Rich Eisen#38 of 87 NFL pundits · Aug 25, 2025

Eisen predicted the same AFC North order as TJ Jefferson — Ravens win the division, Steelers second, Bengals third, Browns last — and said the Steelers make the playoffs again. They also said Shedeur Sanders will make the Browns' 53-man roster and that Dillon Gabriel would be the backup if Flacco goes down, with Flacco as starter.

Said on air, transcribed by us · The Rich Eisen Show (podcast)Hear the original

5 of 6calls landed5 hits · 1 miss · all settled

81.7Average accuracyout of 100, across 6 calls

63.6A naive guessthe same calls, no knowledge

6 of 6Settlednone still waiting

#38Rich Eisen’s rankof 87 ranked NFL pundits

What Rich Eisen said

our reading, beside the words we read it from

But I think at the end of the day, though, the Steelers are are too good, and I think they do make the playoffs again.

Rich Eisen, the lead quote · each call’s own words are below

Where it was said: The Rich Eisen Show (podcast)
The episode: AFC North Predictions
The original: Hear the original
Read it wrong?: Tell us and we will look

SaidAug 25, 2025
GradedAug 13–Sep 25, 2026

1Shedeur Sanders to make the roster“With any of these guys, like, Shador is gonna make the team outstanding.”
2Baltimore Ravens to win the division“And I'm going to give you my AFC North predictions. I do believe the Ravens win it.”
3Pittsburgh Steelers to make the playoffs“But I think at the end of the day, though, the Steelers are are too good, and I think they do make the playoffs again.”
4Joe Flacco to be 1st on the depth chart“I mean, you see why Flacco's the starter. Yeah. End of story.”
5Power Rankings“So you and I are lockstep teaching. Okay? We are. ... I do believe the Ravens win it ... and I do believe the Cleveland Browns do finish last ... I just still think the Steelers are are a better balanced team right now.”
6Dillon Gabriel to be 2nd on the depth chart“Same thing with Dylan Gabriel. Because at some point, you're if you're gonna keep picking, that's the guy if Flacco goes down. He's the backup.”

Box score

HitCloseMissWaiting

Call	Kind	What happened	Score	Naive	Skill
Shedeur Sanders to make the roster¹	Roster Spot Calls	17 weeks on a 53	100	0	+200
Baltimore Ravens to win the division²	Division Winners	—	0	0	0
Pittsburgh Steelers to make the playoffs³	Playoff Picks	Made the playoffs	100	100	0
Joe Flacco to be 1st on the depth chart⁴	Depth Chart Calls	No. 1	100	91.67	+16.67
“So you and I are lockstep teaching. Okay? We are. ... I do…”⁵	Power Rankings	—	90	90	0
Dillon Gabriel to be 2nd on the depth chart⁶	Depth Chart Calls	No. 2	100	100	0
6 calls · 5 hits · 1 miss · all settled			81.7	63.6

How each call scored

a naive guessbetter than naive

6 checkable claims — 2 depth chart calls, 1 division winner, 1 playoff pick, 1 power ranking and 1 roster spot call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.

It names 6 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

All 6 have settled, averaging 81.7 out of 100, against 63.6 for a naive guess at the same calls.

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.

1Roster Spot Calls Shedeur Sanders Cleveland Browns
Shedeur Sanders to make the roster
What happened17 weeks on a 53
100Hit · naive 0
100this call0a naive guess100better than naive2difficulty+200skill
How this was scored
club:
CLE
skill:
200
player:
Shedeur Sanders
season:
2025
claimed:
he makes the 53
accuracy:
100
baseline:
0
difficulty:
2
the naive guess:
he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
weeks in the season:
18
weeks on the53:
17
weeks left when called:
18
first week on the53:
1
weeks on the practice squad:
0
Think this is wrong?
2Division Winners Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens to win the division
VerdictMiss
0Miss · naive 0
0this call0a naive guess0better than naive2difficulty0skill
How this was scored
skill:
0
method:
division winners read off the bracket: the bye teams and the wild-card hosts
they picked:
BAL
season:
2025
accuracy:
0
baseline:
0
the naive pick:
BAL
difficulty:
2
the naive guess:
last season's winner of the same division
weeks in the season:
18
weeks left when called:
18
won the division:
no
Think this is wrong?
3Playoff Picks Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers to make the playoffs
What happenedMade the playoffs
100Hit · naive 100
100this call100a naive guess0better than naive2difficulty0skill
How this was scored
team:
PIT
skill:
0
season:
2025
accuracy:
100
baseline:
100
the naive guess said:
yes
difficulty:
2
weeks in the season:
18
made the playoffs:
yes
weeks left when called:
18
Think this is wrong?
4Depth Chart Calls Joe Flacco Cleveland Browns
Joe Flacco to be 1st on the depth chart
What happenedNo. 1called No. 1 · by passing yards
100Hit · naive 91.67
100this call91.67a naive guess8.33better than naive2difficulty+16.67skill
How this was scored
club:
CIN
skill:
16.67
player:
Joe Flacco
season:
2025
accuracy:
100
baseline:
91.67
position:
QB
naive slot:
2
actual slot:
1
difficulty:
2
measured by:
passing yards
the naive guess:
where he sat last season
weeks in the season:
18
predicted slot:
1
weeks left when called:
18
Think this is wrong?
5Power Rankings
“So you and I are lockstep teaching. Okay? We are. ... I do believe the Ravens win it ... and I do believe the Cleveland Browns do finish last ... I just still think the Steelers are are a better balanced team right now.”
VerdictHit
90Hit · naive 90
90this call90a naive guess0better than naive2difficulty0skill
How this was scored
skill:
0
method:
spearman
season:
2025
accuracy:
90
baseline:
90
difficulty:
2
weeks in the season:
18
teams ranked:
4
weeks left when called:
18
Think this is wrong?
6Depth Chart Calls Dillon Gabriel Cleveland Browns
Dillon Gabriel to be 2nd on the depth chart
What happenedNo. 2called No. 2 · by passing yards
100Hit · naive 100
100this call100a naive guess0better than naive2difficulty0skill
How this was scored
club:
CLE
skill:
0
player:
Dillon Gabriel
season:
2025
accuracy:
100
baseline:
100
position:
QB
naive slot:
2
actual slot:
2
difficulty:
2
measured by:
passing yards
the naive guess:
no prior season — a rookie is assumed to start behind the incumbent
weeks in the season:
18
predicted slot:
2
weeks left when called:
18
Think this is wrong?
All
The take as a whole
the average of 6 settled calls, each counted once
81.7naive 63.6

Who this take is about

Make your own calls.Pick every open claim on Picks →

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Bryan DeArdo · Trade and Signing Calls · Joey Porter Jr. · Miss 0
The piece predicts Joey Porter Jr. most likely stays with the Steelers through 2026, while listing possible trade destinations if they were moved.
Doug Joubert · Score Predictions · Cleveland Browns · Miss 26
Joubert picks the Browns to win 28-17, saying the Saints haven't improved over the first half of the season despite Cleveland starting Shedeur Sanders.
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Zachary Pereles · Depth Chart Calls · Shedeur Sanders · Hit 100
Pereles writes that if Deshaun Watson can't clear concussion protocol in time, the Browns would likely turn to second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders to start Week 9 against the Saints.
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