# JP Acosta: 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. **Claimed:** Mar 18, 2026 **Pundit:** JP Acosta — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/jp-acosta **Outlet:** Pushing the Pile (podcast) — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/pushing-the-pile-podcast **How it reached us:** said on air, transcribed by us **Original:** https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/serve.castfire.com/audio/8174648/8174648_2026-04-12-050248.192.mp3?rssID=6037 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. > They are the defending champions, Seattle Seahawks, the Los Angeles Rams, and the Denver Broncos. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Fernando Mendoza to be picked at number 1** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Fernando Mendoza, Las Vegas Raiders - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Detroit Lions to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Detroit Lions - Verdict: not settled yet - **JC Latham to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: JC Latham, Tennessee Titans - Verdict: not settled yet - **New Orleans Saints to beat expectations** - Kind: Surprise Team Calls · About: New Orleans Saints - Verdict: not settled yet - **Philadelphia Eagles to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Philadelphia Eagles - Verdict: not settled yet - **Houston Texans to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Houston Texans - Verdict: not settled yet - **Washington Commanders to beat expectations** - Kind: Surprise Team Calls · About: Washington Commanders - Verdict: not settled yet - “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.” - Kind: Power Rankings - Verdict: not settled yet - **Green Bay Packers to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Green Bay Packers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Los Angeles Rams to win the Super Bowl** - Kind: Super Bowl Picks · About: Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: not settled yet - “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” - Kind: Power Rankings - Verdict: not settled yet - **Minnesota Vikings to finish with 12 wins** - Kind: Season Win Totals · About: Minnesota Vikings - Verdict: not settled yet - **Los Angeles Chargers to reach the Super Bowl** - Kind: Conference Champions · About: Los Angeles Chargers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Chicago Bears to reach the Super Bowl** - Kind: Conference Champions · About: Chicago Bears - Verdict: not settled yet - **Denver Broncos to win the Super Bowl** - Kind: Super Bowl Picks · About: Denver Broncos - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jacksonville Jaguars to reach the Super Bowl** - Kind: Conference Champions · About: Jacksonville Jaguars - Verdict: not settled yet - **Seattle Seahawks to win the Super Bowl** - Kind: Super Bowl Picks · About: Seattle Seahawks - Verdict: not settled yet - **New England Patriots to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: New England Patriots - Verdict: not settled yet - **Tennessee Titans to beat expectations** - Kind: Surprise Team Calls · About: Tennessee Titans - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Fernando Mendoza — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/fernando-mendoza - Las Vegas Raiders — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/raiders - Detroit Lions — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/lions - JC Latham — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jc-latham - Tennessee Titans — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/titans - New Orleans Saints — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/saints - Philadelphia Eagles — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/eagles - Houston Texans — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/texans - Washington Commanders — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/commanders - Green Bay Packers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/packers - Los Angeles Rams — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/rams - Minnesota Vikings — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/vikings - Los Angeles Chargers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/chargers - Chicago Bears — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/bears - Denver Broncos — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/broncos - Jacksonville Jaguars — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/jaguars - Seattle Seahawks — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/seahawks - New England Patriots — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/patriots ## What others said about the same people - Zack Kelberman on Sean Fresch Jr.: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/978f775c-5611-4514-ad2f-b35a6eac0402 (scored 0) - Zack Kelberman on Sean Fresch Jr.: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3c8c47b8-6041-4282-8d21-d21741d8f11b (scored 0) - Nate Gosney on Daiyan Henley: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/60272861-4ad0-4749-b36a-dcdf09b9213f (scored 0) - Jordan Dajani on Washington Commanders: Dajani picks the Commanders to edge the Giants 21-20 on Thursday and the Chiefs to beat the Falcons 26-20 in Week 10. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/46f7646f-2c64-4827-a522-67975af79fb6 (scored 95.24) - Tyler Sullivan on Washington Commanders: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/1bb32676-c3b3-4b8e-8a03-b58396cf98bf (scored 100) - John Breech on Washington Commanders: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/9fddc8e1-3823-4252-bdd7-f81ef11b1da3 (scored 90.48) ## More playoff picks The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Craig Stout on Kansas City Chiefs: Craig believes better execution from a Patrick Mahomes-led Chiefs team will be enough to return them to the playoffs in the coming season, and they expect Tyler Algeier to land with Denver as a complement to RJ Harvey. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/4ad5b565-6220-4c30-9371-e55be75a35f0 (scored 0) - Dwaine Board on San Francisco 49ers: Board 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/07beb6d4-aadc-4b2d-b131-b889c85204a3 (scored 100) - Rich Eisen on Carolina Panthers: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/34345186-876a-4c4b-9567-9c289a6cbace (scored 100) - Chris Brockman on Pittsburgh Steelers: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7792215a-c787-44bd-b294-5ff028851d30 (scored 100) - Rich Eisen on Pittsburgh Steelers: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/1f7633c5-427b-4993-8849-3f53865241bd (scored 100) - Chris Brockman on Buffalo Bills: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c06d1a3a-78d8-4aec-8574-159821b42aab (scored 100) --- Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. 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