Rich Eisen#38 of 87 NFL pundits · Sep 18, 2026
Eisen picked Josh Allen to lead the NFL in total touchdowns over any QB-WR or QB-RB combo, flipped from the Lions to the Bears as NFC North winner, and made several Week 2 game calls, including the Patriots at home, the Jets over Green Bay, and both LA teams winning. They also picked a Jaguars-Broncos AFC title game.
Said on air, transcribed by us · The Rich Eisen Show (podcast)Hear the original
What Rich Eisen said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromJust because I started saying that he is the Ohtani of the NFL where he plays two positions into one human being, I'm gonna say it's him.
- Where it was said
- The Rich Eisen Show (podcast)
- The episode
- Hour 3: NFL Week 2 ‘What’s More Likely,’ plus Rich’s Top 5 NFL Week 2 Matchups
- The original
- Hear the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidSep 18
- PlayedSep 20–21
- GradedSep 21–22
- 1Los Angeles Rams to beat Giants“So how about this? I think both LA teams win ... Giants and Rams, baby. Monday night football.”
- 2New York Jets to beat Green Bay“More likely to be the surprise two and o team on Monday. Jets or Cardinals? Okay. I'll go Jets.”
- 3Los Angeles Chargers to beat Raiders“I think both LA teams win ... I'll go Raiders, Charger.”
- 4New England Patriots to beat Steelers“AFC title game team from last year to get a win at home this week. Patriots or Broncos? I'll go Patriots. Patriots in the rain against Rodgers and the the Steelers”
- 5Chicago Bears to win the division“who's more likely to win the NFC North? Bears, Vikings, Lions, Packers. Oh, I'd take the Bears now. ... I'll go Chicago.”
- 6Josh Allen to finish top 1 at his position, by an unstated measure“Who's more likely to lead the NFL in total touchdowns? Josh Allen or any quarterback wide receiver or quarterback running back combo? ... I'm gonna say it's him. ... I'll go Allen.”
- 7Denver Broncos to make the playoffs“more likely, AFC championship game preview. Bengals, Texans, Jaguars, Broncos. ... I'll go Jaguars, Broncos”
- 8Jacksonville Jaguars to make the playoffs“more likely, AFC championship game preview. Bengals, Texans, Jaguars, Broncos. ... I'll go Jaguars, Broncos because their defenses are better”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Rams to beat Giants1 | Game Outcome Picks | Rams 28–6 | 100 | 100 | 0 | |
| New York Jets to beat Green Bay2 | Game Outcome Picks | Packers 20–17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Los Angeles Chargers to beat Raiders3 | Game Outcome Picks | Raiders 26–14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| New England Patriots to beat Steelers4 | Game Outcome Picks | Patriots 20–3 | 100 | 100 | 0 | |
| Chicago Bears to win the division5 | Division Winners | — | — | — | — | |
| Josh Allen to finish top 1 at his position, by an unstated measure6 | Positional Finishes | — | — | — | — | |
| Denver Broncos to make the playoffs7 | Playoff Picks | — | — | — | — | |
| Jacksonville Jaguars to make the playoffs8 | Playoff Picks | — | — | — | — | |
| 8 calls · 2 hits · 2 misses · 4 waiting | 50 | 50 | ||||
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.
How each call scored
a naive guessbetter than naive8 checkable claims — 4 game outcome picks, 2 playoff picks, 1 division winner and 1 positional finish — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 8 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
4 of 8 have settled so far, averaging 50 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Each call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same calls; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.
1Game Outcome PicksLos Angeles Rams
Los Angeles Rams to beat Giants
What happenedRams 28–6Giants at Rams100Hit · naive 100100this call−100a naive guess=0better than naive×1.94difficulty=0skillClosing line (Sep 21): Rams by 6.5 · favorite pick, Rams 72%.
