# Rich Eisen: Eisen forecast the Week 18 results and the entire wild-card field: Buccaneers over Panthers but Carolina still gets in as the 5 seed when Atlanta beats New Orleans, 49ers over Seahawks, Ravens over Steelers, Jaguars beating Tennessee to win the AFC South, and six wild-card matchups (Seahawks-Panthers, Bills-Jaguars, Texans-Ravens, Packers-Bears, Chargers-Patriots, Rams-Eagles), with Houston upsetting Baltimore. He also tabbed Saints rookie Tyler Shough as a possible Offensive Rookie of the Year. **Claimed:** Jan 2, 2026 **Pundit:** Rich Eisen — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/rich-eisen **Outlet:** The Rich Eisen Show (podcast) — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/the-rich-eisen-show-podcast **How it reached us:** said on air, transcribed by us **Original:** https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.megaphone.fm/ESP8634280561.mp3?updated=1767384997 22 checkable claims — 12 playoff picks, 6 game outcome picks, 2 seeding, byes and home field, 1 award pick and 1 division winner — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet. It names 17 players and teams, each linked to their own record. All 22 have settled, averaging 77.3 out of 100, against 45.5 for a naive guess at the same calls. > I believe the Jaguars will beat the Tennessee titans, but not get the other results they need to be the one seed. They will be the AFC South champions. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Chicago Bears to take the top seed** - Kind: Seeding, Byes and Home Field · About: Chicago Bears - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Jacksonville Jaguars to win the division** - Kind: Division Winners · About: Jacksonville Jaguars - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Carolina Panthers to take the top seed** - Kind: Seeding, Byes and Home Field · About: Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **San Francisco 49ers to beat Seahawks** - Kind: Game Outcome Picks · About: San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Jacksonville Jaguars to beat Tennessee titans** - Kind: Game Outcome Picks · About: Jacksonville Jaguars - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Baltimore Ravens to beat Steelers** - Kind: Game Outcome Picks · About: Baltimore Ravens - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Tampa Bay Buccaneers to beat Panthers** - Kind: Game Outcome Picks · About: Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Atlanta Falcons to beat Saints** - Kind: Game Outcome Picks · About: Atlanta Falcons - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Carolina Panthers to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Houston Texans to beat Ravens** - Kind: Game Outcome Picks · About: Houston Texans - Verdict: scored 100 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 - **Philadelphia Eagles to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Philadelphia Eagles - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Jacksonville Jaguars to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Jacksonville Jaguars - Verdict: scored 100 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 - **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 - **Seattle Seahawks to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Seattle Seahawks - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Tyler Shough to win Offensive Rookie of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 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 - **Green Bay Packers to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Green Bay Packers - 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 - **New England Patriots to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: New England Patriots - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Chicago Bears to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Chicago Bears - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess ## Who this take is about - Chicago Bears — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/bears - Jacksonville Jaguars — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/jaguars - Carolina Panthers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/panthers - San Francisco 49ers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/49ers - Baltimore Ravens — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/ravens - Tampa Bay Buccaneers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/buccaneers - Atlanta Falcons — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/falcons - Houston Texans — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/texans - Los Angeles Rams — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/rams - Philadelphia Eagles — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/eagles - Buffalo Bills — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/bills - Los Angeles Chargers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/chargers - Seattle Seahawks — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/seahawks - Tyler Shough — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/tyler-shough - New Orleans Saints — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/saints - Green Bay Packers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/packers - New England Patriots — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/patriots ## What others said about the same people - Chris Simms on Baltimore Ravens: Simms went through the entire Week 3 slate with straight-up winners and predicted final scores, taking Jacksonville, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle, the Giants, Baltimore, New Orleans, Minnesota, San Francisco, Denver and Philadelphia. He also expected Zay Flowers and Puka Nacua to sit, Kyler Murray to play, and said Marvin Harrison Jr. projects as no better than a good No. 2 or high-end No. 3 receiver. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/662b7ba3-1bf6-4ad0-9f93-9f2ab83143fd (scored 97.62) - Connor Rogers on Seattle Seahawks: Rogers picked Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle and the Giants to win their Week 3 games, saying the Chiefs win by two touchdowns and the Giants by a field goal. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/83d1e88b-95a0-45ba-83d3-f86297170c6c (scored 0) - Chris Long on Los Angeles Rams: Long liked the Rams over the Broncos on Sunday night even without Puka Nacua, and expected the Bills to beat the winless Chargers in Buffalo. He also backed the Bengals over the Steelers, expected an angry Detroit team to handle the Jets, and still thought both the Lions and Vikings could win the NFC North. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3df9ea25-e57f-4fd7-b20c-c910a1c3633a (scored 0) - Steven Ruiz on Houston Texans: Previewing Week 3, Ruiz picked the Ravens to beat the Cowboys in Brazil, Jacksonville over New England in a low-scoring game, an upset by the Broncos over the Rams, the Raiders over the Saints, the Eagles over the Bears, the Lions over the Jets, and his Hail Mary that Houston beats Indianapolis by two touchdowns. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a30ff469-4972-4c48-855b-ba984e4de9d0 (scored 0) - Nate Tice on Baltimore Ravens: Tice matched his guest on every Week 3 game, picking the Ravens over the Cowboys, the Jaguars over the Patriots in a close game, the Broncos to upset the Rams, the Raiders over the Saints, the Eagles over the Bears and the Lions over the Jets. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/b8378e16-ea5c-4107-a883-28aaf0e71134 (scored 100) - Chris Simms on Green Bay Packers: Simms picked the Packers to beat the Falcons in the Thursday night game by a low score, expecting a defensive struggle. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/b12420c5-837c-4a24-8a8e-c74b10cc697c (scored 9.52) ## More playoff picks The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Craig Stout on Kansas City Chiefs: Craig believes better execution from a Patrick Mahomes-led Chiefs team will be enough to return them to the playoffs in the coming season, and he expects Tyler Algeier to land with Denver as a complement to RJ Harvey. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/4ad5b565-6220-4c30-9371-e55be75a35f0 (scored 0) - Chris Brockman on Pittsburgh Steelers: Brockman argued the road to the Super Bowl in the AFC goes through Foxborough, meaning the Patriots will finish as the No. 1 seed, and called his shot that the Chargers beat Denver in Week 18. He also declared the Bears a team of destiny who will win the NFC, said the Steelers will end their playoff win drought, and that Trevor Lawrence is playing like a top-five quarterback. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7792215a-c787-44bd-b294-5ff028851d30 (scored 100) - Chris Brockman on Denver Broncos: Brockman argued the Broncos are headed to the AFC Championship Game, that the Cowboys will win the NFC East, that Green Bay is the NFC's best team, and that the Bears will finish no worse than the No. 2 seed in the NFC. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/285842c7-abd9-43fa-a0c0-e8138a392658 (scored 100) - Chris Brockman on Pittsburgh Steelers: 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 Detroit Lions: Brockman doubled down that the Ravens will win the AFC North, named Jonathan Taylor the NFL's MVP, locked in his 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 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=rich-eisen