John Middlekauff#48 of 87 NFL pundits · Sep 25, 2026
Reacting to the Packers' blowout loss at Lambeau, Middlekauff said Green Bay's own pick (now owned by the Jets) will land somewhere between 7 and 12 overall, picked Cincinnati to beat Pittsburgh and expected Seattle and Kansas City to roll over Washington and Miami. They also guessed Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss would run about a 4.48-4.50 forty, said Seattle won't trade Drew Lock, and expected Sam Darnold to play in Week 3.
Said on air or in an interview · 3 and Out with John Middlekauff (podcast)Hear the original
What John Middlekauff said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromSo this is why I like Cincinnati.
- Where it was said
- 3 and Out with John Middlekauff (podcast)
- The episode
- 3 & Out - TNF Reaction, NFL Week 3 Predictions, Fugazi Friday, MIddlekauff Mailbag
- The original
- Hear the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidSep 25
- PlayedSep 27
- GradedSep 28
- 1Kansas City Chiefs to beat Miami“the Chiefs now, Monday night football, Sunday night football, getting up for road game against, I'm pretty sure, the least talented team in the league. If they try, that's a massacre.”
- 2Seattle Seahawks to beat Washington“Seattle, Washington, Kansas City, Miami, those... Those got blowout written all over them... if those two teams try, it will not be close.”
- 3Cincinnati Bengals to beat Pittsburgh“So this is why I like Cincinnati... to me, the only way I see Cincinnati not winning this game is like it's going to have to be one of those banana Steelers defense do crazy shit.”
- 4Availability Calls“I mean, is Darnold going to play this week or not? I don't know. I would imagine he does because he talked to the press.”
- 5Denver Broncos to reach the Super Bowl“They were my pick to go to the Super Bowl. Through two weeks, I'm not feeling as confident.”
- 6Drew Lock to move — “stays in Seattle; no chance he's traded unless a top 20 pick is offered”“There's no chance. They're too good of a team and already having the Darnold injury... I think it'd have to be like a top 20 pick for them to entertain it.”
- 7Trinidad Chambliss to post like 4.50, 4.48 at the combine“If I had to guess what he'll run in the 40, like 4.50, 4.48, like he's fast.”
- 8Green Bay Packers to pick “somewhere between 7 to 12”“They have the Packers pick... I don't know, could be a top... 12? I'd say it'll end up somewhere between 7 to 12.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City Chiefs to beat Miami1 | Game Outcome Picks | Chiefs 24–10 | 100 | 0 | +189 | |
| Seattle Seahawks to beat Washington2 | Game Outcome Picks | Commanders 33–31 | 0 | 100 | −189 | |
| Cincinnati Bengals to beat Pittsburgh3 | Game Outcome Picks | Steelers 30–27 | 0 | 100 | −189 | |
| “I mean, is Darnold going to play this week or not? I don't…”4 | Availability Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Denver Broncos to reach the Super Bowl5 | Conference Champions | — | — | — | — | |
| Drew Lock to move — “stays in Seattle; no chance he's traded unless a top 20 pick is offered”6 | Trade and Signing Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Trinidad Chambliss to post like 4.50, 4.48 at the combine7 | Combine Measurements | — | — | — | — | |
| Green Bay Packers to pick “somewhere between 7 to 12”8 | Team Draft Slot Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 8 calls · 1 hit · 2 misses · 5 waiting | 33.3 | 66.7 | ||||
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.
How each call scored
a naive guessbetter than naiveworse than naive8 checkable claims — 3 game outcome picks, 1 availability call, 1 combine measurement, 1 conference champion, 1 team draft slot call and 1 trade and signing call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 8 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
3 of 8 have settled so far, averaging 33.3 out of 100, against 66.7 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.
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.
1Game Outcome PicksKansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs to beat Miami
What happenedChiefs 24–10Chiefs at Dolphins100Hit · naive 0100this call−0a naive guess=100better than naive×1.89difficulty=+189skillClosing line (Sep 27): Chiefs by 10 · favorite pick, Chiefs about 5 in 6 (82%).
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- won:
- KC
- score:
- 24-10
- skill:
- 189
- they picked:
- KC
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- the naive pick:
- MIA
- difficulty:
- 1.89
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 16
2Game Outcome PicksSeattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks to beat Washington
What happenedCommanders 33–31Seahawks at Commanders0Miss · naive 1000this call−100a naive guess=−100worse than naive×1.89difficulty=−189skillClosing line (Sep 27): Seahawks by 8.5 · favorite pick, Seahawks about 3 in 4 (77%).
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- won:
- WAS
- score:
- 31-33
- skill:
- −189
- they picked:
- SEA
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 100
- the naive pick:
- WAS
- difficulty:
- 1.89
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 16
3Game Outcome PicksCincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals to beat Pittsburgh
What happenedSteelers 30–27Bengals at Steelers0Miss · naive 1000this call−100a naive guess=−100worse than naive×1.89difficulty=−189skillClosing line (Sep 27): Bengals by 3.5 · favorite pick, Bengals 62%.
