# Rich Eisen: Eisen picked the Colts as the AFC's top seed, named Jonathan Taylor a top-three MVP finisher, said this season puts Matthew Stafford in the Hall of Fame, kept the NFC North as Detroit's division, and had Tampa Bay as the NFC South playoff team while allowing Carolina could reach 10 wins. **Claimed:** Oct 20, 2025 **Pundit:** Rich Eisen — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/rich-eisen **Outlet:** Overreaction Monday (podcast) — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/overreaction-monday-podcast **How it reached us:** said on air, transcribed by us **Original:** https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.megaphone.fm/ESP6039494434.mp3?updated=1761000007 8 checkable claims — 2 depth chart calls, 1 award pick, 1 division winner, 1 game outcome pick, 1 playoff pick, 1 season win total and 1 seeding, byes and home field — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call. It names 10 players and teams, each linked to their own record. 7 of 8 have settled so far, averaging 51.4 out of 100, against 67.9 for a naive guess at the same calls. > This is the season that's putting Matthew Stafford in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Indianapolis Colts to take the top seed** - Kind: Seeding, Byes and Home Field · About: Indianapolis Colts - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Detroit Lions to win the division** - Kind: Division Winners · About: Detroit Lions - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Carolina Panthers to finish with 10 wins** - Kind: Season Win Totals · About: Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 60 out of 100, against 75 for a naive guess - **New England Patriots to beat Cleveland** - Kind: Game Outcome Picks · About: New England Patriots - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - Line: Closing line (Oct 26, 2025): Patriots by 7 · favorite pick, Patriots about 3 in 4 (76%). Source: nflverse; context only, never part of the grade. - **Tampa Bay Buccaneers to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Brock Purdy to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Tua Tagovailoa to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Jonathan Taylor — top three in MVP voting: top three of MVP voting, if not top two** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Indianapolis Colts — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/colts - Detroit Lions — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/lions - Carolina Panthers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/panthers - New England Patriots — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/patriots - Tampa Bay Buccaneers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/buccaneers - Brock Purdy — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/brock-purdy - San Francisco 49ers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/49ers - Tua Tagovailoa — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/tua-tagovailoa - Miami Dolphins — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/dolphins - Jonathan Taylor — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jonathan-taylor ## What others said about the same people - Parker Hurley on Khalid Kareem: Hurley predicts the 49ers will release Khalil Kareem when Nate Hobbs is activated and cut Brandin Cooks when C.J. West returns, while arguing Sebastian Valdez won't be the one let go and no cornerback will be cut. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/5a729417-69ee-493a-9bec-d905fd1a7082 (scored 0) - John Middlekauff on Anthony Richardson: Middlekoff's bold predictions, as relayed on the show, have the Patriots and Colts making the playoffs; they also argue the Colts whiffed on Anthony Richardson, comparing them to Trey Lance. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/eaacd99d-867e-4bab-9c40-015de85caa35 (scored 100) - Brandon Carney on Mike Evans: Carney predicts Geno Smith signs with the Vikings and starts for them, that at least four of the fringe veteran quarterbacks (Tua, Kyler, Cousins, Fields, Geno) will be starters next season, and that Mike Evans stays with Tampa Bay. They also rank their top fantasy wide receivers and comments on running back landing spots and trade values. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c228a7e7-4915-4bc7-bacc-8c9b3298c2c1 (scored 0) - Dalton Feely on Chris Godwin Jr.: Feenie predicted Chris Godwin stays in Tampa Bay, Josh Sweat reunites with Jonathan Gannon in Arizona, Ronnie Stanley signs with New England, Jevon Holland lands in Indianapolis, Khalil Mack joins Washington, Asante Samuel Jr. goes to San Francisco, Najee Harris to the Raiders and Bobby Wagner to Dallas. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/5456472e-edf1-49c5-9f6b-bd59183fcea7 (scored 100) - Pete Prisco on San Francisco 49ers: Prisco 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/dc43909b-bc7f-47aa-b208-5cf7c95844bc (scored 83.33) - Christian Booher on Anthony Lucas: Booher previews the Lions' Week 9 trip to Miami, predicting Derrick Barnes takes over as the green-dot linebacker in Jack Campbell's absence, Juice Scruggs starts at center, and boldly forecasting Detroit's first defensive touchdown of the season on an Aidan Hutchinson strip-sack recovered and returned by Barnes. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/228a7c0e-608b-4043-a8fa-eb3f8b2c4ce8 (scored 0) ## More depth chart calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Jeremy Brener on Drew Lock: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7eb2d245-63d0-4be0-80ba-3f60197e2b16 (scored 100) - Jeremy Brener on Jalen Milroe: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/42d1bd81-5e19-456e-9f68-b3b135170ec0 (scored 0) - Michael Moore on Shedeur Sanders: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e26319a3-10aa-49a6-a24d-a257521363f0 (scored 100) - Zachary Pereles on Shedeur Sanders: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/6dad75dd-1818-4a6a-91ea-832f491c2530 (scored 100) - Nic Bodiford on Joe Fagnano: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a13b9f29-bb76-4c56-b226-aca74b21f5b7 (scored 100) - Garrett Podell on Carson Beck: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2f499498-ebbe-41f8-8ea3-41fe96f79432 (scored 0) --- Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages. Full method: https://missedtakes.co/methodology We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us: https://missedtakes.co/corrections?pundit=rich-eisen