Benjamin Solak· Oct 6, 2026
Solak ranked the AFC's top five teams (Chiefs, Jaguars, Ravens, Bills, Texans) and the NFC's top five (49ers, Seahawks, Rams, Vikings, Cowboys) through four weeks, gave his quarter-season MVP to Lamar Jackson and Defensive Player of the Year to Will Anderson Jr., and said he wouldn't be surprised if the Chargers beat Denver at home in Week 5.
“I had Chiefs one. I had Jaguars two. I had Ravens three. I had the Buffalo Bills four. I had the Houston Texans five.”
said on air, transcribed by us · Football 301 with Nate Tice (podcast) · read the original →
5 checkable claims — 2 award picks, 2 power rankings and 1 game outcome pick — 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.
1 of 5 have settled so far, averaging 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
The game in this take
- Broncos at Chargers 34 calls
5 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 PicksLos Angeles ChargersOct 6, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers to beat Broncos
“They have the Broncos at home in week five... I would not be surprised at all if they win that game.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 0+0 skillHow this was scored
- won:
- DEN
- score:
- 23-17
- skill:
- 0
- they picked:
- LAC
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 0
- the naive pick:
- LAC
- difficulty:
- 1.78
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 14
Closing line (Oct 11): Broncos by 3.5 · underdog pick, Chargers 37%.
- Power RankingsOct 6, 2026
“NFC, I had San Francisco one, Seattle two, Los Angeles Rams three... I have the Minnesota Vikings four, and then I have the Dallas Cowboys five.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Power RankingsOct 6, 2026
“So I had Chiefs one. I had Jaguars two. I had Ravens three. I had the Buffalo Bills four. Okay. I had the Houston Texans five.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksWill Anderson Jr.Houston TexansOct 6, 2026
Will Anderson Jr. to win Defensive Player of the Year
“Best defensive player in the league. I I do not think I could legitimately hear an argument for another player right now.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksLamar JacksonBaltimore RavensOct 6, 2026
Lamar Jackson to win MVP
“I think through four, I'd give it to Lamar.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Seth WalderScore Predictions · Baltimore RavensHit · 98Walder gave final score picks for all 14 Week 5 games, including a Jaguars blowout of the Eagles, upset calls on the Saints over the undefeated Vikings and the Jets over the Browns, plus the 49ers winning in Seattle and the Commanders beating the Giants.
- Eric ManginiGame Outcome Picks · Los Angeles ChargersMiss · 0Mangini took the Titans to upset the Texans, and in the chips segment backed the Chargers to upset Denver, the Patriots over the Raiders, and the Rams over the Bills.
- Nick WrightGame Outcome Picks · Los Angeles ChargersMiss · 0Amid a Week 5 betting-picks show, Wright made a few straight outcome calls: a Houston blowout of Tennessee by a 27-7 score, a Seattle home win over San Francisco by a touchdown, an outright Raiders win at New England, and the winless Chargers finally beating Denver. He also said he does not believe Lamar Jackson will play against Atlanta.
- Mike KadlickGame Outcome Picks · Los Angeles ChargersMiss · 0Previewing Week 5 of the 2026 season, Kadlick picks the Bengals to blow out the Dolphins, the Cowboys to beat the Buccaneers comfortably, and the Chargers to finally win at home against the Broncos. He also expects Jayden Daniels back for Washington, Michael Pittman Jr. possibly out for Pittsburgh, and names the Week 5 starting quarterbacks for Tampa Bay, Chicago and New York.
- Pete PriscoScore Predictions · Los Angeles ChargersClose · 50Prisco picks every Week 5 game with a final score, including a Cowboys blowout of Tampa Bay on Thursday night, a Packers upset of the Bears, a Jaguars win over a banged-up Eagles team in London, and a Rams shootout win over Buffalo on Monday night.
- Leonard FournetteGame Outcome Picks · Baltimore RavensHit · 100Co-host (identified in the transcript only as "Leonard") went week-by-week on Atlanta's schedule, ranked the NFC North, predicted Odell Beckham Jr. over 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns, picked the Bears, Bengals and Texans in their divisions, and took the Bengals over the 49ers in the Super Bowl.
More award picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Nick WrightAward Picks · Sam DarnoldMiss · 0Wright picks Seattle to beat New England in the Super Bowl by a 27-17 final score, describing a semi-comfortable win, and names Sam Darnold as his Super Bowl MVP pick.
- Eric ManginiAward Picks · Drake MayeMiss · 0Mangini picked the Patriots 23-20 with Drake May as Super Bowl MVP, and earlier named Kayshon Boutte ("Kaeshawn Booty") as his dark horse MVP.
- Chris BroussardAward Picks · Drake MayeMiss · 0Broussard picked New England to beat Seattle 24-21, with Drake May winning Super Bowl MVP, and named Cooper Kupp as his dark horse MVP.
- Willie ColonAward Picks · Sam DarnoldMiss · 0Colon picked the Seahawks to win 24-14 with Sam Darnold as Super Bowl MVP.
- Nick WrightAward Picks · Rashid ShaheedMiss · 0Nick picked Seattle to win the Super Bowl 27-17, citing Seattle's defense, coaching against young quarterbacks and schedule strength, and named Rasheed Shaheed as his dark horse Super Bowl MVP.
- Danny ParkinsAward Picks · Jaxon Smith-NjigbaMiss · 0Parkins picked Seattle to win 27-16 with Jaxon Smith-Njigba as Super Bowl MVP.