Chris Broussard· Aug 31, 2026
Broussard sees the Rams as a lock for the playoffs with a duplicable Stafford season (39-41 TDs) and Myles Garrett breaking his own sack record, has the Bengals making the playoffs with a healthy Burrow, picks Puka Nacua for OPOY, and has Dallas winning the NFC East and Buffalo the AFC East.
“I cannot see this team healthy, missing the playoffs.”
said on air, transcribed by us · First Things First (podcast) · read the original →
9 checkable claims — 4 playoff picks, 2 division winners, 2 player season numbers and 1 award pick — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 8 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the rest of the room.
Their call against the record
Their call against what actually happened last time. Not yet settled.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
9 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.
- Playoff PicksLos Angeles RamsAug 31, 2026
Los Angeles Rams to make the playoffs
“I cannot see this team healthy, missing the playoffs... there's no way I see them missing the playoffs”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksCincinnati BengalsAug 31, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals to make the playoffs
“if Joe Burrow is healthy for 17 games, I believe they will make the playoffs and they will be dangerous”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersDallas CowboysAug 31, 2026
Dallas Cowboys to win the division
“But number two, that leaves, of course, the Dallas Cowboys... Taking that NFC East crown.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksDallas CowboysAug 31, 2026
Dallas Cowboys to make the playoffs
“Play off bound. Taking that NFC East crown.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksPuka NacuaLos Angeles RamsAug 31, 2026
Puka Nacua to win Offensive Player of the Year
“But assuming he's not, I'm going with Puka Nakua.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Myles Garrett to record ? sacks
“I think it could be surprising if he doesn't break his own sacraments.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Matthew Stafford to record 39 passing tds
“I think he could have 39 touchdowns, 41.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksPhiladelphia EaglesAug 31, 2026
Philadelphia Eagles to make the playoffs
“At number two... They still will make the playoffs... I don't think there's a three peat.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersBuffalo BillsAug 31, 2026
Buffalo Bills to win the division
“I have them missing the playoffs, which leaves the Bills... So Buffalo is going to be a real threat to win the AFC.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Connor RogersGame Outcome Picks · Los Angeles RamsHit · 100Rogers made his own Week 2 calls, taking the Packers, Eagles (by at least 10), Panthers (by at least a field goal), Cowboys (by at least six), Chargers, Chiefs and Rams to win. He also noted Baltimore was his Super Bowl pick and said it wouldn't shock him if Jacksonville hosted the AFC Championship Game.
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · Los Angeles RamsClose · 57Simms went through every Week 2 game with predicted final scores, picking the Texans, Bears, Steelers (as an upset), Packers, Ravens, Eagles, Buccaneers, Panthers, Jaguars, Seahawks, Cowboys, 49ers, Chargers, Chiefs and Rams to win. He also reiterated that Denver was his preseason Super Bowl pick while predicting the Broncos would fall to 0-2.
- Chris LongScore Predictions · Philadelphia EaglesClose · 79Previewing Week 2, Long called New England a spot to bounce back against Pittsburgh, projected a 27-14 Patriots win, saw Eagles-Titans as a 23-10 grinder, liked the Rams' spot Monday night against the Giants, and wrote down a Bills 31, Lions 23 final for the Thursday nighter.
- Connor RogersGame Outcome Picks · Buffalo BillsHit · 100Rogers predicted the Bills would beat the Lions in their new stadium on Thursday night, winning by a touchdown.
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · Cincinnati BengalsClose · 40Simms went through the entire Week 3 slate with straight-up winners and predicted final scores, taking Jacksonville, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle, the Giants, Baltimore, New Orleans, Minnesota, San Francisco, Denver and Philadelphia. He also expected Zay Flowers and Puka Nacua to sit, Kyler Murray to play, and said Marvin Harrison Jr. projects as no better than a good No. 2 or high-end No. 3 receiver.
- Chris LongGame Outcome Picks · Cincinnati BengalsMiss · 0Long liked the Rams over the Broncos on Sunday night even without Puka Nacua, and expected the Bills to beat the winless Chargers in Buffalo. He also backed the Bengals over the Steelers, expected an angry Detroit team to handle the Jets, and still thought both the Lions and Vikings could win the NFC North.
More playoff picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Craig StoutPlayoff Picks · Kansas City ChiefsMiss · 0Craig believes better execution from a Patrick Mahomes-led Chiefs team will be enough to return them to the playoffs in the coming season, and he expects Tyler Algeier to land with Denver as a complement to RJ Harvey.
- Ross JacksonPlayoff Picks · New Orleans SaintsMiss · 0Jackson 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.
- Rich EisenPlayoff Picks · Minnesota VikingsMiss · 0Eisen argues Ohio State will produce multiple top-10 picks — Sonny Styles, Arvell Reese and Caleb Downs — becoming the first school with three defensive players in the top 10, and that Styles will not be available at No. 12 to the Cowboys. He also thinks Fernando Mendoza is worthy of the No. 1 overall pick and expects the Raiders to draft him, and picks Trey Lance over Anthony Richardson to start a game first, Micah Parsons to fetch a bigger trade return than Maxx Crosby, Kirk Cousins as the released QB most likely to reach the playoffs, and J.J. McCarthy as the Vikings' Week 1 starter.
- Dwaine BoardPlayoff Picks · San Francisco 49ersHit · 100Board 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.
- Rich EisenPlayoff Picks · Carolina PanthersHit · 100Eisen forecast the Week 18 results and the entire wild-card field: Buccaneers over Panthers but Carolina still gets in as the 5 seed when Atlanta beats New Orleans, 49ers over Seahawks, Ravens over Steelers, Jaguars beating Tennessee to win the AFC South, and six wild-card matchups (Seahawks-Panthers, Bills-Jaguars, Texans-Ravens, Packers-Bears, Chargers-Patriots, Rams-Eagles), with Houston upsetting Baltimore. He also tabbed Saints rookie Tyler Shough as a possible Offensive Rookie of the Year.
- Chris BrockmanPlayoff Picks · Pittsburgh SteelersHit · 100Brockman 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 his shot that the Chargers beat Denver in Week 18. He 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.