JP Acosta· Mar 18, 2026
Acosta sorted all 32 teams into tiers for 2026: Seattle, the Rams and Denver as his Super Bowl favorites; New England, Detroit, Green Bay, Houston and Philadelphia as playoff teams; Jacksonville, Chicago and the Chargers as 'hipster' Super Bowl contenders; and Washington, New Orleans and Tennessee as turnaround candidates. He also predicted the Raiders take Fernando Mendoza first overall and that Minnesota could win 12 games with Kyler Murray.
“They are the defending champions, Seattle Seahawks, the Los Angeles Rams, and the Denver Broncos.”
said on air, transcribed by us · Pushing the Pile (podcast) · read the original →
19 checkable claims — 5 playoff picks, 3 conference champions, 3 super bowl picks, 3 surprise team calls, 2 power rankings, 1 depth chart call, 1 mock draft pick and 1 season win total — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 18 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
1 of 19 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the rest of the room.
Their call against what happened
overall pickTheir call against what actually happened.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
19 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.
Fernando Mendoza to be picked at number 1
“This is obviously operating on your assumption that the Raiders draft Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick. That feels like a foregone conclusion at this point.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 50How this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- player:
- Fernando Mendoza
- season:
- 2026
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 1
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 100
- predicted pick:
- 1
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- only one pick — no order to score
- Super Bowl PicksLos Angeles RamsMar 18, 2026
Los Angeles Rams to win the Super Bowl
“Last tier, Super Bowl favorites here... the Los Angeles Rams”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Surprise Team CallsTennessee TitansMar 18, 2026
Tennessee Titans to beat expectations
“I think these are trendy turnaround candidates... and Tennessee Titans.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksPhiladelphia EaglesMar 18, 2026
Philadelphia Eagles to make the playoffs
“and the Philadelphia Eagles... this team is too talented to just say they're gonna miss the playoffs outright.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Conference ChampionsLos Angeles ChargersMar 18, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers to reach the Super Bowl
“These are the the hipster Super Bowl picks... and Los Angeles Chargers... if things break right, they could find themselves in the Super Bowl.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Super Bowl PicksDenver BroncosMar 18, 2026
Denver Broncos to win the Super Bowl
“Last tier, Super Bowl favorites here... and the Denver Broncos. I was sort of debating on where to put the Broncos and then they traded for Jaylen Waddle.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Power RankingsMar 18, 2026
“unfortunately, I have to put the chargers last... But between the Jaguars and the Bears, I actually sort of think I'm gonna lean towards the Jaguars”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Conference ChampionsChicago BearsMar 18, 2026
Chicago Bears to reach the Super Bowl
“These are the the hipster Super Bowl picks... Chicago Bears... if things break right, they could find themselves in the Super Bowl.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Conference ChampionsJacksonville JaguarsMar 18, 2026
Jacksonville Jaguars to reach the Super Bowl
“These are the the hipster Super Bowl picks... And these are the Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears, and Los Angeles Chargers... if things break right, they could find themselves in the Super Bowl.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksDetroit LionsMar 18, 2026
Detroit Lions to make the playoffs
“These are the playoff teams... the Detroit Lions”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksHouston TexansMar 18, 2026
Houston Texans to make the playoffs
“These are the playoff teams... the Houston Texans”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Super Bowl PicksSeattle SeahawksMar 18, 2026
Seattle Seahawks to win the Super Bowl
“Last tier, Super Bowl favorites here... They are the defending champions, Seattle Seahawks, the Los Angeles Rams, and the Denver Broncos.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJC LathamTennessee TitansMar 18, 2026
JC Latham to be 1st on the depth chart
“I think he's sort of locked in this season as you're starting right tackle.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Surprise Team CallsWashington CommandersMar 18, 2026
Washington Commanders to beat expectations
“I think these are trendy turnaround candidates... I said the Washington Commanders, New Orleans Saints, and Tennessee Titans.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Surprise Team CallsNew Orleans SaintsMar 18, 2026
New Orleans Saints to beat expectations
“I think these are trendy turnaround candidates... New Orleans Saints... One thing breaks right and you are leading that division.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksNew England PatriotsMar 18, 2026
New England Patriots to make the playoffs
“These are the playoff teams. I think these teams are going to be in post season contention... And these are the New England Patriots, the Detroit Lions, the Green Bay Packers, the Houston Texans, and the Philadelphia Eagles.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Power RankingsMar 18, 2026
“But I just think if I had to rank it, I would go Ravens, Bills, Chiefs because the Chiefs might not have Patrick Mahomes for the first quarter of the season.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Season Win TotalsMinnesota VikingsMar 18, 2026
Minnesota Vikings to finish with 12 wins
“the one team that isn't in the in that tier, we said earlier is the Minnesota Vikings, who could win 12 games with Kyler Murray as their quarterback”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksGreen Bay PackersMar 18, 2026
Green Bay Packers to make the playoffs
“These are the playoff teams... the Green Bay Packers”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · New Orleans SaintsClose · 48Simms 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.
