# Rich Eisen: Eisen called their shot on the top five MVP vote-getters (Stafford, Josh Allen, Lamar, Burrow and Dak Prescott), agreed Fernando Mendoza wins Offensive Rookie of the Year, ran through eight new division winners for 2026, tabbed Omarion Hampton for a 1,600-yard rushing season, and insisted Patrick Mahomes starts Week 1.

**Claimed:** May 4, 2026
**Pundit:** Rich Eisen — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/rich-eisen
**Outlet:** Overreaction Monday (podcast) — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/overreaction-monday-podcast
**How it reached us:** said on air, transcribed by us
**Original:** https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.megaphone.fm/ESP8573453141.mp3?updated=1777910964

16 checkable claims — 8 division winners, 6 award picks, 1 depth chart call and 1 player season number — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.

It names 18 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 below the rest of the room.

> I'm saying Stafford and Josh Allen will get the MVP votes.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **Lamar Jackson to win top five in MVP voting**
  - Kind: Award Picks · About: Lamar Jackson
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Atlanta Falcons to win the division**
  - Kind: Division Winners · About: Atlanta Falcons
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Dak Prescott to win top five in MVP voting**
  - Kind: Award Picks · About: Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Dallas Cowboys to win the division**
  - Kind: Division Winners · About: Dallas Cowboys
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **San Francisco 49ers to win the division**
  - Kind: Division Winners · About: San Francisco 49ers
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Buffalo Bills to win the division**
  - Kind: Division Winners · About: Buffalo Bills
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Matthew Stafford to win top five in MVP voting**
  - Kind: Award Picks · About: Matthew Stafford
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Los Angeles Chargers to win the division**
  - Kind: Division Winners · About: Los Angeles Chargers
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Omarion Hampton to record 1,600 rushing yards**
  - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Omarion Hampton
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Green Bay Packers to win the division**
  - Kind: Division Winners · About: Green Bay Packers
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Houston Texans to win the division**
  - Kind: Division Winners · About: Houston Texans
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Fernando Mendoza to win Offensive Rookie of the Year**
  - Kind: Award Picks · About: Fernando Mendoza, Las Vegas Raiders
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Josh Allen to win top five in MVP voting**
  - Kind: Award Picks · About: Josh Allen
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Patrick Mahomes to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Baltimore Ravens to win the division**
  - Kind: Division Winners · About: Baltimore Ravens
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Joe Burrow to win top five in MVP voting**
  - Kind: Award Picks · About: Joe Burrow
  - Verdict: not settled yet

## Who this take is about

- Lamar Jackson — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/lamar-jackson
- Atlanta Falcons — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/falcons
- Dak Prescott — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/dak-prescott
- Dallas Cowboys — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/cowboys
- San Francisco 49ers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/49ers
- Buffalo Bills — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/bills
- Matthew Stafford — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/matthew-stafford
- Los Angeles Chargers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/chargers
- Omarion Hampton — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/omarion-hampton
- Green Bay Packers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/packers
- Houston Texans — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/texans
- Fernando Mendoza — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/fernando-mendoza
- Las Vegas Raiders — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/raiders
- Josh Allen — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/josh-allen
- Patrick Mahomes — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/patrick-mahomes
- Kansas City Chiefs — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/chiefs
- Baltimore Ravens — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/ravens
- Joe Burrow — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/joe-burrow

