Carter Bahns· Nov 5, 2026
Bahns argues the Jeffery Simmons trade makes the Bears a top-tier championship contender, projecting them to be the best team of 2026, possibly the league's highest-scoring offense, with Caleb Williams on an MVP track, and sees Chicago securing a top-four seed with the No. 1 seed in play. He also sees the quarterback injuries dropping the Ravens toward a last-place finish in the AFC North.
“Monday's 34-17 win on the road over the Seattle Seahawks might have been a passing of the torch from last year's champions to the best team of 2026.”
published in writing · CBS Sports · read the original →
8 checkable claims — 4 depth chart calls, 2 power rankings, 1 position group finish and 1 seeding, byes and home field — 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.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 4 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 2 and below it on 2.
Where this call stands in the room
Joe Fagnano · 2026 season11 calls from 10 pundits between 1 and 3. Carter Bahns said 2. the room's median is 1. not settled yet
Every dot is a call somebody published on the same question. Where the dots land says where this take sits, not whether it is right — nothing here is settled yet. Hover a dot for the name and number; click it to read that take.
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Who this take is about
8 checkable claims in this take
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
- Power RankingsNov 5, 2026
“The injuries in the opening minutes of the matchup against Buffalo relegated the Ravens from Super Bowl contention to a potential last-place finish in their own division.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Power RankingsNov 5, 2026
“Monday's 34-17 win on the road over the Seattle Seahawks might have been a passing of the torch from last year's champions to the best team of 2026.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Seeding, Byes and Home FieldChicago BearsNov 5, 2026
Chicago Bears to take the top seed
“that might be enough to take command and secure a top-four seed in the postseason. And with the best defensive lineman in the world and a burgeoning superstar at quarterback, the No. 1 seed is now in play, too.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsAustin ReedBaltimore RavensNov 5, 2026
Austin Reed to be 3rd on the depth chart
“added Austin Reed to their own practice squad, making him the likely third quarterback against the Jaguars on "Thursday Night Football."”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jacoby Brissett to be 1st on the depth chart
“Week 10 (projected) Starter ... Jacoby Brissett — "Once Brissett arrives, it will be his show."”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJoe FagnanoBaltimore RavensNov 5, 2026
Joe Fagnano to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Week 10 (projected) Backup: Joe Fagnano”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Position Group FinishChicago BearsNov 5, 2026
Chicago Bears offense to be the best in the league
“Ben Johnson's offense might finish the year as the highest-scoring operation in the league”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Kedon Slovis to be 3rd on the depth chart
“Week 10 (projected) Emergency: Kedon Slovis”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- John MiddlekauffDraft Bust Calls · Caleb WilliamsMiss · 0Middlekauff expects either Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson to win this year's MVP, calling them the two best players in the league. He is pessimistic on the Bears, forecasting six or seven wins and saying he'd bet Caleb Williams doesn't work out as a franchise quarterback. He also sees Oklahoma's John Mattier as a first-round pick who'll be in the Heisman mix.
- Pete PriscoScore Predictions · Chicago BearsHit · 100Prisco 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.
- Bryan DeArdoScore Predictions · Chicago BearsHit · 98DeArdo picks the Bears to beat the Buccaneers on Sunday night in a defensive game, predicting a 20-16 final score.
- Danny ParkinsGame Outcome Picks · Chicago BearsHit · 100Parkins named the seven AFC teams he believes are already set as the playoff field, expects Chicago, Buffalo and Kansas City to win this week, took Green Bay over New England and Atlanta over Cincinnati outright, and kept Bills–Bears as his Super Bowl matchup with the Giants still winning the NFC East.
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · Chicago BearsHit · 98Simms 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 he wouldn't be shocked to see Jacksonville reach the AFC Championship Game.
- Connor RogersGame Outcome Picks · Chicago BearsHit · 100Rogers picked straight-up winners in every Week 9 game, agreeing with Simms on all of them, and gave a 24-20 Bills score over the Vikings on Monday night.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Jeremy BrenerDepth Chart Calls · Jalen MilroeMiss · 0Brener suggests Seattle may turn to rookie-contract quarterback Jalen Milroe for his first career start in Week 9 against the Cardinals, with Sam Darnold ruled out and Drew Lock dealing with an elbow injury.
- Michael MooreDepth Chart Calls · Shedeur SandersHit · 100In a Week 9 injury roundup, Moore forecast which banged-up fantasy contributors would play or sit: Deshaun Watson, Garrett Wilson, David Montgomery, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, TreVeyon Henderson and Terrance Ferguson are expected out, while Travis Kelce, Saquon Barkley, Michael Wilson, Christian Watson and Emeka Egbuka should play. He also expects Shedeur Sanders and Drew Lock to start at quarterback.
- Zachary PerelesDepth Chart Calls · Shedeur SandersHit · 100Pereles 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.
- Garrett PodellDepth Chart Calls · Carson BeckMiss · 0Podell argues the Cardinals have maxed out with Jacoby Brissett and that rookie Carson Beck should be ramped up to replace him as starter, targeting Week 8 at Dallas for Beck's regular-season debut.
- Jacob HerlinDepth Chart Calls · J.J. McCarthyHit · 100Herlin published Week 7 fantasy D/ST rankings with projections for 28 team defenses, led by Houston, Minnesota and Cleveland. He also expects Cleveland to post a fourth straight top-10 fantasy defense result, and predicts Jalon Daniels starts another week for Tampa Bay while J.J. McCarthy takes over as the Giants' starter.
- Jordan DajaniDepth Chart Calls · Drew KendallMiss · 0Dajani expects Cam Jurgens to move back to center as the Ravens' starter after the trade, and projects a rebuilt Eagles offensive line for Week 5 with Jordan Mailata, Willie Lampkin, Drew Kendall, Tyler Steen and Markel Bell starting from left tackle to right tackle.