John MaakaronOct 13, 2026
Ranked the Lions 11th, up from 16th, and expected safety Brian Branch to return from their torn Achilles in Week 7.
Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original
What John Maakaron said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromBranch should return for Week 7 after being sidelined since December because of a torn Achilles.
- Where it was published
- Sports Illustrated
- The piece
- Week 6 NFL Power Rankings: Lions Rewarded For Beating Bad Team
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- 1Power Rankings“ESPN — Power ranking: 11th, Previous ranking: 16th”
- 2Availability Calls“Branch should return for Week 7 after being sidelined since December because of a torn Achilles.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| “ESPN — Power ranking: 11th, Previous ranking: 16th”1 | Power Rankings | — | — | — | — | |
| “Branch should return for Week 7 after being sidelined since…”2 | Availability Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 2 calls · 2 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
2 checkable claims — 1 availability call and 1 power ranking — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 2 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
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.
“ESPN — Power ranking: 11th, Previous ranking: 16th”
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Availability CallsBrian BranchDetroit Lions
“Branch should return for Week 7 after being sidelined since December because of a torn Achilles.”
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
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More availability calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
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Hurley argued the 49ers' real deadline need was a pass-catching tight end rather than a receiver, and stated that Deebo Samuel will be available to play this week for San Francisco.Ethan Hurwitz · Availability Calls · TreVeyon Henderson · Waiting
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Sanchez argued the 49ers should have rested newly acquired receiver Keenan Allen against Dallas since Allen will go the whole 2026 season without a bye, but expects Allen to suit up and play every game starting with Sunday's game versus the Cowboys.Alain Poupart · Availability Calls · Chris Bell · Waiting
Poupart expects wide receiver Chris Bell to be inactive for the Week 10 game at Indianapolis because of a knee injury, with Jalen Reagor elevated in place of Bell.Jose Sanchez · Availability Calls · Keenan Allen · Waiting
Sanchez expects Keenan Allen to play in the 49ers' game against Dallas in a limited role on passing downs, and argues an injury is more likely than not given age and injury history, meaning Allen will end up being more of the same at receiver for San Francisco.