# Pat Gustavson: Gustafson picked the Bears, Eagles, Rams, Patriots, Jaguars and Texans in the wild card round, the Rams and Bears in the NFC, the Broncos and Patriots in the AFC, and the Patriots to beat the Bears in the Super Bowl. Their awards slate included Stafford for MVP, Puka for OPOY and Liam Cohen for Coach of the Year. **Claimed:** Jan 6, 2026 **Pundit:** Pat Gustavson — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/pat-gustavson **Outlet:** Bran Coverage with BenchwarmerBran (podcast) — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/bran-coverage-with-benchwarmerbran-podcast **How it reached us:** said on air, transcribed by us **Original:** https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182919/episodes/18462936-black-monday-reactions-playoff-predictions-award-picks-podcast-for-1-6.mp3 20 checkable claims — 9 game outcome picks, 5 award picks, 2 coach award picks, 2 conference champions, 1 pro bowl and all-pro call and 1 super bowl pick — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call. It names 15 players and teams, each linked to their own record. All 20 have settled, averaging 50.8 out of 100, against 16.1 for a naive guess at the same calls. > I do have the Patriots over the Bears in the Super Bowl, and I'm really not happy about it. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Charles Cross to make Protector of the Year** - Kind: Pro Bowl and All-Pro Calls · About: Charles Cross, Seattle Seahawks - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Los Angeles Rams to beat Seahawks** - Kind: Game Outcome Picks · About: Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Chicago Bears to beat Packers** - Kind: Game Outcome Picks · About: Chicago Bears - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - Line: Closing line (Jan 10, 2026): Packers by 2.5 · underdog pick, Bears 45%. Source: nflverse; context only, never part of the grade. - **Chicago Bears to reach the Super Bowl** - Kind: Conference Champions · About: Chicago Bears - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **New England Patriots to beat Jags** - Kind: Game Outcome Picks · About: New England Patriots - Verdict: scored 66.67 out of 100, against 22.92 for a naive guess - **Los Angeles Rams to beat Panthers** - Kind: Game Outcome Picks · About: Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - Line: Closing line (Jan 10, 2026): Rams by 10 · favorite pick, Rams about 4 in 5 (81%). Source: nflverse; context only, never part of the grade. - **New England Patriots to reach the Super Bowl** - Kind: Conference Champions · About: New England Patriots - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Chicago Bears to beat Eagles** - Kind: Game Outcome Picks · About: Chicago Bears - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Jacksonville Jaguars to beat Bills** - Kind: Game Outcome Picks · About: Jacksonville Jaguars - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - Line: Closing line (Jan 11, 2026): Jaguars by 1.5 · a toss-up, Bills 47%, Jaguars 53%. Source: nflverse; context only, never part of the grade. - **New England Patriots to beat Chargers** - Kind: Game Outcome Picks · About: New England Patriots - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - Line: Closing line (Jan 11, 2026): Patriots by 3.5 · favorite pick, Patriots 64%. Source: nflverse; context only, never part of the grade. - **Houston Texans to beat Steelers** - Kind: Game Outcome Picks · About: Houston Texans - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - Line: Closing line (Jan 12, 2026): Texans by 3 · favorite pick, Texans 58%. Source: nflverse; context only, never part of the grade. - **Vance Joseph to win Assistant Coach of the Year** - Kind: Coach Award Picks - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Denver Broncos to beat Houston** - Kind: Game Outcome Picks · About: Denver Broncos - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Liam Cohen to win Coach of the Year** - Kind: Coach Award Picks - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **New England Patriots to win the Super Bowl** - Kind: Super Bowl Picks · About: New England Patriots - Verdict: scored 50 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Carson Schwesinger to win Defensive Rookie of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Carson Schwesinger, Cleveland Browns - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Matthew Stafford to win MVP** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Drake Maye to win MVP** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Drake Maye, New England Patriots - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Puka Nacua to win Offensive Player of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Tyler Shough to win Offensive Rookie of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess ## Who this take is about - Charles Cross — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/charles-cross - Seattle Seahawks — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/seahawks - Los Angeles Rams — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/rams - Chicago Bears — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/bears - New England Patriots — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/patriots - Jacksonville Jaguars — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/jaguars - Houston Texans — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/texans - Denver Broncos — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/broncos - Carson Schwesinger — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/carson-schwesinger - Cleveland Browns — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/browns - Matthew Stafford — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/matthew-stafford - Drake Maye — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/drake-maye - Puka Nacua — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/puka-nacua - Tyler Shough — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/tyler-shough - New Orleans Saints — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/saints ## What others said about the same people - Zack Kelberman on Sean Fresch Jr.: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/978f775c-5611-4514-ad2f-b35a6eac0402 (scored 0) - Zack Kelberman on Sean Fresch Jr.: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3c8c47b8-6041-4282-8d21-d21741d8f11b (scored 0) - Chad Jensen on Jordan Turner: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a84d2c6e-5554-46aa-95b1-620858d31e0f (scored 0) - John Middlekauff on Caleb Williams: Middlekauff expects either Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson to win this year's MVP, calling them the two best players in the league. They are pessimistic on the Bears, forecasting six or seven wins and saying they'd bet Caleb Williams doesn't work out as a franchise quarterback. They also see Oklahoma's John Mattier as a first-round pick who'll be in the Heisman mix. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/deaaf3f6-e53e-4080-a0ca-d5f872b54c6a (scored 0) - Jeremy Brener on Drew Lock: Brener picked the Seahawks to beat the Cardinals in Week 9 by a multi-score margin, giving a final score of 27-13, and expressed confidence Seattle would be fine with Drew Lock starting at quarterback. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7eb2d245-63d0-4be0-80ba-3f60197e2b16 (scored 100) - Bobby Skinner on Stefon Diggs: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/6bc51663-60f7-4897-b5dc-40e284f869a2 (scored 0) ## More game outcome picks The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Sam Monson on New York Giants: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/f4cb7a1e-1380-4f08-b39b-1432b97db846 (scored 0) - Eva Geitheim on Washington Commanders: Geitheim picked the Commanders, Lions, Chiefs, Texans, Vikings, Jaguars, Colts, Panthers, Bills, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Bengals and Ravens in Week 10. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c011abef-0b18-41ad-acad-6a67dfbd41fd (scored 100) - Conor Orr on New York Giants: Orr picked the Giants, Lions, Chiefs, Texans, Packers, Jaguars, Dolphins, Panthers, Bills, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Bengals and Chargers in Week 10. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/ba669379-043c-448a-a167-2f2e3695a52e (scored 0) - Albert Breer on New York Giants: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/fdc16abc-9ae2-4bf4-a327-8e9d9ae283b6 (scored 0) - Mitch Goldich on New York Giants: Goldich picked the Giants, Lions, Chiefs, Texans, Packers, Jaguars, Dolphins, Panthers, Bills, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Bengals and Ravens in Week 10. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/706c628f-bb25-4892-b33e-84c81bfb6e4a (scored 0) - Matt Verderame on New York Giants: Verderame picked the Giants, Lions, Chiefs, Texans, Packers, Jaguars, Dolphins, Saints, Bills, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Bengals and Ravens in Week 10. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/dfeb0994-1abf-414f-b153-d01b6e4e5365 (scored 0) --- 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=pat-gustavson