Henry McKenna· Oct 19, 2026
McKenna argues the Rams' problems run far deeper than injuries, that C.J. Stroud has forced Houston into an extension and the Texans can rip off four straight wins, that Jacksonville can still claim the AFC's top seed, and that Cleveland will move on from Deshaun Watson this offseason.
“But Stroud has already made it impossible for Houston to do anything other than extend his contract.”
published in writing · Fox Sports · read the original →
7 checkable claims — 4 game outcome picks, 1 contract call, 1 seeding, byes and home field and 1 trade and signing call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 4 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
2 of 7 have settled so far, averaging 50 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room.
Where this call stands in the room
Jacksonville Jaguars · 2026 season7 calls from 6 pundits between 1 and 1. Henry McKenna 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.
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Who this take is about
The games in this take
- Giants at Texans 13 calls
- Texans at Chargers 22 calls
- Texans at Browns 4 calls
- Colts at Texans 3 calls
7 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. Game calls show that game’s closing betting line under their grade: a dated fact from nflverse, for context and never part of a grade. MissedTakes takes no bets and earns nothing from any sportsbook.
- Game Outcome PicksHouston TexansOct 19, 2026
Houston Texans to beat Chargers
“the Texans could win their next four games: vs. Giants, @ Chargers, @ Browns and vs. Colts”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+172 skillHow this was scored
- won:
- HOU
- score:
- 44-22
- skill:
- 172
- they picked:
- HOU
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- the naive pick:
- LAC
- difficulty:
- 1.72
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 13
- Game Outcome PicksHouston TexansOct 19, 2026
Houston Texans to beat Giants
“the Texans could win their next four games: vs. Giants, @ Chargers, @ Browns and vs. Colts”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 0+0 skillHow this was scored
- won:
- NYG
- score:
- 27-21
- skill:
- 0
- they picked:
- HOU
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 0
- the naive pick:
- HOU
- difficulty:
- 1.72
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 13
Closing line (Oct 25): Texans by 10 · favorite pick, Texans about 4 in 5 (80%).
- Contract CallsC.J. StroudHouston TexansOct 19, 2026
C.J. Stroud to sign a new deal with Houston Texans
“C.J. Stroud is going to get paid. ... Stroud has already made it impossible for Houston to do anything other than extend his contract. The exact figures — average annual value and guaranteed dollars — are TBD.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Trade and Signing CallsDeshaun WatsonOct 19, 2026
Deshaun Watson to move — “the Browns do move on from Watson this offseason”
“When the Browns do move on from Watson this offseason, they'll be a dangerous team.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Game Outcome PicksHouston TexansOct 19, 2026
Houston Texans to beat Colts
“the Texans could win their next four games: vs. Giants, @ Chargers, @ Browns and vs. Colts”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Seeding, Byes and Home FieldJacksonville JaguarsOct 19, 2026
Jacksonville Jaguars to take the top seed
“And with this win over the Jaguars (who I think can still be the AFC's No. 1 seed)”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Game Outcome PicksHouston TexansOct 19, 2026
Houston Texans to beat Browns
“the Texans could win their next four games: vs. Giants, @ Chargers, @ Browns and vs. Colts”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Pete PriscoScore Predictions · Houston TexansClose · 55Prisco gives score predictions for every Week 9 NFL game, picking the Bengals to rout the Falcons in Madrid, the Cowboys to rebound at Indianapolis, and the Jaguars to win in Baltimore without Lamar Jackson.
- Jared KochGame Outcome Picks · Houston TexansHit · 100Koch predicts the Texans will beat the winless Chargers on the road in Week 9 by at least 10 points, with Houston's defense forcing a couple of turnovers to set up a multiple-score win.
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · Houston TexansHit · 81Simms gave a predicted final score for every Week 9 game, picking the Bengals, Chiefs, Broncos, Lions, Giants, Rams, Cowboys, Saints, 49ers, Patriots, Seahawks, Texans, Bears and Bills, and also said he wouldn't be shocked to see Jacksonville reach the AFC Championship Game.
- Connor RogersGame Outcome Picks · Houston TexansHit · 100Rogers picked straight-up winners in every Week 9 game, agreeing with Simms on all of them, and gave a 24-20 Bills score over the Vikings on Monday night.
- Nick WrightScore Predictions · Houston TexansHit · 83Wright made several outright game calls for Week 9 alongside his spread picks: Kansas City beating the Jets 31-20, Detroit winning at Miami, New England edging Green Bay by a field goal or so, Carolina winning outright over Denver, and Houston blowing out the Chargers 27-12.
- John ShipleyGame Outcome Picks · Houston TexansHit · 100Shipley expects Jacksonville to keep Brian Thomas Jr. at the trade deadline while adding two defenders, most likely Derrick Brown, and he thinks the winless Chargers will again come up short against Houston in Week 9.
More game outcome picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Bill HuberGame Outcome Picks · Green Bay PackersHit · 100Huber argues Green Bay has no excuses left and will beat New England in Foxborough, and expects Christian Watson to play despite his rib injury. He also sketches the projected interior offensive line, with John Williams at center and Laken Tomlinson at right guard.
- Jeremy BrenerGame Outcome Picks · Seattle SeahawksHit · 100Brener picked the Seahawks to beat the Cardinals in Week 9 by a multi-score margin, giving a final score of 27-13, and expressed confidence Seattle would be fine with Drew Lock starting at quarterback.
- Albert BreerGame Outcome Picks · Seattle SeahawksHit · 100Breer picks the Seahawks to beat the Cardinals in their Week 9 NFC West matchup.
- Tyler SullivanGame Outcome Picks · Seattle SeahawksHit · 100Sullivan picks the Seahawks to win in Week 9.
- Dave RichardGame Outcome Picks · Seattle SeahawksHit · 100Richard picks the Seahawks over the Cardinals.
- John PluymGame Outcome Picks · Seattle SeahawksHit · 100Pluym picks the Seahawks over the Cardinals.