# Matt Harmon: Harmon picked the Bengals to beat the Texans in Week 2, expecting Nico Collins to miss the game with a hamstring injury, and also predicted the Titans would be shut out by the Eagles. They took the Rams over the Giants, the Bears over the Vikings, and the Jaguars at Denver. **Claimed:** Sep 17, 2026 **Pundit:** Matt Harmon — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/matt-harmon **Outlet:** Football 301 with Nate Tice (podcast) — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/football-301-with-nate-tice-podcast **How it reached us:** said on air, transcribed by us **Original:** https://injector.simplecastaudio.com/0781c6b2-a56c-4448-9b62-fe6d25b9523b/episodes/7e76f892-045a-457e-bb9a-f14176174337/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=0781c6b2-a56c-4448-9b62-fe6d25b9523b&awEpisodeId=7e76f892-045a-457e-bb9a-f14176174337&feed=Nvy5cWFT 6 checkable claims — 4 game outcome picks, 1 availability call and 1 score prediction — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call. It names 7 players and teams, each linked to their own record. 5 of 6 have settled so far, averaging 60 out of 100, against 48.5 for a naive guess at the same calls. > I think he comes out here and has a monster week two, and, ultimately, that Bengals pick it just enough of these matchups. I think they win this game. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Los Angeles Rams to beat Giants** - Kind: Game Outcome Picks · About: Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - Line: Closing line (Sep 21, 2026): Rams by 6.5 · favorite pick, Rams 72%. Source: nflverse; context only, never part of the grade. - **Jacksonville Jaguars to beat Broncos** - Kind: Game Outcome Picks · About: Jacksonville Jaguars - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - Line: Closing line (Sep 20, 2026): Broncos by 2.5 · underdog pick, Jaguars 43%. Source: nflverse; context only, never part of the grade. - **Cincinnati Bengals to beat Texans** - Kind: Game Outcome Picks · About: Cincinnati Bengals - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - Line: Closing line (Sep 20, 2026): Texans by 3 · underdog pick, Bengals 43%. Source: nflverse; context only, never part of the grade. - **Chicago Bears to beat Vikings** - Kind: Game Outcome Picks · About: Chicago Bears - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - Line: Closing line (Sep 20, 2026): Bears by 4.5 · favorite pick, Bears about 2 in 3 (66%). Source: nflverse; context only, never part of the grade. - **Philadelphia Eagles to hold Titans to 0** - Kind: Score Predictions · About: Philadelphia Eagles - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 42.56 for a naive guess - “He has a grade one hamstring... I would guess he probably misses this game and, you know, maybe then comes back in week three. (Week 2)” - Kind: Availability Calls · About: Nico Collins, Houston Texans - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Los Angeles Rams — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/rams - Jacksonville Jaguars — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/jaguars - Cincinnati Bengals — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/bengals - Chicago Bears — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/bears - Philadelphia Eagles — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/eagles - Nico Collins — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/nico-collins - Houston Texans — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/texans ## What others said about the same people - John Middlekauff on Caleb Williams: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/deaaf3f6-e53e-4080-a0ca-d5f872b54c6a (scored 0) - Bobby Skinner on Stefon Diggs: Skinner predicted Daniel Jones signs with and wins the starting job in Indianapolis, Milton Williams to New England, Lavonte David back to Tampa, Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams to the Giants, DJ Reid to Arizona, Hassan Reddick to Washington and Justin Fields staying in Pittsburgh, plus alternates they had listed. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/6bc51663-60f7-4897-b5dc-40e284f869a2 (scored 0) - Colin Cowherd on Matthew Stafford: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/005e6ad1-bc95-49da-9db2-3a9da2d5041d (scored 100) - Colin Cowherd on Matthew Stafford: Cowherd believes Matt Stafford's public negotiation posturing means he ultimately stays in Los Angeles, and he flags Travis Hunter as a high draft pick who could underachieve because trying to play both cornerback and receiver full-time will hurt him. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2c1faeb3-7adb-456d-bd42-275be95269e8 (scored 100) - Pete Prisco on Houston Texans: Prisco gives score predictions for every Week 9 NFL game, picking the Bengals to rout the Falcons in Madrid, the Cowboys to rebound at Indianapolis, and the Jaguars to win in Baltimore without Lamar Jackson. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/dc43909b-bc7f-47aa-b208-5cf7c95844bc (scored 54.76) - Bryan DeArdo on Chicago Bears: DeArdo picks the Bears to beat the Buccaneers on Sunday night in a defensive game, predicting a 20-16 final score. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7b882443-b481-48fb-b19b-e7f989d85e46 (scored 97.62) ## More game outcome picks The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Sam Monson on New York Giants: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/f4cb7a1e-1380-4f08-b39b-1432b97db846 (scored 0) - Eva Geitheim on Washington Commanders: Geitheim picked the Commanders, Lions, Chiefs, Texans, Vikings, Jaguars, Colts, Panthers, Bills, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Bengals and Ravens in Week 10. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c011abef-0b18-41ad-acad-6a67dfbd41fd (scored 100) - Conor Orr on New York Giants: Orr picked the Giants, Lions, Chiefs, Texans, Packers, Jaguars, Dolphins, Panthers, Bills, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Bengals and Chargers in Week 10. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/ba669379-043c-448a-a167-2f2e3695a52e (scored 0) - Albert Breer on New York Giants: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/fdc16abc-9ae2-4bf4-a327-8e9d9ae283b6 (scored 0) - Mitch Goldich on New York Giants: Goldich picked the Giants, Lions, Chiefs, Texans, Packers, Jaguars, Dolphins, Panthers, Bills, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Bengals and Ravens in Week 10. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/706c628f-bb25-4892-b33e-84c81bfb6e4a (scored 0) - Matt Verderame on New York Giants: Verderame picked the Giants, Lions, Chiefs, Texans, Packers, Jaguars, Dolphins, Saints, Bills, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Bengals and Ravens in Week 10. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/dfeb0994-1abf-414f-b153-d01b6e4e5365 (scored 0) --- 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=matt-harmon