Anthony Balaj· Oct 4, 2026
Forecasts a Lions blowout, 45-20.
“Anthony Balaj (2-1): Lions 45-20”
published in writing · read the original →
One checkable claim, graded on its own against what actually happened.
The call scored 4.8 out of 100, against 88.1 for a naive guess at the same calls.
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Who this take is about
The game in this take
- Lions at Panthers 42 calls
1 checkable claim 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. 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.
- Score PredictionsDetroit LionsOct 4, 2026
Detroit Lions 45 — Panthers 20
“Anthony Balaj (2-1): Lions 45-20 (Key matchups)”
Miss · 5Scored 4.76a naive guess scored 88.1-152.5 skillHow this was scored
- score:
- 26-32
- skill:
- −152.5
- they picked:
- DET
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 4.76
- baseline:
- 88.1
- difficulty:
- 1.83
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- actual margin:
- 6
- weeks left when called:
- 15
- naive home margin:
- 1
- predicted margin:
- 25
Closing line (Oct 4): Lions by 4.5, total 52.5 · this 45–20 calls a bigger Lions win (by 25) and more points (65).
What others said about the same people
- Nick WrightSeason Win Totals · Detroit LionsMiss · 0In part two of his gambling show, Nick Wright ran through NFC (and recapped AFC) win-total picks, division winners and make/miss-the-playoffs bets, backing the Chiefs, Jaguars, Raiders, Bears, Buccaneers and Falcons to clear their totals while predicting Commanders, Bucs and Rams division titles.
- Gregg RosenthalSeason Win Totals · Detroit LionsMiss · 0Rosenthal made a series of over/under win-total picks: Lions over 10.5, Colts under 7.5, Vikings over 8.5, Jets over 5.5, Cowboys over 7.5 (and over 8 in a side challenge), Commanders under 9.5, Saints under 5.5, Bears under 8.5. He also predicted the Cowboys win 10 games and make the playoffs, and the Jets go 7-10.
- Gregg RosenthalSeason Win Totals · Detroit LionsMiss · 0Rosenthal predicted Armand Membu could go to the Jets at No. 7, expects Josh Simmons to be picked in the first round despite injury and character concerns, and floated Donovan Jackson going to a team like the Patriots at the top of the second round. On win totals he leaned over on the Jets, Buccaneers, Lions and Chiefs.
- Kyle CrabbsMock Draft Picks · Logan BrownMiss · 0Crabbs projects all seven rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft, starting with Cam Ward going No. 1 overall to Tennessee, Travis Hunter second to Cleveland and Abdul Carter third to the Giants.
- JP AcostaPro Bowl and All-Pro Calls · Jack CampbellHit · 100JP picked the Eagles to beat the 49ers in a low-scoring game and the Jaguars to beat the Bills, called Bijan Robinson the best running back in the league, and named his own first-team All-Pro roster.
- Mike MoraitisTrade and Signing Calls · DaRon BlandMiss · 0Moraitis argues the Cowboys have expendable cornerbacks and suggests Dallas could ship DaRon Bland (or Shavon Revel) to the cornerback-desperate Lions for a Day 3 pick, adding that Bland is a likely cut candidate in 2027.
More score predictions
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Pat FitzmauriceScore Predictions · Jacksonville JaguarsHit · 90Fitzmaurice picked Jacksonville to edge Cincinnati in a one-point nail-biter, took the Saints over the Falcons on Monday night, pegged Jeremiah Love as an RB11 for the rest of the season, and expected several banged-up players to sit out Week 4.
- Derek BrownScore Predictions · Jacksonville JaguarsHit · 95Brown forecast a Jaguars shootout win in Cincinnati, took the Saints to beat the Falcons on Monday night, ranked Jeremiah Love as an RB15 rest-of-season (while saying he'd move up), and expected Jacoby Brissett to remain Arizona's quarterback for the year and Jalen Wright to be back in Miami's backfield.
- Chuck PaganoScore Predictions · Dallas CowboysMiss · 0Pagano expected the Cowboys offense to keep rolling against Tampa Bay on Thursday night, saying it would take a miracle for Dallas not to score at least 31 points.
- Jordan DajaniScore Predictions · Dallas CowboysClose · 45Dajani picked the Cowboys 30-20 over the Buccaneers and the Falcons 27-21 over the Ravens, and named Marvin Harrison Jr., Khalil Mack and Brian Thomas Jr. as trade candidates with landing spots in Indianapolis, Chicago and Las Vegas.
- Pete PriscoScore Predictions · Dallas CowboysMiss · 21Prisco picked the Cowboys to beat the Buccaneers 34-14 and called for the Packers to upset the Bears 27-24 in Week 5.
- Jared DubinScore Predictions · Dallas CowboysMiss · 29Dubin picked the Cowboys to rout the Buccaneers 34-17 and took the Colts to beat the Steelers 20-16 in Week 5.