Akbar Gbaja-Biamila· Jan 7, 2025
Akbar ranked the AFC wild card teams Chargers, Steelers, Broncos and the NFC trio Vikings, Packers, Commanders, while predicting Washington beats Tampa Bay in the wild card round and that the Lions reach the Super Bowl.
“I still believe in the Vikings... They win and they go far. I see Vikings.”
said on air or in an interview · Move the Sticks (podcast) · read the original →
The page this came from has changed since we captured it on Aug 5, 2026. The quote and evidence above are from our capture, not from what the page says today.
4 checkable claims — 2 power rankings, 1 conference champion and 1 game outcome pick — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 2 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
All 4 have settled, averaging 62.5 out of 100, against 31.3 for a naive guess at the same calls.
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Who this take is about
4 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.
- Conference ChampionsDetroit LionsJan 7, 2025
Detroit Lions to reach the Super Bowl
“I've been talking about the Lions, and you know, I do the Lion King chant because I believe that they're going to the Super Bowl.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 100-100 skillHow this was scored
- skill:
- -100
- they picked:
- DET
- season:
- 2024
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 100
- champions:
- PHI,KC
- difficulty:
- 1
- the naive guess:
- last season's conference champions
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- reached the Super Bowl:
- no
- lost the conference final:
- no
- Game Outcome PicksWashington CommandersJan 7, 2025
Washington Commanders to beat Buccaneers
“I do think though, that the Commanders will end up beating the Buccaneers in that first game.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+100 skillHow this was scored
- won:
- WAS
- score:
- 23-20
- skill:
- 100
- they picked:
- WAS
- season:
- 2024
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- the naive pick:
- TB
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- Power RankingsJan 7, 2025
“at the number three spot, I've got Washington... Number two, the Green Bay Packers... We're talking about the Minnesota Vikings... I see Vikings.”
Close · 75Scored 75a naive guess scored 25+50 skillHow this was scored
- skill:
- 50
- method:
- spearman
- season:
- 2024
- accuracy:
- 75
- baseline:
- 25
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- teams ranked:
- 3
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- Power RankingsJan 7, 2025
“But I've got Broncos, Steelers and Chargers... I like the Chargers to go really far and compete with the Kansas City Chiefs.”
Close · 75Scored 75a naive guess scored 0+75 skillHow this was scored
- skill:
- 75
- method:
- spearman
- season:
- 2024
- accuracy:
- 75
- baseline:
- 0
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- teams ranked:
- 3
- weeks left when called:
- 0
What others said about the same people
- 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 · Detroit LionsHit · 100Long 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.
- 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.
- Steven RuizGame Outcome Picks · Detroit LionsHit · 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.
- Richard ShermanScore Predictions · Detroit LionsHit · 90Sherman picked winners and several exact scores across the Week 3 slate, favoring Seattle, San Francisco, Cincinnati, Detroit, Green Bay, Carolina, New Orleans, Baltimore, the Rams, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Kansas City, Minnesota, the Giants, Jacksonville and Houston, and named Kenneth Walker his MVP.
- Colin CowherdScore Predictions · Detroit LionsClose · 60The co-host (identified only as "Mitchell") made his own Week 3 picks, including blowout wins for Seattle and San Francisco, Cincinnati 27-17, Detroit 37-13, Denver 24-21 over the Rams, and predicted Jonah Coleman takes over the Broncos' running back role.
More power rankings
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Rich EisenPower RankingsHit · 85Eisen power ranked the 10 teams with new head coaches by their chances of a Mike Vrabel-style turnaround, with Baltimore first and Arizona last. He also predicted Kirk Cousins would be Atlanta's Week 1 starter, expected Deshaun Watson to start in Cleveland, and named the Titans as a team he likes.
- Rich EisenPower RankingsClose · 73Eisen delivered his final NFL power rankings of the season, a top 10 with the Super Bowl champion Seahawks first, the Rams second and the Patriots third, ahead of the Bears, Broncos, 49ers, Bills, Packers, Texans and Jaguars.
- Anthony GarganoPower RankingsClose · 75Gargano also took Indiana over Miami as a mismatch, but split from Schwartz on wild card weekend by picking the Bears over the Packers and the Bills over the Jaguars, while liking the Patriots and Texans and ranking the Rams, Eagles and Bills as the top remaining contenders.
- Rich EisenPower RankingsHit · 93Rich Eisen delivered his final traditional power rankings of the season, counting down the top 10 teams in reverse order and putting the Seahawks first, with the rest of the top four ordered by playoff seeding.
- Rich EisenPower RankingsHit · 83Rich Eisen delivered his Week 16 NFL power rankings, keeping the Rams at No. 1 with the Broncos second and the Bears holding at 10, and also predicted James Cook wins the rushing title while expecting the Bears and Rams to win their upcoming home games.
- Rich EisenPower RankingsClose · 76Rich Eisen gave his Week 15 top-10 power rankings, installing the Rams at No. 1 as the best team in football, adding the Jaguars and keeping the Bears despite their loss, while dropping the Cowboys and Eagles off the list. He also projected 10-win seasons for both Chicago and Jacksonville and said the Jaguars would handle the Jets at home.