Rich Eisen#38 of 87 NFL pundits · Aug 26, 2025
Eisen agreed with TJ's NFC South order — Bucs first, Falcons second, Panthers third, Saints last — calling Tampa the class of the division, and said Kirk Cousins will remain Atlanta's backup quarterback.
Said on air, transcribed by us · The Rich Eisen Show (podcast)Hear the original
What Rich Eisen said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromI I I think the Bucks are are the the class of that division.
- Where it was said
- The Rich Eisen Show (podcast)
- The episode
- NFC South Predictions
- The original
- Hear the original
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- Tell us and we will look
- SaidAug 26, 2025
- GradedAug 13–17, 2026
- 1Tampa Bay Buccaneers to win the division“I I I think the Bucks are are the the class of that division.”
- 2Kirk Cousins to be 2nd on the depth chart“At the end of the day, Kirk Cousins is gonna be the backup there in Atlanta.”
- 3Power Rankings“And then my NFC South prediction, not gonna just belabor it. It's the same.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers to win the division1 | Division Winners | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Kirk Cousins to be 2nd on the depth chart2 | Depth Chart Calls | No. 2 | 100 | 91.67 | +16.67 | |
| “And then my NFC South prediction, not gonna just belabor it.…”3 | Power Rankings | — | 100 | 90 | +20 | |
| 3 calls · 2 hits · 1 miss · all settled | 66.7 | 60.6 | ||||
How each call scored
a naive guessbetter than naive3 checkable claims — 1 depth chart call, 1 division winner and 1 power ranking — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 3 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
All 3 have settled, averaging 66.7 out of 100, against 60.6 for a naive guess at the same calls.
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.
1Division WinnersTampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers to win the division
VerdictMiss0Miss · naive 00this call−0a naive guess=0better than naive×2difficulty=0skillThink this is wrong?How this was scored
- skill:
- 0
- method:
- division winners read off the bracket: the bye teams and the wild-card hosts
- they picked:
- TB
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 0
- the naive pick:
- TB
- difficulty:
- 2
- the naive guess:
- last season's winner of the same division
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- won the division:
- no
2Depth Chart CallsKirk CousinsAtlanta Falcons
Kirk Cousins to be 2nd on the depth chart
What happenedNo. 2called No. 2 · by passing yards100Hit · naive 91.67100this call−91.67a naive guess=8.33better than naive×2difficulty=+16.67skillThink this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- ATL
- skill:
- 16.67
- player:
- Kirk Cousins
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 91.67
- position:
- QB
- naive slot:
- 1
- actual slot:
- 2
- difficulty:
- 2
- measured by:
- passing yards
- the naive guess:
- where he sat last season
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- predicted slot:
- 2
- weeks left when called:
- 18
“And then my NFC South prediction, not gonna just belabor it. It's the same.”
VerdictHit100Hit · naive 90100this call−90a naive guess=10better than naive×2difficulty=+20skillThink this is wrong?How this was scored
- skill:
- 20
- method:
- spearman
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 90
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- teams ranked:
- 4
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- All
The take as a whole
the average of 3 settled calls, each counted once
66.7naive 60.6
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Logan Lazarczyk · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Ahead of the trade deadline, they float three Raiders moves: shipping Kirk Cousins to Minnesota if the Vikings offer a second-round pick, selling Maxx Crosby to Dallas for a first-rounder plus, and acquiring Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. for a second- or third-round pick.Tom Pelissero · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Pelissero laid out the Giants' quarterback situation with Jameis Winston starting, said Jayden Daniels likely won't be back when Washington plays the Giants and that Caleb Williams is unlikely to play Monday night, and floated Joey Porter Jr. landing in Dallas and Kirk Cousins being traded in-season.Alex Curry · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Curry expects Fernando Mendoza to be taken No. 1 overall by the Raiders and to be thrown into the starting lineup immediately, and they say Kirk Cousins will be released by Atlanta within weeks.Alex Curry · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Curry expects Fernando Mendoza to be the No. 1 overall pick and land with the Raiders, and they say Kirk Cousins will be released by Atlanta.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Michael Moore · Depth Chart Calls · Shedeur Sanders · Hit 100
In a Week 9 injury roundup, Moore forecast which banged-up fantasy contributors would play or sit: Deshaun Watson, Garrett Wilson, David Montgomery, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, TreVeyon Henderson and Terrance Ferguson are expected out, while Travis Kelce, Saquon Barkley, Michael Wilson, Christian Watson and Emeka Egbuka should play. They also expect Shedeur Sanders and Drew Lock to start at quarterback.Nic Bodiford · Depth Chart Calls · Joe Fagnano · Hit 100
Previewing Week 9 running game matchups, Bodiford expects Jacksonville to win lopsidedly over a depleted Baltimore team, with Bhayshul Tuten sitting out and Chris Rodriguez taking over as lead back, while Joe Fagnano starts at quarterback for the Ravens. They also view Broncos rookie Jonah Coleman as an RB2 going forward.