Rich Eisen#38 of 87 NFL pundits · Nov 3, 2025

Eisen insisted the Colts will still win the AFC South and beat Atlanta in Berlin, picked the Lions to win the NFC North and represent the NFC in the Super Bowl with wins over Washington, the Giants and Green Bay on Thanksgiving, agreed Stafford will be an MVP finalist, and named the Colts, Patriots, Broncos, Chargers and Bills as AFC playoff teams.

Said on air, transcribed by us · Overreaction Monday (podcast)Hear the original

7 of 12calls landed7 hits · 5 misses · 2 waiting

58.3Average accuracyout of 100, across 12 calls

50A naive guessthe same calls, no knowledge

12 of 14Settled2 still waiting

#38Rich Eisen’s rankof 87 ranked NFL pundits

What Rich Eisen said

I'm just going to say the Lions will still win the NFC North.

Rich Eisen, the lead quote

Where it was said: Overreaction Monday (podcast)
The episode: NFL Week 9: Seahawks NFC's Best? Colts' & Packers' Duds, JJ McCarthy Shows Out
The original: Hear the original
Read it wrong?: Tell us and we will look

SaidNov 3, 2025
GradedAug 13–17, 2026

Box score, by kind

HitCloseMissWaiting

Group	Hits	Misses	Waiting
Conference Champions	0	1	0
Game Outcome Picks	3	1	0
Division Winners	0	2	0
Playoff Picks	4	1	0
Award Picks	0	0	1
Surprise Team Calls	0	0	1
All	7	5	2

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

14 checkable claims — 5 playoff picks, 4 game outcome picks, 2 division winners, 1 award pick, 1 conference champion and 1 surprise team call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.

It names 9 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

12 of 14 have settled so far, averaging 58.3 out of 100, against 50 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.

Conference Champions1 missShow ▸

Detroit Lions to reach the Super Bowl
“I also chose them to go to the Super Bowl and win the NFC”
Detroit Lions
NE and SEA wonpicked DET
0Miss
0 − 0 naive = 0 × 1.56 difficulty = 0 skill
How this was scored
skill:
0
they picked:
DET
season:
2025
accuracy:
0
baseline:
0
champions:
NE, SEA
difficulty:
1.56
the naive guess:
last season's conference champions
weeks in the season:
18
weeks left when called:
10
reached the Super Bowl:
no
lost the conference final:
no
Think this is wrong?

Game Outcome Picks3 hits · 1 missShow ▸

Detroit Lions to beat Green Bay
“Which means Detroit wins on Thanksgiving against Green Bay.”
Detroit Lions
0Miss
0 − 0 naive = 0 × 1.56 difficulty = 0 skill
How this was scored
won:
GB
score:
31-24
skill:
0
they picked:
DET
season:
2025
accuracy:
0
baseline:
0
the naive pick:
DET
difficulty:
1.56
weeks in the season:
18
weeks left when called:
10
Think this is wrong?
Indianapolis Colts to beat Falcons
“I think they win in Berlin. They're eight and two going into the buy”
Indianapolis Colts
100Hit
100 − 100 naive = 0 × 1.56 difficulty = 0 skill
Closing line (Nov 9): Colts by 6.5 · favorite pick, Colts about 3 in 4 (73%).
How this was scored
won:
IND
score:
25-31
skill:
0
they picked:
IND
season:
2025
accuracy:
100
baseline:
100
the naive pick:
IND
difficulty:
1.56
weeks in the season:
18
weeks left when called:
10
Think this is wrong?
Detroit Lions to beat Washington
“And I think Detroit wins against Washington. They're six and three”
Detroit Lions
100Hit
100 − 0 naive = 100 × 1.56 difficulty = +156 skill
Closing line (Nov 9): Lions by 8.5 · favorite pick, Lions about 4 in 5 (79%).
How this was scored
won:
DET
score:
44-22
skill:
156
they picked:
DET
season:
2025
accuracy:
100
baseline:
0
the naive pick:
WAS
difficulty:
1.56
weeks in the season:
18
weeks left when called:
10
Think this is wrong?
Detroit Lions to beat Giants
“The Giants coming in ... That said they should win that.”
Detroit Lions
100Hit
100 − 100 naive = 0 × 1.56 difficulty = 0 skill
How this was scored
won:
DET
score:
27-34
skill:
0
they picked:
DET
season:
2025
accuracy:
100
baseline:
100
the naive pick:
DET
difficulty:
1.56
weeks in the season:
18
weeks left when called:
10
Think this is wrong?

Division Winners2 missesShow ▸

Indianapolis Colts to win the division
“they're absolutely gonna win this division ... I still think they're the best team in the AFC South for sure.”
Indianapolis Colts
0Miss
0 − 0 naive = 0 × 1.56 difficulty = 0 skill
How this was scored
skill:
0
method:
division winners read off the bracket: the bye teams and the wild-card hosts
they picked:
IND
season:
2025
accuracy:
0
baseline:
0
the naive pick:
HOU
difficulty:
1.56
the naive guess:
last season's winner of the same division
weeks in the season:
18
weeks left when called:
10
won the division:
no
Think this is wrong?
Detroit Lions to win the division
“I'm just going to say the Lions will still win the NFC North.”
Detroit Lions
0Miss
0 − 0 naive = 0 × 1.56 difficulty = 0 skill
How this was scored
skill:
0
method:
division winners read off the bracket: the bye teams and the wild-card hosts
they picked:
DET
season:
2025
accuracy:
0
baseline:
0
the naive pick:
DET
difficulty:
1.56
the naive guess:
last season's winner of the same division
weeks in the season:
18
weeks left when called:
10
won the division:
no
Think this is wrong?

