John Middlekauff#48 of 87 NFL pundits · Jun 24, 2025
Middlecoff predicts Daniel Jones leads the Colts to the playoffs with nine or ten wins, that Zac Taylor's Bengals will fire them and have a new coach in 2026, and that the Patriots make the playoffs. They also expect Jackson Dart to be inserted as the Giants' starter early and thinks the Giants win only four or five games, while believing Josh Allen will win a Super Bowl.
Said on air or in an interview · The Herd with Colin Cowherd (podcast)Hear the original
What John Middlekauff said
Daniel Jones leads the Colts to the playoffs.
- Where it was said
- The Herd with Colin Cowherd (podcast)
- The episode
- Hour 1 - Bold Predictions
- The original
- Hear the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
The page this came from has changed since we captured it on Aug 5, 2026. The quote and evidence here are from our capture, not from what the page says today.
- SaidJun 24, 2025
- GradedAug 5, 2026
Box score, by kind
HitCloseMissWaiting| Group | Hits | Close | Misses | Waiting | Calls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depth Chart Calls | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Season Win Totals | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Playoff Picks | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Super Bowl Picks | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Surprise Team Calls | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| All | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
How each call scored
9 checkable claims — 2 depth chart calls, 2 playoff picks, 2 season win totals, 2 surprise team calls and 1 super bowl pick — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 6 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
7 of 9 have settled so far, averaging 68.6 out of 100, against 64.5 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.
Their call against what happened
Their call against what actually happened.
Depth Chart Calls2 hitsShow ▸Hide ▾
Jaxson Dart to be 1st on the depth chart
“So I would expect We talked about this yesterday. Jackson dart to be inserted much earlier than later.”
No. 1called No. 1 · by passing yards100Hit100 − 91.67 naive = 8.33 × 2 difficulty = +16.67 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- NYG
- skill:
- 16.67
- player:
- Jaxson Dart
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 91.67
- position:
- QB
- naive slot:
- 2
- actual slot:
- 1
- difficulty:
- 2
- measured by:
- passing yards
- the naive guess:
- no prior season — a rookie is assumed to start behind the incumbent
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- predicted slot:
- 1
- weeks left when called:
- 18
Daniel Jones to be 1st on the depth chart
“This race is over. He's going to be the starting quarterback.”
No. 1called No. 1 · by passing yards100Hit100 − 100 naive = 0 × 2 difficulty = 0 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- IND
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Daniel Jones
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- position:
- QB
- naive slot:
- 1
- actual slot:
- 1
- difficulty:
- 2
- measured by:
- passing yards
- the naive guess:
- where he sat last season
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- predicted slot:
- 1
- weeks left when called:
- 18
Season Win Totals2 hitsShow ▸Hide ▾
Indianapolis Colts to finish with 9 wins
“Again, they're just looking nine to ten wins. I'm not talking twelve thirteen.”
8called 980Hit80 − 95 naive = −15 × 2 difficulty = −30 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- team:
- IND
- naive:
- 8.25
- skill:
- −30
- what happened:
- 8
- season:
- 2025
- zero credit this far off:
- 5
- accuracy:
- 80
- baseline:
- 95
- they said:
- 9
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 18
New York Giants to finish with 4 wins
“This is a this tough schedule. Colling Thiss got four or five wins written all over it.”
4called 4100Hit100 − 65 naive = 35 × 2 difficulty = +70 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- team:
- NYG
- naive:
- 5.75
- skill:
- 70
- what happened:
- 4
- season:
- 2025
- zero credit this far off:
- 5
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 65
- they said:
- 4
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 18
Playoff Picks1 hit · 1 missShow ▸Hide ▾
New England Patriots to make the playoffs
“Speaking of the Patriots, I think they make the playoffs.”
Made the playoffs100Hit100 − 0 naive = 100 × 2 difficulty = +200 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- team:
- NE
- skill:
- 200
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- the naive guess said:
- no
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- made the playoffs:
- yes
- weeks left when called:
- 18
Indianapolis Colts to make the playoffs
“Daniel Jones leads the Colts to the playoffs.”
Missed the playoffs0Miss0 − 100 naive = −100 × 2 difficulty = −200 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- team:
- IND
- skill:
- −200
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 100
- the naive guess said:
- no
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- made the playoffs:
- no
- weeks left when called:
- 18
Super Bowl Picks1 missShow ▸Hide ▾
Buffalo Bills to win the Super Bowl
“I believe that josh Allen will get a Super Bowl ring for it's all said and done.”
SEA won itpicked BUF0Miss0 − 0 naive = 0 × 2 difficulty = 0 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- skill:
- 0
- they picked:
- BUF
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 0
- champion:
- SEA
- runner up:
- NE
- the naive pick:
- PHI
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 18
Surprise Team Calls2 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
New England Patriots to beat expectations
“I like the Patriots to be playing some games in January, like old times.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Indianapolis Colts to beat expectations
“You're gonna think I'm nuts. Daniel Jones leads the Colts to the playoffs.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Sam Monson · Game Outcome Picks · New York Giants · Miss 0
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.Pete Prisco · Score Predictions · New York Giants · Miss 36
Prisco picks the Giants to beat the Commanders 23-14 on Thursday night and the Lions to beat the Patriots 30-24 in Munich.Jared Dubin · Score Predictions · New York Giants · Close 43
Dubin picks the Giants to beat the Commanders 20-14 on Thursday night and takes the Packers over the Vikings 17-14 in a low-scoring Week 10 game.Jared Dubin · Score Predictions · New York Giants · Close 43
Dubin picks the Giants to beat the Commanders at home on Thursday night, projecting a 20-14 final score.Pete Prisco · Score Predictions · New York Giants · Miss 36
Prisco picked the Giants to beat the Commanders at home in the Thursday night Week 10 game, 23-14, citing New York's dominant front seven containing Jayden Daniels.Jared Dubin · Score Predictions · New York Giants · Close 43
Dubin predicted final scores for seven Week 10 games, taking the Giants over the Commanders, the Lions, Chiefs, Packers, 49ers, Bengals and Ravens to win their respective matchups.
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.