Chris Brockman· Jul 23, 2026
Brockman took the New England Patriots as his final sleeper team, and separately predicted all three of TJ Jefferson's sleeper teams make the playoffs, with the Cowboys reaching the NFC Championship Game and winning the NFC East.
“My final, sleeper team of this draft are your defending AFC champion, New England.”
said on air, transcribed by us · The Rich Eisen Show (podcast) · read the original →
8 checkable claims — 3 playoff picks, 3 surprise team calls, 1 conference champion and 1 division winner — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 6 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
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Who this take is about
8 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.
- Surprise Team CallsNew England PatriotsJul 23, 2026
New England Patriots to beat expectations
“My final, sleeper team of this draft are your defending AFC champion, New England.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Surprise Team CallsTennessee TitansJul 23, 2026
Tennessee Titans to beat expectations
“Brockman goes Titans”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Surprise Team CallsAtlanta FalconsJul 23, 2026
Atlanta Falcons to beat expectations
“Brockman goes to Atlanta where the quarterback controversy is unsettled”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersDallas CowboysJul 23, 2026
Dallas Cowboys to win the division
“They're winning the East. I'm picking them to win the East.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksNew Orleans SaintsJul 23, 2026
New Orleans Saints to make the playoffs
“All three of your teams are making the playoffs.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Conference ChampionsDallas CowboysJul 23, 2026
Dallas Cowboys to reach the Super Bowl
“And I think you're definitely in the NFC championship.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksDallas CowboysJul 23, 2026
Dallas Cowboys to make the playoffs
“All three of your teams are making the playoffs.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksMinnesota VikingsJul 23, 2026
Minnesota Vikings to make the playoffs
“All three of your teams are making the playoffs.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Ross JacksonScore Predictions · New Orleans SaintsMiss · 38Ross Jackson picked the Saints to beat the Raiders at home, projecting a 27-24 final score with the Raiders scoring 24 points.
- Connor RogersGame Outcome Picks · Dallas CowboysHit · 100Rogers made his own Week 2 calls, taking the Packers, Eagles (by at least 10), Panthers (by at least a field goal), Cowboys (by at least six), Chargers, Chiefs and Rams to win. He also noted Baltimore was his Super Bowl pick and said it wouldn't shock him if Jacksonville hosted the AFC Championship Game.
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · Dallas CowboysHit · 83Simms went through every Week 2 game with predicted final scores, picking the Texans, Bears, Steelers (as an upset), Packers, Ravens, Eagles, Buccaneers, Panthers, Jaguars, Seahawks, Cowboys, 49ers, Chargers, Chiefs and Rams to win. He also reiterated that Denver was his preseason Super Bowl pick while predicting the Broncos would fall to 0-2.
- Chris LongGame Outcome Picks · New England PatriotsHit · 100Previewing Week 2, Long called New England a spot to bounce back against Pittsburgh, projected a 27-14 Patriots win, saw Eagles-Titans as a 23-10 grinder, liked the Rams' spot Monday night against the Giants, and wrote down a Bills 31, Lions 23 final for the Thursday nighter.
- Steve KubitzaTrade and Signing Calls · Za'Darius SmithHit · 100Kubitza suggests that Kevin Stefanski's Falcons may lure veteran pass rusher Za'Darius Smith away from Cleveland, signing him in Atlanta instead of the Browns.
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · New Orleans SaintsClose · 48Simms 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.
More playoff picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Dan "Buzz" WilsonPlayoff Picks · Philadelphia EaglesHit · 100Wilson argued the Eagles' offseason approach of prioritizing 2026 and beyond doesn't mean a bad 2025 — he expects them to remain among the NFC's best teams and to make a deep playoff run rather than fall off to eight or nine wins.
- Craig StoutPlayoff Picks · Kansas City ChiefsMiss · 0Craig 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.
- Dwaine BoardPlayoff Picks · San Francisco 49ersHit · 100Board argues the 49ers can still make the playoffs even if Trent Williams leaves, expects Williams to be brought back, and favors drafting a wide receiver at No. 27 over an offensive tackle.
- Rich EisenPlayoff Picks · Carolina PanthersHit · 100Eisen 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.
- Rich EisenPlayoff Picks · Green Bay PackersHit · 100Eisen agreed the Bears are a team of destiny who will win the NFC, insisted the Packers will make the playoffs and won't lose at home to the Ravens, said the Steelers should make the playoffs, and endorsed the view that Trevor Lawrence is playing like a top-five quarterback.
- Rich EisenPlayoff Picks · San Francisco 49ersHit · 100Eisen agreed the NFC West will send three teams to the playoffs (Seahawks, 49ers and Rams), endorsed the Bears finishing no worse than the No. 2 seed, and said Chicago would beat Green Bay at home.