Jacob Westendorf· Sep 13, 2026
Westendorf picks the Packers to win the opener 27-21, with Tucker Kraft leading the team in catches, Christian Watson in yards, Jayden Reed in touchdowns and Josh Jacobs in rushing. He tabs Bo Nix as MVP, the Broncos as the AFC's top team and Super Bowl winner over the Rams, the Lions to win the NFC North, and the Packers to finish 8-9.
“Jacob: Denver Broncos. ... they emerge from a tough AFC playoffs and knock off the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
12 checkable claims — 4 depth chart calls, 2 conference champions, 1 award pick, 1 division winner, 1 score prediction, 1 season win total, 1 seeding, byes and home field and 1 super bowl pick — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 9 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
1 of 12 have settled so far, averaging 23.8 out of 100, against 58.3 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 5 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.
Where this call stands in the room
Christian Watson · 2026 season15 calls from 7 pundits between 1 and 1. Jacob Westendorf said 1. 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.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
The game in this take
- Packers at Vikings 42 calls
12 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.
- Score PredictionsGreen Bay PackersSep 13, 2026
Green Bay Packers 27 — Vikings 21
“Jacob Westendorf: Packers 27, Vikings 21 .”
Miss · 24Scored 23.81a naive guess scored 58.25-68.89 skillHow this was scored
- score:
- 22-39
- skill:
- -68.89
- they picked:
- GB
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 23.81
- baseline:
- 58.25
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- actual margin:
- 17
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- naive home margin:
- -0.53
- predicted margin:
- 6
- Conference ChampionsLos Angeles RamsSep 13, 2026
Los Angeles Rams to reach the Super Bowl
“they emerge from a tough AFC playoffs and knock off the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsTucker KraftGreen Bay PackersSep 13, 2026
Tucker Kraft to be 1st on the depth chart
“Jacob: Tucker Kraft in receptions, Christian Watson in yards and Jayden Reed in touchdowns.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJayden ReedGreen Bay PackersSep 13, 2026
Jayden Reed to be 1st on the depth chart
“Reed's quickness in the red zone should allow him to rack up touchdowns.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Seeding, Byes and Home FieldDenver BroncosSep 13, 2026
Denver Broncos to take the top seed
“I anticipate the Broncos being the top team in the AFC, which helps Nix edge out other candidates.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Christian Watson to be 1st on the depth chart
“Jacob: Tucker Kraft in receptions, Christian Watson in yards and Jayden Reed in touchdowns.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJosh JacobsGreen Bay PackersSep 13, 2026
Josh Jacobs to be 1st on the depth chart
“Who Will Lead Packers in Rushing? Jacob: Josh Jacobs.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Super Bowl PicksDenver BroncosSep 13, 2026
Denver Broncos to win the Super Bowl
“Super Bowl Winner Jacob: Denver Broncos.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Season Win TotalsGreen Bay PackersSep 13, 2026
Green Bay Packers to finish with 8 wins
“Jacob: 8-9.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersDetroit LionsSep 13, 2026
Detroit Lions to win the division
“NFC North Winner Jacob: Lions. ... I defer to the Lions, who have flaws, but also have the easiest schedule in the division.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksBo NixDenver BroncosSep 13, 2026
Bo Nix to win NFL MVP
“Jacob: Bo Nix. The MVP award is given to the quarterback who is usually on the best team.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Conference ChampionsDenver BroncosSep 13, 2026
Denver Broncos to reach the Super Bowl
“they emerge from a tough AFC playoffs and knock off the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · Denver BroncosHit · 98Simms 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.
- Connor RogersGame Outcome Picks · Detroit LionsHit · 100Rogers picked Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle and the Giants to win their Week 3 games, saying the Chiefs win by two touchdowns and the Giants by a field goal.
- Chris LongGame Outcome Picks · Los Angeles RamsMiss · 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.
- Steven RuizGame Outcome Picks · Denver BroncosHit · 100Previewing Week 3, Ruiz picked the Ravens to beat the Cowboys in Brazil, Jacksonville over New England in a low-scoring game, an upset by the Broncos over the Rams, the Raiders over the Saints, the Eagles over the Bears, the Lions over the Jets, and his Hail Mary that Houston beats Indianapolis by two touchdowns.
- Nate TiceGame Outcome Picks · Detroit LionsHit · 100Tice matched his guest on every Week 3 game, picking the Ravens over the Cowboys, the Jaguars over the Patriots in a close game, the Broncos to upset the Rams, the Raiders over the Saints, the Eagles over the Bears and the Lions over the Jets.
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · Green Bay PackersMiss · 10Simms picked the Packers to beat the Falcons in the Thursday night game by a low score, expecting a defensive struggle.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Fox SportsDepth Chart Calls · Michael Penix Jr.Hit · 100Fox Sports states that a healthy Tua Tagovailoa will serve as Atlanta's backup quarterback in Week 3, with Michael Penix Jr. handling the starting duties against Green Bay.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Aaron JonesHit · 100In previewing the 10 most intriguing fantasy performers of Week 2, Fitzmaurice expects Atlanta's quarterback problems to persist with Tua Tagovailoa unlikely to play and Michael Penix Jr. not ready to return, flags Falcons slot corner Billy Bowman Jr. as a possible Week 2 returnee, and describes Aaron Jones as Minnesota's lead back and Kaelon Black as the clear backup to Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco.
- Matt SeveranceDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100The CBS Sports preview backs Tampa Bay to beat Cleveland in the Bucs' Week 2 home opener, and states that Deshaun Watson — not Shedeur Sanders — will be Cleveland's starting quarterback in Week 2.
- Rafael ZamoranoDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100Zamorano reports Watson will start Week 2 at Tampa Bay and suggests there's little reason to expect improvement, raising the possibility Watson's five-year contract never yields more than single-digit wins.
- Rich HribarDepth Chart Calls · Tua TagovailoaMiss · 0Hribar expects Tua Tagovailoa to be Atlanta's starting quarterback for Week 2 while Michael Penix stays out, with Penix's return closer to Week 4. He is unenthusiastic about the Falcons' offense either way and treats Bryce Young as a fringe fantasy starter.
- Bradley LockerDepth Chart Calls · Carson WentzHit · 100PFF's unsigned adjusted power rankings after Week 1 of the 2026 season place the Bills first, the Rams second and the Dolphins last, with notes on quarterback situations in Seattle, Minnesota and Cleveland.