- Connor RogersGame Outcome Picks · Detroit LionsHit · 100Rogers picked Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle and the Giants to win their Week 3 games, saying the Chiefs win by two touchdowns and the Giants by a field goal.
- Chris LongGame Outcome Picks · Los Angeles RamsMiss · 0Long liked the Rams over the Broncos on Sunday night even without Puka Nacua, and expected the Bills to beat the winless Chargers in Buffalo. He also backed the Bengals over the Steelers, expected an angry Detroit team to handle the Jets, and still thought both the Lions and Vikings could win the NFC North.
- Steven RuizGame Outcome Picks · Las Vegas RaidersHit · 100Previewing Week 3, Ruiz picked the Ravens to beat the Cowboys in Brazil, Jacksonville over New England in a low-scoring game, an upset by the Broncos over the Rams, the Raiders over the Saints, the Eagles over the Bears, the Lions over the Jets, and his Hail Mary that Houston beats Indianapolis by two touchdowns.
- Nate TiceGame Outcome Picks · Detroit LionsHit · 100Tice matched his guest on every Week 3 game, picking the Ravens over the Cowboys, the Jaguars over the Patriots in a close game, the Broncos to upset the Rams, the Raiders over the Saints, the Eagles over the Bears and the Lions over the Jets.
- 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.
More playoff picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Craig StoutPlayoff Picks · Kansas City ChiefsMiss · 0Craig believes better execution from a Patrick Mahomes-led Chiefs team will be enough to return them to the playoffs in the coming season, and he expects Tyler Algeier to land with Denver as a complement to RJ Harvey.
- Dwaine BoardPlayoff Picks · San Francisco 49ersHit · 100Board argues the 49ers can still make the playoffs even if Trent Williams leaves, expects Williams to be brought back, and favors drafting a wide receiver at No. 27 over an offensive tackle.
- Rich EisenPlayoff Picks · Carolina PanthersHit · 100Eisen forecast the Week 18 results and the entire wild-card field: Buccaneers over Panthers but Carolina still gets in as the 5 seed when Atlanta beats New Orleans, 49ers over Seahawks, Ravens over Steelers, Jaguars beating Tennessee to win the AFC South, and six wild-card matchups (Seahawks-Panthers, Bills-Jaguars, Texans-Ravens, Packers-Bears, Chargers-Patriots, Rams-Eagles), with Houston upsetting Baltimore. He also tabbed Saints rookie Tyler Shough as a possible Offensive Rookie of the Year.
- Chris BrockmanPlayoff Picks · Pittsburgh SteelersHit · 100Brockman argued the road to the Super Bowl in the AFC goes through Foxborough, meaning the Patriots will finish as the No. 1 seed, and called his shot that the Chargers beat Denver in Week 18. He also declared the Bears a team of destiny who will win the NFC, said the Steelers will end their playoff win drought, and that Trevor Lawrence is playing like a top-five quarterback.
- Rich EisenPlayoff Picks · Pittsburgh SteelersHit · 100Eisen agreed the Bears are a team of destiny who will win the NFC, insisted the Packers will make the playoffs and won't lose at home to the Ravens, said the Steelers should make the playoffs, and endorsed the view that Trevor Lawrence is playing like a top-five quarterback.
- Chris BrockmanPlayoff Picks · Buffalo BillsHit · 100Brockman argued the Texans will reach the AFC Championship Game, declared the Chiefs dynasty over, said the road to the Super Bowl in the NFC goes through Lambeau Field, that Josh Allen is still the most dangerous QB and the Bills will win a playoff game (with the AFC East runner-up as the 5 seed winning in Pittsburgh or Baltimore), that Carolina will win the NFC South, that Baltimore finishes under .500 with Lamar no longer a top-five QB, that the Colts should trade for Mac Jones, and that Marcus Freeman will be in the NFL next year.