Playoff Picks4 hits · 1 missShow ▸

Indianapolis Colts to make the playoffs
“I think Colts, Patriots, Broncos make it.”
Indianapolis Colts
Missed the playoffs
0Miss
0 − 100 naive = −100 × 1.56 difficulty = −156 skill
How this was scored
team:
IND
skill:
−156
season:
2025
accuracy:
0
baseline:
100
the naive guess said:
no
difficulty:
1.56
weeks in the season:
18
made the playoffs:
no
weeks left when called:
10
Think this is wrong?
New England Patriots to make the playoffs
“I think Colts, Patriots, Broncos make it.”
New England Patriots
Made the playoffs
100Hit
100 − 0 naive = 100 × 1.56 difficulty = +156 skill
How this was scored
team:
NE
skill:
156
season:
2025
accuracy:
100
baseline:
0
the naive guess said:
no
difficulty:
1.56
weeks in the season:
18
made the playoffs:
yes
weeks left when called:
10
Think this is wrong?
Denver Broncos to make the playoffs
“I think Colts, Patriots, Broncos make it.”
Denver Broncos
Made the playoffs
100Hit
100 − 100 naive = 0 × 1.56 difficulty = 0 skill
How this was scored
team:
DEN
skill:
0
season:
2025
accuracy:
100
baseline:
100
the naive guess said:
yes
difficulty:
1.56
weeks in the season:
18
made the playoffs:
yes
weeks left when called:
10
Think this is wrong?
Los Angeles Chargers to make the playoffs
“I think the Chargers make it, and I think the Bills make it.”
Los Angeles Chargers
Made the playoffs
100Hit
100 − 100 naive = 0 × 1.56 difficulty = 0 skill
How this was scored
team:
LAC
skill:
0
season:
2025
accuracy:
100
baseline:
100
the naive guess said:
yes
difficulty:
1.56
weeks in the season:
18
made the playoffs:
yes
weeks left when called:
10
Think this is wrong?
Buffalo Bills to make the playoffs
“I think the Chargers make it, and I think the Bills make it.”
Buffalo Bills
Made the playoffs
100Hit
100 − 100 naive = 0 × 1.56 difficulty = 0 skill
How this was scored
team:
BUF
skill:
0
season:
2025
accuracy:
100
baseline:
100
the naive guess said:
yes
difficulty:
1.56
weeks in the season:
18
made the playoffs:
yes
weeks left when called:
10
Think this is wrong?

Award Picks1 waitingShow ▸

Matthew Stafford to win MVP finalist
“he's gonna be an MVP finalist. Oh, I I agree with you. ... Not an overreaction.”
Matthew Stafford Los Angeles Rams
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?

Surprise Team Calls1 waitingShow ▸

Carolina Panthers to beat expectations
“Although, I did say the Panthers were my sleeper team of the NFC”
Carolina Panthers
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?

Who this take is about

Where do you stand on this one?Pick every open claim on Picks →

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.
Nate Gosney · Trade and Signing Calls · Daiyan Henley · Miss 0
After the Broncos rescinded the trade, Gosney expects Daiyan Henley to remain with the Chargers for the rest of the 2026 season, but believes the awkward fallout has effectively killed any chance of them signing a new contract with Los Angeles after the season.
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.
John Middlekauff · Draft Bust Calls · Anthony Richardson · Hit 100
Middlekoff's bold predictions, as relayed on the show, have the Patriots and Colts making the playoffs; they also argue the Colts whiffed on Anthony Richardson, comparing them to Trey Lance.
Pete Prisco · Score Predictions · Buffalo Bills · Close 76
Prisco picked the Bills to win 21-14 at Minnesota.

More playoff picks

The same kind of call, about other players and teams.

Dan "Buzz" Wilson · Playoff Picks · Philadelphia Eagles · Hit 100
Wilson argued the Eagles' offseason approach of prioritizing 2026 and beyond doesn't mean a bad 2025 — they expect them to remain among the NFC's best teams and to make a deep playoff run rather than fall off to eight or nine wins.
Craig Stout · Playoff Picks · Kansas City Chiefs · Miss 0
Craig believes better execution from a Patrick Mahomes-led Chiefs team will be enough to return them to the playoffs in the coming season, and they expect Tyler Algeier to land with Denver as a complement to RJ Harvey.
Ross Jackson · Playoff Picks · New Orleans Saints · Miss 0
Jackson projects a big sophomore jump for Saints QB Tyler Shuck, laying out a Drake May-style stat line (17 starts, 72% completions, ~4,601 passing yards, 24 TDs, 9 INTs) or a Bo Nix-style consistency line (over 4,000 yards, over 20 TDs, ~10 INTs), and says either path means a playoff season for New Orleans in 2026.
Dwaine Board · Playoff Picks · San Francisco 49ers · Hit 100
Board argues the 49ers can still make the playoffs even if Trent Williams leaves, expects Williams to be brought back, and favors drafting a wide receiver at No. 27 over an offensive tackle.
Chris Brockman · Playoff Picks · Pittsburgh Steelers · Hit 100
Brockman argued the road to the Super Bowl in the AFC goes through Foxborough, meaning the Patriots will finish as the No. 1 seed, and called their shot that the Chargers beat Denver in Week 18. They also declared the Bears a team of destiny who will win the NFC, said the Steelers will end their playoff win drought, and that Trevor Lawrence is playing like a top-five quarterback.
Chris Brockman · Playoff Picks · Houston Texans · Hit 100
Brockman predicted the AFC South will send at least two teams to the playoffs and called the Texans real contenders.