Rich Eisen#38 of 87 NFL pundits · Dec 19, 2025
Eisen picked the Seahawks to claim the NFC's No. 1 seed and the Broncos to win the AFC's top seed, and made several week 16 picks: Packers over Bears, Texans over Raiders, Lions over Steelers, a comfortable Eagles win, and the Chargers winning their game.
Said on air, transcribed by us · The Rich Eisen Show (podcast)Hear the original
What Rich Eisen said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromBut I think the Seahawks are gonna take the one seed though.
- Where it was said
- The Rich Eisen Show (podcast)
- The episode
- Hour 2: ‘What’s More Likely,’ Rich’s Top 5, plus Texans Head Coach DeMeco Ryans
- The original
- Hear the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidDec 19, 2025
- GradedAug 13–17, 2026
- 1Seattle Seahawks to take the top seed“But I think the Seahawks are gonna take the one seed though. I do believe.”
- 2Denver Broncos to take the top seed“I think the Broncos will win the one seed, and they're gonna get they're gonna have to play fewer games.”
- 3Green Bay Packers to beat Bears“I think the Packers win this game. You do. Wow. ... Packers fans think I'm right. Bears fans think I'm wrong.”
- 4Houston Texans to beat Raiders“I don't think the Raiders upset the Texans at all. They are they are in for it.”
- 5Detroit Lions to beat Steelers“I think the lions is their last home game, and, I'm I'm I like the lions in this game a lot. A lot.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle Seahawks to take the top seed1 | Seeding, Byes and Home Field | — | 100 | 0 | +117 | |
| Denver Broncos to take the top seed2 | Seeding, Byes and Home Field | — | 100 | 0 | +117 | |
| Green Bay Packers to beat Bears3 | Game Outcome Picks | — | 0 | 100 | −117 | |
| Houston Texans to beat Raiders4 | Game Outcome Picks | — | 100 | 100 | 0 | |
| Detroit Lions to beat Steelers5 | Game Outcome Picks | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 5 calls · 3 hits · 2 misses · all settled | 60 | 40 | ||||
Game calls show that game’s closing betting line under their grade: a dated fact from nflverse, for context and never part of a grade. MissedTakes takes no bets and earns nothing from any sportsbook.
How each call scored
a naive guessbetter than naiveworse than naive5 checkable claims — 3 game outcome picks and 2 seeding, byes and home field — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 5 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
All 5 have settled, averaging 60 out of 100, against 40 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.
1Seeding, Byes and Home FieldSeattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks to take the top seed
VerdictHit100Hit · naive 0100this call−0a naive guess=100better than naive×1.17difficulty=+117skillThink this is wrong?How this was scored
- skill:
- 117
- they picked:
- SEA
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- checked as:
- the number one seed is the bye, which the bracket names exactly
- actual tier:
- bye
- difficulty:
- 1.17
- the naive guess:
- where they finished last season (missed the playoffs)
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- claimed seed:
- 1
- claimed tier:
- bye
- weeks left when called:
- 3
2Seeding, Byes and Home FieldDenver Broncos
Denver Broncos to take the top seed
VerdictHit100Hit · naive 0100this call−0a naive guess=100better than naive×1.17difficulty=+117skillThink this is wrong?How this was scored
- skill:
- 117
- they picked:
- DEN
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- checked as:
- the number one seed is the bye, which the bracket names exactly
- actual tier:
- bye
- difficulty:
- 1.17
- the naive guess:
- where they finished last season (visitor)
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- claimed seed:
- 1
- claimed tier:
- bye
- weeks left when called:
- 3
3Game Outcome PicksGreen Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers to beat Bears
VerdictMiss0Miss · naive 1000this call−100a naive guess=−100worse than naive×1.17difficulty=−117skillClosing line (Dec 20): Bears by 1.5 · a toss-up, Packers 48%, Bears 52%.
