# John Maakaron: Ranked the Lions 11th, up from 16th, and expected safety Brian Branch to return from their torn Achilles in Week 7. **Claimed:** Oct 13, 2026 **Pundit:** John Maakaron — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/john-maakaron **Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/sports-illustrated **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/week-six-nfl-power-rankings-lions-rewarded-for-beating-bad-team-2026 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. > Branch should return for Week 7 after being sidelined since December because of a torn Achilles. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - “ESPN — Power ranking: 11th, Previous ranking: 16th” - Kind: Power Rankings - Verdict: not settled yet - “Branch should return for Week 7 after being sidelined since December because of a torn Achilles.” - Kind: Availability Calls · About: Brian Branch, Detroit Lions - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Brian Branch — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/brian-branch - Detroit Lions — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/lions ## What others said about the same people - Christian Booher on Anthony Lucas: Booher previews the Lions' Week 9 trip to Miami, predicting Derrick Barnes takes over as the green-dot linebacker in Jack Campbell's absence, Juice Scruggs starts at center, and boldly forecasting Detroit's first defensive touchdown of the season on an Aidan Hutchinson strip-sack recovered and returned by Barnes. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/228a7c0e-608b-4043-a8fa-eb3f8b2c4ce8 (scored 0) - Pete Prisco on Detroit Lions: Prisco gives score predictions for every Week 9 NFL game, picking the Bengals to rout the Falcons in Madrid, the Cowboys to rebound at Indianapolis, and the Jaguars to win in Baltimore without Lamar Jackson. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/dc43909b-bc7f-47aa-b208-5cf7c95844bc (scored 83.33) - Evan “Foxy” Fox on Detroit Lions: Foxy predicted a blowout Lions win over the Dolphins by a score of 45-21. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/eaf09464-1ce1-44e7-90a0-a02ac2960db9 (scored 66.67) - Chris Simms on Detroit Lions: Simms gave a predicted final score for every Week 9 game, picking the Bengals, Chiefs, Broncos, Lions, Giants, Rams, Cowboys, Saints, 49ers, Patriots, Seahawks, Texans, Bears and Bills, and also said they wouldn't be shocked to see Jacksonville reach the AFC Championship Game. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/17eb747a-90b1-472f-bb6d-e71c0c69133a (scored 100) - Nick Wright on Detroit Lions: Wright made several outright game calls for Week 9 alongside their spread picks: Kansas City beating the Jets 31-20, Detroit winning at Miami, New England edging Green Bay by a field goal or so, Carolina winning outright over Denver, and Houston blowing out the Chargers 27-12. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/14c1f8dd-d8ff-498f-b705-4b468ff964f8 (scored 100) - Richard Sherman on Detroit Lions: Sherman ranked the 49ers first in their Week 9 top five ahead of Buffalo, Chicago, Jacksonville and Denver, picked every Week 9 game with scores, and gave midseason award picks headlined by Brock Purdy for MVP and Kyle Shanahan for Coach of the Year. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/97d44ed7-e136-4f44-babc-78b1d8d020ad (scored 80.95) ## More availability calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Parker Hurley on Deebo Samuel Sr.: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/ae5291fa-ecc5-4950-9235-fba7a9bbbcd1 (not settled) - Ethan Hurwitz on TreVeyon Henderson: Hurwitz laid out that Henderson's IR placement rules the running back out through Week 14, with Week 15 against the Chiefs the earliest possible return, and suggested the season may already be finished given the Patriots' limited return-to-play designations. Hurwitz also projected Rhamondre Stevenson continuing as the lead back with Corey Kiner and Lan Larison taking on larger offensive roles. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/90dc59fd-f9cd-4003-8198-8469fd45d62e (not settled) - Bill Huber on Lukas Van Ness: Huber reasoned from the fact that neither Arron Mosby nor Nyjalik Kelly was elevated that edge rusher Lukas Van Ness, listed as questionable with a back injury, would be healthy enough to play in Sunday's game against the Vikings. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/4a68970a-3ae8-46c4-a395-298520a3614b (not settled) - Jose Sanchez on Keenan Allen: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/fb08e172-6694-4e55-a092-2b59e28fa9a2 (not settled) - Alain Poupart on Chris Bell: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/cec7fbf1-6192-474f-9d80-f1efb9574ce8 (not settled) - Jose Sanchez on Keenan Allen: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/ee391462-23a7-487d-ae3f-667d892af236 (not settled) --- Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages. Full method: https://missedtakes.co/methodology We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us: https://missedtakes.co/corrections?pundit=john-maakaron