## What others said about the same people

- Chris Clark on Nikko Remigio: Clark expects the Chiefs to bring back exclusive-rights receiver Nico (Remigio) and long snapper James Winchester, to re-sign JuJu Smith-Schuster as a cheap veteran fifth receiver, and not to bring back Hollywood Brown, Josh Dobbs-type depth, Gardner Minshew, Janarius Robinson or Mike Caliendo; they also say the Chiefs will not use a franchise tag and believes Bryan Cook won't return. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/99521265-d5c0-4db1-b2a0-fe77908ea0b3 (scored 0)
- Nate Gosney on Daiyan Henley: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/60272861-4ad0-4749-b36a-dcdf09b9213f (scored 0)
- Parker Hurley on Khalid Kareem: Hurley predicts the 49ers will release Khalil Kareem when Nate Hobbs is activated and cut Brandin Cooks when C.J. West returns, while arguing Sebastian Valdez won't be the one let go and no cornerback will be cut. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/5a729417-69ee-493a-9bec-d905fd1a7082 (scored 0)
- Gilberto Manzano on Josh Downs: Previewing the trade deadline, he expects Justin Herbert to stay in Los Angeles despite the Chargers' 0–7 start, thinks the Jets will keep Garrett Wilson and pair him with their young weapons, expects a receiver-hungry Kansas City to be aggressive with Josh Downs the likeliest target, and suggests expiring Eagles contracts Moro Ojomo and Riq Woolen could be dealt for mid-round picks. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/67d5af78-94ea-4ee2-a277-5e68347022de (scored 100)
- Joshua Poniatowski on Josh Downs: Poniatowski names several trade targets, predicting Malik Willis underperforms this week against New England, that Omarion Hampton could become a viable RB2 if Adam Gase takes over play-calling, that Josh Downs gets traded (ideally to Kansas City, where they'd be a top-24 WR), that Brian Thomas Jr. could be dealt to the Rams or 49ers, and that Travis Kelce remains a consistent weekly TE. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d1752582-a799-48b9-984b-39bf7cb8b709 (scored 100)
- Andrew Erickson on Josh Downs: Erickson floated Kansas City as the landing spot for Josh Downs and said a trade there would make them at least a WR3 rest of season; they also expect Rashee Rice to leave the Chiefs after this season as a free agent. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e97e28f2-31fc-4702-915c-63c38477e97d (scored 100)

## More division winners

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

- Colin Cowherd on New York Giants: Cowherd projects the NFC East with the Giants winning the division ahead of Philadelphia, Washington and Dallas, pegging the Cowboys as a six- or seven-win team. They also expect Malik Willis to land a big free-agent deal, Kayvon Thibodeaux to be moved, and Baltimore to lose Isaiah Likely, and they float the Rams reaching on Ty Simpson late in round one. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/cd243624-9451-4824-a8a4-7b468d681c8f (scored 0)
- Chris Brockman on Chicago Bears: Brockman called the Broncos-Packers game the best of the day, said Denver looks poised to lock up the AFC's No. 1 seed and reach the AFC Championship Game, predicted the Bears win the NFC North and the Eagles win their division (though they think they lose to a five seed from the NFC West), and said Philip Rivers will be in the NFL in 2026. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e86c9e4d-7802-432a-a26c-4edefb3b6aee (scored 100)
- Nick Shook on Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Shook picks the Rams to win the Super Bowl and to beat the Lions, agrees the Buccaneers still hold the edge in the NFC South, and drops Patrick Mahomes to 12th in their QB Index behind Brock Purdy. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/cd498dba-6f44-461d-9beb-f748424098a3 (scored 0)
- Gregg Rosenthal on Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Rosenthal reads out the show's 32-to-1 NFL power rankings, with the Rams first and the Raiders last, and separately picks the Buccaneers to hold on in the NFC South and the Texans to finish at least 11-6. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/35365f6c-a2b9-4e5c-9fea-267cf46d467a (scored 0)
- Chris Brockman on Carolina Panthers: Brockman argued the Texans will reach the AFC Championship Game, declared the Chiefs dynasty over, said the road to the Super Bowl in the NFC goes through Lambeau Field, that Josh Allen is still the most dangerous QB and the Bills will win a playoff game (with the AFC East runner-up as the 5 seed winning in Pittsburgh or Baltimore), that Carolina will win the NFC South, that Baltimore finishes under .500 with Lamar no longer a top-five QB, that the Colts should trade for Mac Jones, and that Marcus Freeman will be in the NFL next year. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c06d1a3a-78d8-4aec-8574-159821b42aab (scored 100)
- Nick Wright on Philadelphia Eagles: Wright says the Eagles' offense is deeply broken but that they will still win their division and finish with a strong record; they also rate Dak Prescott the second-best quarterback in the league this season behind Matthew Stafford, and predicts Myles Garrett breaks the single-season sack record and wins Defensive Player of the Year. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/96c72758-fcdb-4eae-8d7e-2fe8be576dad (scored 100)

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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.

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