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- won:
- LAR
- score:
- 6-28
- skill:
- 0
- they picked:
- LAR
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- the naive pick:
- LAR
- difficulty:
- 1.94
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 17
2Game Outcome PicksNew York Jets
New York Jets to beat Green Bay
What happenedPackers 20–17Packers at Jets0Miss · naive 00this call−0a naive guess=0better than naive×1.94difficulty=0skillClosing line (Sep 20): Packers by 3.5 · underdog pick, Jets 38%.
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- won:
- GB
- score:
- 20-17
- skill:
- 0
- they picked:
- NYJ
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 0
- the naive pick:
- NYJ
- difficulty:
- 1.94
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 17
3Game Outcome PicksLos Angeles Chargers
Los Angeles Chargers to beat Raiders
What happenedRaiders 26–14Raiders at Chargers0Miss · naive 00this call−0a naive guess=0better than naive×1.94difficulty=0skillClosing line (Sep 20): Chargers by 6.5 · favorite pick, Chargers about 3 in 4 (73%).
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- won:
- LV
- score:
- 26-14
- skill:
- 0
- they picked:
- LAC
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 0
- the naive pick:
- LAC
- difficulty:
- 1.94
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 17
4Game Outcome PicksNew England Patriots
New England Patriots to beat Steelers
What happenedPatriots 20–3Steelers at Patriots100Hit · naive 100100this call−100a naive guess=0better than naive×1.94difficulty=0skillClosing line (Sep 20): Patriots by 4.5 · favorite pick, Patriots about 2 in 3 (66%).
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- won:
- NE
- score:
- 3-20
- skill:
- 0
- they picked:
- NE
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- the naive pick:
- NE
- difficulty:
- 1.94
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 17
5Division WinnersChicago Bears
Chicago Bears to win the division
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
6Positional FinishesJosh Allen
Josh Allen to finish top 1 at his position, by an unstated measure
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Denver Broncos to make the playoffs
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
8Playoff PicksJacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars to make the playoffs
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- All
The take as a whole
the average of 4 settled calls, each counted once
50naive 50
The games in this take
every pundit’s pick on eachWho this take is about
Others on the same people
Zack Kelberman · Roster Spot Calls · Sean Fresch Jr. · Miss 0
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.Zack Kelberman · Roster Spot Calls · Sean Fresch Jr. · Miss 0
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.Nate Gosney · Trade and Signing Calls · Daiyan Henley · Miss 0
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.Chad Jensen · Roster Spot Calls · Jordan Turner · Miss 0
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.John Middlekauff · Draft Bust Calls · Caleb Williams · Miss 0
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.Colin Cowherd · Trade and Signing Calls · Matthew Stafford · Hit 100
Cowherd predicts Matt Stafford stays with the Rams rather than moving on, and says Travis Hunter may underachieve because they're being asked to play both ways — Cowherd doubts they're a No. 1 receiver and would slot them as a No. 2 receiver while being a No. 1 corner.
More game outcome picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Sam Monson · Game Outcome Picks · New York Giants · Miss 0
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.Eva Geitheim · Game Outcome Picks · Washington Commanders · Hit 100
Geitheim picked the Commanders, Lions, Chiefs, Texans, Vikings, Jaguars, Colts, Panthers, Bills, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Bengals and Ravens in Week 10.Conor Orr · Game Outcome Picks · New York Giants · Miss 0
Orr picked the Giants, Lions, Chiefs, Texans, Packers, Jaguars, Dolphins, Panthers, Bills, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Bengals and Chargers in Week 10.Albert Breer · Game Outcome Picks · New York Giants · Miss 0
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.Mitch Goldich · Game Outcome Picks · New York Giants · Miss 0
Goldich picked the Giants, Lions, Chiefs, Texans, Packers, Jaguars, Dolphins, Panthers, Bills, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Bengals and Ravens in Week 10.Matt Verderame · Game Outcome Picks · New York Giants · Miss 0
Verderame picked the Giants, Lions, Chiefs, Texans, Packers, Jaguars, Dolphins, Saints, Bills, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Bengals and Ravens in Week 10.