Carter Bahns· Sep 12, 2026
CBS Sports picks the Vikings to beat the Packers 27-20 at home, arguing Green Bay's injuries and thin backfield make it a candidate to start slowly. It also lays out Minnesota's quarterback depth chart with Kyler Murray starting ahead of Carson Wentz and J.J. McCarthy, and MarShawn Lloyd leading Green Bay's backfield.
“Pick: Vikings 27, Packers 20”
published in writing · CBS Sports · read the original →
5 checkable claims — 4 depth chart calls and 1 score prediction — 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.
1 of 5 have settled so far, averaging 76.2 out of 100, against 58.3 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 4 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 2 and below it on 2.
Where this call stands in the room
Kyler Murray · 2026 season53 calls from 38 pundits between 1 and 2. Carter Bahns said 1. the room's median is 1. not settled yet
Every dot is a call somebody published on the same question. Where the dots land says where this take sits, not whether it is right — nothing here is settled yet. Hover a dot for the name and number; click it to read that take.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
The game in this take
- Packers at Vikings 42 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.
- Score PredictionsMinnesota VikingsSep 12, 2026
Minnesota Vikings 27 — Packers 20
“Pick: Vikings 27, Packers 20”
Close · 76Scored 76.19a naive guess scored 58.25+35.87 skillHow this was scored
- score:
- 22-39
- skill:
- 35.87
- they picked:
- MIN
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 76.19
- baseline:
- 58.25
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- actual margin:
- 17
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- naive home margin:
- -0.53
- predicted margin:
- 7
- Depth Chart CallsJ.J. McCarthyMinnesota VikingsSep 12, 2026
J.J. McCarthy to be 3rd on the depth chart
“Carson Wentz will back Murray up as J.J. McCarthy was relegated to the No. 3 role”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsKyler MurrayMinnesota VikingsSep 12, 2026
Kyler Murray to be 1st on the depth chart
“The Vikings break in a new starting quarterback this year in Murray, whom they signed this offseason on a minimum contract.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsMarShawn LloydGreen Bay PackersSep 12, 2026
MarShawn Lloyd to be 1st on the depth chart
“MarShawn Lloyd will serve as Green Bay's primary running back against the Vikings with Chris Brooks and Kaleb Johnson rounding out the available backfield options.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsCarson WentzMinnesota VikingsSep 12, 2026
Carson Wentz to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Meanwhile, Carson Wentz will back Murray up as J.J. McCarthy was relegated to the No. 3 role.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · Minnesota VikingsHit · 90Simms 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.
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · Green Bay PackersMiss · 10Simms picked the Packers to beat the Falcons in the Thursday night game by a low score, expecting a defensive struggle.
- Sam MonsonGame Outcome Picks · Minnesota VikingsHit · 100Monson picked the Chargers to beat the Bills outright (jokingly crediting Buffalo's gray 'Nickel City' jerseys), took the Vikings to win outright in Tampa, and said Seattle would destroy Washington. He also reiterated his Super Bowl pick of Denver over the Rams, called the Dolphins destined for the No. 1 overall pick, and said the Saints are a worst-to-first candidate in the NFC South.
- Ryan WilsonPosition Order Calls · J.J. McCarthyHit · 100Recalling his pre-draft evaluation, Wilson notes he had ranked J.J. McCarthy as the fifth quarterback in the 2024 class and given him a second-round grade rather than a first-round one, citing the gap between Michigan's system and NFL demands.
- Adam CarlsonTrade and Signing Calls · J.J. McCarthyHit · 100Carlson names three Vikings he expects could be traded before the end of September: quarterback J.J. McCarthy, wide receiver Jordan Addison and linebacker Ivan Pace.
- Greg AumanTrade and Signing Calls · J.J. McCarthyHit · 100Auman argues no quarterback is likely to replicate Sam Darnold's turnaround this season, but names five candidates. He expects Miami to hold a very high pick in the 2027 draft, and thinks J.J. McCarthy will eventually be traded for a late-round pick or cut by the Vikings.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Jonah ColemanMiss · 0In his Week 3 waiver column, Fitzmaurice makes several depth-chart calls around injuries: Jonah Coleman leading Denver's backfield, Marcus Mariota taking over in Washington, Michael Penix Jr. starting once healthy, and Malik Washington serving as Miami's top receiver, plus availability expectations for Detroit's injured safeties.
- Fox SportsDepth Chart Calls · Michael Penix Jr.Hit · 100Fox Sports states that a healthy Tua Tagovailoa will serve as Atlanta's backup quarterback in Week 3, with Michael Penix Jr. handling the starting duties against Green Bay.
- Matt SeveranceDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100The CBS Sports preview backs Tampa Bay to beat Cleveland in the Bucs' Week 2 home opener, and states that Deshaun Watson — not Shedeur Sanders — will be Cleveland's starting quarterback in Week 2.
- Rafael ZamoranoDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100Zamorano reports Watson will start Week 2 at Tampa Bay and suggests there's little reason to expect improvement, raising the possibility Watson's five-year contract never yields more than single-digit wins.
- Rich HribarDepth Chart Calls · Tua TagovailoaMiss · 0Hribar expects Tua Tagovailoa to be Atlanta's starting quarterback for Week 2 while Michael Penix stays out, with Penix's return closer to Week 4. He is unenthusiastic about the Falcons' offense either way and treats Bryce Young as a fringe fantasy starter.
- Tyler SullivanDepth Chart Calls · Michael Penix Jr.Miss · 0In a Week 1 recap with no named byline, CBS Sports suggested Michael Penix Jr. would take over as Atlanta's Week 2 starter if healthy, called Ashton Jeanty's sophomore breakout imminent, and warned readers not to overlook San Francisco as NFC West winners.