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- won:
- PIT
- score:
- 27-30
- skill:
- −189
- they picked:
- CIN
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 100
- the naive pick:
- PIT
- difficulty:
- 1.89
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 16
4Availability CallsSam DarnoldSeattle Seahawks
“I mean, is Darnold going to play this week or not? I don't know. I would imagine he does because he talked to the press.”
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
5Conference ChampionsDenver Broncos
Denver Broncos to reach the Super Bowl
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
6Trade and Signing CallsDrew Lock
Drew Lock to move — “stays in Seattle; no chance he's traded unless a top 20 pick is offered”
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
7Combine MeasurementsTrinidad Chambliss
Trinidad Chambliss to post like 4.50, 4.48 at the combine
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
8Team Draft Slot CallsGreen Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers to pick “somewhere between 7 to 12”
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- All
The take as a whole
the average of 3 settled calls, each counted once
33.3naive 66.7
The games in this take
every pundit’s pick on eachWho this take is about
Others on the same people
Zack Kelberman · Roster Spot Calls · Sean Fresch Jr. · Miss 0
Kelberman expects Sean Fresch Jr. to clear waivers and return to the Broncos' practice squad, sees Riley Moss back from concussion for the Week 11 game at Las Vegas, and projects newly acquired Daiyan Henley to begin as the third inside linebacker behind Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad before likely moving into a starting role.Zack Kelberman · Roster Spot Calls · Sean Fresch Jr. · Miss 0
Kelberman writes that Riley Moss may sit out the preseason finale against Minnesota but should be available for the Week 1 opener at Kansas City; they also suggest undrafted corners Sean Fresch Jr. and Brent Austin are being evaluated for practice squad spots.Chris Clark · Trade and Signing Calls · Nikko Remigio · Miss 0
Clark expects the Chiefs to bring back exclusive-rights receiver Nico (Remigio) and long snapper James Winchester, to re-sign JuJu Smith-Schuster as a cheap veteran fifth receiver, and not to bring back Hollywood Brown, Josh Dobbs-type depth, Gardner Minshew, Janarius Robinson or Mike Caliendo; they also say the Chiefs will not use a franchise tag and believes Bryan Cook won't return.Chad Jensen · Roster Spot Calls · Jordan Turner · Miss 0
Jensen predicts Daiyan Henley's arrival will cut into Justin Strnad's snaps while Alex Singleton keeps playing virtually every down, and that Denver will return to a three-linebacker rotation after the Week 10 bye. They also expect one of Jordan Turner or Karene Reid — most likely Turner — to be waived to clear a roster spot.Gilberto Manzano · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
Previewing the trade deadline, he expects Justin Herbert to stay in Los Angeles despite the Chargers' 0–7 start, thinks the Jets will keep Garrett Wilson and pair him with their young weapons, expects a receiver-hungry Kansas City to be aggressive with Josh Downs the likeliest target, and suggests expiring Eagles contracts Moro Ojomo and Riq Woolen could be dealt for mid-round picks.Joshua Poniatowski · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
Poniatowski names several trade targets, predicting Malik Willis underperforms this week against New England, that Omarion Hampton could become a viable RB2 if Adam Gase takes over play-calling, that Josh Downs gets traded (ideally to Kansas City, where they'd be a top-24 WR), that Brian Thomas Jr. could be dealt to the Rams or 49ers, and that Travis Kelce remains a consistent weekly TE.
More game outcome picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
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.Eva Geitheim · Game Outcome Picks · Washington Commanders · Hit 100
Geitheim picked the Commanders, Lions, Chiefs, Texans, Vikings, Jaguars, Colts, Panthers, Bills, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Bengals and Ravens in Week 10.Conor Orr · Game Outcome Picks · New York Giants · Miss 0
Orr picked the Giants, Lions, Chiefs, Texans, Packers, Jaguars, Dolphins, Panthers, Bills, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Bengals and Chargers in Week 10.Albert Breer · Game Outcome Picks · New York Giants · Miss 0
Breer picked all 14 Week 10 games straight up, favoring the Giants, Lions, Chiefs, Texans, Packers, Jaguars, Dolphins, Panthers, Bills, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Bengals and Ravens.Mitch Goldich · Game Outcome Picks · New York Giants · Miss 0
Goldich picked the Giants, Lions, Chiefs, Texans, Packers, Jaguars, Dolphins, Panthers, Bills, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Bengals and Ravens in Week 10.Matt Verderame · Game Outcome Picks · New York Giants · Miss 0
Verderame picked the Giants, Lions, Chiefs, Texans, Packers, Jaguars, Dolphins, Saints, Bills, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Bengals and Ravens in Week 10.