The original
- Hear the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidMay 19
- PlayedSep 10–Nov 8
- GradedSep 12–Nov 8
Box score, by kind
HitCloseMissWaiting| Group | Hits | Close | Misses | Waiting | Calls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game Outcome Picks | 6 | 0 | 4 | 6 | |
| Division Winners | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Season Win Totals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Seeding, Byes and Home Field | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| All | 6 | 0 | 4 | 9 |
How each call scored
19 checkable claims — 16 game outcome picks, 1 division winner, 1 season win total and 1 seeding, byes and home field — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 5 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
10 of 19 have settled so far, averaging 60 out of 100, against 20 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the rest of the room.
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.
Where this call stands in the room
Los Angeles Rams · 2026 season · wins7 calls from 4 pundits between 12 wins and 17 wins. Gavin Carlson said 13 wins. the room's median is 12 wins. not settled yet
Every dot is a call somebody published on the same question. Where the dots land says where this take sits, not whether it is right — nothing here is settled yet. Hover a dot for the name and number; click it to read that take.
Game Outcome Picks6 hits · 4 misses · 6 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Los Angeles Rams to beat commanders
“I'm gonna pick us to win this game. I just we're just a better football team. ... put the Rams to eight and one”
Rams 20–13Rams at Commanders100Hit100 − 0 naive = 100 × 2 difficulty = +200 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- won:
- LAR
- score:
- 20-13
- skill:
- 200
- they picked:
- LAR
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- the naive pick:
- WAS
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 18
Los Angeles Rams to beat Las Vegas Raiders
“I could easily see them overlooking this Raiders team, but I think we all got a win there.”
Rams 35–21Rams at Raiders100Hit100 − 0 naive = 100 × 2 difficulty = +200 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- won:
- LAR
- score:
- 35-21
- skill:
- 200
- they picked:
- LAR
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- the naive pick:
- LV
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 18
Los Angeles Rams to beat Arizona
“before they travel to Arizona in week 10. Any upsets there? ... I've got the Rams at nine and one”
Cardinals 18–16Cardinals at Rams0Miss0 − 0 naive = 0 × 2 difficulty = 0 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- won:
- ARI
- score:
- 18-16
- 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
Los Angeles Rams to beat cardinals
“We all got the Rams there, so that moves into four and two for Rob. Five and one for big Brock and I”
Cardinals 18–16Cardinals at Rams0Miss0 − 0 naive = 0 × 2 difficulty = 0 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- won:
- ARI
- score:
- 18-16
- 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
Los Angeles Rams to beat Buffalo Bills
“So I'm I got the Rams here to go to four and one as well.”
Bills 37–34Bills at Rams0Miss0 − 0 naive = 0 × 2 difficulty = 0 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- won:
- BUF
- score:
- 37-34
- 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
Los Angeles Rams to beat Philly
“Give me the Rams to go to three and one. ... Give me the Rams by double digits.”
Rams 24–20Rams at Eagles100Hit100 − 0 naive = 100 × 2 difficulty = +200 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- won:
- LAR
- score:
- 24-20
- skill:
- 200
- they picked:
- LAR
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- the naive pick:
- PHI
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 18
Denver Broncos to beat Rams
“I'm gonna give the Rams a loss here. This this can be my first loss this season for the Rams ... In Denver, great defense.”
Broncos 30–26Rams at Broncos100Hit100 − 100 naive = 0 × 2 difficulty = 0 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- won:
- DEN
- score:
- 26-30
- skill:
- 0
- they picked:
- DEN
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- the naive pick:
- DEN
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 18
Los Angeles Rams to beat Giants
“do we all have a a Rams win here against the bad Giants team? Yeah. Rams win.”
Rams 28–6Giants at Rams100Hit100 − 100 naive = 0 × 2 difficulty = 0 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- won:
- LAR
- score:
- 6-28
- skill:
- 0
- they picked:
- LAR
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- the naive pick:
- LAR
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 18
Los Angeles Rams to beat niners
“I think the Rams at their best are better than the niners at their best. And so I'll go I'll go Rams as well.”
49ers 27–749ers at Rams0Miss0 − 0 naive = 0 × 2 difficulty = 0 skill
Think this is wrong?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
San Francisco 49ers to beat Rams
“I'm changing my mind. I'm picking a loss. ... I'll say they split, and the Rams fall to ten and three.”
49ers 27–749ers at Rams100Hit100 − 0 naive = 100 × 2 difficulty = +200 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- won:
- SF
- score:
- 27-7
- skill:
- 200
- they picked:
- SF
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- the naive pick:
- LAR
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 18
Los Angeles Rams to beat cowboys
“Give me the Rams. High scoring game. ... Rams win, move to eleven and three.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Green Bay Packers to beat Rams
“I'm gonna have the Packers winning this one. ... So I'll predict the big Micah performance in a Rams loss.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Los Angeles Rams to beat Seattle
“Give me the Rams. There's no way they lose this football game.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Los Angeles Rams to beat Kansas City Chiefs
“Give me the Rams over the Chiefs. I think I'm gonna pick the Rams by double digits in this one as well.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Seattle Seahawks to beat Rams
“We see him in week 18 because the Rams have already clinched the division ... they do lose in week 18 to fall to thirteen and four”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Los Angeles Rams to beat Tampa Bay
“No NFC South trap game this year. ... You're focused. They beat the Bucks.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Division Winners1 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Los Angeles Rams to win the division
“we all have them winning the division by a game”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Season Win Totals1 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Seeding, Byes and Home Field1 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Los Angeles Rams to take the top seed
“we all have it at thirteen and four to win the NFC West and get that buy”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
The games in this take
every pundit’s pick on each- 49ers at Rams49ers 27Rams 735 calls →
- Giants at RamsRams 28Giants 633 calls →
- Rams at BroncosBroncos 30Rams 2626 calls →
- Rams at EaglesRams 24Eagles 2027 calls →
- Bills at RamsBills 37Rams 3441 calls →
- Cardinals at RamsCardinals 18Rams 1633 calls →
- Rams at RaidersRams 35Raiders 2124 calls →
- Rams at CommandersRams 20Commanders 1316 calls →
- Packers at RamsKickoff Nov 26, 20265 calls →
- Chiefs at RamsKickoff Dec 4, 20266 calls →
- Cowboys at RamsKickoff Dec 20, 20269 calls →
- Rams at SeahawksKickoff Dec 26, 20268 calls →
- Rams at BuccaneersKickoff Jan 3, 20274 calls →
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Zack Kelberman · Roster Spot Calls · Sean Fresch Jr. · Miss 0
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.Zack Kelberman · Roster Spot Calls · Sean Fresch Jr. · Miss 0
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.Chad Jensen · Roster Spot Calls · Jordan Turner · Miss 0
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.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.
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.