Steven RuizSep 24, 2026
Previewing 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 their Hail Mary that Houston beats Indianapolis by two touchdowns.
Said on air, transcribed by us · Football 301 with Nate Tice (podcast)Hear the original
What Steven Ruiz said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromI'm going with the Texans win by two touchdowns.
- Where it was said
- Football 301 with Nate Tice (podcast)
- The episode
- NFL Week 3 preview & bold predictions: Ravens vs. Cowboys in Brazil, buying a Broncos upset? feat. Steven Ruiz
- The original
- Hear the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidSep 24
- PlayedSep 27–28
- GradedSep 29
- 1Las Vegas Raiders to beat Saints“I'm gonna go I'm gonna go Raiders. I think the offense continues to do what they're doing.”
- 2Houston Texans to beat Colts“I'm going with the Texans win by two touchdowns... So I I see this being a dominant dominant win for the Texans.”
- 3Denver Broncos to beat Rams“I'm actually gonna go with the Broncos on this one... I I I think the Broncos take this one.”
- 4Detroit Lions to beat Jets“I'll go with the Lions. I I I think the defense plays a little bit better, but, like, I think this is an offensive driven game for them, and they scored, like, 35 points.”
- 5Baltimore Ravens to beat Cowboys“I think the Ravens take this one by I I think it's a comfortable win, but it is competitive up until the fourth quarter”
- 6Philadelphia Eagles to beat Bears“I gotta go with the Eagles just because the quarterback situation, but I I do think the Bears keep it closer than maybe you would expect”
- 7Jacksonville Jaguars to beat Patriots“I'm gonna lean Jaguars even I I think they win by, like, a field goal, but I do think it's competitive game. And I think it's a low scoring game”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas Raiders to beat Saints1 | Game Outcome Picks | Raiders 35–27 | 100 | 0 | +189 | |
| Houston Texans to beat Colts2 | Game Outcome Picks | Colts 19–17 | 0 | 100 | −189 | |
| Denver Broncos to beat Rams3 | Game Outcome Picks | Broncos 30–26 | 100 | 100 | 0 | |
| Detroit Lions to beat Jets4 | Game Outcome Picks | Lions 31–24 | 100 | 100 | 0 | |
| Baltimore Ravens to beat Cowboys5 | Game Outcome Picks | Ravens 34–31 | 100 | 0 | +189 | |
| Philadelphia Eagles to beat Bears6 | Game Outcome Picks | Bears 27–7 | 0 | 100 | −189 | |
| Jacksonville Jaguars to beat Patriots7 | Game Outcome Picks | Jaguars 35–6 | 100 | 100 | 0 | |
| 7 calls · 5 hits · 2 misses · all settled | 71.4 | 71.4 | ||||
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 naiveworse than naive7 checkable claims — 7 game outcome picks — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 7 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
All 7 have settled, averaging 71.4 out of 100, against 71.4 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 PicksLas Vegas Raiders
Las Vegas Raiders to beat Saints
What happenedRaiders 35–27Raiders at Saints100Hit · naive 0100this call−0a naive guess=100better than naive×1.89difficulty=+189skillClosing line (Sep 27): Saints by 3.5 · underdog pick, Raiders 37%.
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- won:
- LV
- score:
- 35-27
- skill:
- 189
- they picked:
- LV
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- the naive pick:
- NO
- difficulty:
- 1.89
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 16
2Game Outcome PicksHouston Texans
Houston Texans to beat Colts
What happenedColts 19–17Texans at Colts0Miss · naive 1000this call−100a naive guess=−100worse than naive×1.89difficulty=−189skillClosing line (Sep 27): Texans by 1.5 · a toss-up, Texans 53%, Colts 47%.
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- won:
- IND
- score:
- 17-19
- skill:
- −189
- they picked:
- HOU
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 100
- the naive pick:
- IND
- difficulty:
- 1.89
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 16
3Game Outcome PicksDenver Broncos
Denver Broncos to beat Rams
What happenedBroncos 30–26Rams at Broncos100Hit · naive 100100this call−100a naive guess=0better than naive×1.89difficulty=0skillClosing line (Sep 27): Broncos by 1.5 · a toss-up, Rams 50%, Broncos 50%.
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- won:
- DEN
- score:
- 26-30
- skill:
- 0
- they picked:
- DEN
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- the naive pick:
- DEN
- difficulty:
- 1.89
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 16
4Game Outcome PicksDetroit Lions
Detroit Lions to beat Jets
What happenedLions 31–24Jets at Lions100Hit · naive 100100this call−100a naive guess=0better than naive×1.89difficulty=0skillClosing line (Sep 27): Lions by 7 · favorite pick, Lions about 3 in 4 (73%).
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- won:
- DET
- score:
- 24-31
- skill:
- 0
- they picked:
- DET
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- the naive pick:
- DET
- difficulty:
- 1.89
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 16
5Game Outcome PicksBaltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens to beat Cowboys
What happenedRavens 34–31Ravens at Cowboys100Hit · naive 0100this call−0a naive guess=100better than naive×1.89difficulty=+189skillClosing line (Sep 27): Ravens by 3 · favorite pick, Ravens 60%.
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- won:
- BAL
- score:
- 34-31
- skill:
- 189
- they picked:
- BAL
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- the naive pick:
- DAL
- difficulty:
- 1.89
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 16
6Game Outcome PicksPhiladelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles to beat Bears
What happenedBears 27–7Eagles at Bears0Miss · naive 1000this call−100a naive guess=−100worse than naive×1.89difficulty=−189skillClosing line (Sep 28): Eagles by 3.5 · favorite pick, Eagles 64%.
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- won:
- CHI
- score:
- 7-27
- skill:
- −189
- they picked:
- PHI
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 100
- the naive pick:
- CHI
- difficulty:
- 1.89
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 16
7Game Outcome PicksJacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars to beat Patriots
What happenedJaguars 35–6Patriots at Jaguars100Hit · naive 100100this call−100a naive guess=0better than naive×1.89difficulty=0skillClosing line (Sep 27): Jaguars by 3 · favorite pick, Jaguars 59%.
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- won:
- JAX
- score:
- 6-35
- skill:
- 0
- they picked:
- JAX
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- the naive pick:
- JAX
- difficulty:
- 1.89
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 16
- All
The take as a whole
the average of 7 settled calls, each counted once
71.4naive 71.4
The games in this take
every pundit’s pick on each- Patriots at JaguarsJaguars 35Patriots 617 calls →
- Texans at ColtsColts 19Texans 1711 calls →
- Jets at LionsLions 31Jets 2412 calls →
- Raiders at SaintsRaiders 35Saints 2716 calls →
- Ravens at CowboysRavens 34Cowboys 3125 calls →
- Rams at BroncosBroncos 30Rams 2626 calls →
- Eagles at BearsBears 27Eagles 727 calls →
Who 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.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.Bobby Skinner · Trade and Signing Calls · Stefon Diggs · Miss 0
Skinner predicted Daniel Jones signs with and wins the starting job in Indianapolis, Milton Williams to New England, Lavonte David back to Tampa, Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams to the Giants, DJ Reid to Arizona, Hassan Reddick to Washington and Justin Fields staying in Pittsburgh, plus alternates they had listed.Christian Booher · Roster Spot Calls · Anthony Lucas · Miss 0
Booher previews the Lions' Week 9 trip to Miami, predicting Derrick Barnes takes over as the green-dot linebacker in Jack Campbell's absence, Juice Scruggs starts at center, and boldly forecasting Detroit's first defensive touchdown of the season on an Aidan Hutchinson strip-sack recovered and returned by Barnes.
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.