Mike Kadlick· Oct 8, 2026
Previewing Week 5 of the 2026 season, Kadlick picks the Bengals to blow out the Dolphins, the Cowboys to beat the Buccaneers comfortably, and the Chargers to finally win at home against the Broncos. He also expects Jayden Daniels back for Washington, Michael Pittman Jr. possibly out for Pittsburgh, and names the Week 5 starting quarterbacks for Tampa Bay, Chicago and New York.
“They should be able to take down the Buccaneers with relative ease.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
8 checkable claims — 3 depth chart calls, 3 game outcome picks and 2 availability calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 13 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
1 of 8 have settled so far, averaging 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 3 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
Tyson Bagent · 2026 season24 calls from 16 pundits between 1 and 2. Mike Kadlick 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 games in this take
- Buccaneers at Cowboys 28 calls
- Bengals at Dolphins 16 calls
- Broncos at Chargers 27 calls
8 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. 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.
- Game Outcome PicksDallas CowboysOct 8, 2026
Dallas Cowboys to beat Buccaneers
“They should be able to take down the Buccaneers with relative ease.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 0+0 skillHow this was scored
- won:
- TB
- score:
- 24-16
- skill:
- 0
- they picked:
- DAL
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 0
- the naive pick:
- DAL
- difficulty:
- 1.78
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 14
Closing line (Oct 8): Cowboys by 9.5 · favorite pick, Cowboys about 4 in 5 (81%).
“there’s a good chance that Washington will get Jayden Daniels back on Sunday after he was a full participant at Wednesday’s practice (Week 5)”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jalon Daniels to be 1st on the depth chart
“For Tampa Bay, it will be Jalon Daniels at quarterback once again as Baker Mayfield is still dealing with a thumb injury.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsTyson BagentChicago BearsOct 8, 2026
Tyson Bagent to be 1st on the depth chart
“It will once again be Tyson Bagent running the offense this coming Sunday when they take the trip north to Lambeau Field”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Game Outcome PicksCincinnati BengalsOct 8, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals to beat Dolphins
“Even with Chase still in concussion protocol ... this one could quickly become a blowout by the Bengals.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
“Michael Pittman Jr. may miss his revenge game, as the Colts-turned-Steelers pass catcher did not participate in practice on Wednesday as he deals with a foot injury (Week 5)”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jameis Winston to be 1st on the depth chart
“The Giants, meanwhile, will again start Jameis Winston, as Jaxson Dart is sidelined for the remainder of the season with a knee injury.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Game Outcome PicksLos Angeles ChargersOct 8, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers to beat Broncos
“I’m expecting this AFC West matchup to not only be close, but for the Chargers to finally put a complete game together and perhaps even come out with a win.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Nick WrightSeason Win Totals · Chicago BearsHit · 100Nick Wright lays out his season win-total picks (overs on Jaguars, Bears, Chiefs, Buccaneers, Raiders, Falcons; unders on Bengals, Colts, Broncos, Cowboys, Vikings, 49ers), playoff berth and miss calls, three division winners, a Chiefs-over-Buccaneers Super Bowl exacta, and five Week 1 picks.
- Gregg RosenthalSeason Win Totals · Dallas CowboysMiss · 0Rosenthal expects a high-scoring Eagles-Cowboys kickoff game, guesses a scoreline around 41-27, still believes Dallas can clear its win total and reach the playoffs, likes the Giants to beat expectations with Jackson Dart taking over as starter early.
- Nick WrightSeason Win Totals · Chicago BearsHit · 100In 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.
- Nick WrightSeason Win Totals · Tampa Bay BuccaneersMiss · 0Wright picked Chiefs over 11.5, Buccaneers over 9.5, Raiders over 6.5 (plus a Raiders playoff berth), Broncos under 9.5, 49ers under 10.5, Cowboys under 8, Jaguars over 7.5, and Bengals under 9.5 with Zac Taylor fired after missing the playoffs. He also had Commanders and Eagles both 11-6 with Washington winning the NFC East.
- Gregg RosenthalSeason Win Totals · Washington CommandersHit · 100Rosenthal's under picks and a few freebie leans: Colts under 7.5 (possibly the worst team), Commanders under 9.5, Saints under 5.5 (possibly 2-15), Bears under 8.5, plus stated likes on Dolphins under 8.5, Giants over 5.5 and Ravens over 11.5.
- Nick WrightSeason Win Totals · Cincinnati BengalsHit · 100Wright's under picks: Broncos under 9.5, 49ers under 10.5, Cowboys under 8, Bengals under 9.5 with Cincinnati missing the playoffs and Zac Taylor fired.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Josh AlperDepth Chart Calls · Olaivavega IoaneHit · 100Alper writes that Cam Jurgens, acquired by trade and in the concussion protocol, won't debut for Baltimore until the following week, leaving Vega Ioane as the likeliest starter at center against the Falcons before sliding back to right guard once Jurgens is available.
- Chris RolingDepth Chart Calls · Drew LockMiss · 0Roling expects Sam Darnold's hip injury to keep him out, meaning Drew Lock will be Seattle's quarterback when the Chargers visit in Week 4.
- Christian BooherDepth Chart Calls · Blake MillerMiss · 0Booher lays out the Lions' projected depth chart for their Week 4 game at Carolina, naming starters, backups and reserves at every position, and suggests safety Bishop Fitzgerald could make his debut.
- Carter BahnsDepth Chart Calls · Shedeur SandersMiss · 0Bahns calls it reality that Shedeur Sanders will take over as Cleveland's starting quarterback by Week 4, with Deshaun Watson set to fail.
- Carter BahnsDepth Chart Calls · Shedeur SandersMiss · 0A CBS Sports preseason overreaction column argues Shedeur Sanders will take over as Cleveland's starting quarterback by Week 4, that Ja'Kobi Lane has a real path to a No. 2 receiver role as a rookie, and that Kenneth Walker III is a legitimate lead back atop the Chiefs' depth chart.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Jonah ColemanMiss · 0In his Week 3 waiver column, Fitzmaurice makes several depth-chart calls around injuries: Jonah Coleman leading Denver's backfield, Marcus Mariota taking over in Washington, Michael Penix Jr. starting once healthy, and Malik Washington serving as Miami's top receiver, plus availability expectations for Detroit's injured safeties.