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- won:
- CHI
- score:
- 16-22
- skill:
- −117
- they picked:
- GB
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 100
- the naive pick:
- CHI
- difficulty:
- 1.17
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 3
4Game Outcome PicksHouston Texans
Houston Texans to beat Raiders
VerdictHit100Hit · naive 100100this call−100a naive guess=0better than naive×1.17difficulty=0skillClosing line (Dec 21): Texans by 14.5 · favorite pick, Texans about 9 in 10 (90%).
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- won:
- HOU
- score:
- 21-23
- skill:
- 0
- they picked:
- HOU
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- the naive pick:
- HOU
- difficulty:
- 1.17
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 3
5Game Outcome PicksDetroit Lions
Detroit Lions to beat Steelers
VerdictMiss0Miss · naive 00this call−0a naive guess=0better than naive×1.17difficulty=0skillClosing line (Dec 21): Lions by 7.5 · favorite pick, Lions 78%.
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- won:
- PIT
- score:
- 29-24
- skill:
- 0
- they picked:
- DET
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 0
- the naive pick:
- DET
- difficulty:
- 1.17
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 3
- All
The take as a whole
the average of 5 settled calls, each counted once
60naive 40
Who this take is about
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.Chad Jensen · Roster Spot Calls · Jordan Turner · Miss 0
Jensen predicts Daiyan Henley's arrival will cut into Justin Strnad's snaps while Alex Singleton keeps playing virtually every down, and that Denver will return to a three-linebacker rotation after the Week 10 bye. They also expect one of Jordan Turner or Karene Reid — most likely Turner — to be waived to clear a roster spot.Bobby Skinner · Trade and Signing Calls · Stefon Diggs · Miss 0
Skinner predicted Daniel Jones signs with and wins the starting job in Indianapolis, Milton Williams to New England, Lavonte David back to Tampa, Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams to the Giants, DJ Reid to Arizona, Hassan Reddick to Washington and Justin Fields staying in Pittsburgh, plus alternates they had listed.Bill Huber · Game Outcome Picks · Green Bay Packers · Hit 100
Huber argues Green Bay has no excuses left and will beat New England in Foxborough, and expects Christian Watson to play despite their rib injury. They also sketch the projected interior offensive line, with John Williams at center and Laken Tomlinson at right guard.
More game outcome picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Sam Monson · Game Outcome Picks · New York Giants · Miss 0
Monson picked every Week 10 game, taking the Giants, Lions, Packers, Panthers, Colts, Texans, Bills, Chiefs, Jaguars, Seahawks, Rams, Cowboys, Bengals and Ravens, and also suggested the Chargers' only likely wins the rest of the way come against the Jets and Dolphins.Eva Geitheim · Game Outcome Picks · Washington Commanders · Hit 100
Geitheim picked the Commanders, Lions, Chiefs, Texans, Vikings, Jaguars, Colts, Panthers, Bills, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Bengals and Ravens in Week 10.Conor Orr · Game Outcome Picks · New York Giants · Miss 0
Orr picked the Giants, Lions, Chiefs, Texans, Packers, Jaguars, Dolphins, Panthers, Bills, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Bengals and Chargers in Week 10.Albert Breer · Game Outcome Picks · New York Giants · Miss 0
Breer picked all 14 Week 10 games straight up, favoring the Giants, Lions, Chiefs, Texans, Packers, Jaguars, Dolphins, Panthers, Bills, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Bengals and Ravens.Mitch Goldich · Game Outcome Picks · New York Giants · Miss 0
Goldich picked the Giants, Lions, Chiefs, Texans, Packers, Jaguars, Dolphins, Panthers, Bills, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Bengals and Ravens in Week 10.Matt Verderame · Game Outcome Picks · New York Giants · Miss 0
Verderame picked the Giants, Lions, Chiefs, Texans, Packers, Jaguars, Dolphins, Saints, Bills, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Bengals and Ravens in Week 10.