JP Acosta#40 of 87 NFL pundits · 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.
Said on air, transcribed by us · Pushing the Pile (podcast)Hear the original
What JP Acosta said
They are the defending champions, Seattle Seahawks, the Los Angeles Rams, and the Denver Broncos.
- Where it was said
- Pushing the Pile (podcast)
- The episode
- NFL Power Ranking Tiers Following Free Agency
- The original
- Hear the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidMar 18
- GradedAug 13
Box score, by kind
HitCloseMissWaiting| Group | Hits | Close | Misses | Waiting | Calls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mock Draft Picks | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Playoff Picks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | |
| Depth Chart Calls | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Surprise Team Calls | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| Power Rankings | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| Super Bowl Picks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| Season Win Totals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Conference Champions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| All | 1 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
How each call scored
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 call.
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 2 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 1.
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.
Their call against what happened
overall pickTheir call against what actually happened.
Mock Draft Picks1 hitShow ▸Hide ▾
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.”
Went 1mocked at 1100HitThink this is wrong?How this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- player:
- Fernando Mendoza
- season:
- 2026
- zero credit this far off:
- 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
Playoff Picks5 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
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.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Houston Texans to make the playoffs
“These are the playoff teams... the Houston Texans”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Green Bay Packers to make the playoffs
“These are the playoff teams... the Green Bay Packers”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
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.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Depth Chart Calls1 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
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.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Surprise Team Calls3 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
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.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Washington Commanders to beat expectations
“I think these are trendy turnaround candidates... I said the Washington Commanders, New Orleans Saints, and Tennessee Titans.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Tennessee Titans to beat expectations
“I think these are trendy turnaround candidates... and Tennessee Titans.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Power Rankings2 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
“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.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
“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”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Super Bowl Picks3 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Los Angeles Rams to win the Super Bowl
“Last tier, Super Bowl favorites here... the Los Angeles Rams”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
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.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
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.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Season Win Totals1 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
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”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Conference Champions3 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
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.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
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.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
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.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Fernando Mendoza, Las Vegas Raiders, Detroit Lions, JC Latham, Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, Houston Texans, Washington Commanders, Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota Vikings, Los Angeles Chargers, Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars, Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots
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.Nate Gosney · Trade and Signing Calls · Daiyan Henley · Miss 0
After the Broncos rescinded the trade, Gosney expects Daiyan Henley to remain with the Chargers for the rest of the 2026 season, but believes the awkward fallout has effectively killed any chance of them signing a new contract with Los Angeles after the season.Jordan Dajani · Score Predictions · Washington Commanders · Hit 95
Dajani picks the Commanders to edge the Giants 21-20 on Thursday and the Chiefs to beat the Falcons 26-20 in Week 10.Tyler Sullivan · Score Predictions · Washington Commanders · Hit 100
Sullivan takes the Commanders 24-21 over the Giants on Thursday night and calls for a Steelers upset of the Bengals, 27-24, in Week 10.John Breech · Score Predictions · Washington Commanders · Hit 90
Breech picks the Commanders to upset the Giants on Thursday night, 24-17, and takes the Texans to beat the Browns 24-16 in Week 10 behind a pass rush that should batter Deshaun Watson.
More playoff picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Rich Eisen · Playoff Picks · Carolina Panthers · Hit 100
Eisen 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. They also tabbed Saints rookie Tyler Shough as a possible Offensive Rookie of the Year.Chris Brockman · Playoff Picks · Pittsburgh Steelers · Hit 100
Brockman 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 their shot that the Chargers beat Denver in Week 18. They 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 Eisen · Playoff Picks · Pittsburgh Steelers · Hit 100
Eisen 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 Brockman · Playoff Picks · Buffalo Bills · Hit 100
Brockman 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.