Ralph VacchianoAug 16, 2026

Vacchiano expects the Steelers to regress to around eight wins in a tougher AFC North, and says Rodgers is no longer a top-10 quarterback. They also expect Rico Dowdle to be Pittsburgh's workhorse back.

Published in writing · Fox SportsRead the original

Waiting2 calls, none settled yet

—Average accuracynothing settled yet

—A naive guessthe same calls, no knowledge

0 of 2Settled2 still waiting

2Waitingnot graded yet

What Ralph Vacchiano said

our reading, beside the words we read it from

Eight seems like a more realistic goal.

Ralph Vacchiano, the lead quote · each call’s own words are below

Where it was published: Fox Sports
The piece: Why Mike McCarthy Still Sees a Championship-Caliber QB In Old Friend Aaron Rodgers
The original: Read the original
Read it wrong?: Tell us and we will look

1Rico Dowdle to be 1st on the depth chart“Dowdle should end up as the workhorse in the Steelers’ backfield.”
2Pittsburgh Steelers to finish with 8 wins“Getting to 10 wins again could be quite the challenge for Pittsburgh. Eight seems like a more realistic goal.”

Box score

HitCloseMissWaiting

Call	Kind	What happened	Score	Naive	Skill
Rico Dowdle to be 1st on the depth chart¹	Depth Chart Calls	—	—	—	—
Pittsburgh Steelers to finish with 8 wins²	Season Win Totals	—	—	—	—
2 calls · 2 waiting			—	—

How each call scored

2 checkable claims — 1 depth chart call and 1 season win total — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.

It names 2 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.

Of the 2 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.

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.

Where this call stands in the room

Pittsburgh Steelers · 2026 season · wins

Ralph Vacchiano — 8 winsthe room — 21 calls from 15 punditsmedian 9 wins

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.

Their call against the room

1They said

1The room (10 pundits)

Their call against everyone else's, while this is still unsettled.

1Depth Chart Calls Rico Dowdle Pittsburgh Steelers
Rico Dowdle to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
2Season Win Totals Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers to finish with 8 wins
VerdictWaiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?

Who this take is about

Where do you stand on this one?Pick every open claim on Picks →

Others on the same people

Bryan DeArdo · Trade and Signing Calls · Joey Porter Jr. · Miss 0
The piece predicts Joey Porter Jr. most likely stays with the Steelers through 2026, while listing possible trade destinations if they were moved.
Bryan DeArdo · Score Predictions · Pittsburgh Steelers · Close 60
DeArdo picks the Steelers to beat the Browns at home in Week 8, citing Pittsburgh's quarterback edge and a running game that should exploit Cleveland's weak run defense.
Greg Jennings · Game Outcome Picks · Pittsburgh Steelers · Hit 100
Jennings backed the Vikings to upset the Lions in Detroit, put chips on the Steelers over the Browns, and took the Chiefs to win in Denver.
Chris Simms · Score Predictions · Pittsburgh Steelers · Close 74
Simms gave straight-up winners with predicted final scores for every Week 8 game, including upset calls on the Ravens in Buffalo, the Broncos over the Chiefs, the Jets over the Raiders and the Seahawks over the Bears, and they expected Josh Downs to play for the Colts despite their trade request.
Connor Rogers · Game Outcome Picks · Pittsburgh Steelers · Hit 100
Rogers picked straight-up winners across the Week 8 slate, siding with the Bills over the Ravens, the Lions, Steelers, Jaguars, Bengals, Falcons, Raiders, Broncos, Rams, Patriots, Commanders and the Bears in Seattle.
James Harrison · Game Outcome Picks · Pittsburgh Steelers · Hit 100
Harrison picked the Steelers to beat the Browns in their Sunday meeting, saying Pittsburgh would even the season series at 1-1 after losing the first matchup.

More depth chart calls

The same kind of call, about other players and teams.

Jeremy Brener · Depth Chart Calls · Drew Lock · Hit 100
Brener 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.
Jeremy Brener · Depth Chart Calls · Jalen Milroe · Miss 0
Brener suggests Seattle may turn to rookie-contract quarterback Jalen Milroe for their first career start in Week 9 against the Cardinals, with Sam Darnold ruled out and Drew Lock dealing with an elbow injury.
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.
Zachary Pereles · Depth Chart Calls · Shedeur Sanders · Hit 100
Pereles writes that if Deshaun Watson can't clear concussion protocol in time, the Browns would likely turn to second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders to start Week 9 against the Saints.
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.
Garrett Podell · Depth Chart Calls · Carson Beck · Miss 0
Podell argues the Cardinals have maxed out with Jacoby Brissett and that rookie Carson Beck should be ramped up to replace them as starter, targeting Week 8 at Dallas for Beck's regular-season debut.