Lance Zierlein#11 of 87 NFL pundits · Sep 5, 2026
Zerline expects the Ravens' new play caller to revert to Baltimore's established formula by midseason, but still sees them winning their division. They rank their top five NFL defenses entering the season, with Houston first, and thinks Tua will end up getting a start in Atlanta.
Said on air or in an interview · The Rich Eisen Podcast (podcast)Hear the original
What Lance Zierlein said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromAnd I think that's still going to be okay for a Ravens team that I expect to win the division.
- Where it was said
- The Rich Eisen Podcast (podcast)
- The episode
- The NFL Report: Lamar Jackson Puts Defenses on Notice + Top 5 Defenses to Watch this Season
- The original
- Hear the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- 1Baltimore Ravens to win the division“And I think that's still going to be okay for a Ravens team that I expect to win the division.”
- 2Tua Tagovailoa to be 1st on the depth chart“I think Tua will end up getting a start and probably should just because of his experience and because of the injuries that Pennix has faced”
- 3Position Group Rankings“give me your top five... I've got number five, Denver... You have them four [Philly]... they're number three for you [Rams]... Meanwhile, at number two, the champs are here [Seattle]... Houston, number one, why?”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Ravens to win the division1 | Division Winners | — | — | — | — | |
| Tua Tagovailoa to be 1st on the depth chart2 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| “give me your top five... I've got number five, Denver... You…”3 | Position Group Rankings | — | — | — | — | |
| 3 calls · 3 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
3 checkable claims — 1 depth chart call, 1 division winner and 1 position group ranking — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 3 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room.
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
Tua Tagovailoa · 2026 season32 calls from 25 pundits between 1 and 2. Lance Zierlein said 1. the room's median is 1. not settled yet
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.
1Division WinnersBaltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens to win the division
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Depth Chart CallsTua TagovailoaAtlanta Falcons
Tua Tagovailoa to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
“give me your top five... I've got number five, Denver... You have them four [Philly]... they're number three for you [Rams]... Meanwhile, at number two, the champs are here [Seattle]... Houston, number one, why?”
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Alex Curry · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Curry expects Fernando Mendoza to be taken No. 1 overall by the Raiders and to be thrown into the starting lineup immediately, and they say Kirk Cousins will be released by Atlanta within weeks.Alex Curry · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Curry expects Fernando Mendoza to be the No. 1 overall pick and land with the Raiders, and they say Kirk Cousins will be released by Atlanta.JP Acosta · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Acosta expects John Harbaugh's Giants to jump to roughly seven wins in year one, and forecast several offseason moves: Aaron Rodgers returning to Pittsburgh, Daniel Jones returning to the Colts, Kirk Cousins being released by Atlanta, and Brandon Aiyuk leaving San Francisco.Gregg Rosenthal · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Rosenthal gave their award ballot: Drake May atop their MVP list (though they expect Matthew Stafford to actually win), Myles Garrett for Defensive Player of the Year, Bijan Robinson for Offensive Player of the Year, Tetairoa McMillan for Offensive Rookie of the Year, Carson Schwesinger for Defensive Rookie of the Year, Mike Macdonald for Coach of the Year and Broncos O-line coach Zach Strief for Assistant Coach of the Year. They also expect Kirk Cousins to be cut by Atlanta.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
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.Jacob Herlin · Depth Chart Calls · J.J. McCarthy · Hit 100
Herlin published Week 7 fantasy D/ST rankings with projections for 28 team defenses, led by Houston, Minnesota and Cleveland. They also expect Cleveland to post a fourth straight top-10 fantasy defense result, and predicts Jalon Daniels starts another week for Tampa Bay while J.J. McCarthy takes over as the Giants' starter.